Unusual or strange behavior involves actions that are not typical of that individual. This may include chronic, progressive loss of memory, or loss of the ability to concentrate and perform other mental tasks.
Alternative Names:
Acting strangely
Considerations:
There are many causes of unusual or strange behavior, including numerous medical and psychiatric illnesses. Two of the more common causes are delirium and dementia:
Side effects of medication for attention deficit disorder, such as Ritalin
Side effects of antidepressants, such as Prozac
Illicit drug use (particularly stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine)
Diseases affecting the nervous system (neurological diseases)
Non-neurological diseases, particularly with fever (for example, pneumonia)
Low or high thyroid function
Environmental hazards
Review Date: 12/1/2004
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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