Organic brain disorder

Posted By Lisa Fuller on May 31, 1997 at 20:57:28:









I am an Occpational Therapist working in a state
developemental center. Many of my patients are
diagnosed M/R with organic brain disorder,
disfunction or disease.As far as I'm concerned,
this means that something, progressive and
degererative, is happening to these clients, and no one
cares to look for an accurate dx because these
individuals are retarted and institutionalized.Many
of these clients have a common history, and have lost
a lot of function over time.Could you give me some of
the most common neuromyopathies, or neurological
syndromes that might apply to clients, with progressive
M/R and movement disorder, symptomology.
Many of these patients had a short period of normal
or near normal developement.Onset of symptoms was 1 to
3 yrs. Often their 1st dx. Was childhood scizophenia.
Behavior problems progressed until, most patients
were institutionalized, between on average ages 5 to
10 yrs. old. Most were put on thorazine or melarill.
Most of lost motor skills, speech and ADL skills.
Most are age 30 to 40 now, still taking the same meds.
for 15 to 30 yrs.Most now have a constellation of  
movement disorders, some cannot even eat or
walk anymore.Assuming that the Thorazine or Mellaril
didn't cause all of these problems,what are the most
probable causes of the degeneration. Many, now have
a dx of PDD, but their histories do not always mention
ritualistic behaviors or steriotypical movements.
Many histories mentioned, delayed or abnormal speech,
hyperactivity, poor impulse control, tantrums, and
self injurous behavior.
             Thanks for your help!!!