What are presenile psychoses? This is a group of mental illnesses that develop in pre-old age. As a rule, men and women after 50 years of age are susceptible to similar conditions. There are four types of pre-senile psychoses, which are characterized by different signs.
To date, doctors still cannot unequivocally answer the question of why mental disorders occur in people after 50 years. There is a theory that this condition is caused by abrupt changes in the body. Under the influence of unfavorable factors and internal restructuring of the human psyche, it fails. In addition to such an assumption, psychiatrists are also inclined to believe that presenile psychosis can develop due to a difficult life in the past, under the influence of work in hazardous industries, due to addictions and an unexpected strong shock (for example, the sudden death of a loved one). Cardinal and abrupt changes in everyday life can also negatively affect the psyche and provoke the development of a painful condition.
Unfortunately, presenile psychoses, like, for example, senile dementia, cannot be cured. However, most of the conditions can be subjected to some correction. No matter what form of psychosis, it is important to seek appropriate help. Therefore, it is necessary to know what symptoms are characterized by pre-senile psychoses.
Presenile depression
This condition is also called involutional melancholy or a depressive form of pre-senile psychosis. Pathology is the most common.
As a rule, presenile depression develops gradually, the violation begins rather smoothly. At first, any changes in the patient's behavior, in principle, may not raise any significant suspicions. However, as it progresses, mental illness is making itself felt more and more clearly.
Involutionary melancholy can last for a very long time, up to several decades. With appropriate treatment and support from loved ones, the progress of the disease can be slowed down. Ultimately, however, pre-senile depression still leads to dementia (senile dementia), which is accompanied by a persistently low mood.
The main symptoms indicating the development of pathology are as follows:
- feelings of oppression and sadness for no apparent reason;
- a feeling of anxiety that gradually increases;
- groundless anxious expectations of something bad; usually a sick person willingly shares his thoughts and fantasies, often stories begin to resemble delirium; ultimately, anxious expectations can lead to a feeling of total hopelessness and the idea of a global catastrophe;
- constant anxiety, physical activity, a person literally cannot sit still, forgets about sleep and rest;
- one of the signs of involutionary melancholy is the constant desire to wring fingers;
- a sick person has a low mood, while there is always a mournful expression on his face;
- gradually delusional ideas are transferred to loved ones and to oneself.
Paranoid psychosis
The paranoid form of pre-senile psychosis is most often exacerbated by a large crowd of people. Symptoms can be pronounced both on the street and at home, if there are guests in the apartment, there are some strangers for a sick person.
The main symptom of the condition is paranoia, which is clear from the name of the disorder. Delusional ideas begin to dominate in a person's consciousness, but they do not look too ridiculous or absurd. The patient becomes suspicious, fearful, anxious and very suspicious. Despite the fact that there are no sharp and significant changes in character, personality or behavior, it becomes difficult to communicate and get along with the patient. He sees a catch everywhere, is suspicious even of close people, constantly feels some kind of threat from the outside, and so on. Another striking symptom of this disorder is a tendency to complain and cry. Especially such behavior should look suspicious if the person was previously stable and calm.
Keppelin's disease or a malignant form of presenile psychosis
This violation is the most dangerous of the whole group. The development of pathology occurs quickly, changes in character and personality are rapidly increasing, death can also occur very soon after the onset of the disease. However, such a violation is extremely rare.
Keppelin's disease manifests itself abruptly and suddenly. The patient becomes anxious, agitated for no reason. He can neither sleep, nor eat, nor sit / lie. The condition is accompanied by strong emotional experiences, but the patient cannot describe his thoughts, ideas and feelings. Speech is impaired, phrases become meaningless, words do not add up to sentences. As the disease progresses, a person becomes weak, stops caring for himself, does not go to the toilet and bathroom. He can scream hysterically, fight in seizures, be aggressive, while there is no way to calm him down. In some cases, the disease is accompanied by terrible hallucinations.
Doctors note that with the development of a malignant form of psychosis in pre-senile age, moments of conditional remission are possible. Then the patient calms down, becomes confused and calm. He does not understand what is happening to him, does not remember his behavior earlier, cannot explain anything to the people around him.
With this disease, complete atrophy of the frontal lobes of the brain occurs, which is usually confirmed by an autopsy.
Death most often occurs due to exhaustion and dehydration. However, situations of suicide or the addition of any serious infection, exacerbation of internal somatic pathologies are possible.
Late form of presenile psychosis
This pathology is characterized by a later onset than in cases with the above-described disorders. As a rule, this type of psychosis develops before the onset of senile (senile) diseases, which are diagnosed most often at the age of 68-75 years.
With such a violation, a person can become very agitated, overly active, restless. Negativity is usually added to the state, aggression is possible. In some cases, the patient abruptly stops talking, refuses to get in touch with other people, and loses interest in all hobbies and affairs. However, the late form is also characterized by a state of total stupor.
