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Organic brain syndrome

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Brain
Brain

Alternative Names    Return to top

OBS; Organic mental disorder (OMS); Chronic organic brain syndrome

Definition    Return to top

Organic brain syndrome (OBS) is a general term that refers to diseases (usually not psychiatric disorders) that cause decreased mental function.

Causes    Return to top

OBS is common in the elderly. It is not a part of the normal aging process, however.

OBS is not a separate disease, but is a general term used to describe physical conditions that can cause mental changes.

Disorders associated with OBS include:

Other conditions that may be related to organic brain syndrome include:

Symptoms    Return to top

Symptoms can differ based on the disease. In general, organic brain syndromes cause:

Exams and Tests    Return to top

Tests depend on the disorder, but may include:

Treatment    Return to top

Treatment depends on the disorder. Many of the disorders have mainly supportive care to assist the person in areas where brain function is lost.

Medications may be needed to reduce aggressive behaviors that can occur with some of the conditions.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

See the specific disorder. Some disorders are short-term and treatable, but many are long-term or get worse over time.

Possible Complications    Return to top

People with OBS often lose the ability to interact with others or function on their own.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your health care provider if:

Update Date: 2/13/2008

Updated by: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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