Special Population: Persons with Medical Illnesses

A number of medical disorders may cause symptoms similar to those experienced by someone with a mental illness. The following charts can be useful for the Crisis Responder to use when assessing individuals in crisis. Medical Diagnoses Commonly Accompanied by Behavioral Symptoms:

Medical Disorders

Psychiatric Symptoms

Cancer of Pancreas, Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, Cirrhosis of Liver, Renal Failure, Subdural Hematoma, Hypoglycemia, Hypothyroidism, Encephalitis, AIDS

Depression, decreased concentration, energy, motivation, appetite, and sleep

ETOH Withdrawal, Caffeine Intoxification, Hypertension, Impending Internal Hemorrhage, Cardiac Diysarhymias, Cocaine & Amphetamine Abuse

Anxiety. Tense, fearful of death, tremulous, panicky, nervousness

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Addison's, Brain Tumors, Cocaine Abuse, Alzheimer's, Hypoactive & Hyperactive Thyroid, Pernicious Anemia, Subdural Hematoma, AIDS

Schizophrenia-like symptoms, hallucinations, delusions, incoherent speech, poor judgment, paranoia

Delirium (Onset of cognitive dysfunction within hours or days)

Reduced consciousness, Confusion, Hallucinations, Delusions, Psycho-motor changes