Personality change due to general medical condition Answers, unless otherwise noted, are from DSM-IV-TR or from First and Tasman As of 23Oct07.

Essential feature Q. What is the essential feature of this disorder?

Essential feature Ans. A persistent personality change judged to be secondary to physiological effects of a non-psychiatric medical condition. [Note “physiological,” so not a psychological reaction to having an illness like cancer. ICD-9-CM allows the use of “organic” but DSM-IV-TR prefers “general medical condition.”.]

Frontal lobes Q. Injury to frontal lobes can lead to what personality changes?

Frontal lobes Ans. [The following are overlapping, so your list may be quite shorter.] -- lack of judgment -- lack of for foresight -- facetiousness -- disinhibition -- inappropriate euphoria

Right hemisphere injuries Q. Right hemisphere injuries can lead to what personality changes?

Right hemisphere injuries Ans. -- unilateral spatial neglect* -- anosognosia* -- neurological defects *These two stick out as examiner’s foci. If you answer “neurological defects” a follow- up question could be hard to answer.

Types of personality disorders resulting from a general medical illness Q. DSM-IV has five basic types [in addition to “other,” “combined” or “unspecified”]. What are the five?

Types Ans. -- Labile type -- Disinhibited type -- Aggressive type -- Apathetic type -- Paranoid type

Conditions Q. What non-psychiatric medical conditions does DSM-IV list with this Disorder?

Conditions Ans. -- CNS neoplasms -- Head trauma -- Cerebrovascular events, e.g., strokes -- Huntington’s -- CNS infections, e.g., AIDS -- Autoimmune conditions, e.g., lupus