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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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