Nerve agents neuropsychiatric effects

In summary, studies intended to examine the neuropsychiatric effects of organophosphate compounds vary in their adequacy, and in some instances the results are contradictory. Most studies agree, however, that acute neuropsychiatric effects result from exposure to both insecticides and nerve agents. These effects include inability to concentrate, memory problems, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, depression, and problems with information processing and psychomotor tasks. With pesticides, these effects do not occur in the absence of the conventional signs of poisoning. 

Unfortunately, there are no data on the long-term effects of nerve agent poisoning in children, and the effects must be extrapolated from what has been discovered in the adult population (Rotenberg and Newmark, 2003). Surveillance studies performed on victims of the sarin attacks in Japan revealed a wide range of sequelae, such as continued respiratory problems, vision disturbances, headache, and fatigue. Neuropsychiatric problems were also reported as a delayed effect. 

NERVE AGENTS Polyneuropathy Muscle Necrosis Intermediate Syndrome Neuropsychiatric Effects Electroencephalographic Abnormalities Toxicological Studies on Nerve Agents... 

Many neuropsychiatric problems have been associated with a single exposure or repeated exposures to insecticides and to nerve agents. Generally, these symptoms were studied shortly after the patients were exposed, and the duration of the problems was not noted. However, several studies examined the effects long after the acute insult. The effects include disturbances in memory, sleep, and vigilance depression anxiety and irritability and problems with information processing. 

A report67 of 297 cases of accidental exposure to nerve agent among manufacturing workers indicated that about 20% of the individuals had neuropsychiatric effects such as disturbed sleep, disturbance in mood, irritability, nervousness, dis-... 

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