Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Neuropsychiatric symptom assessments in toxic exposure

Lisa H Mason1, Melissa J Mathews, Dong Y Han

  • 1Neuropsychology Section, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, 740 South Limestone Street, Suite L445, Lexington, KY 40536-0284, USA.

The Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|May 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This review offers guidelines for assessing mood changes from neurotoxicity, such as anxiety and depression. It details psychiatric evaluations for suspected neurotoxicologic syndromes caused by agents like heavy metals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Neurotoxicity can manifest with significant psychiatric and mood disturbances.
  • Common neurotoxic agents include drugs, heavy metals, and organophosphates.
  • Observed mood changes span anxiety, depression, irritability, impulsivity, and psychosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish guidelines for evaluating psychiatric and mood changes linked to neurotoxicity.
  • To aid clinicians in diagnosing neurotoxicologic syndromes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on neurotoxicity and psychiatric manifestations.
  • Detailed discussion of psychiatric assessment protocols for suspected cases.

Main Results:

  • Neurotoxicity presents with a spectrum of mood alterations.
  • The mechanism of toxicity influences the specific presentation.
  • Comprehensive psychiatric assessment is crucial for diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Effective evaluation requires understanding the link between neurotoxic agents and psychiatric symptoms.
  • Standardized assessment guidelines can improve diagnosis and management of neurotoxicologic syndromes.

More Related Videos

Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity07:42

Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity

Published on: April 26, 2012

Neurotoxicity Assessment in Adult Danio rerio using a Battery of Behavioral Tests in a Single Tank08:36

Neurotoxicity Assessment in Adult Danio rerio using a Battery of Behavioral Tests in a Single Tank

Published on: November 3, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...