Neuropsychiatric consequences

The brain controls thinking, acting, feeling, motivation and behavior.
This can be disrupted by brain damage and brain disorders.
Neuropsychiatric syndromes (NPS) may occur as a result of brain injury. These are psychiatric complaints caused by a brain disorder.

These consequences are often a combination of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.


For example: Months and even years after a head injury (brain injury), neuropsychiatric consequences may still occur.

Damage to the connections between the frontal lobe and the limbic system (frontolimbicidal connections) and parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, may disrupt the balance of important brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). This makes people more susceptible to mood problems and other psychological complaints or addiction.

Problems with dopamine and serotonin can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Research shows that depressive symptoms occur in almost half of people with brain injuries. These symptoms often manifest as a lack of pleasure (anhedonia), fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.


Neuropsychiatric syndromes (NPS) are psychiatric complaints resulting from a brain disorder.

They may involve:

  • syndromes in which psychiatric complaints are part of the disease (for example dementia with changes in behavior, Lewy body dementia with hallucinations and delusions, or Creutzfeldt Jacob disease with anxiety delusions and/or depression, Huntington's disease with anxiety, depression and/or apathy)
  • syndromes in which psychiatric complaints are common additional symptoms. (for example Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.).

 

Neuropsychiatric consequences may include: mood disorders, for example depression/gloom, disinhibited behavior, pathological compulsive laughing/compulsive crying (PBA), anxiety (such as PTSD), apathy, aggression, emotional lability, psychosis, hallucinations and delusions, and mania.

Mood swings, anxiety, irritability (quick anger), and suicidality may also occur. Personality changes may occur as well, such as reduced flexibility or increased sensitivity to stress.
A person may become more susceptible to addiction.

More information about this subject can be found here.

 

Measuring instruments for measuring neuropsychiatric consequences 

 

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