As you know, most diseases develop on a nervous basis. In large cities, CNS disorders are not less common than the most common cold. Symptoms of neurosis (irritability, lethargy and increased fatigue) are sometimes manifested even in people with a measured life. Indeed, a recent or existing illness can provoke a similar clinical picture. Doctors call this condition "neurosis-like syndrome."
Short description of the disease
The problem of neurosis today has become especially relevant. According to official WHO data, over the past 65 years, the number of reported cases has increased by 24 times. During the same period, the number of mental illnesses only doubled.
The International Classification of Diseases of the 10th Revision (ICD-10) neurosis-like syndrome does not distinguish pathologies into a separate category. Official medicine does not recognize such a concept, and therefore it does not have a specific code. However, this does not mean that the diagnosis does not exist. Just its symptoms are characteristic of many other diseases and organic lesions.
The peculiarity of a neurosis-like state is considered the prerequisites for its occurrence. Pathology does not develop against a background of chronic stress or after a psychological trauma. On the other hand, these factors can play an additional role in its appearance. The main reason is the presence of failures in the body at the level of the endocrine, nervous, digestive and other systems.
Etiology of the pathological process
Most often, neurosis-like conditions arise in childhood, as well as against the background of injuries or intrauterine disorders. However, the later start of the disease is not excluded. It may be due to the following reasons:
- Mental disorders (schizophrenia, epilepsy).
- Organic brain damage.
- Endocrine and hormonal disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism).
- Somatic diseases affecting the cardiovascular system, liver and gall bladder, gastrointestinal tract.
- Pathologies of an allergic nature.
The occurrence of a neurosis-like syndrome cannot be considered a consequence of the above diseases. On the other hand, being born and developing, they lead to disturbances in the functioning of certain brain structures. As a result, malfunctions in the neurodynamics of the cortical membranes occur.
Clinical picture
The symptomatology characterizing a neurosis-like syndrome is very extensive and diverse. In adults, this condition is manifested by sharp mood swings. Such a person is more often angry and irritable than friendly and calm. It is difficult for him to control his emotions. At the same time, rapid fatigue, a decrease in concentration of attention can be noted.
Doctors refer to the bodily manifestations of the syndrome:
- sleep disorder;
- severe vomiting after stress;
- constipation / loose stools;
- lack of appetite, which often ends with anorexia;
- pressure drops;
- increased sweating.
For this pathology, it is not necessary that several symptoms appear at once. It all depends on the disease with which it is caused, the individual characteristics of the body and the personality of the patient.
Neurotic and neurosis-like syndromes combine several disorders that are diverse in their manifestations. Each of them has significant differences. These are asthenic, obsessive-compulsive, hypochondriacal and hysterical syndromes. Below we consider what are the data pathology.
Asthenic syndrome
Such a neurotic state develops in stages. First, a person notes the appearance of increased fatigue, due to which he becomes emotionally unstable. Irritability is quickly replaced by passivity and apathy, indifference to everything that happens around. Subsequently, a distorted perception of events and the picture of the world arises.
Also, asthenic syndrome is characterized by daytime drowsiness. Many complain of excessive sweating, severe headaches. It is with this disorder that most mental illnesses begin.
Obsessive-compulsive syndrome
This pathology is always accompanied by obsessive conditions. A person has strange rituals and inclinations. Motor reactions do not depend on his will. At the same time, the patient realizes the absurdity of his actions. He cannot cope with them on his own, so he is forced to seek qualified medical help.
Hypochondria syndrome
This condition is determined by the constant experiences of a person for the state of their own health. He is afraid of becoming seriously ill. Fear haunts him day and night, does not allow him to concentrate on work and household chores. Unpleasant sensations in the internal organs, causeless soreness in the limbs, tingling and squeezing - these complaints are usually consulted with a doctor. A patient with hypochondriac neurosis-like syndrome begins to go to various specialists. It may require a complete diagnosis of the state of health, ask for a cure for a nonexistent ailment.
If a medical examination does not reveal serious pathologies, such a person begins to accuse doctors of their incompetence. Sometimes you can hear stories about induced corruption or a witchcraft curse.
Hysterical syndrome
The disorder manifests itself in the form of demonstrative behavior. Actions, facial expressions and gestures of a person can be accompanied by violent emotions (screaming, laughing, tears). At the next fit of tantrum, he begins to tear his hair out or faint. This behavior is significantly different from a real hysterical seizure. The patient can defiantly crawl to the floor and pretend to faint. The whole scene is usually accompanied by loud exclamations, convulsions and groans.
Neurosis-like syndrome in children
What it is? This is a pathology, the existence of which many parents learn quite late. In children, its first symptoms appear at the age of 2 to 7 years. Among the main causes of the disorder, doctors distinguish the following:
- pathology of fetal development;
- smoking, drinking alcohol by a woman during pregnancy;
- diseases of the central nervous system of various etiologies;
- birth injuries.
In children, a neurosis-like disorder is considered an intermediate state between an organic disorder and the neurosis itself. Sometimes it can pass independently and without medical intervention. The child "outgrows" the disease, because his brain has a huge potential for regeneration.
By about 12 years, the symptoms that characterize the neurosis-like syndrome in children disappear. The main manifestations of pathology are tearfulness and aggression, nightmares, and numerous phobias. The clinical picture is practically no different from that in adults. It is still not worth waiting for the moment of self-resolution of the problem. Qualified medical care is required even for small patients.
Diagnostic Methods
If pathology is suspected, the first thing to do? - determine its cause. It is from her that the tactics of the therapy will subsequently depend. For example, the main treatment for neurosis is to work with a psychologist. With a neurosis-like disorder, it is ineffective.
Then, based on the available symptoms, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination. At the initial stage, a neurologist deals with this issue. The main diagnostic methods are brain MRI and EEG. If, according to the results of studies of organic lesions, it will not be revealed, most likely, there will be a usual neurosis. In this case, the patient is referred to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
Neurosis-like syndrome ICD-10 does not distinguish into a separate category of diseases. However, he has a number of signs that can be detected during diagnosis. This disorder is characterized by abnormalities in the functioning of the brain and systems of internal organs. Therefore, consultation only with a neurologist can not do. The help of narrow specialists will be required: cardiologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist. First of all, it is necessary to determine and eliminate the root cause of the syndrome. Only then can we begin to restore the central nervous system.
Treatment for the disorder in children and adults
How to treat a neurosis-like syndrome? Therapy for this disease is complex.
The standard course consists of the following activities:
- Drug exposure. Prescribed drugs to combat infectious or organic causes of the disease. At the same time, drugs are used to normalize the hypothalamus. Depending on the patient’s clinical presentation and complaints, antidepressants may be required (Amitriptyline). In the presence of phobias, tranquilizers are used (Elenium, Tazepam).
- Physiotherapy. Treatment of a neurosis-like syndrome necessarily includes electrophoresis procedures using bromine, calcium, magnesium sulfate. Additionally, electric sleep can be assigned.
- Acupuncture and reflexology.
- Exercise therapy. A set of exercises is selected individually. Most often, exercise therapy is resorted to at the rehabilitation stage after, with the help of medications, the root cause of the disorder was eliminated.
- Sanatorium treatment.
In especially serious cases, the patient is recommended psychotherapy sessions.
What treatment is required for a diagnosis of neurosis-like syndrome in children? Therapy for the disorder in young patients is practically no different from that in adults. Various physiotherapy procedures have proven themselves particularly well. As for drugs, they are prescribed in exceptional cases.
As part of the therapy, adult patients are recommended to change their usual lifestyle towards a healthier one. You should abandon addictions and minimize the number of stressful situations. The calm and friendly atmosphere in the family is extremely important for children. For the entire period of treatment, it is better to refuse moving, changing the educational institution.