Organic mental disorder (OMS); Organic brain syndrome
Neurocognitive disorder is a general term that describes decreased mental function due to a medical disease other than a psychiatric illness.
Neurocognitive disorders are grouped into three subcategories:
Listed below are conditions associated with neurocognitive disorder.
BRAIN INJURY CAUSED BY TRAUMA
BREATHING CONDITIONS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
DEMENTIA DUE TO METABOLIC CAUSES
DRUG AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CONDITIONS
INFECTIONS
Complications of cancer and cancer treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the brain can also lead to neurocognitive disorder.
Other conditions that may mimic neurocognitive disorder include:
Symptoms can differ based on the disease. In general, neurocognitive disorder causes:
Tests depend on the disorder, but may include:
Treatment depends on the underlying condition. Many conditions are treated mainly with rehabilitation and supportive care to help the person with activities lost due to areas where brain function is affected.
Medicines may be needed to reduce aggressive behaviors that can occur with some of the conditions.
Some disorders are short-term and reversible. But many are long-term or get worse over time.
People with neurocognitive disorder often lose the ability to interact with others or function on their own.
Contact your health care provider if:
Beck BJ, Smith FA, Stern TA. Mental disorders due to another medical condition. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 21.
Inouye SK. Delirium and changes in mental status. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 361.
Knopman DS. Cognitive impairment and dementia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 371.
Merrick ST, Glesby MJ. Systemic manifestations of HIV/AIDS. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 359.
Sorg EM, Jankauskaite G, Jacobs J. Psychiatric co-morbidities and complications of cancer and cancer treatment. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 46.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 3/31/2024
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
|
|
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved.