Asthenic syndrome - what is it? Causes and symptoms of asthenia. Overview of effective treatments for asthenia

Asthenic syndrome is a neuropsychopathic disorder. Mild asthenia is a frequent guest of perfectly healthy people who are in a state of severe overwork. This pathology is also a symptom of almost any somatic disease.

Nervous-asthenic syndrome is one of the most common neurological disorders in the environment. This condition is diagnosed in every third patient suffering from neuroses. Almost 35% of the world's population is familiar with asthenia. This is a dangerous condition that can provoke the development of complex mental disorders.

Asthenic disorder is a common phenomenon in modern society

Physicians divided the characteristic signs of asthenic disorder into three main components:

1. Clinical signs inherent directly to asthenia itself.
2. Symptoms arising from concomitant diseases that provoked the development of asthenic syndrome.
3. Symptoms caused by the person's own reaction to the disorder (psychological or emotional).

Symptoms of asthenic syndrome have one feature. They grow gradually, in the morning they practically do not happen or they are weakly expressed. By evening, asthenia reaches its maximum. This forces the patient to take long rests that do not bring the desired result. The most common complaints of patients suffering from the disorder are:

Fatigue

Patients with asthenic syndrome note that the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion occurs much more often than in the normal state. Fatigue does not disappear even after a long, good rest. This symptom responds differently to the performance of people:

• during physical labor, a strong, general weakness is noted, a person is not able to perform even simple work;
• with an intellectual load, the situation is more complicated, patients complain of a sharp drop in attentiveness, the ability to concentrate, memory and quick wit are deteriorating.

It becomes difficult for patients to clearly formulate the simplest thoughts. Those suffering from asthenia find it difficult to find suitable words, their mental reactions are inhibited.

To complete even an easy task, they need a lot of time and constant breaks. Such attempts further increase the feeling of fatigue.

Psycho-emotional disorders

A sharp drop in the ability to perform the usual work negatively affects the emotional background of patients with asthenia. People become more and more quick-tempered, irritability grows, there are sudden mood swings.

Asthenia makes a person aggressive, unpredictable and, in some cases, even dangerous to others.

Anxiety can suddenly give way to extreme depression or excited optimism. The gradual increase in such symptoms leads to complete exhaustion of the personality and the development of severe neurasthenic conditions and deep depressions.

Disorders of the vegetative plan

Asthenic syndrome is dangerous for its manifestations in the physical well-being of a person. Asthenia is accompanied by the following somatic symptoms:

• tachycardia:
• pressure surges;
• loss of appetite;
• decreased libido;
• increased sweating;
• feeling of "heaviness" in the head;
• feeling hot or feverish;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, diarrhea, flatulence).

Sleep problems

Asthenic syndrome is accompanied by a persistent disruption of normal sleep. Moreover, this disorder varies depending on the form of the syndrome. A person may feel constant sleepiness during the day, wake up often at night, feel weak and tired in the morning.

Many patients complain that they feel as if they hardly sleep at night, although their nightly sleep is normal. Some have difficulty falling asleep and waking up, nightmares.

Types of asthenia

Doctors distinguish two types of asthenic disorder. They differ in their causes, clinical symptoms and require a different approach to treatment. Pathology is divided into:

organic. A disorder of this type develops as a result of an organic disturbance of brain functions or the presence of an additional somatic disease. Organic asthenic disorder is diagnosed in 45-50% of cases.

The syndrome proceeds with pronounced, acute symptoms. Patients often have the following main symptoms:

• headache;
• severe weakness;
• memory and thinking disorders.

Functional (or reactive). Asthenic syndrome of this type appears after severe overwork or as a result of a complicated illness. This condition develops as a physical response of the body to the disease. Symptoms of functional asthenia are not so pronounced and do not require serious, long-term treatment..

Also, asthenic syndrome has two clinical varieties. They differ in the formation of symptoms of the disease:

1. Hypersthenic. In persons suffering from the hypersthenic form of asthenia, a strong susceptibility to any external stimuli is noted. Patients react sharply to closeness, light, noise, crowds. Such people react with sharp outbursts of aggressive behavior, complain of headaches and pressure drops.
2. Hyposthenic. This type of disorder causes people to lose interest in everything with a simultaneous persistent drop in the emotional background. Depression, weakness, apathy, constant fatigue are the hallmarks of hyposthenic asthenia.

Causes of the syndrome

To understand what asthenic syndrome is and how to treat it correctly, you should know about the causes that provoke the disease. Asthenia declares itself when, under the influence of any factors in the human body, the functioning of the structures responsible for the work of higher nervous activity is disrupted.

Frequent causes of asthenia are long-term psycho-emotional stress occurring against the background of metabolic disorders. The following diseases are also involved in asthenia:

1. infectious diseases. Especially SARS, influenza, toxic infections, hepatitis of various etiologies.
2. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These include ulcers, dyspepsia, gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis, enteritis.
3. Cardiovascular pathologies: atherosclerosis, arrhythmias, ischemia, hypertension, heart attacks.
4. Respiratory problems. Frequent culprits of asthenia are bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma.
5. Disorders of the endocrine system, including diabetic forms, hyper- and hypothyroidism.
6. Chronic diseases of the kidneys and circulatory system (especially anemic conditions).
7. Neoplastic processes occurring in the body (neoplasms, benign and malignant).
8. Traumatic brain injuries and neuropsychiatric disorders.

The asthenic disorder threatens the female body in the postpartum and lactation period, with complicated pregnancy. The slightest fluctuations in the hormonal background during menopause and the menstrual cycle can act as a trigger.

The onset of asthenia is also provoked by the nuances of working conditions. The risk zone includes people whose work is associated with monotony and monotony.

Night shifts, work in a confined space become dangerous. Emergency situations threaten health (when it is required to process a significant amount of information in a short time).

Asthenia treatment

The treatment of asthenic syndrome in adults is complex, including the relief of the main somatic signs of the disease and additional (supportive) therapy.

Asthenia is a serious pathological condition. It requires a long rehabilitation and a competent medical approach. It is impossible to cope with the disease on your own even in the first stages of the disorder.

Medical therapy

When developing a course of drugs, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient, his state of health, the causes that caused asthenia, the type and nature of the disorder. Frequent assistants in the struggle for well-being are:

1. Adaptogens. This includes plant-based stimulant preparations: extracts of ginseng, eleutherococcus, propolis, magnolia vine.
2. Gentle sedative drugs. Mostly they are also chosen from the category of natural preparations: tinctures of valerian, passionflower, peony, lemon balm, motherwort.
3. Light sleeping pills: Donormil, Lorazepam, Melaxen, Sonmil.
4. Neuroprotectors and nootropic drugs (for the regeneration of the cells of the nervous system and the normalization of the metabolism of the brain). More often, light agents are used: Piracetam, Pantogam, Aminolone, Nootropil.
5. Antipsychotics. Used in case of complicated forms of asthenic syndrome.

Psychocorrective treatment

In addition to the medication course, patients with asthenic disorder also undergo psychotherapeutic treatment. Working with a psychologist and psychotherapist helps patients strengthen their psyche, restore the body's normal response to external stimuli.

The goal of a psychologist is to help a person understand himself and identify the causes that provoked the disease. During the work, specialists use psychotherapy of various types:

• family, aimed at eliminating emotional and behavioral disorders within the family;
• rational, based on logical beliefs, where the explanatory words of the doctor play the leading role;
• cognitive-behavioral, based on identifying errors in the patient's thinking and perception of the surrounding reality;
• methods of psychoanalysis with the definition of hidden needs, motives of behavior and unconscious desires.

When working with children, doctors also use additional psycho-corrective methods: sand, fairy-tale and art therapy.

Preventive actions

To understand how to treat asthenic syndrome, you need not only to study the effect of drugs and the work of psychologists, but also to know preventive measures. Supportive care is very important in the treatment of asthenia. It includes only two main areas:

Mode normalization. People who are prone to asthenia are advised not to get carried away with work, to devote standard 7-8 hours a day to work. In the acute phase of asthenic syndrome, this amount should be reduced by 2-3 times.

It is best to take a vacation during rehabilitation and go on vacation to a resort town or sanatorium. A patient with asthenia should walk daily for at least 1.5-2 hours and moderate physical activity.

Proper nutrition. We live the way we eat. This wise saying exactly corresponds to the situation in which asthenia develops. Asthenic disorder often visits people against the background of a general weakening of the body, when there is an acute shortage of vitamins, and the diet is poor in proteins and minerals.

If you want to be healthy, eat well and eat right. Every year (especially during the off-season), take multivitamin complexes. Switch to healthy food and leave fast food outlets alone.

Take preventive measures seriously. After all, asthenia is a very dangerous syndrome, fraught with the development of severe neurotic conditions and mental illness. Take care of yourself!

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.

Asthenic syndrome is a psychopathological condition that is manifested by increased fatigue, irritability, weakness, tearfulness, unstable, most often low mood. Asthenic syndrome can occur due to various craniocerebral injuries, intoxications. It is also observed in people suffering from hypertension, progressive paralysis, encephalitis, etc.

Asthenic syndrome occurs due to the depletion of nerve elements, during excessive energy consumption, disturbances in intracellular metabolism, lack of nutrition, etc. In general, asthenic syndrome is considered as a kind of adaptive reaction, which is accompanied by a decrease in the usual intensity of activity of almost all body systems, in order to restore already disturbed processes.

Asthenic syndrome: symptoms

Asthenic syndrome manifests itself in increased fatigue and irritability, combined with a constant desire for any activity, even in a favorable environment intended for relaxation. The patient is characterized by intolerance to pungent odors, loud sounds, bright light (hyperesthesia). Also, often patients have sleep disorders, manifested in the form of persistent insomnia, or constant drowsiness, autonomic disorders, headaches. Often they have changes in their mental state, depending on atmospheric pressure: increased fatigue, irritability, hyperesthesia, weakness when it falls. Asthenic disorders may increase in intensity over time. In more severe cases, disorders may be accompanied by apathy, passivity, and spontaneity.

Asthenic syndrome: general clinical picture

The causes of asthenic syndrome will affect the overall clinical picture. So after that, emotional-hyperesthetic weakness may occur, in which fatigue, hyperesthesia will increase, and an unstable mood will be combined with intolerance to even the most insignificant emotional stress. Asthenic disorders after traumatic brain injury will be characterized by mentism (involuntary flow of thoughts), unstable mood, irritable weakness, when combined with autonomic disorders and headaches. In the period of progressive hypertonic asthenic character, they manifest themselves in the form of fatigue, combined with an irresistible desire for activity. When pronounced fatigue appears, mood decreases, causeless tearfulness occurs. Patients with progressive paralysis have a combination of increased fatigue with a slight degree of some kind of stunning.

Based on the complete clinical picture, the diagnosis will be made. Specialists should clearly distinguish between asthenic syndrome and depressive states, which will help in making a clear and correct diagnosis.

Asthenic syndrome: treatment

Treatment of asthenic syndrome will be aimed first of all at eliminating the primary cause of its occurrence. will necessarily include a special regimen (change of environment, release from work, alternation of rest and sleep), physiotherapy, rational psychotherapy and drug therapy (various restorative agents, drugs such as trioxazine, elenium are possible to reduce irritable weakness. The doctor may recommend insulin therapy followed by the introduction of glucose.The prognosis will depend solely on the nature of the disease, which is associated with the occurrence of asthenic disorders.

(asthenic syndrome) - a gradually developing psychopathological disorder that accompanies many diseases of the body. Asthenia is manifested by fatigue, decreased mental and physical performance, sleep disturbances, increased irritability, or vice versa, lethargy, emotional instability, autonomic disorders. To identify asthenia allows a thorough questioning of the patient, the study of his psycho-emotional and mnestic sphere. A complete diagnostic examination is also necessary to identify the underlying disease that caused asthenia. Asthenia is treated by selecting the optimal working regime and a rational diet, using adaptogens, neuroprotectors and psychotropic drugs (neuroleptics, antidepressants).

Asthenia classification

Due to the occurrence in clinical practice, organic and functional asthenia is distinguished. Organic asthenia occurs in 45% of cases and is associated with the patient's chronic somatic diseases or progressive organic pathology. In neurology, organic asthenia accompanies infectious organic lesions of the brain (encephalitis, abscess, tumor), severe traumatic brain injury, demyelinating diseases (multiple encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis), vascular disorders (chronic cerebral ischemia, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke), degenerative processes (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, senile chorea). Functional asthenia accounts for 55% of cases and is a temporary reversible condition. Functional asthenia is also called reactive, because in fact it is a reaction of the body to a stressful situation, physical overwork or an acute illness.

According to the etiological factor, somatogenic, post-traumatic, post-natal, post-infectious asthenia are also distinguished.

According to the features of clinical manifestations, asthenia is divided into hyper- and hyposthenic forms. Hypersthenic asthenia is accompanied by increased sensory excitability, due to which the patient is irritable and does not tolerate loud sounds, noise, bright light. Hyposthenic asthenia, on the contrary, is characterized by a decrease in susceptibility to external stimuli, which leads to lethargy and drowsiness of the patient. Hypersthenic asthenia is a milder form and, with an increase in asthenic syndrome, it can turn into hyposthenic asthenia.

Depending on the duration of the existence of asthenic syndrome, asthenia is classified into acute and chronic. Acute asthenia is usually functional. It develops after severe stress, acute illness (bronchitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, gastritis) or infection (measles, influenza, rubella, infectious mononucleosis, dysentery). Chronic asthenia is characterized by a long course and is often organic. Chronic functional asthenia refers to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Separately, asthenia associated with the depletion of higher nervous activity is distinguished - neurasthenia.

Clinical manifestations of asthenia

The symptom complex characteristic of asthenia includes 3 components: own clinical manifestations of asthenia; disorders associated with the underlying pathological condition; disorders caused by the psychological reaction of the patient to the disease. Manifestations of the asthenic syndrome itself are often absent or weakly expressed in the morning, appear and increase during the day. In the evening, asthenia reaches its maximum manifestation, which forces patients to rest without fail before continuing work or moving on to household chores.

Fatigue. The main complaint in asthenia is fatigue. Patients note that they get tired faster than before, and the feeling of fatigue does not disappear even after a long rest. If we are talking about physical labor, then there is a general weakness and unwillingness to do their usual work. In the case of intellectual labor, the situation is much more complicated. Patients complain of difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, decreased attentiveness and quick wits. They note difficulties in formulating their own thoughts and their verbal expression. Patients with asthenia often cannot concentrate on thinking about one specific problem, find it difficult to find words to express any idea, are absent-minded and somewhat slow in making decisions. In order to do the work that was feasible before, they are forced to take breaks, in order to solve the task they are trying to think about it not as a whole, but by breaking it into parts. However, this does not bring the desired results, increases the feeling of fatigue, increases anxiety and causes confidence in one's own intellectual failure.

Psycho-emotional disorders. A decrease in productivity in professional activities causes the emergence of negative psycho-emotional states associated with the patient's attitude to the problem that has arisen. At the same time, patients with asthenia become quick-tempered, tense, picky and irritable, quickly lose their temper. They have sharp mood swings, states of depression or anxiety, extremes in assessing what is happening (unreasonable pessimism or optimism). The aggravation of psycho-emotional disorders characteristic of asthenia can lead to the development of neurasthenia, depressive or hypochondriacal neurosis.

Autonomic disorders. Almost always, asthenia is accompanied by disorders of the autonomic nervous system. These include tachycardia, pulse lability, blood pressure drops, chilliness or a feeling of heat in the body, generalized or local (palms, armpits or feet) hyperhidrosis, loss of appetite, constipation, pain along the intestines. With asthenia, headaches and a “heavy” head are possible. In men, there is often a decrease in potency.

Sleep disorders. Depending on the form, asthenia may be accompanied by various sleep disorders. Hypersthenic asthenia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, restless and rich dreams, nocturnal awakenings, waking up early, and feeling overwhelmed after sleep. Some patients develop the feeling that they hardly sleep at night, although in reality this is not the case. Hyposthenic asthenia is characterized by the occurrence of daytime sleepiness. At the same time, problems with falling asleep and poor quality of night sleep persist.

Diagnosis of asthenia

Asthenia itself usually does not cause diagnostic difficulties for a doctor of any profile. In cases where asthenia is a consequence of stress, trauma, illness, or acts as a harbinger of pathological changes beginning in the body, its symptoms are pronounced. If asthenia occurs against the background of an existing disease, then its manifestations may fade into the background and be not so noticeable behind the symptoms of the underlying disease. In such cases, signs of asthenia can be identified by questioning the patient and detailing his complaints. Particular attention should be paid to questions about the patient's mood, sleep status, his attitude to work and other duties, as well as to his own condition. Not every patient with asthenia will be able to tell the doctor about his problems in the field of intellectual activity. Some patients tend to exaggerate existing disorders. To obtain an objective picture, along with a neurological examination, a neurologist needs to conduct a study of the patient's mnestic sphere, assess his emotional state and response to various external signals. In some cases, it is necessary to differentiate asthenia from hypochondriacal neurosis, hypersomnia, depressive neurosis.

Diagnosis of asthenic syndrome requires a mandatory examination of the patient for the underlying disease, which caused the development of asthenia. For this purpose, additional consultations of a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, pulmonologist, nephrologist, MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, etc. can be carried out.

Asthenia treatment

General recommendations for asthenia are reduced to the selection of the optimal mode of work and rest; refusal to contact with various harmful influences, including the use of alcohol; the introduction of health-improving physical activity into the daily routine; compliance with a fortified and appropriate diet for the underlying disease. The best option is a long vacation and a change of scenery: vacation, spa treatment, tourist trip, etc.

Patients with asthenia benefit from food rich in tryptophan (bananas, turkey meat, cheese, wholemeal bread), vitamin B (liver, eggs) and other vitamins (rose hips, black currants, sea buckthorn, kiwi, strawberries, citrus fruits, apples, raw vegetable salads and fresh fruit juices). A calm working environment and psychological comfort at home are important for patients with asthenia.

Drug treatment of asthenia in general medical practice is reduced to the appointment of adaptogens: ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, eleutherococcus, pantocrine. In the United States, the practice of treating asthenia with large doses of B vitamins has been adopted. However, this method of therapy is limited in its use by a high percentage of adverse allergic reactions. A number of authors believe that complex vitamin therapy is optimal, including not only vitamins of group B, but also C, PP, as well as microelements involved in their metabolism (zinc, magnesium, calcium). Often, nootropics and neuroprotectors (ginkgo biloba, piracetam, gamma-aminobutyric acid, cinnarizine + piracetam, picamelon, hopantenic acid) are used in the treatment of asthenia. However, their effectiveness in asthenia has not been definitively proven due to the lack of large studies in this area.

In many cases, asthenia requires symptomatic psychotropic treatment, which can only be selected by a narrow specialist: a neurologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Thus, antidepressants are prescribed individually for asthenia - serotonin and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics (antipsychotics), procholinergic drugs (salbutiamine).

The success of the treatment of asthenia resulting from any disease largely depends on the effectiveness of the treatment of the latter. If it is possible to cure the underlying disease, then the symptoms of asthenia, as a rule, disappear or are significantly reduced. With a long-term remission of a chronic disease, the manifestations of asthenia accompanying it are also minimized.

Asthenic syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by the occurrence of weakness, apathy and increased irritability due to the influence of stress and somatic diseases. Diagnosis of this disorder is carried out with the help of narrow specialists, as well as a neurologist and a psychiatrist, and includes laboratory and instrumental research methods. Treatment includes drugs and bed rest.

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Description of the disease

Asthenic syndrome (asthenia) in psychology is a progressive psychopathological pathology that accompanies many diseases of the body and occurs in children and adults. According to studies, asthenia is based on overstrain and exhaustion of higher nervous activity. This disorder is currently considered the most common. The main reason for the development of this syndrome is a deficiency in the intake of nutrients and nutrients, too much energy expenditure or metabolic disorders.

Acute and chronic somatic diseases, intoxication of the body, improper or poor nutrition can affect the development of asthenia. Mental diseases (schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis), excessive mental and physical stress, prolonged psycho-traumatic situations develop asthenic syndrome in the patient. Asthenia may occur in connection with the following diseases and conditions:

• SARS;
• flu;
• food poisoning;
• tuberculosis;
• hepatitis;
• gastritis;
• peptic ulcer of the duodenum;
• pneumonia;
• hypertension;
• the period after childbirth and operations;
• post-traumatic stage.

Main clinical manifestations and forms

There are three main components of asthenic syndrome:

• clinical manifestations of asthenia;
• disorders caused by the patient's psychological response to the disease;
• disorders associated with the underlying pathological condition of the syndrome.

Signs of asthenic syndrome are often are absent or weakly expressed in the morning, appear and develop during the day. In the evening, the symptoms of this disorder reach their maximum manifestation. This forces patients to rest before doing work or household chores. There are complaints of fatigue. Patients say they get tired faster than before. The feeling of fatigue does not disappear in patients after a long rest.

During physical exertion, there is general weakness and a lack of desire to do any work. Difficulties in concentrating attention on any business, memory impairment are noted. Decreased concentration. There is absent-mindedness and inhibition when solving any problems. The feeling of fatigue in patients causes anxiety and anxiety. They lose confidence in their own worth.

Patients complain of increased aggressiveness and irritability. They become quick-tempered and tense, lose their self-control. Such patients develop emotional lability (sudden mood swings), high anxiety and depression. They assess current situations as extreme manifestations of optimism or pessimism. Patients are often depressed. As emotional symptoms progress, patients may develop neurasthenia, depressive or hypochondriacal neurosis.

Vegetative disorders are also a symptom of asthenic syndrome. Patients complain of palpitations (tachycardia), pulse lability, i.e., its irregularity. Changes in arterial pressure are noted. Patients are concerned about the feeling of chills and heat in the body, increased sweating in the area of ​​the palms, feet and armpits. There is a decrease in appetite and weight loss, constipation. Patients complain of pain in the abdomen. Sometimes there are headaches and dizziness. In men, there is a decrease in potency.

Sleep disturbances occur in persons with asthenic syndrome. Difficulties with falling asleep are noted, dreams are distinguished by anxiety and saturation. Because of this, patients constantly wake up at night, get up early in the morning and feel overwhelmed after sleep. Some patients complain of feeling that they hardly sleep at night. Other patients experience daytime sleepiness. The presence of superficial sleep is noted.



Features of asthenic syndrome in children

There are certain symptoms of asthenic syndrome in childhood. Children complain of fatigue and weakness. The child refuses to perform favorite activities, sleep and appetite are disturbed. Headaches and dizziness are noted.

They cannot concentrate on completing tasks. There are memory impairments. Such patients complain of pain in the muscles and joints. If a child has three or more of the above symptoms, then you need to contact a pediatrician for help.



Types of asthenic syndrome

Depending on the etiology (cause) of the occurrence of this disease, two forms are distinguished: organic and functional. Organic asthenic syndrome occurs in 45% of cases. This form of the disorder occurs in people with chronic somatic diseases or organic lesions that have a progressive course. The organic form of asthenia accompanies the following diseases:

• infectious diseases of the brain (encephalitis, abscesses, tumors);
• traumatic brain injury;
• demyelinating pathologies (multiple sclerosis, encephalomyelitis);
• vascular disorders (chronic cerebral ischemia, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke;
• degenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, senile chorea, Parkinson's disease).

Functional (reactive) asthenic syndrome appears in 55% of cases. This disorder is reversible. This disorder is characterized by the body's reaction to a stressful situation, physical overwork, or an acute somatic illness.

According to the etiological factor, somatogenic, post-traumatic, post-natal, post-infectious asthenia are also distinguished. Somatogenic asthenia occurs against the background of diseases of the blood, endocrine system and operations. There are three stages in the development of this condition.

The first (initial) stage is characterized by an indefinite nature of the symptoms. At the second stage, persistent asthenization develops, which does not depend on the underlying somatic disease. At the last stage, anxiety-phobic and hypochondriacal disorders join the asthenic syndrome, and subsequently the asthenic-anxiety syndrome develops.

Post-traumatic asthenia occurs after a brain injury. Postpartum occurs a few months after childbirth. The post-infectious form of asthenia develops against the background of infections of the nervous system. All these types of pathology are manifested in the form of the above symptoms.

Depending on the characteristics of the clinical manifestations, asthenia is divided into hypersthenic form and hyposthenic. With hypersthenic syndrome, the patient does not tolerate loud sounds, noise and bright lights. For this reason, increased excitability and irritability develops. This form of the disease can turn into hyposthenic asthenia, which is characterized by the presence of a decrease in the perception of external stimuli, which leads to weakness, lethargy and increased drowsiness of the patient.

Depending on the duration of the existence of asthenic syndrome, acute and chronic asthenia are distinguished. Acute asthenia occurs after severe stressful situations, acute diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia, gastritis, pyelonephritis) or infections (measles, rubella, dysentery). Chronic asthenic syndrome has a longer course and occurs due to organic pathologies. Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to chronic fatigue syndrome - constant physical and mental weakness lasting more than 6 months.

Separately, scientists distinguish neurasthenia (asthenic neurosis). This disorder is characterized by the presence of headache, gastrointestinal disorders, emotional pathologies and personality disorders. Mostly occurs in men aged 20 to 40 years.

Diagnostics

Such narrow specialists as gastroenterologists, cardiologists, neurologists, surgeons, traumatologists and psychiatrists face manifestations of asthenic syndrome. Of great diagnostic importance is the distinction between the symptoms of normal fatigue, which occurs after prolonged stress, change of time zones or climate, and in case of non-observance of the daily regimen from asthenia. Unlike ordinary fatigue, this disorder develops slowly over several months or even years and does not go through a long rest. Sometimes it is necessary to differentiate asthenia from hypochondriacal neurosis, sleep disorders and a depressive neurotic state.

The clinical picture of asthenic syndrome is revealed in the process of collecting patient complaints. It is necessary to ask the patient about his mood, state of sleep, attitude to work and his own condition. To obtain an objective picture, it is necessary to examine the mnestic sphere (memory) of the patient, to evaluate the emotional reaction to various external signals. The patient is examined by a neurologist, sometimes the help of a psychologist is needed.

Diagnosis of asthenic syndrome requires a mandatory examination in order to detect the underlying pathology that caused asthenia. To do this, they resort to the help of a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, pulmonologist, infectious disease specialist, traumatologist and many other narrow specialists. It is necessary to pass blood and urine tests, coprograms (stool examination), determination of blood sugar levels and a biochemical analysis of blood and urine.

Diagnosis of infectious diseases is carried out by bacteriological studies and PCR diagnostics (determination of DNA sections specific to certain pathogenic organisms). In addition to the above diagnostic methods, it is necessary to use instrumental research methods. These include:

• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs, heart, kidneys, pelvic organs;
• gastroscopy;
• fluorography or radiography of the lungs.

Treatment

Doctors give general recommendations in the process of treating patients with asthenic syndrome, which consist in observing the daily regimen and giving up bad habits. The patient should be engaged in exercise therapy (therapeutic physical culture) and follow a diet that is prescribed for the underlying somatic disease. It is recommended to change the situation and stay for a long time on vacation.

Patients should eat foods that contain a large amount of tryptophans (bananas, turkey meat and cheese), B vitamins. Fruits, vegetables and dairy products should be added to the diet. A prerequisite for successful therapy is a comfortable, friendly environment at home and at work or school.

Asthenia can be treated with medications that contain adaptogens (ginseng, rhodiola, pantocrine). In American practice, treatment with large doses of B vitamins is used. This method of treatment contains the danger that against the background of the use of these drugs, many patients develop allergic reactions.




In the presence of the main somatic pathology, treatment is prescribed, which is selected only by a narrow specialist. In some cases, antidepressants (amitriptyline, Novo-Passit, Persen) and neuroleptic drugs (Aminazin, Azaleptin, Neuleptil, haloperidol) are prescribed if patients have pessimism, depressed mood and sleep disturbances.