Cluster analysis was carried out on a sample of 92 patients with
behavior disorders caused by degenerative, vascular, (alcohol) toxic, and other diseases of the brain. Rating variables of the
AMDP system concerning mental state, social behavior, need for special care,
sleep disorders, autonomic, physical, and
neurologic symptoms were used in the absence of severe degrees of disordered consciousness such as stupor,
coma,
delirium tremens, and gross cerebral lesions. Results suggested the existence of four major groups of global
cognitive impairment combined with
neurasthenia and irritability in the first,
hypochondriasis and depression in the second,
withdrawal symptoms in the third, and severe disorientation in the fourth. At the seven-group level the groups were further distinguished according to severe withdrawal, amnestic syndrome, and
dementia by various social and illness behaviors, sleep-wakefulness pattern, hypo- or hyperactivity, additional physical, and
neurologic symptoms. Other minor types of organic brain syndromes were identified as individual cases by
hallucinations or other circumscribed cognitive, psychomotor, affect, motivation, personality, and/or behavior disorder, symptomatic manic, or schizophreniform
psychosis. The findings lent support to old classifications and new ones of organic mental syndromes (DSM-III).