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Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Also known as: neuropsychiatric disorders, behavioral neurology.

What are neuropsychiatric disorders?

Neuropsychiatric disorder is a blanket medical term that encompasses a broad range of medical conditions that involve both neurology and psychiatry. 

Common neuropsychiatric disorders include:

Neuropsychiatric disorders in children can range widely in cause, course, and severity.

What causes neuropsychiatric disorders in children?

Some of the most common causes include:

In some cases, cause may be unknown, may be related to other factors.

What are the symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders?

The key component of neuropsychiatric disorders is that the symptoms tend to impact brain function, emotion and mood.

These can range from problems with focus and learning in the case of ADHD to sadness, irritability, memory problems, mood problems, depression to a variety of other psychiatric and/or neurological symptoms.

What are neuropsychiatric disorder care options?

Medications, psychological and/or psychiatric therapy are common treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. Specific treatments will vary based on the precise cause, clinical presentation and severity.

Most common neuropsychiatric treatments

  • Psychostimulants. These stimulant medications can improve concentration by increasing activity in the frontal lobe of the brain.
  • Mood stabilizers. These medications make moods less severe or extreme in people who need them.
  • Antidepressants. These medications help to relieve the symptoms of anxiety or depression.
  • Cholinergic medications. These types of medication can help with memory problems by making neurons work more effectively.
  • Antipsychotic medications. For individuals with psychotic symptoms, these medications can make them less severe.
  • Sleep aids. Some with neuropsychiatric conditions have sleep problems and require medical aid.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy. This form of therapy helps individuals pinpoint the triggers of their negative emotions and learn to respond to them in a more useful manner.
  • Neurostimulation techniques. Some conditions, such as mania or depression, respond to pulses of electrical energy that stimulate areas of the brain.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: September 16, 2025 12:26 PM

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