Medical Conditions with Behavioral Symptoms
The following pages contain a list of behaviors we may
observe and the medical conditions they may indicate. This is
by no means an exhaustive list. It is intended as a starting
point when we observe puzzling behaviors. In many
instances, loss of daily functioning may be the only sign of a
problem.
Throughout this list, a common theme in virtually every
instance is pain. Self-injury and aggression are the two most
obvious behavioral responses to pain. A person will often
hurt (hit, bang, gouge, etc.) the part of his or her body that is
hurting. It is also common for people to use self-injury as a
distraction from pain elsewhere in the body (counterstimulation). People may also avoid certain movements or
activities in an effort to mediate pain.
Another common theme is itching – an experience many
describe as more excruciating than pain. There are over 50
known conditions associated with itching, including allergies,
liver or kidney disease, parasites, diabetic neuropathy,
Multiple Sclerosis, mercury poisoning, and insect bites.
Closely related to pain and itching, neuropathy typically
manifests as a tingling, prickling, or burning sensation, or
numbness, usually in the extremities (hands and feet).
A general rule of thumb is to watch for what is touched,
numbed, or avoided by the behavioral response.
IF YOU SEE BEHAVIORS RELATED TO….
High pain tolerance
Sensory Avoidance:
Light Sensitivity
IT MIGHT MEAN…
A lot of experience with pain
Delirium
Neuropathy
Damage / disease of the eye
Migraine headache
Meningitis
Sound Sensitivity
Damage to inner ear
Bell’s Palsy
Lyme Disease
Migraine headache
Meniere’s Disease
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
Depression
Sensitivity toTouch (including refusal to wear
clothes / socks & shoes and refusal of
ADLs such as toothbrushing, shaving,
hair-combing, etc.)
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Migraine headache
Fibromyalgia
Adhesive Arachnoiditis (a type of spinal
inflammation)
Mouth:
Fist jammed in mouth / down throat
Biting side of hand w/ whole mouth
Biting thumb / objects with front teeth
Biting with back teeth
Gait / Walking:
Unusual gait
Walking on toes
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Eruption of teeth
Asthma
Rumination
Nausea
Sore throat
Sinus problems
Eustacian tube / ear problems
Eruption of wisdom teeth
Dental problems
Paresthesia / neuropathy of hand
Sinus problems
Eustachian tube / ear problems
Dental problems
Otitis (ear infection)
Muscle weakness
Krutzfeld-Jacob (“mad cow”) Disease
Liver failure
Arthritis in ankles / feet / hips / knees
Tight heel cords
Positional:
Uneven seat or frequent changes in position
Refuses / avoids sitting
Sudden sitting down
Stooped posture
Stretched forward
Movement Stimulation:
Intense rocking (w/ preoccupied look)
Whipping head forward
Waving head side to side
Waving fingers in front of eyes
Hip pain
Genital discomfort
Rectal discomfort
Akathisia
Back pain
Rectal discomfort
Anxiety disorder
Dislocation of vertebrae in neck
Cardiac problems
Seizures
Syncope (fainting)
Orthostasis (dizziness caused by standing
from a seated position)
Vertigo
Otitis (ear infection)
Muscle weakness
Krutzfeld-Jacob (“mad cow”) Disease
Liver failure
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Hip pain
Visceral pain
Headache
Chest or abdominal pain
Urinary pain or discomfort
Depression
Dislocation of vertebrae in neck
Dental problems
Declining peripheral vision
Reliance on peripheral vision
Pain (headache, earache, sinus pain /
pressure, toothache)
Migraine
Cataract
Seizures
Corneal abrasion
Itchy / irritated / inflamed eyes or eyelids
Ingestion / digestion:
Pica (eating non-food items)
Rumination (regurgitating & re-chewing)
Genital / Anal / Perineum:
Odd, unpleasurable masturbation
Perineal digging
Rectal digging
Fecal soiling / smearing
Skin (scratching, rubbing, gouging/ picking):
General, with rash
General
Stomach
Cigarette butts: nicotine addiction
Glass: suicidality
Paint chips: lead intoxication
Sticks, rocks, or other jagged objects:
Endogenous opiate addiction
Dirt: iron or other deficiency state
Feces: PTSD, psychosis
General: intestinal parasites / pinworms, iron
deficiency
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Hiatal hernia
Prostatitis (inflamed prostate gland)
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Unrinary retention
Candidas vaginitis
Pinworms
Erectile dysfunction
Repetition phenomena related to sexual
abuse / Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate
gland, esp. common in older males)
Vaginitis
Vulvitis
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
Estrogen deficiency (esp. common in
perimenopausal women)
Diarrhea
Pinworms / Intestinal parasites
Hemorrhoids
Constipation / Impaction
Diarrhea
Genital pain / discomfort
Eczema
Psoriasis
Dermatitis
Side effect of medication
Liver disorder
Kidney disorder
Scabies
Gastritis
Ulcer
Pancreatitis
Porphyria
Gall bladder disease
Chest
Asthma
Pneumonia
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Costochondritis (“Slipped Rib Syndrome”)
Angina
Other:
Head-banging / hitting head
Self-restraining / binding
Hugging chest
Breath-holding
Hyperventilation
Left-handed or fingertip handshake
Speaking slowly / softly / hesitantly
Pain (localized to head or as a distraction
from visceral pain)
Migraine
Dental problems
Otitis (ear infection)
Mastoiditis (ear infection that has spread to
the bone)
Eye / Vision problems
Sinus problems (allergies, infection)
Tinea Capitis (ringworm of scalp)
Seizures
Depression*
Hallucinations
Pain
Tic or other movement disorder
Seizures
Severe Sensory Integration deficits
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Paresthesias (prickling, tingling, or creeping
sensation on the skin)
Angina
Ashtma
Pneumonia
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Costochondritis (“Slipped Rib Syndrome”)
Gastro-intestinal problems
Gastro-intestinal problems
Pain in hands / Arthritis
Frightening previous setting
Fibromyalgia
Abdominal adhesions
Cervical spine conditions
*Dr. Ruth (Ryan) Myers asserts that in people with
Intellectual Disability, the most common reason
for head-banging is Depression.
Information provided by:
Northwest Health Connections
A Division of Milestone Centers, Inc.
NWHC
247 Hospital Drive
Warren, PA 16365
Phone: 814-728-9400
Fax: 814 728-8887
website:
www.northwesthc.org