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- $Unique_ID{BRK04066}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Organic Mood Syndrome}
- $Subject{Organic Mood Syndrome Organic Affective Syndrome Dysthymia Major
- Depression Cyclothymic Disorder Bipolar Manic-Depression Atypical Bipolar
- Disorder}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 829:
- Organic Mood Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Organic Mood Syndrome)
- is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Organic Affective Syndrome
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Dysthymia
- Major Depression
- Cyclothymic Disorder
- Bipolar Manic-Depression
- Atypical Bipolar Disorder
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Organic Mood Syndrome is a mental disorder due to physical causes.
- Either "manic" symptoms of unusual euphoria or irritability, or "depressive"
- symptoms of despondency, fear, anxiety, or suspiciousness may be present.
- Other symptoms may be present as well.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Organic Mood Syndrome is a mental disorder due to physical causes. Patients
- may feel either "manic" or "depressive." Manic symptoms include unusual
- happiness, euphoria, emotional instability, restlessness, or irritability.
- Depressive symptoms include sadness, lack of interests, anxiety, fear,
- suspiciousness, irritability, panic, worry about health, tearfulness, or
- brooding. Feelings of worthlessness, "persecution," delusions or
- hallucinations may also occur.
-
- Causes
-
- Organic Mood Syndrome has an underlying physical cause. Reserpine or
- methyldopa, which are drugs for treatment of hypertension, may cause
- depressive symptoms. Endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism,
- hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticalism, or hypoadrenocorticalism can cause
- either depressive or manic symptoms. Carcinoma (cancer) of the pancreas,
- drugs which induce hallucinations, or illness caused by a virus may lead to
- Organic Mood Syndrome as may stroke, or other diseases of the brain.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Organic Mood Syndrome is a mental disorder due to physical causes which
- affects males and females of all ages in equal numbers.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Organic Mood
- Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Dysthymia is a common psychological disorder characterized by a chronic
- but mild depressive state that has been present in an individual for more
- than two years. During periods of depressed mood, there may be poor appetite
- or overeating, an inability to sleep (insomnia) or oversleeping
- (hypersomnia), low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration,
- difficulty making decisions and feelings of hopelessness. (For more
- information on this disorder, choose "Dysthymia" as your search term in the
- Rare Disease Database).
-
- Major Depression is a mood disorder characterized by severe depression
- with loss of interest or pleasure in all or nearly all activities for a
- period of at least two weeks. Symptoms may include appetite disturbance,
- change in weight, sleep disturbance, decreased energy, agitated or slowed
- movements, feelings of worthlessness, excessive or inappropriate guilt,
- difficulty thinking or concentrating, or recurrent thoughts of death and
- suicide. This diagnosis is made only after it has been established that
- there are no underlying physical causes.
-
- Cyclothymic Disorder is a chronic mood disorder involving numerous
- periods of depression and a mild form of over-elation and hyperactivity
- (hypomania). Symptoms, which last at least two years, may be a little less
- severe than those in Major Depression and in manic occurrences.
-
- Bipolar Manic Depression is a mental illness in which intense mood swings
- occur, usually with remissions and recurrences. Depressive symptoms may be
- most common and can last at least a full day and perhaps several weeks or
- longer. Manic symptoms may involve hyperactivity and feelings of
- invincibility, happiness and restlessness. (For more information on this
- disorder, choose "Manic Depression" as your search term in the Rare Disease
- Database).
-
- Atypical Bipolar Disorder is a category for individuals with manic
- symptoms who cannot be classified as having Bipolar Manic Depression or
- Cyclothymic Disorder. For example, an individual who previously had a major
- depressive occurrence now has an episode of mild manic symptoms that are not
- of sufficient severity and duration to satisfy the criteria for a manic
- episode. This can be classified as Atypical Bipolar Disorder; this illness
- is also referred to as "Bipolar II."
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Once the underlying cause of Organic Mood Syndrome has been identified,
- necessary steps can be taken to treat the patient. If it is due to a certain
- drug, for example, other drugs may be prescribed instead; if it is caused by
- another disease, treatment of that disorder may result in the disappearance
- of the psychiatric symptoms. Counseling may also be of benefit.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- As medical knowledge and technology advance more is learned about the human
- body, side effects of drugs, and neuropsychiatric illnesses. In the future
- it is hoped that scientists will be able to prevent disorders such as Organic
- Mood Syndrome, when brain chemistry is better understood.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- January 1991. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Organic Mood Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- National Mental Health Association
- 1021 Prince Street
- Alexandria, VA 22314
- (703) 684-7722
-
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
- 1901 N. Fort Meyer Dr., Suite 500
- Arlington, VA 22209
- (703) 524-7600
-
- National Mental Health Consumer Self-Help Clearinghouse
- 311 S. Juniper St., Rm. 902
- Philadelphia, PA 19107
- (215) 735-2481
-
- NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20205
- (301) 443-4515 or (301) 496-1752
- (800) 421-4211 (24 hrs.)
-
- References
-
- DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS, 3rd Ed. rev.: R.L.
- Spitzer, et al., eds; American Psychiatric Association, 1987. Pp. 111-112.
-
- DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORGANIC AFFECTIVE SYNDROME DURING A HYPERBARIC DIVING
- EXPERIMENT. A. Stoudemire, et al.; Am J Psychiatry (Oct 1984; issue 141
- (10)). Pp. 1251-1254.
-
- MAJOR DEPRESSION VERSUS ORGANIC MOOD DISORDER: A QUESTIONABLE
- DISTINCTION. B.S. Fogel; J Clin Psychiatry (Feb 1990; issue 51 (2)). Pp.
- 53-56.
-
- MOOD CHANGES AFTER RIGHT-HEMISPHERE LESIONS. S.E. Starkstein, et al.; Br
- J Psychiatry (Jul 1989; issue 155). Pp. 79-85.
-
- ORGANIC MENTAL DISORDERS CAUSED BY HIV: UPDATE ON EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND
- TREATMENT. S.W. Perry; Am J Psychiatry (Jun 1990; issue 147 (6)). Pp. 696-
- 710.
-
-