Asthenic syndrome: development, symptoms and types, diagnosis, how to treat. Diagnosis and signs of asthenic syndrome, what to do with the diagnosis of asthenic syndrome

Asthenic syndrome each of us has experienced at least once in his life after the flu or a sore throat. In this case, asthenia does not last long, usually a week or two. But there are times when asthenic syndrome lasts quite a long time, exhausting not only the person himself, but also all those around him.

Asthenic syndrome manifested in increased fatigue, a feeling of weakness and inability for prolonged mental and physical labor. Cause asthenic syndrome long-term emotional and mental overstrain, mental disorders can become. Often asthenia occurs after infections, intoxication of the body, as well as craniocerebral injuries, in the early stages of brain diseases and mental illness (with schizophrenia), atherosclerosis, encephalitis, and hypertension. More often asthenic syndrome people with a weak or quick-tempered type of higher nervous activity are susceptible, but it is not excluded from owners of a strong, excitable or phlegmatic type of higher nervous activity. bind asthenic syndrome and with nervous exhaustion , associated with excessive overexpenditure of the internal resources of the body, poor nutrition, disorders of intracellular metabolism.

Adapting to new conditions, the body turns on some adaptive reaction, which can occur with a slowdown in metabolic processes and a decrease in the intensity of activity of various organs and systems, without losing the ability to restore violations, which in fact is asthenic syndrome. In order to quickly restore the body and prevent prolonged asthenia, it is important to know symptoms of asthenic syndrome.

Symptoms of asthenic syndrome

Asthenic syndrome characterized by irascibility, irritable weakness, rapid excitability and mood swings that increase in the afternoon or evening. Decreased mood, capriciousness, increased tearfulness, expression of discontent are noted. People with asthenic syndrome cannot tolerate bright light, loud sound and pungent smell. Usually, asthenic syndrome expressed headaches sleep disorders (increased drowsiness or insomnia), signs of disruption autonomic nervous system . People with asthenic syndrome weather dependent, so a decrease in atmospheric pressure provokes increased fatigue and irritable weakness. If the consequence asthenic syndrome are organic diseases of the brain, then memory suffers significantly (especially the ability to remember current events is lost). Asthenia does not develop immediately and unexpectedly, it is characterized by a gradual increase in characteristic symptoms. In some cases, the first manifestations may be increased fatigue and irritability, often combined with a desire for constant activity, even during rest, characterized as "fatigue that does not seek rest."

Symptoms asthenia depend on the causes that caused it. BUTsthenic syndrome against the background of acute diseases, it is characterized by emotional weakness and hypersensitivity, combined with intolerance to emotional stress. With a traumatic brain injury, asthenia manifests itself in irritable weakness, the accumulation of many thoughts, severe headaches and significant autonomic disorders ( jumps in blood pressure , cardiopalmus , pain in the heart, sensation of heat, increased sweating b, etc.), which indicates an asthenic-vegetative syndrome. With the development hypertension at the initial stage asthenia characterized as "fatigue, not seeking rest." Asthenic syndrome with atherosclerosis, it is manifested by increased fatigue, deterioration in mood, tearfulness, irritable weakness. In mental illness (with schizophrenia), there is mental exhaustion, not commensurate with the degree of mental stress, reduced activity.

Treatment of asthenic syndrome, first of all, depends on the reason that caused it. Symptomatic treatment is also carried out, the purpose of which is to remove the main symptoms. asthenia. The complex of therapeutic measures includes, first of all, the appointment of a special regimen, which provides for a rational alternation of sleep and rest, exemption from work, and a change in the environment. It is recommended to spend more time outdoors and exercise. Sports, travel and tourism are also useful. Fortifying agents, vitamin complexes are used as drug therapy. Tranquilizers are used to reduce irritability, and restoring a healthy night's sleep is also important. They also resort to physiotherapy, which includes electrosleep, electrophoresis, etc.
tangible benefits in treatment of asthenic syndrome bring also meditation, massage, therapeutic gymnastics , phytotherapy, not causing addiction and addiction b, in contrast to synthetic tranquilizers and sleeping pills. To restore sleep and psycho-emotional background, tranquilizing medicinal herbs with a sedative effect are used: valerian officinalis, motherwort, lemon balm, blue cyanosis and others. Valerian P and Motherwort P produced on the basis valerian officinalis and motherwort, also containing vitamin C, have a number of advantages in their use in the treatment of asthenic syndrome. It's all about the unique technology used in their manufacture! Cryogrinding Technology at ultra-low temperatures, unlike other technologies used in the modern pharmaceutical industry, it allows you to save the entire medicinal value of medicinal herbs, which is lost almost twice during high-temperature processing (production of extracts, infusions, decoctions). In addition, taking medications based on valerian and motherwort will have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the autonomic and central nervous systems, the failure of which is one of symptoms of asthenic syndrome, normalize blood pressure and heart rate, improve blood circulation, reduce weather sensitivity.

Long-term practice shows that a greater therapeutic effect is observed when taking sedative, sedative herbal preparations. Biologically active complex Nervo-Vit, based cyanosis blue, the action of which exceeds the action of valerian 10 times, lemon balm , valerian and motherwort, allows you to get a faster and longer sedative effect, relieve irritation and increased tearfulness, characteristic of asthenic syndrome. Vitamin C also included in Nervo-Vit, which has an antioxidant, mobilizes the body's defenses, protects tissue cells from premature aging, reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby increasing stress resistance.

When manifested asthenia with increased drowsiness, it is recommended to take drugs on medicinal herbs-adaptogens in the morning ( Leuzea safflower , eleutherococcus). Preparations Levzeya P and Eleutherococcus P, which also include vitamin C, or biologically active complexes Leveton P(based on Leuzea) and Elton P(based on eleutherococcus) will help reduce drowsiness during the day and fatigue from excessive mental and physical overstrain, are also recommended for people leading an active lifestyle to avoid nervous exhaustion, one of the causes of asthenic neurosis or asthenic depression.
Elton P and Leveton P include pollen (bee pollen), which is the source of 20

A psychological disorder characterized by sleep disturbance, fatigue and weakness is called asthenia. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that it is the initial stage of the development of more serious problems. Anxiety-asthenic syndrome is considered a common pathology found in neurological, psychiatric, general somatic medical practice.

What is asthenic syndrome

The disorder accompanies many diseases, is characterized by progressive development (increase in symptoms). The main manifestations of asthenia are a decrease in mental and physical capacity for work, sleep disturbance, fatigue, autonomic disorders. Pathology develops simultaneously with somatic and infectious diseases, nervous and mental disorders. Often, asthenia occurs after childbirth, injury, and surgical operations.

It is important to distinguish between this disorder and the normal fatigue of the body after intense work, jet lag, or mental overstrain. Asthenic syndrome of psychogenic origin cannot be eliminated by having a good night's sleep. It develops suddenly and stays with a person for a long time if treatment is not started. The pathological condition affects people aged 20-40 years who work hard physically, often experience stress, and rarely rest. Doctors recognize this disorder as a generational scourge that impairs the quality of life of modern people.

The reasons

Most experts are inclined to believe that asthenic disorders cause overstrain and exhaustion of higher nervous activity. The disease can develop in a healthy person under the influence of certain factors. Some scientists compare this condition to an emergency brake. Asthenia does not allow a person to lose all working potential, promptly reporting large overloads. The causes of the pathology vary, depending on its form.

Functional asthenia occurs in 55% of all cases of the disease. The process is reversible and temporary. The reasons for the development of this type of pathology are presented below:

Acute functional asthenia develops due to frequent stress, change of time zones, as a result of acclimatization after moving to another country or region.
Chronic functional asthenia can occur after childbirth, surgery, weight loss. In addition, this form of pathology can be provoked by diseases such as tuberculosis, anemia, chronic pyelonephritis, SARS, influenza, hepatitis, pneumonia, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), coagulopathy (violation of the blood coagulation process).
Psychiatric functional asthenia occurs as a result of insomnia, depression, anxiety disorders.

Asthenia caused by organic changes in the human body should be considered separately. It occurs in 45% of all patients. Pathology develops against the background of chronic diseases or somatic disorders. The following can provoke asthenia of this form:

Brain lesions of organic or infectious etiology: encephalitis, meningitis, abscesses.
Severe infectious diseases: brucellosis, viral hepatitis, etc.
Traumatic brain injury.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system: chronic cerebral ischemia, persistent hypertension, strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic), vascular atherosclerosis, progressive heart failure.
Demyelinating diseases (lesions of the central and peripheral nervous system): disseminated encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis.
Degenerative diseases (pathologies of the nervous system with selective damage to groups of neurons): Parkinson's disease, senile chorea, Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the factors provoking the development of asthenic disorder. These include:

chronic sleep deprivation;
regular mental work;
monotonous sedentary work;
exhausting physical labor, not alternating with rest.

Forms

Asthenic disorders are divided into several types, depending on the cause. The classification is presented below:

Nervous-asthenic syndrome. This type of pathology is diagnosed more often than others. The central nervous system (central nervous system) with such a violation is greatly weakened, against which the patient is constantly in a bad mood, is faced with irritability, which is difficult to control, becomes a conflict. A patient with asthenic neurosis is not able to explain his behavior and aggression. As a rule, after the release of negative emotions, a person begins to behave normally.
Asthenia after influenza. By the name of the syndrome, we can conclude that the condition develops after the disease. The syndrome is characterized by increased irritability, maladjustment, internal nervousness, decreased performance.
vegetative syndrome. This form of asthenic disorder occurs in children and adults. As a rule, the syndrome is diagnosed after severe infectious diseases. Pathology can be provoked by stress, a tense situation in the family, conflicts at work.
Pronounced syndrome (organic asthenic disorder). This form of pathology progresses against the background of various brain lesions. The patient at the same time is constantly in tension, reacts sharply to any stimuli. The syndrome is characterized by dizziness, distraction, vestibular disorders, memory problems.
Cerebroasthenic syndrome. This form of asthenia is provoked by metabolic disorders of brain neurons. Often the syndrome occurs after an infection or traumatic brain injury. The asthenic state is characterized by the manifestation of emotions that are difficult to control.
Moderate asthenia. This form of the disease is characterized by pathological changes against the background of social activity. The patient loses the ability to realize himself in society as a person.
Asthenic depression. This form of the pathological condition is characterized by sudden mood swings that cannot be controlled. The patient can instantly fall into euphoria or become aggressive, quick-tempered. In addition, the patient manifests tearfulness, absent-mindedness, memory impairment, problems with concentration, excessive impatience.
Alcoholic asthenia. This form of the syndrome manifests itself in people with alcoholism in the first stage.
Cephalgic asthenia. This form of the syndrome is secondary, and is widespread among modern Russians. The emotional background of the patient does not change. Pathology is characterized by constant headaches.

Symptoms

The main problem of this pathology is that it is difficult to identify astheno-anxiety syndrome. Signs of this condition are characteristic of a large number of different diseases of the nervous system. In fact, the symptoms of asthenia are subjective on a case-by-case basis. The syndrome can be suspected if a person has the following signs:

Apathy that progresses over time. The symptom appears almost immediately. The patient loses interest in his own work, favorite activities.
Strong weakness. The patient himself and those around him cannot explain the appearance of this condition.
Sleep disturbance. A person can constantly wake up, have nightmares in a dream, or not sleep at all at night.
A sharp decrease in performance. The patient does not have time to do anything, becomes nervous and irritable.
Sleepiness during the day. A sign can be seen at a time when a person should still be alert and full of energy.
Periodic jumps in blood pressure (blood pressure).
Failure of the digestive tract and genitourinary system. The patient may notice problems in the liver, kidneys, lower back pain, impaired urination.
Periodic shortness of breath.
Memory impairment.
Changing character for the worse.
Phobias.
Tearfulness.

It is possible to consider the signs of asthenic neurosis in the context of two types of disease: hypersthenic and hyposthenic. In the first case, the patient is faced with increased excitability. Against this background, various types of irritants become unbearable for him: bright light, loud music, screams or laughter of children, noises. As a result, a person tries to avoid these factors, often suffers from headaches and vegetative-vascular disorders.

The hyposthenic form of asthenic neuroses is characterized by a low sensitivity of the patient to any external stimuli. It is characterized by a depressed state of a person, lethargy, passivity, drowsiness. Often patients with this type of asthenic disorder experience apathy, unmotivated sadness, anxiety, tearfulness.

In children

Asthenic syndromes affect children of all ages, including infants. The kid becomes excitable, constantly harmful, eats badly. A manifestation of asthenia in infants is causeless tearfulness, fear of any, even unsharp sounds. The child may get tired from long motion sickness in his arms and communication with adults. It is difficult to lull a baby with asthenia, he falls asleep for a long time, is naughty, constantly wakes up at night. It is important to consider that children with this syndrome are able to fall asleep faster in the absence of their parents. You should leave the baby in the crib and leave his room.

Psychological exhaustion of a child can provoke his registration in a kindergarten. Separation from a mother is very stressful for many. In addition, asthenic neurosis can develop against the background of early school entry (from the age of 6). The child is faced with a lot of new requirements and rules. He needs to sit quietly in class and memorize new information. As a result, asthenia develops. Symptoms of this syndrome in children of preschool and primary school age are the following:

nervousness;
isolation;
dizziness;
increased fatigue, the child may be indifferent to favorite activities and toys;
bad memory;
difficulty concentrating;
headache from loud noises;
photophobia;
fear of strangers;
poor appetite.

Adolescents can also develop encephalosthenic syndrome and other forms of this disorder. Symptoms of pathology characteristic of children of senior school age:

violation of the rules of conduct in the classroom, generally accepted norms of communication with others:

rudeness towards peers and adults;
poor appetite;
recurrent headaches;
weakness;
apathy;
poor school performance;
problems with concentration;
distraction;
conflict, desire to argue on any issues;
increased fatigue;
instant changes in mood;
sleep problems.

All these manifestations of asthenic syndrome in children can be combined with signs of concomitant diseases that caused the disorder. It is important to consider that asthenia is a whole complex of symptoms that progress over time. If a child has 3 or more signs of the syndrome, you should seek help from a neurologist, pediatrician or child psychiatrist. It is difficult to diagnose asthenic disorders in children, because some of their symptoms do not differ from the personality traits of the character of young patients.

Diagnostics

For qualified doctors, the identification of asthenic disorder does not cause any difficulties. Pathology has a pronounced clinical picture if the cause of the development of the syndrome was an injury or a previous serious illness of the patient. With the development of asthenia against the background of an existing ailment, the signs may be hidden behind the symptoms of the underlying disease. For an accurate diagnosis, a thorough survey of the patient with clarification of complaints is carried out.

The doctor pays attention to the mood of the patient, is interested in the peculiarities of his work and night rest. This is a prerequisite, because not all patients can independently describe their feelings and problems. Many patients exaggerate intellectual and other disorders, so special psychological tests are used to detect asthenia. Equally important is the assessment of the emotional background of a person, tracking his reactions to external stimuli.

Asthenic disorder has common features with such diseases as hypersomnia, depressive and hypochondriacal neuroses. In this regard, doctors conduct differential diagnostics to exclude these pathologies. An important step in making a diagnosis is to identify the underlying ailment that provoked asthenia. For this, the patient is referred to narrow specialists according to indications.

Depending on the form of the syndrome and the reasons that provoked its appearance, doctors may prescribe different types of laboratory and hardware studies. Popular methods for diagnosing asthenic syndrome are presented below:

FGDS (fibrogastroduodenoscopy) of the digestive organs;
CT (computed tomography) of the brain;
bacteriological research;
polymerase chain reaction (PCR diagnostics);
Ultrasound (ultrasound examination) of internal organs;
gastroscopy (hardware examination of the stomach, esophagus, duodenum);
ECG (electrocardiography of the heart);
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
fluorography;
lung radiography.

Treatment of asthenic syndrome

The course of therapy is prescribed by the doctor individually, taking into account the causes of the development of the pathology, the age of the patient, concomitant diseases. Mandatory stage of treatment are psychohygienic procedures. Regarding them, experts give the following recommendations:

Optimize the mode of work and rest (review habits, change jobs if necessary, etc.).
Perform a set of tonic physical exercises.
Eliminate the risk of exposure to the body of any toxic substances.
Give up bad habits (smoking, drug or alcohol use).
Include in the diet foods rich in tryptophan (turkey, bananas, wholemeal bread), protein (soy, meat, fish, legumes), vitamins (fruits, berries, vegetables).

The best treatment for asthenic syndrome in adults and children is a full-fledged long rest. Doctors recommend that patients with such a diagnosis change the situation by going to a sanatorium or resort. Relatives of the patient play an important role in the treatment of asthenic disorder. They should be sympathetic to the condition of a relative, provide him with psychological comfort at home, this is important in terms of therapy.

Any medication for asthenia can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. The following types of drugs are used to treat this syndrome:

Anti-asthenic agents: Salbutiamine, Adamantylphenylamine.
Nootropic drugs (for psychostimulation): Demanol, Noben, Phenotropil.
Herbal adaptogens (to strengthen the protective functions of the body): ginseng, pink radiola, Chinese magnolia vine.
Light antidepressants, antipsychotics (Novo-Passit, Persen, Aminazin, Azaleptin, Neuleptil) are prescribed according to indications by a neurologist or psychiatrist.
Vitamin and mineral complexes.

In case of serious sleep disorders, the patient is additionally prescribed sleeping pills. A positive effect in the treatment of asthenia is given by physiological procedures: massage, aromatherapy, electrosleep, reflexology. The success of treatment directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis and identification of the cause of the development of asthenic disorder. The main emphasis is on eliminating the underlying pathology.

Video

Each person has certain body reserves that allow him to recover from diseases, cope with accumulated negative emotions and stress. However, not everyone has enough vitality to deal with negative physiological and psychological factors. Asthenic syndrome occurs as a result of serious illnesses, psychophysiological exhaustion of the body.

The famous academician I. P. Pavlov argued that with long-term exposure to pathological endogenous and exogenous factors, the central nervous system is inevitably depleted and its performance is sharply reduced.

Symptoms of asthenia

Often, asthenic syndrome is confused with neurasthenia due to the similarity of the clinical picture and symptoms. Asthenia occurs as a result of an illness, pathologies of internal organs, injuries, stress factors and emotional overstrain. Nervous-asthenic syndrome occurs mainly only due to psychogenic effects. Asthenic syndrome is often a concomitant symptom of heart disease, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system.

There are two main types of asthenia:

hypersthenic;
hyposthenic.

Hypersthenic asthenia is a syndrome with dominant excitation processes. Patients have increased irritability, aggressiveness and excessive mobility.

In the hyposthenic form, inhibition processes predominate. A person quickly gets tired, thinking is inhibited, and any movement causes difficulty.

Asthenic syndrome occurs with atherosclerosis, hypertension, injuries and pathologies of the brain, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, infectious diseases and neurasthenia.

The main symptoms of asthenic syndrome:

irritability, agitation;
weakness, depletion of cognitive processes;
autonomic disorders (with disability);
apathy;
weather lability;
, dream disorders.

Irritability is an essential attribute of the asthenic state. Sharp mood swings, from unreasonable anger to unreasonable laughter, are often observed with hypersthenic manifestation of asthenia. A person cannot sit still, he is annoyed by the behavior of others, any little things infuriate him. With atherosclerosis, asthenia is often aggressive in nature, it is difficult for the patient to control emotions. With hypertension, emotional outbursts are constantly changing, tearfulness prevails most of all. The degree of severity, the so-called nervousness, largely depends on the stage of the syndrome and its form.

A patient with asthenia constantly feels tired, active inability to and soreness. In some, weakness is a constant symptom (hyposthenic type), in others it manifests itself after any action, sometimes even the most primitive. Such lethargy is manifested in disability, impaired attention and inhibition of thinking. Often the patient cannot concentrate, is immersed in himself, and performs mental operations with particular difficulty. With asthenia, short-term memory suffers, it is difficult for a person to remember recent moments and actions. If the asthenic syndrome is concomitant, the patient is worried about the emptiness in the head, the scarcity of the associative range and thinking. Asthenic weakness is expressed in constant drowsiness (with diseases of the brain) and the desire to be in a supine position.

The somatogenic nature of the disease manifests itself in various autonomic disorders. Increased sweating and hot flashes are observed with tachycardia. Asthenia with a feeling of coldness and tremors may occur after an infectious disease, for example, severe forms of influenza. Palpitations, variability in blood pressure are common symptoms of an asthenic condition in cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, with asthenia, low blood pressure and a rapid pulse are more often observed. An interesting fact is that even eye pressure and an oculo-cardiac reflex in asthenics differ from the norm. During the study, it was noted that in people with asthenic syndrome, a rapid heartbeat is observed when pressing on the eyeball when a slow pulse rate is considered the norm. Thus, sometimes the so-called Dagnini-Ashner test is used in the diagnosis of a disease.

Headache is almost always a mandatory symptom of asthenic disorder. The peculiarity and quality of pain sensations depends on the concomitant disease, for example, with neurasthenia, the pain has a “contracting” character, and with hypertension, migraines occur in the morning and at night.

A patient with asthenia is apathetic, hidden and deepened in his Self, especially in the hyposthenic type of the disease. Apathy often manifests itself in schizophrenia and cerebroasthenia. The latter is called asthenic syndrome with pathological and organic diseases of the brain.

Anxiety and various kinds of phobias occur with asthenia based on vegetative-vascular dystonia and some mental disorders, for example, with.

Meteorolability is usually called the dependence of the psychophysiological state of the body on weather conditions, changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature. Patients feel pain in the limbs, joints, lower back, headaches and pressure surges.

One of the main symptoms of asthenic syndrome is. This symptom is so diverse that the pathology of sleep can manifest itself from the inability to fall asleep to chronic insomnia. Often patients wake up with a feeling of weakness, fatigue, this condition is called "sleep without sleep." The process of falling asleep becomes difficult and unbearable, for example, with hypertension. Sleep disturbing, sensitive, the patient wakes up at the slightest sound. With asthenia, the concept of "day-night" is often confused, which manifests itself in daytime sleepiness and lack of sleep at night. In severe forms of the disease, pathological drowsiness, insomnia and nocturnal fermentation (sleepwalking) are observed. With the hypersthenic type of the patient, the restless legs syndrome is disturbing, with atherosclerosis, early awakening with a feeling of anxiety is observed. In the clinic of asthenic disorder, attention is paid primarily to dream disorders. Often, in order to cure a patient, the doctor needs to adjust the regime and quality of sleep.

In addition to the general symptoms of asthenic syndrome, requiring mandatory treatment, there are secondary signs of the disease. Patients often have a low level of hemoglobin, pale skin, asymmetry in body temperature. People with this condition are sensitive to sharp sounds, strong smells, and colors. Appetite is more reduced, food does not bring pleasure. Sometimes sexual function suffers, manifested in dysmenorrhea in women and a decrease in potency in men.

Treatment of asthenic syndrome

For the diagnosis of the disease using various neurological research. A rather difficult task for a doctor is to determine asthenic syndrome in children. Symptoms of asthenia in childhood are not so diverse and consist mainly of weakness, isolation and nightmares. If the child has always been mobile, active and suddenly began to get tired for no reason and sleep poorly, it is necessary to show him to a specialist.

Treatment of symptoms of asthenic syndrome consists of two approaches:

medical;
psychotherapeutic.

Therapy begins directly with getting rid of the main diagnosis, the so-called cause of asthenic syndrome. To begin with, a calm environment is created for the patient, minimizing stress and worries, on an outpatient basis or in a hospital. Further, the doctor prescribes drugs for the treatment of the main diagnosis, antipsychotics, sleeping pills and vitamins, prescribes a diet and physiotherapy.

It should be aimed at eliminating the accumulated negativity, internal conflicts and anxiety, increasing self-esteem. Methods of suggestion and behavioral psychotherapy are widely used. Asthenic syndrome in children is treated mainly with the help of game therapy, fairy tale therapy and psychological training with parents.

The peculiarity of therapy largely depends on the causative disease, which is accompanied by asthenia. For example, in atherosclerotic asthenia, the psychotherapeutic method of suggestion is used, since patients with this disease are very suggestible. Nervous-asthenic syndrome, unlike asthenia, requires a more in-depth psychotherapeutic treatment bias.

Thus, the treatment of asthenic syndrome should have a comprehensive and individual approach, depending on the type and characteristics of the asthenic condition.

All about asthenic syndrome

Asthenic syndrome (synonymous with asthenia) is a symptom complex characterized by irritability, weakness, increased fatigue and unstable mood. Asthenia is a condition in which the body seems to have lost vitality. General asthenia occurs in many chronic diseases such as anemia, cancer, and is probably most pronounced in diseases of the adrenal glands. Asthenia may be limited to certain organs or organ systems, as in asthenopia, characterized by severe visual fatigue or myasthenia gravis, in which there is a gradual increase in muscle fatigue. Neurocirculatory asthenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by difficulty in breathing, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and insomnia.

The term neurasthenia was once commonly used to describe a similar neurotic disorder characterized by easy fatigability, lack of motivation, and feelings of inadequacy; the use of the term has largely been phased out.

Patients with asthenia are very sensitive and impressionable, because of trifles they lose their composure. They are either grouchy, dissatisfied with everything, picky, pessimistic, or, on the contrary, optimistic and complaisant. For minor reasons, tearfulness occurs, accompanied by tenderness or a feeling of resentment. With physical and mental stress, fatigue quickly sets in, and with it a feeling of dislike for the work performed and the idea of its invincibility. Characterized by restlessness, a feeling of inner restlessness. With, and often without it, unpleasant thoughts easily appear that arise involuntarily, making it difficult to think and concentrate. Combinations of irritability and weakness in asthenic syndrome are varied. In some cases, the phenomena of irritability, excitability, anxiety predominate, in others - the phenomena of exhaustion, fatigue, tearfulness. All these symptoms are usually more pronounced in the evening. Constant sleep disorders - difficulty falling asleep, superficial with an abundance of dreams, early awakening. Vegetative disorders are common - sensations of chilliness, sweating, vasomotor disorders. Asthenic disorders can be observed as initial manifestations in all mental illnesses. They are also found in neuroses. We must always remember that asthenic syndrome can be the first sign of a serious mental illness. Patients with asthenic syndrome should be referred for a consultation with a psychiatrist.

Asthenic syndrome (Greek astheneia - impotence, weakness) is a state of mental weakness, expressed in increased fatigue and exhaustion, loss of the ability for prolonged mental and physical stress. Patients are characterized by the so-called irritable weakness, in which excitability is combined with rapidly onset exhaustion, and affective lability with a tendency to depression and tearfulness. Hyperesthesia is also observed - painful intolerance to loud sounds, bright lights, pungent odors.

Often the first manifestations of asthenic syndrome are irritability, impatience, a combination of increased fatigue with a constant desire for activity, even during rest hours (the so-called fatigue that does not seek rest). Severe manifestations of asthenic syndrome are characterized by passivity, apathy. With asthenic syndrome, headaches, increased drowsiness or insomnia, as well as autonomic disorders can be observed.

Asthenic syndrome most often occurs as a result of somatic diseases, including infectious, intoxications. Asthenic syndrome can be observed in the initial stages of organic diseases of the brain (arteriosclerosis, syphilis of the brain, progressive paralysis, encephalitis, traumatic disease). The initial period of schizophrenia is also characterized by asthenic symptoms.

Symptoms and signs asthenic syndrome have features depending on the underlying disease in which it is observed: with atherosclerosis, memory impairment and tearfulness are noticeably pronounced; with traumatic brain injury - irritable weakness with autonomic lability; with syphilis of the brain - with anxiety and hypochondria, explosiveness, persistent headaches, sleep disorders; with progressive paralysis - depression, tearfulness, hypochondria, sometimes there is a slight stupor. In schizophrenia, asthenic syndrome is characterized by a combination of weakness and irritability with lethargy, decreased activity, and autism. Thus, the features of the asthenic syndrome (and other symptoms associated with it) have a differential diagnostic value. The asthenic syndrome observed in various somatic diseases and in organic diseases of the brain should be distinguished from a neurasthenic condition (see Neurasthenia).

Treatment consists in eliminating the cause that caused asthenic syndrome, as well as in the use of restorative agents - glucose, vitamins, strychnine, iron preparations, as well as andaxin, meprobamate, trioxazine, small doses of insulin and chlorpromazine. Shown and physiotherapy.

Asthenic syndrome - states of neuropsychic weakness of various origins, expressed in violations of the tone of nervous processes and characterized by their great exhaustibility, which affects the rapid onset of fatigue during any activity, inability to prolonged nervous tension and in a decrease in all forms of mental activity.

Asthenic syndrome of moderate severity is characterized by a symptom of irritable weakness; it consists in a combination of increased excitability under the influence of external stimuli with rapid exhaustion and attenuation of the reactions caused by these stimuli. Severe asthenic syndrome is characterized by passivity, low susceptibility to external impressions and apathy, combined with depression. In addition to these main manifestations of the syndrome, patients often have a number of disorders of the autonomic nervous system, as well as prolonged headaches and sleep disorders. Irritable weakness is manifested by hyperesthesia - painful susceptibility to stimuli that are indifferent to people with a healthy nervous system (sounds of medium volume, bright lights, objections in a dispute, etc.), capricious variability of moods and affective reactions, and sometimes weakness, affective reactions of negative character - anxiety, irritation, discontent.

Etiology. Asthenic syndrome can be caused by various endocrine diseases - thyrotoxicosis, Addison's disease, hormonal dysfunction of the sex glands, etc.; past infections, intoxications and injuries; chronic diseases that cause constant pain irritation; organic nervous diseases; some psychoses. An intermediate position between somatic disorders and neurasthenia with cortico-visceral disorders is occupied by neurocirculatory asthenia, described as a purely functional disorder. Asthenic syndromes are rarely caused by only one cause, more often there is a complex origin with the predominant role of one of the acting factors. The most important syndromes are irritable weakness, apathetic lethargy, phobic, hypochondriacal-painful.

Pathogenesis. The basis of asthenic syndrome is the weakness of the cerebral cortex, due to violations of its nutrition and intracellular metabolism under the influence of toxic effects, as well as disorders of blood and liquor circulation. The pathological state of nerve cells underlies the weakness and rapid exhaustion of excitatory processes and the development of protective inhibition.

Treatment of asthenia is aimed at eliminating the (underlying asthenic syndrome) disease. Symptomatically prescribe tonics, bromide preparations and sleeping pills.

Description:

Asthenic syndrome is a condition manifested by increased fatigue and exhaustion, weakening or loss of the ability for prolonged physical and mental stress.

Symptoms:

With asthenia, patients have irritable weakness, expressed by increased excitability, easily changing mood, irascibility, which intensifies in the afternoon and evening. The mood is lowered all the time, the patients are capricious, tearful, constantly express their displeasure to others.

For asthenic syndrome is also characterized by intolerance to bright light, loud sounds, pungent odors. Often there are headaches, sleep disturbance in the form of increased drowsiness or persistent insomnia, disorders of the autonomic nervous system (it innervates blood vessels and internal organs). Patients suffering from asthenia are dependent on the weather. With a drop in atmospheric pressure, they may increase fatigue and increase irritable weakness.

With asthenic syndrome, which has developed as a result of organic (with a change in the structure of the brain) diseases of the brain, memory suffers, mainly the memorization of current events is disturbed.

Asthenic disorders, as a rule, develop gradually, their intensity increases gradually. Sometimes the first manifestations of the disease are increased fatigue and irritability, combined with impatience and a constant desire for activity, even in an environment conducive to rest - "fatigue that does not seek rest."

Manifestations of asthenia depend on the causes that caused it:

asthenia after various acute diseases often takes on the character of a state of emotional weakness and hypersensitivity, which is combined with intolerance to emotional stress;