Organic mental disorder impairs cognitive and mental brain function. It is also known as organic brain disorder. 

Organic disorder causes due to brain injury, neurological impairment, surgery, and trauma. Brain neurotransmitter decline causes sudden or gradual condition. Cause-based classification distinguishes psycho and organic disorders. 

It has classified into two types as: 

Acute confusion state 

E.g. Delirium 

Chronic state 

E.g. Dementia 

Delirium is a confused mental state with unawareness of surroundings. 

Delirium impacts thinking, memory, perception, cognition, sleep with remission in time. 

Chronic organic brain disorder, dementia shows cognitive impairment, memory loss, and comprehension difficulties. 

Symptoms of organic mental are: 

Memory loss 

Difficulty with language and communication 

Mood swings and depression 

Confusion and disorientation 

Changes in personality and behavior 

Prevalence of organic mental disorders varies with condition and population. Older adults more prone to dementia, while traumatic brain injuries affect all ages. 

Organic mental disorders in this group result from congenital conditions, infections, traumatic brain injuries, and lead poisoning. 

Medical advancements improve brain injury and stroke survival rates, that increases people living with chronic cognitive impairments. 

Places with poor healthcare access and sanitation have higher rates of infectious organic mental disorders. 

Brain injuries cause immediate and long-term damage, such as contusions, hematomas, and disrupted neural pathways. 

Vascular events such as strokes or incidents lead to cell death, brain tissue damage, and motor, language, or memory impairments. Imbalance in neurotransmitters affect cognitive function and behaviour. 

Amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles in brain causes neuronal death, synaptic dysfunction, and brain atrophy. 

• Causes of organic mental disorder are: 
• Neurodegenerative Diseases 
• Substance Abuse 
• Traumatic Brain Injury  
• Infections 
• Vascular Disorders 
• Tumors 
• Nutritional Deficiencies 

Early onset disorders can lead to aggressive progression in individuals. 

Patients with mild cognitive impairment may progress to dementia or stabilize. 

Treatment improves prognosis for reversible disorder. Positive response to treatment predicts good outcome, while lack of improvement predicts worse prognosis. 

Organic mental disorders affect individuals across all age groups. 

Neurological Examination 

Motor Examination 

Systemic Examination 

Mental Status Examination 

Acute symptoms are: 

Acute confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, agitation, impaired attention, and consciousness 

Chronic symptoms are: 

Progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, impaired executive function, language difficulties, and gradual loss of independence 

Identify and address triggers to provide supportive care for agitation. 

For management of risk comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia use proper medication as needed. 

For disease-specific treatments use of cholinesterase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer’s disease and dopamine replacement therapy to treat Parkinson’s disease is recommended. 

Antipsychotic agent should be used cautiously due to their possible effects. 

For sleep disturbances start using short-term course of hypnotics or sedatives if necessary. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Home safety and accessibility should be provided including fall prevention and lights/brightness. 

Provide behavioural and emotional support to maintain consistency in daily routines and activities to reduce confusion and anxiety. 

Promote hydration and provide convenient access to water for forgetful individuals. 

Proper education and awareness about organic mental disorder should be provided and its related causes with management strategies. 

Appointments with a psychiatrist and preventing recurrence of disorder is an ongoing life-long effort. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Donepezil: 

It is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Olanzapine: 

It is used to manage delusions and hallucinations in delirium condition. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Lorazepam: 

It is used to manage anxiety symptoms that may occurs in organic mental disorders. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

• Neuroimaging and Diagnostic Procedures includes: 
• Computed Tomography Scan 
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
• Electroencephalography 
• Interventional procedures include: 
• Lumbar Puncture 
• Brain Biopsy 
• Deep Brain Stimulation 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

In the initial assessment phase, evaluation of medical history, neurological status, and metabolic functions to confirm diagnosis. 

Pharmacologic therapy is effective in the treatment phase as it includes use of Cholinesterase inhibitors, antipsychotics, anxiolytics agent and some therapy intervention. 

In supportive care and management phase, patients should receive required attention such as lifestyle modification and intervention therapies. 

The regular follow-up visits with the psychiatrist are scheduled to check the improvement of patients along with treatment response.