Which item is not included in AEIOUTIPS, a mnemonic for causes of altered mental status?

• A. Alcohol
• B. Infection
• C. Hypertension
• D. Trauma

Answer: (C)

AEIOUTIPS is a quick way to remember the common immediate causes of altered mental status in emergency settings. It groups etiologies into Alcohol, Epilepsy or seizures, Insulin-related problems (like hypoglycemia), Opiates or other toxins, Uremia, Trauma, Infection, Poisoning, and Stroke. Each of these categories can present with confusion or coma and prompt urgent evaluation.

Hypertension is not listed as a discrete category in this mnemonic. While high blood pressure can contribute to brain problems (for example, it is a risk factor for stroke or hypertensive encephalopathy), it is not itself one of the labeled causes in AEIOUTIPS. That’s why hypertension is not included among the items the mnemonic covers.