Mental nervous migrating pain predominantly on the right. List of common mental illnesses with descriptions. Different types of disorders and their symptoms

In our troubled times, you rarely see anyone with a serene expression on their face. The increasing pace of life, an avalanche of unresolved issues, the solution of numerous problems confront each of us in all its severity and frightening proportions. Whether it is a schoolboy trying to understand a difficult subject; a teenage girl living with her stepfather; the father of a large family, seeking means to feed his children; a teacher hoping for an increase in pay for his hard work, an entrepreneur wanting to increase the profits of his business - everyone, without exception, goes through a period of testing the strength of their nervous system.
If we think about it, we can remember only a few friends or acquaintances who themselves managed to cope with their condition in difficult life circumstances and remain unperturbed, maintaining a clear head when solving current problems.
The problem of goodness remains a hot topic today. We will talk about those types of neuropsychic disorders that we inevitably encounter most often in everyday life in this article. MirSovetov deliberately tried to get away from strict medical terminology in order to present everything in a form accessible to a wide range of readers.

Neuroses

The first step to exhaustion of the nervous system is elementary. Agree, how often we begin to imagine incredible things, drawing various horrors, and then it turns out that all the worries are in vain. Then, as a critical situation develops, anxiety can result in more serious nervous disorders, which leads to disturbances not only in a person’s mental perception, but also to failures of various internal organ systems.
In our lives, we most often encounter this type of neuropsychic disorder, such as neuroses, the number of manifestations of which amazes our imagination. For example, fear neurosis leads to stomach ulcers and problems with cardiac activity; motor neurosis (tics, involuntary twitching of body parts or stuttering) – to the inability to perform natural body movements.
The word “neurosis” covers a broad group of mental disorders. The cause of neurosis can be any difficult event for a particular person or a problem that lasts for a long time (in the family, at work). This naturally affects both the mental state (resistance to psychological stress is minimal) and the physiological state (rapid heartbeat, disruption of the stomach, etc.).
As an example of events leading to neurosis, MirSovetov can cite fear of losing loved ones, the threat of separation from a loved one, worries about possible financial crises or a decrease in status in a career. If a person is in a frantic cycle of urgent matters, tries to redo them in a short time and does not have time, if he does not get enough sleep, is malnourished, if he suffers some kind of serious illness - all this also sooner or later leads to a mental disorder.
What is important: with neuroses, a person’s consciousness is clear, he can give a satisfactory explanation of what is happening and strives to get out of traumatic circumstances. In women, the frequency of this manifestation is much higher than in men, which is explained by a special type of organization of their emotionality and perception of current events. They are more open, taking their experiences to heart, worrying about the slightest reason. As for men, their logical component prevails over emotions and sensitivity, which helps them assess situations detached from feelings and search for a rational solution to the problem.
Other forms of neuroses - neurasthenia, obsessive-compulsive neurosis, hysteria - refer to more profound manifestations of a person’s mental state and are their clinical variants.

Neurasthenia

A mental disorder such as neurasthenia occurs in response to prolonged exposure to a traumatic situation and is accompanied by high human fatigue, exhaustion of mental activity against the background of excessive excitability and constant grumpiness over trifles. Moreover, excitability and irritability are protective methods against the final destruction of nerves. People with a sense of duty and anxiety, as well as those who do not get enough sleep and are burdened with many worries are especially prone to neurasthenia.
The mental disorder develops slowly, while the symptoms characteristic of general neurosis become more complicated and sensitivity to external influences, such as air temperature, lighting brightness, and the strength of tactile touches, increases. Everything is perceived quite sharply by patients and causes a strong outbreak of irritability and discontent. In addition to external stimuli, internal changes in the state (headache, palpitations, heaviness in the stomach, weakness in the legs, etc.) are very disturbing; deterioration in thought processes and memory is also noticeable, attention weakens, general performance decreases, rest does not bring the desired relief. In the sexual sphere, women's desire decreases, men may suffer, and these factors often lead to additional problems in family relationships, including their breakup.
To prevent the development of neurasthenia, MirSovetov recommends wisely alternating work with proper rest and walks in the fresh air. If it is impossible to eliminate the impact of a traumatic situation, it is useful to do something simple that will help distract you from negative thoughts.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive neurosis is accompanied by repeated repetition in a person’s mind of the same thoughts that have no significance for him, the performance of a series of obligatory movements before any task, and the emergence of absurd obsessive desires. The emotions of people in such a state are based on a feeling of fear and fear of acting contrary to their inner voice, no matter how absurd it may be.
Conscientious, fearful people, unsteady in their decisions and dependent on the opinions of strangers are more often susceptible to such a mental disorder.
There is a separate group of obsessive fears, for example, fear of the dark, fear of seeing spiders, fear of heights, etc. They occur in completely healthy people, the reason for their occurrence is associated with a combination of a traumatic situation and this particular factor, for example, the fear of the dark can stem from childhood memories when the child was specially frightened by all sorts of monsters and horror stories before going to bed.
Confidence in one’s importance, development of independence and independence from others helps to avoid the occurrence of such a mental disorder. Children need to be protected from “scary” literature unusual for their age, from monster toys, and to exclude methods of threats in their upbringing.

Hysterical neurosis


A pathological perception develops; for the patient, being in a hysterical state becomes pleasant; it is very difficult to bring him out of this state. The range of manifestations is very wide: from stamping feet, pulling out hair to rolling on the floor in convulsions, this is how the patient derives certain benefits and can manipulate both his loved ones and strangers. For example, capricious children, deprived of attention, try to attract their parents to themselves with such manifestations, a hysterical wife can achieve the desired thing from her husband in this way, etc. Fulfilling whims and demands creates something like a conditioned reflex, when a person, falling into hysteria, gets what he wants, the behavior is reinforced and becomes a personal characteristic. Moreover, women are more prone to such mental disorders.
Hysterical neurosis can last from several minutes, hours to several years, and the longer the period it spreads, the stronger the mental disorder can be, and only by changing a person’s attitude towards his illness and seizures can the cessation of this disease be achieved.
MirSovetov draws your attention to the fact that in order to prevent attacks of hysterical neurosis, temporary isolation of a person from others is useful - as a rule, this condition quickly passes, because the presence of an audience creates conditions for demonstrating one’s desires and imaginary grave condition.

Depression

Neurotic disorders also include depression, which is characterized by a lack of joy, a pessimistic perception of life, sadness and reluctance to change anything in one’s life. It may be accompanied by insomnia, refusal to eat, refusal of sexual intercourse, and lack of desire to do one’s business, including what one loves. Often the manifestation is expressed in a person’s apathy to what is happening, melancholy; he seems to be in his own dimension, not noticing the people around him. For some, depression prompts them to turn to alcohol, drugs, and other substances that are harmful to their health. The worsening of depression is dangerous because the patient, losing criticality and adequacy of thinking, can commit suicide, unable to bear the burden of the severity of this disease.
Depression is hard to bear if a person lives alone, so MirSovetov recommends that family and friends should never leave such a person alone with themselves, and unobtrusively involve him in the general rhythm of life without overloading him with things. When communicating with him, remind him more often that this condition is temporary, and soon he will come to life again, will be, as before, cheerful, be sure to maintain his faith in his recovery.
You can avoid the development of depression on your own by properly organizing your daily and rest schedule, in which there should not be much space given to idle and aimless pastime. Interesting hobbies, hobbies, varied activities have a positive effect on overall well-being, charging you with cheerfulness and energy.

In the continuation of this article, we will talk about how to become a psychotherapist for yourself, in more detail, in the form of advice, we will tell you how you can protect yourself from all the mental disorders mentioned in this material, and even, on the contrary, improve the state of your psyche.

Nowadays, mental disorders occur in hardly every second person. The disease does not always have clear clinical manifestations. However, some deviations cannot be neglected. The concept of normal has a wide range, but inaction, with obvious signs of illness, only aggravates the situation.


Mental illnesses in adults, children: list and description

Sometimes, different ailments have the same symptoms, but in most cases, diseases can be divided and classified. Major mental illnesses - a list and description of deviations may attract the attention of loved ones, but the final diagnosis can only be established by an experienced psychiatrist. He will also prescribe treatment based on symptoms, coupled with clinical studies. The sooner a patient seeks help, the greater the chance of successful treatment. You need to discard stereotypes and not be afraid to face the truth. Nowadays, mental illness is not a death sentence, and most of them can be successfully treated if the patient turns to doctors for help in time. Most often, the patient himself is not aware of his condition, and his loved ones should take on this mission. The list and description of mental illnesses is created for informational purposes only. Perhaps your knowledge will save the lives of those you care about, or dispel your worries.

Agoraphobia with panic disorder

Agoraphobia, to one degree or another, accounts for about 50% of all anxiety disorders. If initially the disorder meant only a fear of open space, now fear of fear has been added to this. That’s right, a panic attack occurs in a situation where there is a high probability of falling, getting lost, getting lost, etc., and fear cannot cope with this. Agoraphobia expresses nonspecific symptoms, that is, increased heart rate and sweating can also occur with other disorders. All symptoms of agoraphobia are exclusively subjective, experienced by the patient himself.

Alcoholic dementia

Ethyl alcohol, when consumed regularly, acts as a toxin that destroys the brain functions responsible for human behavior and emotions. Unfortunately, only alcoholic dementia can be monitored and its symptoms identified, but treatment will not restore lost brain functions. You can slow down alcohol-induced dementia, but not completely cure the person. Symptoms of alcohol-induced dementia include slurred speech, memory loss, sensory loss, and lack of logic.

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Allotriophagy

Some people are surprised when children or pregnant women combine incompatible foods, or, in general, eat something inedible. Most often, this is how a lack of certain microelements and vitamins in the body is expressed. This is not a disease, and is usually “treated” by taking a vitamin complex. With allotriophagy, people eat something that is basically not edible: glass, dirt, hair, iron, and this is a mental disorder, the causes of which are not only a lack of vitamins. Most often this is shock, plus vitamin deficiency, and, as a rule, treatment also needs to be approached comprehensively.

Anorexia

In our time of craze for gloss, the mortality rate from anorexia is 20%. The obsessive fear of getting fat makes you refuse to eat, even to the point of complete exhaustion. If you recognize the first signs of anorexia, a difficult situation can be avoided and measures can be taken in time. The first symptoms of anorexia:

Setting the table turns into a ritual, with counting calories, fine cutting, and arranging/spreading food on a plate. My entire life and interests focus only on food, calories, and weighing myself five times a day.

Autism

Autism - what is this disease, and how treatable is it? Only half of children diagnosed with autism have functional brain disorders. Children with autism think differently than normal children. They understand everything, but cannot express their emotions due to impaired social interaction. Ordinary children grow up and copy the behavior of adults, their gestures, facial expressions and thus learn to communicate, but with autism, non-verbal communication is impossible. They do not strive for loneliness, they simply do not know how to establish contact themselves. With due attention and special training, this can be somewhat corrected.

Delirium tremens

Delirium tremens refers to psychosis caused by prolonged drinking. Signs of delirium tremens are represented by a very wide range of symptoms. Hallucinations - visual, tactile and auditory, delusions, rapid mood swings from blissful to aggressive. To date, the mechanism of brain damage has not been fully understood, and there is no complete cure for this disorder.

Alzheimer's disease

Many types of mental disorders are incurable, and Alzheimer's disease is one of them. The first signs of Alzheimer's disease in men are nonspecific and are not immediately obvious. After all, all men forget birthdays and important dates, and this does not surprise anyone. In Alzheimer's disease, short-term memory is the first to suffer, and the person literally forgets the day. Aggression and irritability appear, and this is also attributed to a manifestation of character, thereby missing the moment when it was possible to slow down the course of the disease and prevent too rapid dementia.

Pick's disease

Niemann-Pick disease in children is exclusively hereditary, and is divided according to severity into several categories, based on mutations in a certain pair of chromosomes. Classic category “A” is a death sentence for a child, and death occurs by the age of five. Symptoms of Niemann Pick disease appear in the first two weeks of a child's life. Lack of appetite, vomiting, clouding of the cornea and enlarged internal organs, which causes the child’s belly to become disproportionately large. Damage to the central nervous system and metabolism leads to death. Categories “B”, “C”, and “D” are not so dangerous, since the central nervous system is not affected so quickly, this process can be slowed down.

Bulimia

What kind of disease is bulimia, and does it need to be treated? In fact, bulimia is not just a mental disorder. A person does not control his feeling of hunger and eats literally everything. At the same time, the feeling of guilt forces the patient to take a lot of laxatives, emetics, and miracle drugs for weight loss. Obsessing over your weight is just the tip of the iceberg. Bulimia occurs due to functional disorders of the central nervous system, pituitary disorders, brain tumors, the initial stage of diabetes, and bulimia is only a symptom of these diseases.

Hallucinosis

The causes of hallucinosis syndrome occur against the background of encephalitis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, hemorrhage, or tumors. With complete clear consciousness, the patient may experience visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory hallucinations. A person may see the world around him in a somewhat distorted form, and the faces of his interlocutors may appear as cartoon characters or geometric figures. The acute form of hallucinosis can last up to two weeks, but you should not relax if the hallucinations have passed. Without identifying the causes of hallucinations and appropriate treatment, the disease may return.

Dementia

Senile disease is a consequence of Alzheimer's disease, and is often referred to as “senile insanity.” The stages of development of dementia can be divided into several periods. At the first stage, there are memory lapses, and sometimes the patient forgets where he went and what he did a minute ago.

The next stage is loss of orientation in space and time. The patient can get lost even in his own room. This is followed by hallucinations, delusions, and sleep disturbances. In some cases, dementia progresses very quickly, and the patient completely loses the ability to reason, speak and care for himself within two to three months. With proper care and supportive therapy, the prognosis for life expectancy after the onset of dementia is from 3 to 15 years, depending on the causes of dementia, care for the patient, and the individual characteristics of the body.

Depersonalization

Depersonalization syndrome is characterized by a loss of connection with oneself. The patient cannot perceive himself, his actions, words, as his own, and looks at himself from the outside. In some cases, this is a defensive reaction of the psyche to shock, when you need to evaluate your actions from the outside without emotions. If this disorder does not resolve within two weeks, treatment is prescribed based on the severity of the disease.

Depression

It is impossible to answer unequivocally whether it is a disease or not. This is an affective disorder, that is, a mood disorder, but it affects the quality of life and can lead to disability. A pessimistic attitude triggers other mechanisms that destroy the body. Another option is possible, when depression is a symptom of other diseases of the endocrine system or pathology of the central nervous system.

Dissociative fugue

Dissociative fugue is an acute mental disorder that occurs against a background of stress. The patient leaves his home, moves to a new place, and everything connected with his personality: first name, last name, age, profession, etc., is erased from his memory. At the same time, the memory of books read, of some experience, but not related to his personality, is preserved. A dissociative fugue can last from two weeks to many years. Memory may return suddenly, but if this does not happen, you should seek qualified help from a psychotherapist. Under hypnosis, as a rule, the cause of the shock is found, and the memory returns.

Stuttering

Stuttering is a violation of the tempo-rhythmic organization of speech, expressed by spasms of the speech apparatus; as a rule, stuttering occurs in physically and psychologically weak people who are too dependent on the opinions of others. The area of ​​the brain responsible for speech is adjacent to the area responsible for emotions. Violations that occur in one area inevitably affect another.

gambling addiction

Gambling addiction is considered a disease of weak people. This is a personality disorder, and treatment is complicated by the fact that there is no cure for gambling addiction. Against the background of loneliness, immaturity, greed, or laziness, addiction to the game develops. The quality of treatment for gambling addiction depends solely on the wishes of the patient himself, and consists of constant self-discipline.

Idiocy

Idiocy is classified in the ICD as profound mental retardation. General characteristics of personality and behavior correspond to the level of development of a three-year-old child. Patients with idiocy are practically incapable of learning and live solely by instincts. Typically, patients have an IQ level of about 20, and treatment consists of nursing care.

Imbecility

In the International Classification of Diseases, imbecility was replaced by the term “mental retardation.” Intellectual development disorder in the degree of imbecility represents an average level of mental retardation. Congenital imbecility is a consequence of intrauterine infection or defects in fetal formation. The level of development of an imbecile corresponds to the development of a 6-9 year old child. They are moderately trainable, but it is impossible for an imbecile to live independently.

Hypochondria

It manifests itself in an obsessive search for illnesses in oneself. The patient carefully listens to his body and looks for symptoms that confirm the presence of the disease. Most often, such patients complain of tingling, numbness of the limbs and other nonspecific symptoms, requiring doctors to make an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes, patients with hypochondria are so confident in their serious illness that the body, under the influence of the psyche, malfunctions and actually gets sick.

Hysteria

The signs of hysteria are quite violent, and, as a rule, women suffer from this personality disorder. With hysterical disorder, there is a strong manifestation of emotions, and some theatricality, and pretense. A person strives to attract attention, arouse pity, and achieve something. Some consider this just whims, but, as a rule, such a disorder is quite serious, since a person cannot control his emotions. Such patients need psychocorrection, since hysterics are aware of their behavior and suffer from incontinence no less than their loved ones.

Kleptomania

This psychological disorder refers to a desire disorder. The exact nature has not been studied, however, it has been noted that kleptomania is a comorbidity with other psychopathic disorders. Sometimes kleptomania manifests itself as a result of pregnancy or in adolescents, during hormonal changes in the body. The desire to steal with kleptomania does not have the goal of getting rich. The patient seeks only the thrill of the very fact of committing an illegal act.

Cretinism

Types of cretinism are divided into endemic and sporadic. As a rule, sporadic cretinism is caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormones during embryonic development. Endemic cretinism is caused by a lack of iodine and selenium in the mother's diet during pregnancy. In the case of cretinism, early treatment is of great importance. If, for congenital cretinism, therapy is started at 2-4 weeks of a child’s life, the degree of his development will not lag behind the level of his peers.

"Culture shock

Many people do not take culture shock and its consequences seriously, however, a person’s condition during culture shock should raise concerns. People often experience culture shock when moving to another country. At first a person is happy, he likes different food, different songs, but soon he is faced with the deepest differences in deeper layers. Everything that he is accustomed to consider normal and ordinary goes against his worldview in the new country. Depending on the characteristics of the person and the motives for moving, there are three ways to resolve the conflict:

1. Assimilation. Complete acceptance of a foreign culture and dissolution in it, sometimes in an exaggerated form. One’s own culture is belittled and criticized, and the new one is considered more developed and ideal.

2. Ghettoization. That is, creating your own world inside a foreign country. This is isolated living and limited external contact with the local population.

3. Moderate assimilation. In this case, the individual will retain in his home everything that was customary in his homeland, but at work and in society he tries to acquire a different culture and observes the customs generally accepted in this society.

Persecution mania

Persecution mania - in one word, a real disorder can be characterized as spy mania, or stalking. Persecution mania can develop against the background of schizophrenia, and manifests itself in excessive suspicion. The patient is convinced that he is an object of surveillance by the special services, and suspects everyone, even his loved ones, of espionage. This schizophrenic disorder is difficult to treat, since it is impossible to convince the patient that the doctor is not an intelligence officer, and the pill is a medicine.

Misanthropy

A form of personality disorder characterized by dislike of people, even hatred. What is misanthropy, and how to recognize a misanthrope? The misanthrope opposes himself to society, its weaknesses and imperfections. To justify his hatred, a misanthrope often elevates his philosophy into a kind of cult. A stereotype has been created that a misanthrope is an absolutely closed hermit, but this is not always the case. The misanthrope carefully selects who to let into his personal space and who may be his equal. In severe form, the misanthrope hates all of humanity as a whole and can call for mass murders and wars.

Monomania

Monomania is a psychosis expressed in concentration on one thought, with complete preservation of reason. In current psychiatry, the term “monomania” is considered outdated and too general. Currently, they distinguish “pyromania”, “kleptomania” and so on. Each of these psychoses has its own roots, and treatment is prescribed based on the severity of the disorder.

Obsessive states

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is characterized by the inability to get rid of intrusive thoughts or actions. As a rule, individuals with a high level of intelligence and a high level of social responsibility suffer from OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder manifests itself in endless thinking about unnecessary things. How many checks are on the jacket of a fellow traveler, how old is the tree, why does the bus have round headlights, etc.

The second variant of the disorder is obsessive actions, or double-checking of actions. The most common impact is related to cleanliness and order. The patient endlessly washes everything, folds it and washes it again, to the point of exhaustion. The syndrome of persistent states is difficult to treat, even with the use of complex therapy.

Narcissistic personality disorder

The signs of narcissistic personality disorder are not difficult to recognize. prone to inflated self-esteem, confident in their own ideality and perceive any criticism as envy. This is a behavioral personality disorder, and it is not as harmless as it may seem. Narcissistic individuals are confident in their own permissiveness and have the right to something more than everyone else. Without a twinge of conscience, they can destroy other people’s dreams and plans, because it doesn’t matter to them.

Neurosis

Is obsessive-compulsive disorder a mental illness or not, and how difficult is it to diagnose the disorder? Most often, the disease is diagnosed based on patient complaints, psychological testing, MRI and CT scans of the brain. Neuroses are often a symptom of a brain tumor, aneurysm, or previous infections.

Mental retardation

This is a form of mental retardation in which the patient does not develop mentally. Oligophrenia is caused by intrauterine infections, defects in genes, or hypoxia during childbirth. Treatment of oligophrenia consists of social adaptation of patients and teaching simple self-care skills. For such patients there are special kindergartens and schools, but it is rarely possible to achieve development beyond the level of a ten-year-old child.

Panic attacks

A fairly common disorder, however, the causes of the disease are unknown. Most often, doctors write VSD in the diagnosis, since the symptoms are very similar. There are three categories of panic attacks:

1. Spontaneous panic attack. Fear, increased sweating and heart palpitations occur without any reason. If such attacks occur regularly, somatic illnesses should be ruled out, and only then referred to a psychotherapist.

2. Situational panic attack. Many people have phobias. Some people are afraid to ride in an elevator, others are afraid of airplanes. Many psychologists successfully cope with such fears, and you should not delay visiting a doctor.

3. Panic attack when taking drugs or alcohol. In this situation, biochemical stimulation is evident, and a psychologist in this case will only help get rid of the addiction, if any.

Paranoia

Paranoia is a heightened sense of reality. Patients with paranoia can build the most complex logical chains and solve the most confusing problems, thanks to their non-standard logic. - a chronic disorder characterized by stages of calm and violent crises. During such periods, treating the patient is especially difficult, since paranoid ideas can be expressed in delusions of persecution, delusions of grandeur, and other ideas where the patient considers doctors enemies or they are unworthy to treat him.

Pyromania

Pyromania is a mental disorder characterized by a morbid passion for watching fire. Only such contemplation can bring the patient joy, satisfaction and peace. Pyromania is considered a type of OCD, due to the inability to resist the obsessive urge to set something on fire. Pyromaniacs rarely plan a fire in advance. This is a spontaneous lust that does not provide material gain or profit, and the patient feels relief after committing arson.

Psychoses

They are classified according to their origin. Organic psychosis occurs against the background of brain damage, as a result of previous infectious diseases (meningitis, encephalitis, syphilis, etc.)

1. Functional psychosis - with a physically intact brain, paranoid deviations occur.

2. Intoxication. The cause of intoxication psychosis is the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and poisons. Under the influence of toxins, nerve fibers are damaged, which leads to irreversible consequences and complicated psychoses.

3. Reactive. After suffering psychological trauma, psychosis, panic attacks, hysteria, and increased emotional excitability often occur.

4. Traumatic. Due to traumatic brain injuries, psychosis can manifest itself in the form of hallucinations, unreasonable fears, and obsessive states.

Self-injurious behavior "Patomimia"

Self-harming behavior in adolescents is expressed in self-hatred, and causing pain to oneself as a punishment for one’s weakness. In adolescence, children cannot always express their love, hatred, or fear, and auto-aggression helps to cope with this problem. Often pathomimia is accompanied by alcoholism, drug addiction or dangerous sports.

Seasonal depression

Behavioral disorder is expressed in apathy, depression, increased fatigue, and a general decrease in vital energy. All these are signs of seasonal depression, which mainly affects women. The causes of seasonal depression lie in decreased daylight hours. If loss of strength, drowsiness and melancholy began in late autumn and last until spring, this is seasonal depression. The production of serotonin and melatonin, hormones responsible for mood, is affected by the presence of bright sunlight, and if it is not there, the necessary hormones go into “hibernation.”

Sexual perversion

The psychology of sexual perversion changes from year to year. Certain sexual inclinations do not correspond to modern moral standards and generally accepted behavior. Different times and different cultures have their own understanding of the norm. What can be considered sexual perversion today:

Fetishism. The object of sexual desire becomes clothing or an inanimate object.
Egsbisionism. Sexual satisfaction is achieved only in public, by demonstrating one's genitals.
Voyeurism. Does not require direct participation in sexual intercourse, and is content to spy on the sexual intercourse of others.

Pedophilia. A painful urge to satisfy one’s sexual passion with children who have not reached puberty.
Sadomasochism. Sexual satisfaction is possible only in the case of causing or receiving physical pain or humiliation.

Senesthopathy

In psychology, senestopathy is one of the symptoms of hypochondria or depressive delirium. The patient feels pain, burning, tingling, for no particular reason. In a severe form of senesthopathy, the patient complains of freezing of the brain, itching of the heart and itching in the liver. Diagnosis of senestopathy begins with a complete medical examination to exclude somatic and nonspecific symptoms of diseases of the internal organs.

Negative Twin Syndrome

Negative twin delusion syndrome is also called Capgras syndrome. Psychiatry has not decided whether to consider this an independent disease or a symptom. A patient with negative twin syndrome is sure that one of his loved ones, or himself, has been replaced. All negative actions (crashed a car, stole a candy bar in a supermarket), all this is attributed to the double. Possible causes of this syndrome include the destruction of the connection between visual perception and emotional perception, due to defects in the fusiform gyrus.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation is expressed in bloating, flatulence, and impaired bowel movements. The most common cause of IBS is stress. Approximately 2/3 of all sufferers of IBS are women, and more than half of them suffer from mental disorders. Treatment for IBS is systemic and includes medications to relieve constipation, flatulence, or diarrhea, as well as antidepressants to relieve anxiety or depression.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

It is already reaching epidemic proportions. This is especially noticeable in large cities, where the pace of life is faster and the mental stress on a person is enormous. The symptoms of the disorder are quite variable and treatment at home is possible if this is the initial form of the disease. Frequent headaches, sleepiness throughout the day, fatigue, even after a vacation or weekend, food allergies, memory loss and inability to concentrate are all symptoms of CFS.

Burnout syndrome

Burnout syndrome among medical workers occurs after 2-4 years of work. The work of doctors is associated with constant stress; doctors often feel dissatisfied with themselves, with the patient, or feel helpless. After a certain time, they are overtaken by emotional exhaustion, expressed in indifference to other people’s pain, cynicism, or outright aggression. Doctors are taught to treat other people, but they don’t know how to deal with their own problem.

Vascular dementia

It is provoked by impaired blood circulation in the brain and is a progressive disease. Those who have high blood pressure, blood sugar, or a close relative have suffered from vascular dementia should be careful about their health. How long people live with this diagnosis depends on the severity of the brain damage and how carefully loved ones care for the patient. On average, after diagnosis, the patient's life expectancy is 5-6 years, subject to appropriate treatment and care.

Stress and adjustment disorder

Stress and behavioral adaptation disorders are quite persistent. Violation of behavioral adaptation usually manifests itself within three months, after the stress itself. As a rule, this is a strong shock, the loss of a loved one, a disaster, violence, etc. Behavioral adaptation disorder is expressed in violation of the rules of morality accepted in society, senseless vandalism, and actions that pose a danger to the life of oneself or others.
Without appropriate treatment, stress disorder of behavioral adaptation can last up to three years.

Suicidal behavior

As a rule, adolescents have not yet fully formed their idea of ​​death. Frequent suicide attempts are caused by the desire to relax, take revenge, and get away from problems. They do not want to die forever, but only for a while. Nevertheless, these attempts may be successful. To prevent suicidal behavior in adolescents, prevention should be carried out. A trusting relationship in the family, learning to cope with stress and resolve conflict situations - this significantly reduces the risk of suicidal feelings.

Madness

Madness is an outdated concept to define a whole range of mental disorders. Most often, the term madness is used in painting, in literature, along with another term - “madness”. By definition, insanity, or insanity, could be temporary, caused by pain, passion, obsession, and was generally treated with prayer or magic.

Tafophilia

Taphophilia manifests itself in an attraction to cemeteries and funeral rituals. The reasons for taphophilia mainly lie in cultural and aesthetic interest in monuments, rites and rituals. Some old necropolises are more like museums, and the atmosphere of the cemetery is peaceful and reconciles with life. Taphophiles are not interested in dead bodies or thoughts about death, and only have a cultural and historical interest. As a rule, taphophilia does not require treatment unless visiting cemeteries develops into obsessive OCD behavior.

Anxiety

Anxiety in psychology is unmotivated fear, or fear for minor reasons. In a person’s life, there is “useful anxiety”, which is a defense mechanism. Anxiety is the result of an analysis of the situation and a forecast of the consequences, how real the danger is. In the case of neurotic anxiety, a person cannot explain the reasons for his fear.

Trichotillomania

What is trichotillomania, and is it a mental disorder? Of course, trichotillomania belongs to the group of OCD and is aimed at tearing out one’s hair. Sometimes hair is pulled out unconsciously, and the patient may eat personal hair, which leads to gastrointestinal problems. Typically, trichotillomania is a reaction to stress. The patient feels a burning sensation in the hair follicle on the head, face, body and after pulling it out, the patient feels peace. Sometimes patients with trichotillomania become recluses because they are embarrassed by their appearance and ashamed of their behavior. Recent studies have revealed that patients with trichotillomania have damage in a certain gene. If these studies are confirmed, treatment for trichotillomania will be more successful.

Hikikomori

It is quite difficult to fully study the phenomenon of hikikomori. Basically, hikikomori deliberately isolate themselves from the outside world, and even from their family members. They do not work and do not leave their room unless absolutely necessary. They maintain contact with the world via the Internet, and can even work remotely, but they exclude communication and meetings in real life. Often hikikomori suffer from mental disorders of the autism spectrum, social phobia, and anxiety personality disorder. In countries with undeveloped economies, hikikomori practically does not occur.

Phobia

Phobia in psychiatry is fear, or excessive anxiety. As a rule, phobias are classified as mental disorders that do not require clinical research and psychocorrection can cope better. The exception is already ingrained phobias that go beyond a person’s control, disrupting his normal functioning.

Schizoid personality disorder

The diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder is made on the basis of symptoms characteristic of this disorder.
With schizoid personality disorder, the individual is characterized by emotional coldness, indifference, reluctance to socialize and a tendency to solitude.
Such people prefer to contemplate their inner world and do not share their experiences with loved ones, and are also indifferent to their appearance and how society reacts to it.

Schizophrenia

On the question: is this a congenital or acquired disease, there is no consensus. Presumably, for the appearance of schizophrenia, several factors must combine, such as genetic predisposition, living conditions, and socio-psychological environment. It is impossible to say that schizophrenia is an exclusively hereditary disease.

Selective mutism

Selective mutism in children 3-9 years old manifests itself in selective verbality. As a rule, at this age children go to kindergarten, school and find themselves in new conditions. Shy children have difficulty socializing, and this is reflected in their speech and behavior. At home they may talk incessantly, but at school they will not utter a sound. Selective mutism is classified as a behavioral disorder, and psychotherapy is indicated.

Encopresis

Sometimes parents ask the question: “Encopresis - what is it, and is it a mental disorder?” With encopresis, the child cannot control his stool. He can “big-time” shit his pants and not even understand what’s wrong. If this phenomenon occurs more than once a month and lasts at least six months, the child needs a comprehensive examination, including from a psychiatrist. When potty training a child, parents expect the child to get used to it the first time, and scold the child when he forgets about it. Then the child develops a fear of both the potty and defecation, which can result in mental encopresis and a host of gastrointestinal diseases.

Enuresis

As a rule, it goes away by the age of five, and no special treatment is required. You just need to follow a daily routine, don’t drink a lot of fluids at night, and be sure to empty your bladder before going to bed. Enuresis can also be caused by neurosis due to stressful situations, and traumatic factors for the child should be excluded.

Bedwetting is a major concern in adolescents and adults. Sometimes in such cases there is an anomaly in the development of the bladder, and, alas, there is no treatment for this, except for the use of an enuresis alarm.

Often mental disorders are perceived as a person’s character and they are blamed for things that, in fact, they are not guilty of. The inability to live in society, the inability to adapt to everyone is condemned, and the person turns out to be alone with his misfortune. The list of the most common ailments does not cover even a hundredth part of mental disorders, and in each specific case, symptoms and behavior may vary. If you are worried about the condition of a loved one, you should not let the situation take its course. If a problem interferes with your life, then it needs to be solved together with a specialist.

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Neuropsychiatric disorders are human conditions in which consciousness changes and acquires the character of destructive behavior.

This term is controversial in some ways and is interpreted differently by lawyers, psychiatrists and psychologists.

According to the ICD, a mental disorder is not the same as mental illness or mental illness. This term generally characterizes various types of failures of the human psyche.

From the perspective of psychiatry, it is not possible to identify biological, medical and social symptoms of mental disorders in all cases. Only sometimes this disorder may be based on a physiological disorder in the functioning of the body. Hence, ICD-10 uses the term “mental disorder” rather than “mental illness.”

All disruptions in the human psyche are caused by improper functioning of the brain, which can happen for two reasons:

  • exogenous (external) cause - poisoning with toxic substances, alcohol, drugs, radiation, infectious and viral diseases, psychological trauma, physical impact on the brain (shock), disruption of the vascular network.
  • endogenous (internal) cause - disturbances in the set of chromosomes, hereditary diseases transmitted genetically.

However, science has not yet fully figured out why mental disorders occur. Although these diseases affect almost twenty-five percent of the world's inhabitants.

The main causes of the development of mental disorders include biological and psychological environmental factors. Mental disorders are often passed from parents to children, making members of the same family often similar to each other. Psychological factors are a combination of genes and environment.

Some diseases are also provoking factors. These are elevated blood sugar levels, infections, sclerosis of cerebral vessels, and circulatory disorders in the brain.

A great danger is posed by alcoholism and alcoholism, which negatively affect the central nervous system and completely change a person’s character.

Dull autumn weather or failures in personal life can cause mental problems in any person, so during this period it is worth resorting to the help of vitamin complexes that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and the entire body as a whole.

Classification

For the convenience of psychiatrists, WHO has developed a system in which mental disorders are differentiated by cause and symptoms.

  • Disorders caused by brain lesions

These are the conditions in which a person remains after a head injury, stroke and some other systemic diseases. Damage to both higher brain functions (the ability to remember, think and learn new things) and the occurrence of “plus symptoms” (delirium, mood swings) are possible.

  • Mental disturbances as a result of alcohol or drug use

Conditions that occur when taking drugs that are not related to drugs (sedatives, barbiturates, hallucinogens, some chemical compounds).

  • Schizophrenia and schizoid-like disorders

Symptoms of mental disorders

  1. Sensopathy - abnormal nervous and tactile sensitivity:
  • (increased sensitivity to normal stimuli);
  • (reduced sensitivity to normal stimuli);
  • senestopathy (sensations of pressure, burning, scratching in various parts of the body);
  1. Hallucinations:
  • true (the patient sees an object “outside himself”);
  • false (the patient sees the object “within himself”);
  • (the patient perceives a real object with distortions);
  • metamorphopsia (change in perception of the size of your body).

The thinking process may change: become fast and incoherent or, conversely, slow.

In the modern world, not all people manage to always remain calm and positive. We often do not pay attention to the bad mood of the people around us and even our closest relatives. And in vain! What signs can be seen in men in the initial stages of the disease?

Mental disorders - what are they?

Mental disorders are a variety of human mental states that do not correspond to the norm. Often, such diseases begin to be treated only in critical stages with clear manifestations of inappropriate behavior and thinking. In our country, many people still take mental illnesses lightly.

Many people prefer to attribute the manifestation of symptoms of mental illness to their opponent. At the same time, many signs of mental disorders in men can be noticed without being a specialist. Be more attentive to yourself and your loved ones. Don't be lazy and don't be afraid to seek professional help if you notice any suspicious symptoms.

Main external signs

Popular proverbs urge not to judge others by their appearance. And this is not always the right decision. If a person suddenly stops taking care of himself, begins to neglect the rules of personal hygiene, and often looks untidy and sloppy, this is already a reason to think about his mental state. A neat and attractive appearance is one of the indicators of mental well-being and internal balance.

What is noteworthy is that the sick person himself can be aware of what is happening. To criticism regarding his appearance, he can respond with something with the meaning that “appearance is not the main thing.” This portrayal of self-confidence coupled with indifference are also signs of mental disorders in men. As symptoms of such diseases, we can also mention personality degradation in general. During this process, a person loses interest in everything that happens to him and around him.

Behavioral symptoms

In everyday life, it is easiest to notice the main manifestations in the behavior of the sick person. The most striking symptom is a rapid change of mood. Sadness, joy, apathy, anger, anxiety and other emotions change, like in a kaleidoscope. At the same time, they are not connected with real events.

Quite often, people suffering from mental disorders are aggressive. Aggression can manifest itself in different ways, for one person it is only excessive rudeness in words, for another it is physical impact on surrounding objects, attempts to organize fights. Hypertrophied jealousy is also often observed in mental disorders. This is a common sign of mental illness among the stronger sex. If a man is constantly jealous of his woman without any real reason, this is a reason to seek professional psychological help.

Emotional manifestations

How does a person feel with mental illness? Do not forget that mental disorders can occur with a variety of symptoms. Some diseases are characterized by agitation of consciousness, while others are characterized by apathy. Almost every person with psychological problems comes to the idea that “no one understands him.” The sick person feels lonely and unwanted.

In some cases, a critical attitude towards others may be observed. With this symptom, a person sincerely considers those around him to be guilty of all his problems. Despite the instability, most often people suffering from mental disorders experience something unpleasant. Most often these are emotions such as sadness, sadness, anxiety, fear.

A variety of phobias and psychological complexes can also develop against the background of more serious diseases. Interestingly, many patients note changes at the physiological level. Sleep disturbances, migraines, causeless pain, cramps - all this can be indirect manifestations of mental disorders. Sometimes problems with eating behavior are also observed. The sick person may begin to eat more than usual, or, on the contrary, refuse food.

Cognitive symptoms of psychological disorders

Any mental disorder occurs with a noticeable deterioration in mental abilities. Memory impairment is especially noticeable. The sick person may forget some facts and events. The ability to operate with existing knowledge decreases, logical thinking is impaired. In some cases, there may be a slowdown in the reaction, and in others, on the contrary, an acceleration of thought processes. Obvious signs of mental disorders in men: inability to adequately assess what is happening, worsening adherence to principles.

Many diseases occur with the formation of obsessions, criticism of which is met with a strong negative reaction. Often a person in such a state feels literally like an “unrecognized genius.” Based on this, a clear passion for philosophy is possible. Moreover, it can be expressed in the study of the works of recognized sages or the creation of one’s own “teaching”. Most mental illnesses occur with a distorted perception of reality and oneself. People suffering from them are immersed in the world of their own, often not entirely adequate, fantasies and cease to be aware of the boundaries and importance of reality.

Perceptual manifestations of mental illness

Serious mental illnesses occur with a whole bunch of vivid symptoms. The most popular among them is hallucinations. The sick person may see or hear something that does not exist in reality. Hallucinations come in a variety of forms. Sometimes it is a disembodied voice that sounds “in your head” or in a dark room. Some patients see very real objects, animals or even familiar people. Others talk about observing irrational pictures, unreal beings.

In 70% of cases, hallucinations are frightening and disturbing. At the same time, the sick person fully believes in their reality. Most people who experience this symptom are happy to talk about their visions and experienced emotions. Some patients try to find a rational explanation for their visions. This applies primarily to auditory hallucinations, when the patient hears strange sounds and cannot accurately determine their source.

The most common mental disorders in the modern world

When studying the main signs of a mental disorder, you probably remembered at least one friend who has some of the listed symptoms. And this is not surprising, the life of a modern person is filled with worries and stress. With constant rush and an abundance of worries, it is difficult to always remain positive and maintain peace of mind. It sounds scary, but depression is considered common today. But this mental disorder, despite its outward harmlessness, can cause death.

Women are more emotional than men. Perhaps it is precisely because of their openness and desire to share the emotions they experience that representatives of the fair sex are less likely to suffer from serious mental illnesses than their husbands. If you believe the statistics of mental disorders, among men, 60% first encounter this problem at a young age. The remaining 40% are representatives of the stronger sex who became ill in adulthood.

The most common mental disorders in men are: neuroses, syndromes, phobias, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. But if you suspect that someone close to you is suffering from a mental disorder, it is in your power to record the most striking symptoms and convince the sick person to seek professional help.

Schizophrenia: symptoms and signs in men, features of the disease

Each of us has heard the name of this disease at least once. This is a fairly serious mental disorder that can be successfully corrected if therapy is started in the early stages. The pathology is characterized by loss of interest in life. How does schizophrenia manifest? Symptoms and signs are similar in men of all ages. A responsible person gradually stops thinking about work or study, and gradually loses interest in his family. The schizophrenic also abandons all personal interests and hobbies.

Many patients develop symptoms of autism. This is, first of all, isolation, reluctance to contact other people. A sick person seems to be trying to isolate himself from the world with an invisible wall, to remain alone with his own thoughts, experiences and problems. Signs of anxiety disorders in men can easily be confused with schizophrenia. This diagnosis occurs with deterioration of mental abilities, impaired concentration and attention. As the disease progresses, the person begins to think illogically and his speech may become incoherent.

They don’t like to leave the house; anxious thoughts haunt them. The mood of a man with this diagnosis is often depressed and apathetic; sometimes loved ones may notice causeless fear. In particular cases, schizophrenia occurs with impaired motor functions, neuroses and hallucinations. This pathology is characterized by seasonal exacerbations. Painful symptoms in schizophrenics become more pronounced in spring and autumn.

Causes of mental illness

Today, official medicine is not always able to establish the root causes of diagnosed mental illnesses. And yet there are a number of provoking factors. These are: stress, increased mental and emotional stress, a tense environment at work or at home, serious shocks. We should also not forget about genetic predisposition, brain diseases and other medical factors.

The first signs of a mental disorder in men may appear against the background of systematic use of alcohol and drugs. More often, drug addiction and alcoholism provoke the development of psychosis, delirium tremens, delusions of jealousy and other specific disorders. Very often, the cause of mental illness can be traumatic brain injury. Mental disorders are observed against the background of epilepsy and somatic disorders. With these pathologies, the psycho-emotional state of a person is extremely unstable.

There is a high percentage of people suffering from mental disorders among patients with malignant tumors and cerebrovascular diseases. In these cases, mental problems arise against the background of physiological disorders, the most common of which is increased blood pressure. A separate group of diseases are age-related mental disorders. Symptoms in men of diseases in this category are diagnosed in the older age group. We are talking about diseases such as paranoia, Alzheimer's disease, marasmus, dementia, Pick's disease and some others.

Treatment of mental disorders

The majority of our compatriots still do not perceive mental disorders as serious illnesses. And this is an unforgivable mistake. We make an appointment with a doctor for bronchitis or heart pain, because we are afraid of serious complications, even death. And at the same time, we completely ignore bad mood and anxiety, attributing these symptoms to natural reactions of consciousness or banal laziness. But mental disorders can be much more dangerous than a runny nose or high temperature.

If you are careful enough, it is not difficult to spot signs of mental illness in men. The test can be done at home. If at least 2-3 symptoms are observed in a person for quite a long time, it is simply necessary to show him to a specialist!

Which doctor should I contact if I suspect a mental disorder? You should start by visiting a psychotherapist. During a confidential conversation, this specialist will be able to make a diagnosis, and if necessary, refer you to a psychiatrist. There is no universal formula for how to treat mental disorders in men. In each case, the supervising doctor develops an individual treatment plan.

Many mental disorders can be cured with the help of psychotherapeutic techniques and psychological exercises. In some cases, drug therapy is also prescribed. Most mental disorders are completely treatable. It is important that treatment is carried out under the supervision of a specialist and started as early as possible.

In mental illnesses, signs of damage to the nervous system, that is, neurological symptoms, are of greatest importance. Among these symptoms, the ones that primarily deserve attention are those indicating dysfunction of the brain.

It is especially important to study these signs in diseases accompanied by pronounced changes in the brain itself, that is, in so-called organic diseases (progressive paralysis, cerebral syphilis, arteriosclerosis, encephalitis, etc.). In these cases, the very presence of neurological symptoms already indicates the organic nature of the disease and allows, to a certain extent, to judge its prevalence, course and location of lesions in the brain, in particular, disruption of the activity of individual “centers” brain

The most important neurological symptoms are symptoms lesions of the cranial nerves, changes in the reflex sphere, sensitivity disorders, motor functions and speech.

Among the lesions of the cranial nerves, the so-called eye symptoms.

In a healthy person, the pupils of the eyes are of uniform size and regular round shape. They automatically constrict under the influence of light (reaction of the pupils to light) and when fixing the gaze on close or distant objects (reaction of the pupils to convergence and accommodation).

In organic brain diseases there is pathological constriction of the pupils, their unevenness and irregular shape. Reactions to light and accommodation are impaired. A constant symptom of progressive paralysis is the absence of the pupils' reaction to light while the reaction to accommodation and convergence is preserved (Argille-Robertson symptom).

In some cases, as a result of damage to the optic nerve, decreased visual acuity up to complete blindness.

The study of the “fundus” is important, which can be seen due to the transparency of individual parts (environments) of the eyeball. Fundus changes indicate increased intracranial pressure, allow you to establish damage to the optic nerve with increased intracranial pressure or nerve atrophy.

As a result of damage to the cranial nerves, the following may develop: strabismus, causing “double vision”, restrictions on the movement of the eyeballs or their rhythmic twitching, which is called nystagmus.

Further it should be noted violation of facial symmetry, most often due to the smoothness of the nasolabial fold, different widths of the palpebral fissures and deviation of the tongue from the midline when protruding, which is also observed due to damage to the cranial nerves.

For nervous and mental illnesses, the greatest importance is the study of the so-called tendon reflexes, caused by tapping on the tendons of certain muscles (knee reflexes, from the Achilles tendon, from the muscles of the forearm) and skin reflexes (abdominal, plantar).

In diseases of the central nervous system, reflexes can change either in the direction of their decrease or loss (for example, lack of knee reflexes with tabes of the spinal cord), and in the direction of their increase, the expression of which is increase in range of motion of the lower leg when inducing knee reflexes.

It should be borne in mind that a symmetrical decrease or increase in reflexes on both sides of the body (right and left) is not always a painful sign.

In contrast, uneven reflexes indicate damage to the nervous system. In the same way, a particularly sharp increase in the reflex, reaching frequent rhythmic repeated movements in response to a single irritation, is a painful sign and is called clonus or clonic twitching.

In addition, painful changes in the central nervous system may cause new reflexes, not evoked in healthy people, which are therefore called pathological reflexes and indicate organic damage to the spinal cord or brain.

The most important of the pathological reflexes is Babinski reflex, representing a pathological perversion of the plantar reflex observed normally. It consists in the fact that when the sole is irritated, the big toe extends. Similar painful changes are also indicated Bekhterev and Rossolimo reflexes. The Bekhterev reflex is caused by tapping on the back of the foot, the Rossolimo reflex is caused by a light blow to the plantar side of the toes; In both cases, plantar flexion of the fingers is observed.

Sensitivity disorders can manifest itself in an increase in it, when ordinary irritations are perceived extremely acutely or painfully, or, conversely, in a decrease in it, sometimes reaching a complete loss of sensation. There are also a variety of unpleasant, unusual sensations that occur without visible irritation, which are called paresthesia. So, sometimes patients feel a tingling or painful burning sensation under the skin.

Movement disorders in case of nervous and mental diseases, they arise as a result of disruption of certain parts of the nervous system and are expressed in the complete loss of limb movements ( paralysis) or more or less significant limitation of movement ( paresis).

Disorders of motor functions also manifest themselves in excessive, involuntary movements that cannot be overcome or delayed by the patient and which are called hyperkinesis. This includes trembling, twitching, and convulsions. Among these movement disorders, the most important are convulsive movements, which can occur periodically and cover most of the muscles of the body, acquiring the character of a convulsive attack.

There are tonic and clonic convulsions, which are the main elements of an epileptic seizure. Tonic convulsions are expressed in prolonged contraction and tension of the muscles, as a result of which one or another part of the body is fixed in a certain position, independent of the will of the patient. Clonic convulsions are expressed in alternating tension and relaxation of muscles, resulting in twitching of the limbs or torso.

Along with excessive movements (hyperkinesis), in diseases of the brain there is also a general insufficiency of motor functions, typical, like most hyperkinesis, for damage to the subcortical brain. At the same time, what is striking is the general slowness of the movements, their awkwardness, accompanied by greater than normal muscle tension. The entire appearance of the patient seems to bear the imprint of general stiffness, which is facilitated by the immobility of the facial muscles - the so-called mask-like face. This kind of disorder is observed in encephalitis, brain injury and some other organic diseases.

Movement disorders are often accompanied by gait disturbances; sometimes the ability to coordinate movements or maintain balance is also impaired, which primarily affects gait. Disorder of coordination and balance is expressed, in particular, in instability and staggering when standing with eyes closed ( Romberg's sign).

Impairment of motor functions can affect the loss of the ability to perform various complex, even well-known, memorized movements. The patient cannot light a match, wind a watch, etc. This does not occur as a result of paralysis, but as a result of damage to certain centers of the cerebral cortex, the work of which is necessary to coordinate individual simple movements into complex motor acts, such as, in particular, writing and the vast majority of motor skills associated with labor processes.

TO disorders of complex functions, associated with damage to certain centers of the brain, include disorders of object recognition, which is observed when the directly perceptive apparatus is intact. In this case, the patient sees the object, but cannot recognize it by its appearance.

Speech disorders may also be associated with damage to certain centers located in the temporal, frontal and parietal areas of the cortex (in right-handers - on the left, in left-handers - on the right). Such speech disorders are called aphasia manifesting itself in various forms.

Loss of only voluntary speech is possible when the patient understands the speech addressed to him, but cannot find the words to answer or say anything of his own volition. Such a patient either says nothing at all or has one or two words in reserve, with which he answers every question addressed to him. In another form of aphasia, patients do not understand the speech addressed to them, the meaning of the spoken words, since they cannot comprehend what they hear. They perceive words as meaningless sounds. Therefore, to one degree or another, the speech of the patient himself is impaired, since he does not understand the words that he himself pronounces. Finally, aphasia can manifest itself in the fact that patients forget and cannot remember words, most often the names of objects, which they try to replace with a description. This becomes especially noticeable if such a patient is asked to name the objects shown to him. Instead of naming “pencil” or “glass,” he says: “this is what they write with,” “and this is for drinking, well, so round and empty.” Sometimes it is enough to pronounce the first syllable of a word for the patient to remember it and pronounce it correctly. Aphasia is observed in organic brain diseases that cause focal changes in the cerebral cortex (trauma, arteriosclerosis, cerebral syphilis).

Organic changes also lead to impaired pronunciation of words, to the inability to pronounce syllables of words in a certain sequence, as a result of which speech becomes blurred, to stumbling on individual syllables (dysarthria), which is especially characteristic of progressive paralysis.

In some cases, patients temporarily completely lose the ability to speak as a result of painful mental disorders. This condition is called mutism(muteness - lat.) And is most often observed in schizophrenia and hysterical reactions.



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