Neuropsychiatric Symptom Assessments in Toxic Exposure

The goal of this review is to provide guidelines for evaluating psychiatric and mood changes that result from neurotoxicity. Mood changes that are often seen to varying degrees in neurotoxicity include increased anxiety, depression, irritability, impulsiveness, and psychosis. Some common agents that induce neurotoxicity include drugs, heavy metals, and organophosphates with presentations varying somewhat depending upon the mechanism of toxicity. The authors discuss in detail psychiatric assessment for patients with suspected of having neurotoxicologic syndrome.