PSYCHIATRY

ORGANIC ILLNESS (to rule out)

  • All psychiatric illnesses are ‘organic’ but usually the word ‘organic’ is used for those with demonstrable CNS pathology. 

Organic causes of PSYCHOSIS 

  • Neurological – epilepsy, head injury, cerebrovascular disease, brain tumour, dementia, encephalitis eg HSV/HIV, neurosyphilis, brain abscess  
  • Endocrine – hypo/hyperthyroid, Cushing’s, hyperparathyroidism, Addison’s disease 
  • Metabolic – uraemia, sodium imbalance, porphyria
  • SLE (lupus psychosis) 
  • Medications – steroids, L-dopa, anticholinergics, antihypertensives, anticonvulsants, methylphenidate 
  • Drugs – cocaine, LSD, cannabis, PCP, amphetamines, opioids 
  • Toxins

Organic causes of DEPRESSION

  • Neurological – CVA, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumour, dementia, MS, Huntington’s, head injury 
  • Infectious – HIV, EBV, brucellosis
  • Endocrine & metabolic – hypothyroidism, Cushing’s, Addison’s, parathyroid disease, vitamin deficiency (B12 & folate), porphyria
  • Cardiac disease – MI, CCF
  • SLE
  • RA
  • Cancer
  • Medications – analgesics, antihypertensives (esp. β-blockers), L-dopa, anticonvulsants, antibiotics, steroids, OCP, cytotoxics, cimetidine, salbutamol 
  • Drugs – alcohol, BZ, cannabis, cocaine, opioids 
  • Toxins 

Organic causes of MANIA

  • Neurological – CVA, epilepsy, brain tumour, head injury, MS
  • Endocrine – hyperthyroidism
  • Medications – steroids, antidepressants, mefloquine, cytotoxics
  • Drugs – cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine
  • Toxins

Organic causes of ANXIETY

  • Neurological – epilepsy, dementia, head injury, CVA, brain tumour, MS, Parkinson’s 
  • Pulmonary – COPD
  • Cardiac – arrhythmias, CCF, angina, MV prolapse
  • Endocrine – hyperthyroidism
  • Medications – antidepressants, antihypertensives, flumazenil, yohimbine, fenfluramine 
  • Drugs – alcohol, BZ, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamines 

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