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Dementia Due to Head Trauma Symptoms and DSM-IV Diagnosis
Dementia Due to
Head Trauma Symptoms and Diagnosis Overview:
Dementia Due to Head
Trauma symptoms and diagnostic criteria follow below. While some of these
Dementia Due to Head Trauma symptoms may be recognized by family, teachers, legal and medical
professionals, and others, only properly trained mental health
professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, professional counselors etc.) can
or should even attempt to make a mental health diagnosis. Many additional
factors are considered in addition to the Dementia Due to Head Trauma
symptoms in making proper diagnosis, including frequently medical and
psychological testing considerations. This information on Dementia Due to
Head Trauma symptoms and diagnostic
criteria are for information purposes only and should never replace the judgement and comprehensive assessment of a trained mental health clinician.
294.1 Dementia Due to Head Trauma
The essential feature
of Dementia Due to Head Trauma is the presence of a dementia
that is judged
to be the direct pathophysiological consequence of head trauma. The degree and
type of cognitive impairments or behavioral disturbances depend on the
location and extent of the brain injury.
Posttraumatic amnesia is frequently present, along
with persisting memory impairment. A variety
of other behavioral symptoms may be evident, with or without the presence
of motor or sensory deficits. These symptoms
include aphasia, attentional problems, irritability, anxiety, depression or
affective lability, apathy, increased aggression, or other changes in
personality. Alcohol or other Substance Intoxication is often present in
individuals with acute head injuries, and concurrent Substance Abuse or
Dependence may be present. Head injury occurs most often in
young males and has been associated with
risk-taking behaviors. When it occurs in the
context of a single injury, Dementia Due to
Head Trauma is usually nonprogressive, but
repeated head injury (e.g., from boxing) may
lead to a progressive dementia (so called
dementia pugilistica). A single head trauma
that is followed by a progressive decline in
cognitive function should raise the
possibility of another superimposed process such as
hydrocephalus or a Major Depressive Episode.
Information
from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV
Also, See other Diagnosis and Symptoms of Delirium,
Dementia, and Amnestic and Other Cognitive Disorders
Other Mental Health
Diagnostic Symptoms and Criteria
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Diagnosis - DSM-IV
Diagnosis and Codes: Alphabetical |
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