Maniacal syndrome

Morbid condition at which the person feels as nothing not caused increase in mood, mental and ideatorny excitement in the form of a takhipsiya, and also motive excitement is called a maniacal syndrome. Characteristic signs of a state, however, not in all cases, are the following manifestations:

• Strengthening of instinctive activity – increase in appetite, a sexual inclination, self-defense reflex;
• Megalomania;
• The raised otvlekayemost.

Distinguish the following kinds of a maniacal syndrome:

• Maniacal and paranoid – the patient has crazy ideas concerning the relations with an opposite sex, it is capable to pursue an object of the passion;
• The oneiric mania – at peak of a syndrome is shown the disturbance of consciousness on oneiric type accompanied with hallucinations;
• Crazy option – the megalomania which is usually shown in the crazy ideas having a certain logical sequence regarding professional activity of the patient;
• The joyful mania – in addition to symptoms of a classical maniacal syndrome is observed motive excitement, a takhipsikhiya and a hyperthymia;
• The irascible mania – is usually shown by tendency to sudden aggression, irritability, irascibility and a conflictness with people around.

Apply Altman's scale, or the so-called test for a mania to diagnosis of a maniacal syndrome.

Reasons of a maniacal syndrome

Often the state is a consequence of bipolar affective disorder, proceeds pristupoobrazno, with characteristic stages of development and various symptomatology changing depending on a stage of progressing of a disease.

Also infectious, organic and toxic psychoses can be the reasons of a maniacal syndrome, drugs and some medicines to which number belong can induce it:

• Antidepressants;
• Teturamum;
• Levopoda;
• Bromides;
• Corticosteroids;
• Psychostimulants;
• Opiates;
• Hallucinogens.

Symptoms of a maniacal syndrome

It is possible to note that people with a maniacal syndrome often stay in a condition of painful increase in the mood which is combined with unreasonable optimism, excessive garrulity and a physical activity. Patients strongly revaluate the opportunities, sometimes their self-assessment reaches megalomania, they are inclined to undertake a set of cases, however, because of the raised otvlekayemost, finish nothing.

The sharpening of memory and speed of thinking are manifestations of a maniacal syndrome, also as well as aspiration to constant establishing contacts and expansion of a circle of contacts too. Most often patients make rash and absolutely senseless acts, spend large sums of money for what will not come to the normal person to mind to get. In many cases the maniacal syndrome is shown by increase in sexuality, and women can have changes in a menstrual cycle (a delay or shift).

At peak of a state it is impossible to communicate with such patients as their conflictness, tactlessness and irritability become intolerable. The people suffering from a maniacal syndrome do not suffer notes and objections, aim to direct any process, and their orders are often absolutely ridiculous. If the patient feels resistance from surrounding people to its plans, becomes aggressive, is capable to start fights and quarrels.

Maniacal syndrome: diagnosis

At diagnosis of a maniacal syndrome use a clinical method in which main place is taken by objective observation of behavior of the patient and detailed inquiry. On the basis of observation and dialogue with the patient, and also by studying of medical documentation and conversations with the patient's relatives, the doctor creates the subjective anamnesis and elicits the clinical facts which define psychological state of the patient.

The purpose of diagnosis of a maniacal syndrome, in particular, of collecting the anamnesis, is receiving reliable data about:

• Existence in a family of relatives with mental diseases;
• Mental state;
• Features of development, the marital and social status, behavior, the postponed injuries and reaction to various life situations.

When collecting the anamnesis, the doctor has to turn special attention to existence of the following risk factors:

• Stressful changes of vital circumstances;
• Affective frustration in the family anamnesis and the past of the patient;
• Attempts of a suicide;
• Medicinal dependence or alcoholism;
• Chronic somatopathies.

In addition at diagnosis of a maniacal syndrome carry out biochemical and clinical blood tests.

Maniacal syndrome: treatment

After the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor, depending on a condition of the patient, will appoint either drug treatment, or psychotherapeutic conversations. If the condition of the patient is followed by groundless aggression, irritability, a conflictness, sleep disorders – hospitalization of a maniacal syndrome is necessary. In such cases restriction of intellectual and physical activity of the patient, and purpose of sedative drugs, neuroleptics or tranquilizers is shown.

It is necessary to pay special attention to situations in which the person stays in than not caused condition of the increased mood, motive, mental or tsiatorny excitement. Especially if such people show megalomania and prosecutions, obsessions and the raised otvlekayemost.

Treatment of a maniacal syndrome can be medicamentous and proceed in the conditions of a hospital, or be carried out in the form of psychotherapeutic conversations which purpose is identification of the reasons which served to development of a disease, and also correction of the available manifestations of a syndrome.