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Organic mental disorders - Organic mental disorders Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Organic brain syndrome is a general term which refers to physical disorders that cause a decrease in mental function, usually not including psychiatric disorders. The term "organic," as used for many years pointed to defined pathological lesions and was contrasted with the term "functional" or physiological abnormalities that could not be detected by existing laboratory procedures. For disability claim purposes, organic mental disorders are evaluated according to a 1. patient's history, 2. lab test results, and 3. the results of a physical examination which demonstrates the existence of a specific organic factor that forms the etiological (cause) basis for the abnormal mental state (and lost functional abilities) experienced by an individual. ICD-10 indicates that the dysfunction may be primary, as in diseases, injuries and insults that affect the brain directly or with predilection, or secondary, as in systemic disorders that involve the brain a temporal relationship (weeks or a few months) between the development of the underlying disease and the onset of the mental syndrome However, since the focus of social security disability claim evaluation is on residual functional capacity (what a person is still capable of doing, despite the limitations, i.e. functional restrictions, imposed by their illness), listing 12.02 is both relevant and integral to other medical conditions for which a person might be considered disabled.
Symptoms of Organic mental disorders
Some common symptoms of Organic mental disorders :
- In general, organic brain syndromes cause varying degrees of confusion, delirium (severe, short-term loss of brain function), agitation , and dementia (long-term, often progressive, loss of brain function).
Causes of Organic mental disorders
The common causes of Organic mental disorders :
- OBS is not a separate disease entity, but is a general term used to categorize physical conditions that can cause mental changes .
- Chronic subdural hematoma (blood clot causing pressure on brain)
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Cardiac infections ( endocarditis , myocarditis , etc.) -- may sometimes cause OBS
- Arrhythmias may cause some types of OBS
Treatment of Organic mental disorders
- Many of the disorders have nonspecific treatments -- primarily supportive care to assist the person in areas where brain function is lost.
- Medications may be needed to reduce aggressive behaviors typical of some of the conditions in this category.
- The psychiatrist should also be thoroughly familiar with the appropriate psychotropic medications available to treat these disorders.
- It is vitally important that he or she be able to recognize organic mental disorders caused by medical conditions and medications.
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