bkdaniels
User
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2005, 10:18 PM
Post #2 of 3
(1285 views)
Shortcut
|
This goes back to the saying, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can not take the country out of the boy. You former habits are learned (environmental or situational) and can be treated easily and successfully.
For example, in such conditions as Involutional melancholics (mid-life crisis), patients remain in accessible to reason and logic as these apply to their symptoms, even though they retain the capacity to exercise these functions in
other areas of their life. Attempts at reassurance may meet with inital success, only to be unseated in the next rush of doubt.
There are three main types of depression with which the Physician
should be acquainted and become familiar with, without adverting to an
elaborate classification. The first is reactive depression.
It is by far the most common and is typified by the grief reaction. Manic-depressive psychosis is the second type.
It is included because it represents the standard model for a psychotic depression and because it is often used incorrectly as a diagnosis by nonpsychiatric physicians. The third, involution melancholia, deserves
recognition since it is frequently encountered in general practice and
carries an excellent prognosis if given proper treatment.
Mid-Life crisis is a severe form of psychotic proportions which occurs in the involutional phase of life. It is characterized by agitation, insomnia, and a profound sense of worthlessness.
Multiple physical complaints, some of which may be delusional in nature,
generally accompany the condition. Typicaly, there is no history of previous episodes.
The onset is most apt to be insidious, characterized by increased irritability, insomnia, psycomotor restlessness, easy fatigued, loss of intrest in sexual gustatory pleasure, and ever-mounting worry about health. These manifestations occur over one or more years before the clinical picture is complete.
As time passes, the indivisual life narrows to a single minded concern about physical deterioration, mental decline or both. Before long, every conversation comes to balance on the fulcrum of symptoms, no matter how hard the patient may try to avoid that topic.
In dialogue, rejoinder become so stereotyped that the listener can soon predict
exactly what is going to be said. There is a poverty of ideation and a notable absence of insight.
Consciousness is clear, and though there is usually no evidence of schizophrenia type of thought disorder, paranoia is not infrequently part of the picture. The
suspicions and delusions are generally not as fixed or bizarre as in schizophrenia.
However, if hallucinations are present, the possibility of an associated early organic brain syndrome must be concidered. In contrast to the physical inactivity and mental slowness of the depressed manic-depressive patient, the principal behavior manifestation of involutional melancholia is agitation, the source of which is an underlying anxiety state.
As a consequence, these patients usually pace restlessly about the room and have a great difficulty sitting still. Furthermore, they tend to be overtalkative and vexed in the manner of expression, so that the examiner is acutely aware of their distress.
Attempts at reassurance may meet with inital success, only to be unseated in the next rush of doubt. Mid-life crisis remain in accessible to reason and logic as these apply to their symptoms, even though they retain the capacity to exercise these functions in other areas of their life.
For depressed phase of mantic depressive psychosis and of other serious depressions as well, the plan of therapy revolves around five points:
1. Enlisting the help of a psychiatrist
2. The prevention of suicide
3. Antidepressant medication
4. Lithium carbonate
5. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Although the characteristics of the two additions appear to have some simularity, the only real cure for your addition is to STOP. The cravings may be over-whelming at times, but you must ask yourself, do you want to stop or not.
For additional support and information regarding mid-life crisis, please contact Hope College, Holland, MI.
www.hope.edu
Hope this helps,
REFERENCES
1. Hackett, T.P. and Adams, R.D. Grief, Reactive Depression, Mantic-Depressive Psychosis, Involutional melancholia, and Hypochondriasis. New York, 1977. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Eight Edition. (vols. 2). (Eds.) George W. Thorn et al. McGraw-Hill Book Company. pp. 1955 - 1963.
2. Hanson PhD, D.J. Early Onset of Drinking: What Research Say's and What Anti-Alcohol Activist Say It Say. (1997 - 2005) http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1085587855.html
(This post was edited by bkdaniels on Dec 7, 2005, 6:49 PM)
|
MAIN INDEX
SEARCH POSTS
WHO'S ONLINE
LOG IN
Re:Addict/ Alcoholic/ overeater/ gambler
[