What typically causes delirium?

Delirium is an acute and often fluctuating change in mental status, characterized by confusion and disorientation. It typically arises due to underlying medical conditions that can disrupt the brain's function. Head trauma, epilepsy, and strokes directly affect the brain's physiology and can lead to sudden changes in cognition, attention, and awareness, which are hallmark symptoms of delirium.

Additionally, conditions like fever, infections, metabolic disturbances, and substance withdrawal can also contribute to delirium, reinforcing that it often presents as a short-term issue in response to physical health crises. The other options, while related to mental health or cognitive issues, do not typically lead to the acute presentation of delirium as seen with the specific neurological events listed.