Abstract
Among the many emergency patients who complain of behavioral symptoms, a significant proportion suffer from a physical illness manifesting as an organic mental disorder. Dementia and delirium should be considered in the presence of an impairment of orientation, alertness, or cognition. Effort is required to remain aware of the organic differential diagnoses of hallucinatory, delusional, amnestic, and affective disorders or of personality changes not associated with overt changes of sensorium or cognitive abilities. We review the DSM-III classification of organic mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, and consider the usefulness of historical data, mental status examination, physical examination, laboratory investigations, and hospitalization in the differentiation of organic from functional disorders.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
