What mental condition requires emergency

In urgent need of mental health care:

• patients with depression (depressed mood dramatically) with a tendency to suicide;
• patients in the manic state - with psychomotor (motor and mental) agitation and aggressive tendencies;
• patients with impaired consciousness, combined with abnormal behavior is a source of danger to others; including disorders of perception (hallucinations);
• Patients with seizures (epilepsy).

Depression and first aid for them

In this case, the danger threatening to the patient, since it is constantly preoccupied with the idea of ​​his sinfulness and worthlessness, which can lead to suicide attempts (suicide). Depression is often accompanied by a variety of diseases. The most typical depressive states:

• involutional (compared to menopause) depression that is anxious and dreary character is accompanied by delusions of self-incrimination, the sinfulness of the phenomena of concern expressed by the motor; characterized by a long but relatively favorable course;
• psychogenic depression occurs against a background of trauma - is characterized by a sense of hopeless longing, the prosecution of all sins of others; the prognosis is usually favorable;
• circular depression is a phase of manic-depressive (circular) psychosis - can occur very hard with repeated suicide attempts; such patients often require admission to hospital.

In severe depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood   the patient requires immediate hospitalization, therefore an urgent need to call an ambulance, but before her arrival did not leave a patient or (if possible) to tie it. This is necessary to check the patient's clothes, and take away all of the items that can be used to commit suicide.

Emergency doctor in the state expressed excitement with suicide attempts introduce drugs that reduce motor and mental activity (neuroleptics, eg, chlorpromazine), after which the patient is transported to the hospital.

Mania and first aid

A patient in a manic state can be dangerous, both for themselves and for others. This state is characterized by elevated mood, motor and verbal stimulation, the accelerated pace of thought. Characteristic features of its reassessment of the patient, which can be dangerous to themselves and to others. Mania appear to be at a manic-depressive psychosis Manic-depressive illness - which phases are the most dangerous? , Schizophrenia, various poisoning, diseases of the nervous system and internal organs.

When expressed manic states need to isolate the patient, to try to persuade the calm and call an ambulance. If you can not be persuaded to settle down, the patient should be fixed (tie). Emergency doctor introduces these patients drugs that reduce motor and mental activity (neuroleptics, eg, chlorpromazine), after which the patient is transported to the hospital.

Patients with disorders of consciousness

Disturbances of consciousness - a condition characterized by a distorted reflection of reality, disorder of orientation in the world and the self. Disorders of consciousness may be caused by the life of severe infections, poisonings, injuries and brain tumors. The most characteristic disturbance of consciousness with hallucinations and delusions Brad - not only crazy   a delirium tremens (delirium tremens).

It starts delirium tremens after a long drinking for 2-3 hours on the job alcohol (delirium tremens have drunk people do not exist!). It appears gradual disorientation of time and place while maintaining the orientation in the self (the patient is required to say his name). Then join hallucinations (the patient sees what is actually there) is often threatening and delusions (typically persecution). By joining all kinds of violations of the work of internal organs.

Patients in this condition can be very dangerous, so they need urgent help. The patient should be recorded and if his condition is very serious, until arrival of an ambulance to drink 50 ml of vodka - it is time to prevent the development of delirium. But such a patient requires hospitalization and long-term treatment with the aim of removing the decay products of metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things   and his full recovery.

Epilepsy and first aid for her

Epilepsy - a long flowing disease with sudden attacks of cramps. Epilepsy can be an independent disease, or develop on the background of diseases, injuries and brain tumors.

When an epileptic fit the patient needed urgent help: hold your head, protecting it from shock; not to fuse language and the patient is not biting it, you have to turn your head to one side, and between the teeth to insert a spoon or stick.

Individual attacks do not require medical treatment, but if the attacks continue, one after another (status epilepticus), then you should immediately call an ambulance and send the patient to the hospital.

Do not be afraid of the mentally ill, you just need to know what is happening and how they can help.

  Galina Romanenko

Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder

While borderline personality disorder is often called one of the most common types of mental disorders, the issue remains quite controversial, since diagnosis of borderline difficult. The classic symptoms of borderline include intense emotions, impulsiveness, mood swings, paranoid symptoms and self-injurious or suicidal behavior.

In order to diagnose borderline personality disorder on the basis of these symptoms, doctors carried out a thorough examination of the mental state of the patient. The American Psychiatric Association was composed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is conducted on the basis of diagnosis. For the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder requires five (or more) of the following characteristics:

• The fear of being abandoned
• The tendency to unstable relationships
• Identity disorder: instability of the image or sense of self
• Impulsivity and tendency to self-harm
• Chaotic mood swings Mood swings in women - bad character or a disease?
• Chronic feeling of emptiness
• Inadequate expression of feelings of anger and difficulty in controlling it
• Periods of paranoia Paranoia - explicit symptoms are not observed   and loss of contact with reality

Usually, diagnosis of borderline personality disorder on the basis of these symptoms is carried out only in adults but not in children, since the signs and symptoms of the disorder change with age.

Why is there a borderline personality disorder

According to numerous studies, borderline personality disorder, like many other mental illnesses Mental illness - ashamed to ask for help? , Caused by a combination of natural, biological and genetic factors.

• The main causes of borderline personality disorder may be reasons related to the environment of the patient. There is evidence of a strong connection between the emergence of borderline personality disorder and severe childhood experiences
• physical and moral violence
• early loss of family
• ignoring his parents in childhood
• Professor of Psychology at the University of Seattle Marsh online, the author of methods of treatment - cognitive behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder, maintains that the disease may be related to the "emotionally handicapped" human environment at an early age.
• Borderline personality disorder can cause genetic and biological causes. Several studies have demonstrated that the borderline disorder - a disease of the family, common in some families. Furthermore, there is a correlation with the biochemical reactions of disorders of the body - in particular with the action of the gene responsible for the use of brain serotonin.
• People suffering from borderline personality disorder, there is increased activity in the limbic system of the brain responsible for the control of negative emotions Emotions and culture: how to decipher the emotional code   - Fear, anger, aggression. That is why patients experience high emotional instability.
• Another biological factor that influences the development of borderline personality disorder - difficulty in modulating emotions. This means that patients suffering from borderline personality disorder, can not respond immediately in response to the strong emotions and usually such responses are damaging.