Organic Health Disorders Flashcards
What are the most common mental health problems in the hospital?
- Affective disorders (depression, anxiety)
- Self-harm
- Delirium (acute organic confusional state)
- Substance misuse disorders
- Functional disorders (“Medically unexplained symptoms”)
- Personality disorders
- Dementia
- Eating disorders
These conditions represent a range of psychological issues encountered in clinical settings.
Define Organic Mental Disorders.
Organic Mental Disorders are disorders of deficit in cognitive function which are acquired rather than developmental, with a physical basis.
These disorders typically arise due to identifiable physical changes in the brain or body.
What are common features of Organic Mental Disorders?
- Abnormal cognition (memory, intellect, learning)
- Changes to mood (depression, elation, anxiety)
- Psychotic features (hallucinations, delusions)
- Personality and behavioural disturbance
- Sensory changes (consciousness, attention)
These features indicate how cognitive and emotional functioning can be affected.
List examples of Acute Organic Mental Disorders.
- Delirium
- Withdrawal
- Organic mood disorder
- Organic psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Encephalitis (including autoimmune)
Acute disorders often present suddenly and can fluctuate in severity.
List examples of Chronic Organic Mental Disorders.
- Dementia
- Amnesic syndromes
- Organic personality change
Chronic disorders typically develop over time and persist longer.
What are Functional Neurological Disorders?
Functional Neurological Disorders are neurological disorders that present with motor, sensory, or cognitive symptoms without a structural basis, i.e. the cause of the symptoms is not understood.
These disorders are characterized by symptoms that cannot be explained by medical or neurological conditions.
What conditions are not included as Functional Disorders?
- Hypochondriacal disorder
- Factitious disorder
- Malingering
Each of these conditions involves intentional or excessive concern about physical health, differing from functional neurological disorders.
Fill in the blank: Bodily Distress Disorder features excessive attention to _______.
[symptoms]
This condition involves distressing bodily symptoms that significantly impact functioning.
What are features of Dissociative Neurological Symptom Disorder?
- Abnormal motor, sensory, cognitive symptoms
- Involuntary discontinuity in the integration of motor, sensory, cognitive functions
- Inconsistent with a recognised disease (neurological or psychiatric)
- Symptoms are not due to a substance or medication
This disorder involves symptoms that do not align with known medical explanations.
Describe the general approach to Functional Neurological Disorders.
- Maintain a neutral but curious stance
- Listen to the patients and their beliefs
- Open questions, let them tell their story
- Understand the impact of their symptoms and their health experiences
- Acknowledge and validate
- Screen for mental disorder
- Primary and secondary effects
- Summarise, check understanding, and use metaphors
This approach emphasizes empathy and understanding in treatment.
What are the principles of Functional Neurological Disorders treatment?
- Focus on restoring function rather than finding cause and cure
- Promote physical activity
- Psychoeducation
- Good planning and explanation
- Medications for co-morbid psychological symptoms
Treatment aims to improve quality of life and functionality.
Define Alexithymia.
Alexithymia is inability to feel or recognise associated emotion.
This condition can affect emotional processing and interpersonal relationships.
What is La Belle Indifference?
La Belle Indifference is the absence of distress despite serious symptoms.
This phenomenon is often observed in certain functional neurological disorders.
