11.5. Violation of the strength of volitional impulses
A decrease in the strength of volitional impulses has been identified in various mental illnesses and organic brain lesions. Such disorders of the will as abulia, hypobulia, hyperbulia and parabulia were identified. Abulia
(from the Greek
abulia
- indecision) - a state of lack of will, lack of motivation to activity.
The patient stops all activities and loses all desires. He lies or sits in bed for a long time, often in a stereotypical position. Eventually, the patient stops performing even those actions that are associated with satisfying the most primitive physiological needs (stops eating, becomes sloppy, unkempt). Often with abulia, mutism
- silence: the patient does not speak, does not answer questions.
Under hypobulia
understand a less pronounced weakening of volitional impulses.
Hyperbulia
is characterized by an apparent increase in the patient’s volitional activity, although it is difficult to imagine that the will can increase under the influence of the disease. It should be more about an overly elevated, manic mood that increases activity.
The most severe violation of actions in pathology of the will is expressed in various forms of stupor
, states of complete immobility.
With one of the forms of stupor - catalepsy
- automatic subordination is preserved when the patient freezes in the position assigned to him. The most pronounced form of catalepsy is a state of waxy flexibility. The patient retains any position given to his body.
Patients with neuroses are characterized by indecision and difficulty initiating action in accordance with the decision made.
Psychology bookap
The studies of M. O. Gurevich [1948] showed that the frontal parts of the brain are responsible for volitional functions. Patients with damage to the left frontal lobe are passive and so demobilized that they are not capable of any voluntary effort (T. A. Bragina and N. N. Dobrokhotova [1981]).
In later studies (B. D. Karvasarsky et al. [1969]) it was found that the greatest impairments of volitional efforts were observed in the group of patients with schizophrenia with apato-abulic syndrome. As the task becomes more complex, such patients have no changes in physiological reactions (which indicates their weak mobilization) and the nature of the activity does not change, which is performed slowly, without the proper intensity and persistence. In order for these patients to continue working, constant stimulation from the experimenter was required. Violations of the will in patients with schizophrenia have received various names in the clinic: “reduction of energy potential”, “weakness of the intentional arc”, “weakness of will”, etc.
Violations of will
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Structure of consciousness Consciousness as the highest form of mental reflection has the following structure. Firstly, it is a body of knowledge about the world around us. Consequently, the structure of consciousness includes cognitive
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When conducting psychological research, there are five stages. The first stage is indicative. It includes preliminary observations of the phenomenon being studied, the formulation of assumptions about the possible causes and properties of the phenomenon, and the formulation of
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Causes of volitional disorders
Mild volitional disorders are considered as features of the emotional-personal sphere, determined by the type of higher nervous activity, conditions of upbringing, and the nature of interpersonal relationships. For example, children who are often ill find themselves in a situation of overprotection from parents, teachers, and peers, and as a result, their strong-willed qualities are weakened. The reasons for pronounced changes in will are:
- Depressive disorders.
A decrease in willpower up to the complete absence of impulses is observed with endogenous depression. In neurotic and symptomatic forms, the intention is preserved, but the implementation of the action is inhibited. - Schizophrenia.
Weakening of volitional operations is a characteristic feature of the schizophrenic defect. Patients are suggestible, fall into a catatonic stupor, and are prone to stereotypies and echolalia. - Psychopathic disorders.
Disorders of the will can be the result of improper upbringing or sharpened character traits. Dependence on others, uncertainty and subordination are determined in persons with anxious, suspicious, hysterical traits, prone to alcoholism and drug addiction. - Manic states.
An increased desire for activity, a high speed of decision-making and their implementation are diagnosed in people with bipolar affective disorder in the manic phase. Also, pronounced symptoms develop during hysterical attacks. - Organic pathologies of the brain.
Damage to the central nervous system is accompanied by a decrease in all components of volitional activity. Hypobulia and abulia are found in encephalitis, consequences of head injury and intoxication.
Sleep disorder
Well, everyone knows what a dream is even without our definition. And if you forgot, ask in the comments. We remember, although we hardly practice, working around the clock on an encyclopedia of real definitions in psychiatry.
In preparation for a conversation about mental disorders, in this post we reviewed a list of what, in fact, can “get upset.” As you can see, there are many weak points. Next time we’ll talk about how disorders of consciousness manifest themselves. Next, step by step, we will run through the entire list. Follow the blog and stay healthy. Especially mentally.
Volitional disorders
Volitional disorders
Will is a mental function that ensures a person’s ability to consciously control his emotions, thoughts and actions. The basis of purposeful activity is motivation - a set of needs, motivations, desires. An act of will unfolds in stages: a motivation and a goal are formed, ways to achieve a result are realized, a struggle of motives unfolds, a decision is made, an action is carried out. If the volitional component is violated, the stages decrease, intensify or distort. The prevalence of volitional disorders is unknown due to the fact that mild deviations do not come to the attention of doctors, and more pronounced ones are found in a wide range of diseases - neurological, mental, general somatic.
Treatment of volitional disorders
Violations of volitional functions are treated in combination with the underlying disease that caused them. The selection and prescription of therapeutic measures is carried out by a psychiatrist and a neurologist. As a rule, treatment is carried out conservatively with the use of medications, and in some cases, psychotherapy. Rarely, for example, with a brain tumor, the patient needs surgery. The general treatment regimen includes the following procedures:
- Drug treatment.
With a decrease in willpower, a positive effect can be achieved by using antidepressants and psychostimulants. Hyperbulia and some types of parabulia are corrected with the help of antipsychotics, tranquilizers, and sedatives. Patients with organic pathology are prescribed vascular drugs and nootropics. - Psychotherapy.
Individual and group sessions are effective for pathologies of the volitional and affective sphere due to psychopathic and neurotic personality disorders. Patients with hypobulia are advised to undergo cognitive and cognitive-behavioral approaches, as well as psychoanalysis. Hyperbulic manifestations require mastering relaxation, self-regulation (auto-training), improving communication skills, and the ability to cooperate. - Physiotherapy.
Depending on the prevailing symptoms, procedures are used that stimulate or reduce the activity of the nervous system. Low-frequency current therapy and massages are used.
