What are psychological syndromes? Description of some varieties

Mental syndromes , which we will consider in this article, will be of interest to everyone who is interested in personality psychology.

In the 21st century, with its speed and capabilities, we are sometimes so carried away by electronic trinkets that we completely forget about our mental health.

Perhaps this is why mental illness is considered the scourge of our time. One way or another, every educated person should know about the most important psychological syndromes.

In this article we will look at the 10 most common psychological syndromes that directly or indirectly affect the quality of life of the person who has them.

This will certainly be of interest to lovers of psychology and self-development.

Duckling syndrome

Many people know that ducklings mistake the first person they see when they are born for their mother. Moreover, it does not matter to them whether it is a real mother duck or some other animal, and sometimes even an inanimate object. This phenomenon is known in psychology as “imprinting,” which means “imprinting.”

Humans are also susceptible to this phenomenon. Experts call it duckling syndrome. This syndrome is due to the fact that a person automatically considers the best object to be the one that first caught his eye, even if this contradicts objective reality.

Often people with this feature become categorical and intolerant of the opinions of others.

For example, your friend bought his first laptop with the Windows XP operating system. Several years passed, and this system was no longer supported by the manufacturer. You suggest that he install something newer, but he doesn’t agree.

If, at the same time, your friend understands the real superiority of the new systems and honestly says that he is simply accustomed to Windows XP and does not want to master new interfaces, then this is a personal opinion.

If he categorically does not recognize any other system, considering Windows XP to be the best among others, then there is a duckling syndrome. At the same time, he may agree that other operating systems have some advantages, but overall XP will still win in his eyes.

To get rid of duckling syndrome, you need to analyze your thoughts more often using critical thinking techniques. Be interested in the opinions of people around you, use information from different sources, try to look at things as objectively as possible, and only after that make a decision on a particular issue.

Psychological syndromes associated with anxiety and depressive tendencies

Chronic failure and total regression

The psychological syndrome of chronic failure develops at the end of preschool or primary school age. The interpersonal developmental situation in this syndrome is characterized by a discrepancy between the expectations of adults and the child’s achievements. The main feature of the psychological profile is sharply increased anxiety, leading to disorganization of actions and low performance as the main features of the child’s activities. The reaction of the social environment is a constant negative assessment that maintains high anxiety. The position of a junior student with chronic failure is the idea of ​​himself as a hopelessly bad student.

This creates a vicious circle: anxiety, disrupting the child’s activities, leads to failure and negative evaluations from others. Failure breeds anxiety, helping to perpetuate failure. The further you go, the more difficult it becomes to break this circle, which is why failure becomes “chronic”. The more responsible work a child does, the more worried he becomes. If the level of anxiety is already elevated, then its additional increase (excitement) further reduces work results. Because of this, important tests and exams are performed not better, but worse than everyday tasks. A dependence arises that surprises many parents and teachers: as motivation increases, achievement decreases.

So, the basis for the conclusion that a child has chronic failure is a combination of the following data: - Complaints about the child’s low achievements. — High level of anxiety. This is the central psychological link of chronic failure. — Normal socialization, high conformity. In their absence, a negative assessment of others does not lead to a noticeable increase in anxiety.

Constant failure over time leads to the emergence of a pessimistic approach to reality, and sometimes to the development of a depressive state. Typically, signs of depression appear towards the end of primary school. During adolescence, children with chronic failure often make a transition from the position of a bad student to the self-awareness of a hopelessly unsuccessful person. This marks the formation of a new psychological syndrome - total regression . Among the features of the psychological profile, the depressive mood background begins to play a central role. The activity is characterized by a refusal of any manifestations of activity, of communication with both adults and peers. In response, the social environment “turns away” from the teenager, which deepens depression and strengthens the idea of ​​one’s worthlessness.

Total regression is one of the most severe psychological syndromes of adolescence and youth. It is typical not only of a stop in development, but also of a loss of previous achievements (which explains its name).

The conclusion that a teenager has a total regression can be made by combining the following indicators: - Complaints about the teenager’s passivity, loss of previous hobbies and interests, lack of contact with adults and peers. - Depressive background mood, low self-esteem, pessimistic ideas about your future. — The tendency of others to evaluate the teenager’s condition as a given that cannot be changed, i.e. their acceptance of his own assessment.

Withdrawal from activity and psychological encapsulation

Development according to the type of withdrawal from activity occurs in children who do not receive sufficient attention from adults. Such a child seems to be “absent” from the lesson and does not hear the teacher’s questions and instructions addressed to him. And it’s not about his increased distractibility. He is not focused on something extraneous, but is immersed in his inner world, in fantasies and dreams. Fantasizing allows you to compensate for the lack of attention (“I am a famous hunter, traveler, movie star”).

The hypertrophied development of protective fantasy is the main feature of the psychological profile in this syndrome. Plunging into the world of his protective fantasies, the child “disconnects” from external activity, which is the main characteristic of his activity and determines the name of the syndrome. The child’s position with withdrawal from activity is preschool, playful, only the play is performed not externally, but internally. The reaction of the social environment, trying to “return” the child to activities that are boring and uninteresting for him, additionally stimulates his withdrawal into substitute fantasy.

An increased level of anxiety is maintained by the conflict between the desire to receive real (and not just imaginary) attention and its lack. This creates a vicious circle of causes and consequences: frustration of the need for attention generates anxiety, which blocks those forms of behavior with which the child could attract attention. This, in turn, maintains frustration, etc.

Withdrawal from activities is manifested in a combination of the following indicators: - Complaints about the child’s passivity. They can appear in different forms (“absent from class,” “having their head in the clouds,” “lazy”). — Manifestations of demonstrativeness in soft, socially acceptable forms. - Tendency to fantasize. - A slight increase in the general level of anxiety, which does not, however, lead to significant disruptions in activity.

In adolescence, the tendency to withdraw from activities gives rise to the self-awareness of a loner, misunderstood by others and far from their interests and aspirations. It constitutes the essence of the psychological profile in the emerging syndrome of psychological encapsulation . The main feature of a teenager’s activities is the lack of meaningful communication with peers. The social environment perceives the teenager as “strange”, thereby supporting his specific self-awareness.

A teenager with psychological encapsulation has the same high need to communicate with peers as any other teenager. Its dissatisfaction leads to the development of depressive tendencies, although not nearly as pronounced as with total regression. Compensatory fantasy continues to play a protective role, which, of course, cannot replace the real satisfaction of needs, but still reduces the psycho-traumatic effect of frustration.

The criterion for determining psychological encapsulation is a combination of approximately the same signs as when leaving an activity: - Complaints about the teenager’s passivity. As a rule, what is emphasized, first of all, is passivity in communication, the absence of friends. - Manifestations of demonstrativeness. With psychological encapsulation, as with withdrawal from activity, it manifests itself in soft, socially acceptable forms. - Tendency to fantasize. In psychological encapsulation, fantasy often takes the form of a dream. — Anxiety, which does not, however, lead to significant disruptions in activity.

Watchman syndrome

Watchman syndrome, or little boss syndrome, is something that is familiar to almost everyone who has ever visited a housing office, passport office or clinic.

But even if you are not familiar with the average morals of employees of such establishments, probably everyone has come across people who, although they do not hold the highest position or have a certain status, literally revel in it, asserting themselves at the expense of others. Such a person seems to say: “Here I am, a watchman, but what have you achieved?”

And it would be fine if it were just narcissism. But people with watchman syndrome sometimes create big problems with their behavior.

For example, they may demand the presentation of many unnecessary documents, invent “rules” that are not in their job description, and ask a lot of unnecessary questions in a businesslike manner that have nothing to do with the matter.

As a rule, all this is accompanied by arrogant behavior bordering on rudeness.

At the same time, when such people see a truly important person, they turn into politeness itself, trying in every possible way to curry favor with him.

In most cases, a person with watchman syndrome is a failed individual who tries to compensate for his failures by suppressing others.

When dealing with a “watchman,” you should ignore his behavior and not enter into direct conflict with him. Under no circumstances should you give in to rudeness, but confidently and clearly formulate your demands, defending your rights.

Keep in mind that the weak point of such people is the fear of accepting real, rather than imaginary, responsibility. Therefore, do not hesitate to hint that their behavior may lead to negative consequences.

Description of syndromes in psychology

This area of ​​medicine deals with the study of many pathological conditions of the human body. A striking representative of them is a disturbance in the functioning of the senses. The deceptive perception that arises in this case can provoke the formation of various syndromes.

Their development is characterized by an acute onset and a colorful clinical picture. Some also cause intellectual impairment. Cognitive functions associated with thinking and other properties of higher nervous activity decrease. This condition cannot be called a disease, but it may well lead to it.

Many psychological syndromes can be harbingers of future problems in this area. Or act as a complex of symptoms of a disease. Therefore, their presence is very important for the diagnosis of many conditions.

Dorian Gray Syndrome

This syndrome, first described in 2001, was named after the character in Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, who was terrified of seeing a decrepit old man in the mirror. An interesting fact is that experts consider this syndrome to be a cultural and social phenomenon.

People who have this condition try with all their might to preserve youth and beauty, making any sacrifices for this. It all starts with the excessive use of cosmetics and ends with the worst examples of the abuse of plastic surgery.

Unfortunately, today's cult of youth and impeccable appearance creates a false idea of ​​reality, as a result of which some people begin to perceive themselves inadequately.

They often compensate for the natural processes of aging with a passion for youth symbols and clothing. Among people with this syndrome, narcissism and psychological immaturity are common, when minor defects in appearance cause constant anxiety and fear, significantly affecting the quality of life.

Below you can see a photo of 73-year-old billionaire Jocelyn Wildenstein, who has undergone numerous plastic surgeries. You can read more about it (and see photos) here.

Billionaire Jocelyn Wildenstein

Dorian Gray syndrome is often found among public people - pop stars, actors and other celebrities, and can lead to severe depression and even suicide attempts.

However, it also happens to those who are far from show business.

For example, I know a woman who, in conversation, is, in general, a completely normal person. But she, being well over 70 years old, smears bright red lipstick on her lips, draws on her eyebrows and paints her toenails. Combined with flabby senile skin, all this makes a depressing impression. At the same time, she does not notice at all that people are laughing at her. She thinks that thanks to cosmetics she looks much younger and more attractive. This is Dorian Gray syndrome.

To get rid of it, experts recommend switching your attention to other activities: paying attention to your health, playing sports, finding a useful hobby.

We should not forget that youth depends not so much on appearance as on the internal state of the individual. Remember that he is young who does not grow old in soul!

Some of the major psychological syndromes

One of the most common is psychological (emotional) burnout syndrome, a relatively new phenomenon for modern psychology, which was first used by Herbert Freudenberger in 1974. The syndrome is characterized by gradually gaining strength, emotional exhaustion, as a result of professional activity, which can significantly change the psychological appearance of a person in the surrounding society, up to serious cognitive distortions.

Cognitive distortion is a psychological term that means systematic disturbances in a person’s thinking within the framework of his own subjective reality, which radically determines his social behavior.

A person creates his own individual concept of the world around him, according to the laws of which he lives, which leads to errors in conclusions and judgments, illogicality and irrationality of behavior.

First of all, emotional burnout syndrome (EBS) is the body’s reaction to prolonged exposure to stress that arises as part of a person’s work activity. This is a protracted process of loss of emotional and physical satisfaction of the employee in performing his work tasks, expressed in mental exhaustion, loss of initiative and personal detachment from work and the team.

Hidden in the pathogenesis of SEV is the protective component of the body's reaction to constant psychological microtraumas - stresses that arise during the working day. With regular repetition of stressful situations, the psyche adapts to them by reducing the level of response, reducing and dosing the expenditure of emotional energy.

Adele Hugo syndrome

Adele Hugo syndrome, or Adele syndrome, is a mental disorder that consists of unrequited love addiction, similar in severity to drug addiction.

Adele syndrome is an all-consuming and prolonged love obsession, a painful passion that remains unanswered.

Adele Hugo

The syndrome got its name thanks to Adele Hugo, the last, fifth child of the outstanding French writer Victor Hugo.

Adele was an extremely beautiful and gifted girl. However, after she fell in love with the English officer Albert Pinson at the age of 31, the first signs of pathology appeared.

Over time, her love grew into addiction and obsession. Adele literally pursued Pinson, told everyone about her engagement and wedding with him, interfered in his life, upset his wedding, spreading rumors that she had given birth to a stillborn child from him (for which there is no evidence) and, calling herself his wife, became increasingly immersed in her own illusions.

Ultimately, Adele completely lost her identity, becoming fixated on the object of her addiction. At the age of 40, Adele ended up in a psychiatric hospital, where she remembered her lover Pinson every day and regularly sent him letters of confession. Just before her death, and she lived for 84 years, Adele repeated his name in delirium.

People with Adele syndrome are advised to completely eliminate contact with the object of addiction, remove from sight all things reminiscent of this object, switch to new hobbies, communicate more often with family and friends and, if possible, change the environment - go on vacation or move completely to another place.

Signs of conduct disorder

Signs of conduct disorder typically include behavior such as aggression, destruction of property, dishonesty, and failure to follow rules. Common signs of conduct disorder may include:

• Physical combat;
• Bullying or threatening others;
• Using a weapon to cause harm;
• Physical cruelty to people or animals;
• Theft;
• Hacking someone else's property;
• Forcing someone to engage in sexual activity;
• Setting fires to cause damage;
• Destruction of property;
• Staying late without permission;
• Run away from home;
• I often miss school.

We suggest you read: Duration of a nervous breakdown

More signs

Some people with conduct disorder will also demonstrate a lack of positive social participation and emotional engagement. They can demonstrate the following:

• No remorse for bad behavior;
• Lack of concern for behavioral consequences;
• Lack of empathy for others;
• Lack of concern for performance at school or work;
• Lack of emotional expression.

Munchausen syndrome

Munchausen syndrome is a disorder in which a person exaggerates or artificially induces symptoms of an illness in order to undergo medical examination, treatment, hospitalization and even surgery.

The reasons for this behavior are not fully understood. The generally accepted explanation for the causes of Munchausen syndrome is that faking the illness allows people with the syndrome to receive the attention, care, sympathy and psychological support that they lack.

Patients with Munchausen syndrome tend to deny the artificial nature of their symptoms, even if they are presented with evidence of malingering. They usually have a long history of hospitalizations due to feigned symptoms.

Not receiving the expected attention to their symptoms, patients with Munchausen syndrome often become scandalous and aggressive. If treatment by one specialist is refused, the patient turns to another.

Prevalence and causes

Not all children with significant antisocial behavior problems will be assessed by a mental health professional. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate how common this disease is among children and adolescents. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls.

Neuropsychologists and other researchers believe that the development of behavioral disorders is somehow related to damage to the frontal lobe of the brain, which can prevent children and adolescents from learning from negative experiences and correcting their behavior.

Children diagnosed with behavioral disorders may have a history of:

• Abuse;
• Poverty;
• Alcohol and drug abuse;
• Family conflict or violence;
• Brain damage;
• Other mental health problems.

Researchers also believe that genetics may play a role in the development of conduct disorder.

White Rabbit Syndrome

Do you remember the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, who wailed: “Oh, my whiskers! Ah, my ears! How late I am!

But even if you have never read the works of Lewis Carroll, then you have probably found yourself in a similar situation.

If this happens rarely, then there is no reason to worry. If constant lateness is the norm for you, then you are susceptible to the so-called White Rabbit syndrome, which means it’s time to change something.

Try following a few simple tips:

• Set every clock in the house forward 10 minutes to get ready faster. An interesting fact is that this technique works even though you are well aware that the clock is rushing.
• Rank your tasks according to importance. For example, important and minor, urgent and non-urgent.
• Be sure to write down what you plan to do every morning, and cross off what you have done in the evening.

Two articles will help you understand this topic in more detail: The 5 Second Rule and Procrastination.

Diagnostics

Children, teenagers and adults may be diagnosed with behavioral disorders if they have more than one of the signs listed above. To make a diagnosis, signs must be present for at least a year.

When diagnosing children or adolescents, a psychiatrist may want to observe the child's behavior and also talk to his parents and teachers.

When a psychiatrist or mental health professional evaluates a person for behavioral disorders, they will also want to rule out any other diagnoses or evaluations for co-occurring mental disorders. Because many of the features of conduct disorder are similar to antisocial personality disorder, an adult may not be diagnosed with both conditions. There is not much difference between the two disorders, but conduct disorder is usually diagnosed in children, so if an adult meets the criteria for both disorders, they will be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder rather than conduct disorder. This is a matter of age, not differences between diagnoses.

However, children and adults diagnosed with a conduct disorder may also have co-occurring diagnoses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder. They may also have learning difficulties.

It can also be difficult to differentiate between conduct disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Although many of the symptoms may seem similar, there are several key differences between the two diagnoses. First, people with conduct disorders have problems with social interaction due to deficits in social learning, while people with autism have difficulties communicating due to developmental problems. People with autism also tend to experience internalized problems such as obsessions and compulsions, while people with externalizing behavioral disorders express externalized behavior such as criminal activity or violence.

We invite you to read: How to learn to be more compassionate towards yourself+

Three-day monk syndrome

Perhaps most people have taken up a new activity at least once in their lives (be it playing sports, learning English, reading books, etc.), and then abandoned it after a short period of time. This is the so-called “monk for three days” syndrome.

If this situation repeats regularly, it can significantly complicate your life, preventing you from achieving truly important goals.

To overcome the “monk for three days” syndrome, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• Don’t force yourself, but try to find the motivation that is relevant in your case. For example, a morning jog can be both “torture” and a pleasant psychophysiological process.
• Don’t make Napoleonic plans (for example: starting tomorrow I’ll go on a diet, start playing sports and learning three foreign languages). So you can easily overstrain yourself and burn out.
• Constantly remind yourself of the purpose for which you are doing this or that thing.

The spread of mental burnout syndrome

From 30% to 90% of the working population of all professions are susceptible to the appearance of signs of the syndrome. Doctors, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, rescuers, and law enforcement officers are especially often affected. About 80% of the total number of psychiatrists and narcologists have all the symptoms of SEV, expressed to one degree or another. Of this amount, about 8% are pronounced symptoms, often developing into various disorders of psychopathological or psychovegetative symptoms.

More than a third of employees of the penitentiary system are susceptible to professional burnout, especially those who have direct contact with convicts.

Thus, there is a direct relationship between the emotional severity of the work process and the number of cases of manifestation of SEW.

Othello syndrome

Othello syndrome is a disorder characterized by pathological jealousy towards a partner. A person suffering from this syndrome is constantly jealous of his husband or wife, accusing his other half of already occurring or planned infidelity.

Othello syndrome manifests itself even when there is no reason or reason for it.

Moreover, people literally go crazy from it: they constantly watch the object of their love, their sleep is disturbed, they cannot eat normally, they are constantly nervous and do not think about anything except that they are allegedly being cheated on.

The only thing you can do on your own to solve such a problem is complete sincerity, a frank conversation and an attempt to get rid of any reasons for jealousy. If this does not help, you may need to consult a specialist for professional help and appropriate therapy.

Multitasking Syndrome

Courtney Dirks/Flickr.com
We all know that:

If you chase two hares, you won't catch either.

But despite this, most of us take on a lot of things at once and ultimately cannot complete any of them properly. And if you think about how much nerves we spend on this and how many sleepless nights we spend trying to do everything at once, it becomes scary. You can learn how to cope with things normally and not plunge yourself into the abyss of multitasking here.

Stockholm syndrome

Stockholm syndrome is a term that describes a defensive-unconscious traumatic connection, mutual or one-sided sympathy, that arises between the victim and the aggressor in the process of capture, abduction, use or threat of violence.

Under the influence of strong emotions, hostages begin to sympathize with their captors, justify their actions and, ultimately, identify themselves with them, adopting their ideas and considering their sacrifice necessary to achieve some “common” goal.

Simply put, it is a psychological phenomenon in which the victim develops sympathy for the aggressor.

Psychological syndromes associated with socialization difficulties

Social disorientation and rejection

Psychological syndrome of social disorientation occurs as a result of a sharp change in the child’s living conditions. The most common reason for this change is entering school. Sometimes this syndrome develops even in preschool age, in connection with the child’s admission to kindergarten. Often its occurrence is caused by moving to another city or another country. The stronger the change in living conditions, the more likely the occurrence of this psychological syndrome.

Social disorientation does not occur in all children whose living conditions have changed dramatically. It appears in cases where the child’s sensitivity to social norms is reduced. In contrast, there are children with a high general level of socialization. They integrate into a new life quite easily and quickly begin to feel the new demands placed on them and the new expectations of those around them.

The main feature of the psychological profile of children with social disorientation is the insufficient hierarchization of social norms. Because of this, violations of very significant norms (aggressive manifestations, petty theft, vandalism, etc.) are relatively frequent, which is the main feature of the activities of these children. The reaction of others comes from their idea of ​​a conscious violation of norms. This makes it inadequate to reality, which further “confuses” the child, increasing his disorientation.

With social disorientation, children are usually brought to a psychologist with behavioral complaints. During the examination, it is often striking that the distance that is usual for a child to communicate with an outside adult is not maintained. Unlike children with an already formed antisocial attitude, with social disorientation a negativistic position and hostility towards the inspector are almost never encountered.

When diagnosing social disorientation, a psychologist relies on a combination of the following indicators: - Complaints about the child’s violation of social norms. — Low level of socialization. — Lack of antisocial attitudes. This feature distinguishes social disorientation from antisocial psychopathy, which is a much more serious developmental disorder.

By adolescence, a child with social disorientation often develops a perception that the world around them is hostile and unfair. The child sees that violations committed by other children are often left unpunished. However, he does not understand that they are much more harmless than his own, who are regularly punished. Because of this, he becomes convinced that adults are treating him unfairly. Such a belief leads to the idea that all life is unfair, that the very norms of society are wrong - that is, to a conscious asocial or even antisocial attitude.

The described attitude towards the world leads to the fact that the most important feature of the psychological profile of a teenager becomes the self-awareness of an outcast, rejected by society. This gave us reason to call the emerging syndrome rejection . The teenager reacts to the hostility of the surrounding world with aggression and antisocial manifestations, which constitute a characteristic feature of his activity. The hostile response from the social environment confirms and supports the teenager’s ideas about the world and himself.

Rejection is characterized by the following combination of indicators: - Complaints about behavioral disorders, negativism. — A pronounced frustrated need for communication. — A negative attitude towards the surrounding social reality, perceiving it as hostile and unfair. - Low sensitivity to social norms.

Family and group isolation

Psychological syndrome of family isolation is, in essence, a schoolchild getting “stuck” in a system of relationships characteristic of preschool age, when the child’s main sphere of communication is his family. The most pronounced forms of family isolation are observed in cases where the family itself as a whole is a closed unit, isolated from the surrounding society (otherwise, the child’s focus on family relationships does not particularly prevent his entry into society).

A frequent basis for this is the family’s belonging to a minority: a religious sect, an ethnic or national minority, a specific ideological, cultural or political movement (for example, pacifism or anthroposophy). Thus, the specificity of the interpersonal development situation with family isolation is that the sociocultural orientations of the family in which the child is being raised differ significantly from the orientations of others.

Psychological characteristics characteristic of a child with this syndrome are his increased dependence, low level of independence, and infantilism. The student’s position is formed slowly. Fear of the outside world is common, leading to avoidance of contact with peers. As a result, the child does not develop communication skills and his isolation in the sphere of family relationships deepens even more, which is the main feature of his activity. The reaction of the social environment to the child’s immaturity and lack of independence is represented, first of all, by overprotection on the part of the parents, which supports and consolidates his psychological characteristics.

Thus, the basis for making this “diagnosis” is a combination of the following indicators: - Complaints about difficulties in communicating with peers. - Lack of independence of the child, his increased dependence on parents. - The child’s isolation in the family (and often also the closed lifestyle of the family as a whole).

During adolescence, which usually begins late due to family isolation, the child often manages to find a group of peers with similar sociocultural orientations. In such a group, he can successfully adapt, while maintaining attitudes that significantly distinguish him from other peers not included in this group. In this case, a psychological syndrome of group isolation . In its external manifestations, it is very far from family isolation (in some ways it is almost the opposite of it), but in reality there is a direct connection between these syndromes.

The self-awareness of adolescents with group isolation is characterized by particularly high identification with their group and a more or less pronounced opposition of themselves and the group to the rest of society. This is the most important characteristic of the psychological profile in this syndrome. The teenager’s dependence on the group’s opinion and subordination are high. The main feature of the activity is that the teenager’s independence in actions and decision-making is reduced. Parents' complaints often sound the opposite: they sometimes complain about the child's excessive independence. However, in reality, we are only talking about the fact that his behavior does not depend on them, but on the peer group. Such children are not leaders of teenage groups, but representatives of the masses following the leader.

The conclusion that a teenager has group isolation is made when the following signs are combined: - Complaints that the child does not recognize the authority of parents and school, spends a lot of time in the company of peers. — A high degree of identification of the teenager with the group to which he belongs, acceptance of its goals and norms. — Low degree of criticality and independence in decision making, high subordination.

Treatment options for Wernicke encephalopathy

Wernicke encephalopathy is a neurological disease that represents brain damage due to deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine. The occurrence of deviations is facilitated by prolonged alcohol intoxication, prolonged vomiting, and fasting.

Disturbances affect the cerebellum, hypothalamus, midbrain, resulting in hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and decreased orientation in space. The patient’s life depends on the correct diagnosis and timely treatment.

Causes of pathology

On the one hand, a lack of thiamine inhibits the process of removing glucose from the body. This leads to damage to the mitochondria, which supply cells with energy.

On the other hand, the presence of thiamine is necessary in the body for enzymes to perform their functions. Otherwise, glutamate accumulates, which has a toxic effect on nerve cells.

As a result, neurons contract, the speed of nerve impulses decreases, Wernicke encephalopathy develops, which can occur:

• in acute form;
• in chronic

There are a number of factors that can provoke pathology:

• avitaminosis;
• prolonged fasting;
• incessant vomiting during pregnancy;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• oncological tumors;
• poisoning of the body with medications that include digitalis extract;
• metabolic disease;
• AIDS;
• hemodialysis;
• helminthic poisoning.

Despite the impressive list of factors, doctors consider chronic alcoholism to be the culprit for vitamin B1 deficiency.

Symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy

Back in the 19th century, the French doctor Gaye and the German psychoneurologist Wernicke described this pathology. Gaye called it diffuse encephalopathy, and Wernicke called it acute upper polioencephalitis.

Modern neurologists combine three different syndromes into the concept of Gaye-Wernicke syndrome, calling them a triad of symptoms:

1. Ataxia mixed.
2. Disorder of eye movement functions (ophthalmoplegia).
3. Violation of the role of the central nervous system associated with consciousness, speech, learning, memory.

The course of the disease can be divided into three stages.

At the beginning of the development of the pathology, patients complain of fatigue and a desire to sleep during the day due to difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings at night associated with nightmares. Loss of energy prevents them from concentrating on getting things done.

The initial or prodromal period lasts differently for each patient - from a couple of weeks to several months.

At the second stage of development of the syndrome, the following manifestations are added:

• appetite decreases up to complete refusal of food;
• apathy and loss of strength are felt;
• there is a loss of sensitivity of the skin and muscles;
• body movements change, which arise spontaneously and are not controlled by the person;
• anxiety and a feeling of fear appear;
• shortness of breath and feeling of lack of air are scary;
• problems with the intestines occur;
• bothered by stomach pain;
• nausea and vomiting become more frequent;
• heart function is disrupted, pulse changes, sweating increases;
• vision deteriorates.

When the disease enters the acute phase, neurological signs appear:

• consciousness is confused;
• problems with eye movement (ophthalmoplegia);
• difficulty concentrating;
• it is impossible to navigate in space;
• mental abilities deteriorate;
• apathy and depression sets in;
• the sense of perception of reality disappears;
• hallucinations and delusions appear;
• motor abilities decrease.

In this state, the psyche of patients changes. They withdraw into themselves, do not talk to others, and ignore questions. Neurological disorders manifest themselves in the form of twitching of the muscles of the face and tongue. The mobility of individual muscles disappears, the pupils do not react to light.

Patients with symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy lose weight, have a puffy face, and the tongue takes on a bright color. The temperature rises, sweating increases, heart function is disrupted, arrhythmia appears, and the patient often loses consciousness. After a few days, a state of stunning occurs, which can develop into a coma. If brain cell disorders are incompatible with life, the person dies.

If the patient develops strabismus and changes in coordination of movements, this indicates a neurological disease.

Diagnostic tests

To diagnose encephalopathy, consultations are required not only with a neurologist, but also with an ophthalmologist, therapist and psychotherapist.

The general picture of the disease becomes clearer after studying the anamnesis: asking about the condition, identifying symptoms. When examining the patient, pay attention to his exhaustion.

On skin that loses elasticity and becomes dry and rough. Deformation of the nails is noted, and the hair has a dry appearance.

To ensure the diagnosis is correct, thiamine is administered. Improvement in the patient's condition after 3–4 hours confirms the diagnosis.

Diagnostic tests are prescribed:

• MRI of the brain;
• CT;
• spinal fluid examination;
• EEG – electroencephalography;
• study of caloric reaction;
• blood and urine tests.

A blood chemistry test shows that protein has decreased and pyruvic acid (pyruvate) has increased. You can also find out about the presence or absence of enzymes needed by a specialist.

Cerebrospinal fluid is examined using a lumbar puncture to identify abnormalities.

MRI and CT scans make it possible to find out changes in the structure of the brain, to verify the presence or absence of vascular pathologies and malignant tumors. An EEG indicates abnormal processes in the brain.

These studies exclude similar diseases: schizophrenia, psychosis, brain tumors.

Protest behavior

Disobedience and excessive stubbornness, reluctance to make contact, increased self-esteem - all this refers to the main forms of manifestation of protest behavior. At the age of three (and less), such sharp manifestations of negativism in a child’s behavior can be considered the norm, but in the future this should be regarded as a behavior disorder. If a child does not want to perform any actions just because he was asked to do so or, even worse, ordered, then we can conclude that the child is simply striving for independence, wants to prove to everyone that he is already independent and will not follow orders. Children prove that they are right to everyone, regardless of the situation, even if in reality they realize that they are doing wrong. It is extremely important for such guys that everything is the way they want. It is unacceptable for them to take into account the opinion of the older generation, and they always ignore generally accepted norms of behavior.

As a result, disagreements arise in relationships, and re-education without the help of a specialist becomes almost impossible. Most often, this behavior takes on a permanent form, especially when disagreements often arise in the family, but adults do not want to compromise, but simply try to raise the child with shouts and orders. Often, stubbornness and assertiveness are defined as the “spirit of contradiction.” The child, as a rule, feels guilty and worries about his behavior, but nevertheless continues to behave this way again. The reason for such constant stubbornness is prolonged stress, which the child cannot cope with alone, as well as intellectual impairment and overexcitability.

Therefore, the occurrence of behavioral disorders may have different causes. To understand them means to find the key to the child, to his activity and activity.

Preventing Behavioral Disorders

Researchers believe that positive parenting and creating a safe and supportive environment for children can reduce the risk of conduct disorders. Reducing risk factors that may increase the likelihood of conduct disorders, such as poverty and abuse, is likely to provide the best outcome for the child.

If you think your child may have a conduct disorder, do not hesitate to contact a doctor, school counselor, or mental health professional. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent the development of additional mental health and behavioral problems. With the right support, children and adolescents can begin to interact better with their peers and adults and learn to change harmful behavior.

Treatment of the disorder

Treatment for conduct disorder varies depending on the person's age and symptoms. Behavioral disorders can sometimes lead to depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental and behavioral disorders later in life, so early assessment and treatment is key for children.

Treatment can be difficult because children are often uncooperative and distrustful of adults. It is important that parents and other significant adults in a child or teen's life remain patient and willing to work with them and form a support team for them.

Treatment for conduct disorder usually involves both individuals and family members, and the main goal of treatment is to help the person improve their interactions with others.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is sometimes used to help a person overcome impulsive behavior and cope with stress through positive coping strategies.

Family therapy can help family members communicate more effectively and can also help parents learn strategies to reduce conflict with their child. Family therapy can also help reduce risk factors that lead to a child's antisocial behavior.

Group therapy with a child or adolescent's peers is also sometimes used to develop interpersonal skills and behaviors that promote empathy.

Another important part of behavior disorder treatment is school support. For children and adolescents, a team of people will be assembled at school to help your child with behavioral disorders.

This team typically includes school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, administrators, and others. If your child has been diagnosed with a conduct disorder, he may be eligible for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, which can provide him with the tools he needs to succeed in school.

We invite you to read: Is it possible to control your mind?

Medications are not typically used to treat conduct disorders, but people with co-occurring disorders may be prescribed medications to treat symptoms of other conditions. The medicine is usually prescribed if a child has attention problems or mood-related symptoms such as depression.