General Discussion
Organic Personality Syndrome or Organic Mental Syndrome is a mental disorder characterized by a short-term or long-term personality disturbance largely due to brain dysfunction. The ability to reason, remember, imagine, and learn may not be affected, but the individual's judgement may be so poor that continual supervision may be necessary. Left unattended, he or she may behave in ways that could cause difficult or dangerous problems.

Symptoms
In Organic Personality Syndrome, behavior changes and character traits are either exaggerated or at least different from usual. Symptoms usually show themselves in one of three basic patterns depending on the nature and location of the brain dysfunction.

The first and most common pattern is characterized by emotional instability, faulty social judgement, possible belligerence and/or an over-reactive temper. The person may engage in inappropriate social behavior without regard for the consequences (e.g. sexual indiscretions). The second pattern may include significant signs of apathy and indifference. The person has no concern for, or interest in, his or her immediate environment or former customary hobbies. Both of these patterns may be caused by damage to the frontal lobes of the brain (frontal lobe syndromes). The third pattern of behavior, seen in some disorders affecting the temporal lobe, is marked by a strong tendency to be humorless and overly redundant in both speech and writing, and, not infrequently, by overzealous religious devotion. Occasionally, the person may show extreme rage. One of the major changes in this behavior may be unreasonable suspiciousness or paranoid ideas. If the main symptom is outbursts of aggression or rage, the patient may be labeled as an "Explosive Type".

Causes
There are several possible causes for Organic Personality Syndrome. Frequently it is the consequence of structural brain damage from neoplasms (tumors), head trauma, or cerebrovascular disease involving the upper part of the brain and its blood vessels. Less commonly, it may be caused by endocrine disorders such as thyroid and adrenocortical (outer part of adrenal gland) disease, or by ingesting certain psychoactive substances (drugs that affect the mind or behavior). The syndrome may be of short duration if caused by medications, drug abuse, or certain types of tumors that are surgically removed. It may be of long duration if it is secondary to structural brain damage.

Affected Populations
Organic Personality Syndrome is a prevalent disorder that affects males and females of all ages in equal numbers. It is often a symptom of an underlying disease or condition.

Sound like someone you all know and love?

Vicky
diagnosed 5/2007