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Does A Head Injury Cause Extreme Bout Of Anger In An Elderly Person?
Posted on
Mon, 28 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 28 Dec 2015
Answered on
Thu, 21 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Twice in the past 6 months I have reacted with rage to an interaction with neighbors (I consider my friends) and that rage was totally way off the scale compared to the smallness of my perceived slight in the interaction. I used the worst bad language words that come into my mind. I had no filter whatsoever. It was shocking. This last outburst (a few days ago) was really really shocking.
I am 75, live alone in a small California town. widow. no children and no other family. I have many friends and am generally respected for my intelligence, energy and work background. In April 2015 I fell from a stepstool and hit the back of my head hard on the concrete patio. Went to ER with my neighbor. Cat scan. Nothing wrong. Oddly, I did not even have a headache, no concussion. Nothing except a bloody abrasion on the spot where my head hit the concrete.
My name is XXXXXXX Someone suggested to me that these unfiltered outbursts might be the onset of dementia. I do not know. I am functioning normally in all ways.
I am 75, live alone in a small California town. widow. no children and no other family. I have many friends and am generally respected for my intelligence, energy and work background. In April 2015 I fell from a stepstool and hit the back of my head hard on the concrete patio. Went to ER with my neighbor. Cat scan. Nothing wrong. Oddly, I did not even have a headache, no concussion. Nothing except a bloody abrasion on the spot where my head hit the concrete.
My name is XXXXXXX Someone suggested to me that these unfiltered outbursts might be the onset of dementia. I do not know. I am functioning normally in all ways.
Brief Answer:
Consultation required
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and thanks very much for your question.
I'm sorry you're going through this, I'm sure it must be unsettling. Let me give you my thoughts on the matter.
First, and perhaps least likely, this may be related to your head injury in April. Sometimes head injuries can result in small changes in the brain that can affect personality. A CT scan is intended to rule out major bleeds, but you likely need a much more sensitive test: an MRI. I would visit a neurologist to see if an MRI is something that may be helpful to rule out more subtle damage.
The next most likely consideration is indeed the onset of dementia. I would undergo a screening test such as an MMSE or MoCA administered by a physician. The particular type of dementia with the biggest changes to personality is frontotemporal dementia, but all types can affect personality in subtle ways.
The most likely thing, however, is simply that this is an isolated emotional reaction tied to these particular people. I could explore this in depth with you, as to why you are having such a strong reaction now, but this is the simplest and most likely explanation.
Once you are satisfied, kindly remember to rate 5 stars and close this answer thread.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below after asking a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, or individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Consultation required
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and thanks very much for your question.
I'm sorry you're going through this, I'm sure it must be unsettling. Let me give you my thoughts on the matter.
First, and perhaps least likely, this may be related to your head injury in April. Sometimes head injuries can result in small changes in the brain that can affect personality. A CT scan is intended to rule out major bleeds, but you likely need a much more sensitive test: an MRI. I would visit a neurologist to see if an MRI is something that may be helpful to rule out more subtle damage.
The next most likely consideration is indeed the onset of dementia. I would undergo a screening test such as an MMSE or MoCA administered by a physician. The particular type of dementia with the biggest changes to personality is frontotemporal dementia, but all types can affect personality in subtle ways.
The most likely thing, however, is simply that this is an isolated emotional reaction tied to these particular people. I could explore this in depth with you, as to why you are having such a strong reaction now, but this is the simplest and most likely explanation.
Once you are satisfied, kindly remember to rate 5 stars and close this answer thread.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below after asking a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, or individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Dr. Sheppe, Thank you for your response to my question. (I was only able to get to this thank you with the help of HCM's customer service.)
I have no intention to discuss my life via the internet - but I have one more question: Does anyone in the field of psychiatry say (from direct observation) that a trauma experienced in childhood and long "forgotten" can sometimes be brought to the fore in one's later life by a trigger incident? I suspect that the answer is Yes. But what happened to me a few days ago was a minor incident. It is the volume of my eruption of rage in response to the incident and the language in which I erupted that causes me great concern. XXXXXXX
I have no intention to discuss my life via the internet - but I have one more question: Does anyone in the field of psychiatry say (from direct observation) that a trauma experienced in childhood and long "forgotten" can sometimes be brought to the fore in one's later life by a trigger incident? I suspect that the answer is Yes. But what happened to me a few days ago was a minor incident. It is the volume of my eruption of rage in response to the incident and the language in which I erupted that causes me great concern. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome! It's my pleasure.
The answer to your question is yes. Trauma experienced even at a very young age can resurface to any number of triggering events even in much later life. It is certainly possible that this eruption is linked in some way to a childhood trauma. We see this all the time.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After asking a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, or individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Followup
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome! It's my pleasure.
The answer to your question is yes. Trauma experienced even at a very young age can resurface to any number of triggering events even in much later life. It is certainly possible that this eruption is linked in some way to a childhood trauma. We see this all the time.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After asking a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, or individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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