Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the person.
Alternative Names
Acting strangely
Considerations
Unusual or strange behavior may include:
Loss of memory that continues over time or gets worse
Loss of the ability to concentrate and perform other mental tasks
Causes
There are many causes of unusual or strange behavior, including medical and psychiatric illnesses. Two of the more common causes are:
Delirium -- Sudden or quick onset of reduced consciousness, awareness, perception, or thought that may be a symptom of a medical illness such as brain or mental dysfunction
Dementia -- Chronic, worsening loss of cognitive function that occurs with brain disorders
Possible causes of strange behavior in older people include:
Environmental causes -- change the environment or change environments
Low thyroid function -- see your health care provider about thyroid hormone replacement treatment
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your regular health care provider or a doctor who treats disorders of the nervous system (neurologist) if:
The unusual or strange behavior is severe, long-term, unexplained, or is affecting your life
You have dementia or delirium
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The health care provider will perform a physical examination and will take a medical history. The physical examination will probably include a detailed evaluation of the nervous system (neurological evaluation).
Medical history questions may include:
What unusual behaviors are present?
How much is the lifestyle affected?
Can the person eat, dress, and perform other everyday activities?
When did the unusual behavior begin?
Is it getting worse, better, or staying about the same?
Review Date:
2/13/2008
Reviewed By:
Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
