This document discusses organic mental disorders, which are behavioral or psychological disorders associated with transient or permanent brain dysfunction that have an independently diagnosable cerebral disease or disorder. The main types are dementia, delirium, organic amnestic syndrome, and mental disorders due to brain damage, dysfunction, or physical disease. Dementia is the most common organic mental disorder and involves global impairment of intellect, memory, and personality without impaired consciousness. It increases significantly with age and can be caused by degenerative disorders, infections, metabolic disorders, and other conditions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Nursing care focuses on maintaining independence, preventing injuries, and providing a good quality of life.

1. ORGANIC MENTAL
DISORDERS
Monika Devi NR
M.Sc.Nursing
GMCH Jammu

2. Organic Mental Disorders
 Organic mental disorders are behavioral or
psychological disorders associated with transient or
permanent brain dysfunction. These disorders have a
demonstrable and independently diagnosable
cerebral disease or disorder. They are classified
under Fo in ICDlO.

3. Classification of Organic Mental Disorders
• Dementia
• Delirium
• Organic amnestic syndrome
• Mental disorders due to brain damage, dysfunction
and physical disease
• Personality and behavioral disorders due to brain
disease, damage and dysfunction

4. Dementia (Chronic Organic Brain
Syndrome)
 Dementia is an acquired global impairment of intellect,
memory and personality but without impairment of
consciousness. Incidence Dementia occurs more commonly
in the elderly than in the middle-aged. It increases with age
from.
 0.1percent in those below 60years of age to 15to
20percent in those who are 80years of age.

5. Etiology Untreatable And Irreversible Causes:
• Degenerating disorders ofCNS
• Alzheimer's disease (this is the most common of all
dementing illnesses)
• Pick's disease
• Huntington's chorea
• Parkinson's disease

6. Treatable And Reversible Causes:
• Vascular-multi-infarct dementia
• Intracranial space occupying lesions
• Metabolic disorders-hepatic failure, renal failure
• Endocrine disorders-myxedema, Addison's disease
• Infections-AIDS, meningitis, encephalitis
• Intoxication-alcohol, heavy metals (lead, arsenic), chronic barbiturate poisoning

7. Poor Performance At Work
• Anoxia-anemia, post-anesthesia, chronic respiratory
failure
• Vitamin deficiency, especially deficiency of thiamine, and
nicotine
• Miscellaneous-heatstroke, epilepsy, electric injury Stages
of Dementia Stage I: Early stage (2 to 4 years)
• Forgetfulness
• Declining interest in environment •
Hesitancy in initiating actions

8. Stage II
Middle stage (2 to 12 years)
• Progressive memory loss
• Hesitates in response to questions
• Has difficulty in following simple instructions
• Irritable, anxious
• Wandering
• Neglects personal hygiene
• Social isolation

9. Stage III
Final stage (up to a year).
Marked loss ofweight because ofinadequate intake
offood
• Unable to communicate
• Does not recognize family
• Incontinence of urine and feces
• Loses the ability to stand and walk
• Death is usually caused by aspiration pneumonia

10. Clinical Features (for Alzheimer's Type)
Personality changes: lack of interest in day to-day
activities, easy mental fatigue ability, self centered,
withdrawn, decreased self-care.
• Memory impairment: recent memory is prominently
affected
Cognitive impairment: disorientation, poor judgment,
difficulty in abstraction, decreased attention span
• Affective impairment: labile mood, irritableness,
depression

11.  Behavioral impairment: stereotyped behavior,
alteration in sexual drives and activities,
neurotic/psychotic behavior
 Neurological impairment: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia,
seizures, headache
Clinical Features (for Alzheimer's Type)

12. Catastrophic reaction: agitation, attempt to compensate
for defects by using strategies to avoid demonstrating
failures in intellectual performances, such as changing
the subject, cracking jokes or otherwise diverting the
interviewer
Sundowner syndrome: It is characterized by drowsiness,
confusion, ataxia; accidental falls may occur at night
when external stimuli such as light and interpersonal
orienting cues are diminished
Clinical Features (for Alzheimer's Type)

13. Course and Prognosis
 Insidious onset but slow progressive deterioration
occurs. Treatment Until now no specific medicine is
available to treat Alzheimer's disease.
 A drug called 'Tacrine' is being used in western countries.
Tacrine (Tetra hydro amino acridine) is a long-acting
inhibitor of acetylcholine and also delays the progression
of the illness.

14. The following drugs may be of some use in
causing symptomatic relief
 Benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety
 Antidepressants for depression
 Antipsychotics to alleviate hallucinations and delusions
 Anticonvulsants to control seizures nursing care for patients
of alzheimer's disease is most important. Whether at home, in
an acute hospital environment, a day-care center or in a long-
term stay institution.
 Care givers must be trained to promote the patient's
remaining intellectual abilities; help them maintain their
independence in attending to their usual functions and avoid
injuries; and provide for a good quality of life.

15. Nursing Interventions
 Daily Routine
 Nutrition and Bod
 Personal Hygiene y
Weight
 Toilet Habits and
Incontinence
 Accidents
 Fluid Management
 Moods and Emotions
 Wandering
 Disturbed Sleep
 Interpersonal
Relationship

16. THANK YOU