Our brains control every aspect of who we are, what we think, and feel. Some people who have brain tumours find they experience personality changes.
WHAT SORT OF PERSONALITY CHANGES MIGHT I EXPERIENCE?
While a certain amount of personality changes might be experienced due to the natural reaction to diagnosis and treatment, not everyone with a brain tumour will experience personality changes that could be classed as problematic. Some personality changes may include:
- Irritability or aggression
- Disinhibition - loss of inhibitions or restraints and behaving in socially or culturally unacceptable ways
- Confusion and forgetfulness
- Apathy (lack of interest and motivation)
- Depression and blunting/flattening of emotion
- Anxiety
- Mood swings (known as 'emotional lability')
- Difficulty planning and organising
- Difficulty identifying emotions in yourself and others
HOW CAN BRAIN TUMOURS CAUSE PERSONALITY CHANGES?
As a brain tumour grows, it puts pressure on surrounding tissue affecting the function, process, or part of the body that is controlled by that area of the brain. Personality changes are most common in people when the tumour is located in their frontal lobe, which controls personality, behaviour and emotions, problem solving and long-term memory. Personality changes can also be caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland which controls hormone levels.
Swelling in the brain can result from treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Personality changes that have occurred as a direct or indirect result of these treatments usually pass gradually as you recover. Large tumours can have a greater effect as they affect a greater area.
However, even a small tumour in a key structure of the brain can have a significant impact.
Personality changes might be experienced as a natural reaction to the diagnosis and treatment. The emotional impact of the diagnosis, undergoing treatment, and the lifestyle changes that are often necessary for a person living with a brain tumour, can affect mood, general persona and can cause a person to become more irritable.
HOW TO DEAL WITH PERSONALITY CHANGES?
To help cope with personality change, it is always a good idea to speak to your doctor. They will be able to talk through options available to you such as medication. Steroids help to bring down swelling, which can lessen personality changes that have occurred as a result of swelling. Your doctor may also prescribe medications, such as tranquilisers or anti-depressants to manage anxiety, aggression, and depression.
If you are living with a brain tumour and are aware, or concerned that you may be acting inappropriately, you may find it helpful to pay close attention to others' reactions and responses.
This may help give you an idea of whether the way you are acting is in any way inappropriate.
WHY KIMS?
KIMS has a resident core group of psychologists, neuropsychologists and psychiatrists who work full time to help patients and their families cope with the emotional and cognitive difficulties associated with having a brain tumour:
Some of the services offered include:
- Teaching stress management and relaxation techniques
- Neuropsychological screening
- Symptom management for health related anxiety and depression
- Helping patients conceptualize the grief process in illness
- Facilitating adaptation to disability
- Appraising and restructuring cognitive mechanisms of coping
- Facilitating communication with family members and caregivers
- Educational support groups