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Any patient with a personality disorder must be evaluated,
even at old age. The disorder may be acute or chronic and the settings
for the same involve trauma, fever, intoxication or a genetic
predisposition. Excessive brain fluid accumulation in the brain
(hydrocephalus) may be the cause in some. On occasions a brain tumor or
blood collection inside the head may be diagnosed during evaluation of a
personality disorder and requires urgent surgical attention.
Personality changes may be transient or permanent after
severe head injury. Memory impairment especially for recent events is
common in severe head injury. Various brain fevers may produce severe
thought disorders. Hormonal disturbances such as severe hypothyroidism
produce impaired memory, inattention and depression.
Degenerative diseases of the brain (Alzheimer's the
most common) slowly produce progressive dementia
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