Organic brain syndrome
Key points
- Organic brain syndrome is a general term which refers to physical disorders that cause a decrease in mental function, usually not including psychiatric disorders.
- OBS is not a separate disease entity, but is a general term used to categorize physical conditions that can cause mental changes.
- In general, organic brain syndromes cause varying extents of confusion, delirium (severe, short-term losses of brain function), agitation, and dementia (long-term, often progressive, losses of brain function).
- Testing and physical examination vary depending on the specific disorder.
Definition:
Organic brain syndrome is a general term which refers to physical disorders that cause a decrease in mental function, usually not including psychiatric disorders.
Alternative Names:
OBS; Organic mental disorder; Chronic organic brain syndrome
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
OBS is a common "diagnosis" of the elderly. It is not an inevitable part of aging, however. OBS is not a separate disease entity, but is a general term used to categorize physical conditions that can cause mental changes.
Disorders associated with OBS include, but are not limited to:
- Degenerative disorders:
- Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
- Huntington disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Pick's disease
- Senile dementia/Alzheimer's type
- Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
- Cardiovascular disorders:
- Arrhythmias - may cause some types of OBS
- Cardiac infections (endocarditis, myocarditis, etc.) - may sometimes cause OBS
- Hypertensive brain injury
- Multi-infarct dementia (multiple strokes)
- Stroke
- TIA
- Arrhythmias - may cause some types of OBS
- Trauma-induced brain injury:
- Chronic subdural hematoma (blood clot causing pressure on brain)
- Concussion
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Chronic subdural hematoma (blood clot causing pressure on brain)
- Dementia due to metabolic causes
- Respiratory conditions - may cause or aggravate OBS
- Hypoxia (decreased oxygen in the body)
- Hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide levels in the body)
- Hypoxia (decreased oxygen in the body)
- Infections
- Any acute or chronic infection
- Septicemia (presence in the bloodstream of toxic by-products caused by infection)
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Any acute or chronic infection
- Drug and alcohol related conditions
- Intoxication, drug abuse, or alcohol use
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.