Rozpoznanie różnicowe zaburzeń świadomości najlepiej charakteryzuje mnemotechniczny skrót VITAMINS-P (skrót pochodzący z języka angielskiego:                                                                                      
V - vascular [zaburzenia naczyniowe],                                                                                                                       
I - infections [zakażenia], 
T - toxins [toksyny],                                                                                                                                                   
A - accidents [wypadki, urazy],                                                                                                                                 
M - metabolic [zaburzenia meta-boliczne],                                                                                                                 
I - intussusception [wgłobienie mózgu],                                                                                                                    
N - neoplasm [nowotwór mózgu],                                                                                                                               
S - seizure [napady],                                                                                                                                                  
P - psychiatric [zaburzenia psychiczne]

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