Depressive neurosis: symptoms and treatment

The human nervous system reacts very subtly to the surrounding psychogenic environment. Even mechanisms worked out by millennia do not always work. Of course, all this affects the state of health. A huge number of neuropsychiatric diagnoses today does not bother anyone. In a huge list of diseases, it is worth noting depressive neurosis. This disorder is not present in all medical classifications. It, according to ICD-10, refers to affective states.

Brief description of the problem

A depressive neurosis should be understood as a kind of neurotic disorder characterized by a constantly sad mood, inhibition and pronounced hypodynamia. He has vegetative and somatic disorders and sleep problems. On the other hand, there is an optimistic view of the future and the preservation of the ability to professional activities, the lack of profound personality changes. The described clinical picture fully characterizes depressive neurosis.

The history of the disease goes back to the 19th century. Since 1895 in neurology and psychology another term has been used to describe the disorder - "neurotic depression". In the medical practice this concept was introduced by K. Kraepelin. A little later, scientists attempted to isolate the disease as a separate form of neurotic disorder, but colleagues did not support it. Therefore, in the ICD of the 9th revision, it still acts as an independent ailment. However, there is no mention of neurotic depression in the latest published American classification.

Development of a psychoneurological disorder

To better understand the essence of the disease, it is necessary to present a typical clinical picture for it. A person can stay in a psychogenic environment for a long time. For example, he has constant quarrels at work or in the family. There may be an internal conflict caused by dissatisfaction with one's own life. Unable to find the strength to change the situation, he begins to experience constant stress and psycho-emotional stress.

As a result, chronic fatigue develops. The ability to effectively think is reduced, and efficiency decreases. All these symptoms indicate an impending neurosis. If you add to it a bad mood and an inability to enjoy life, you can talk about a depressive neurosis. At the beginning of the development of the disease, general weakness is sometimes supplemented by somatic disorders: BP changes, poor appetite, dizziness.

Main reasons

Every day a person is forced to face many problems. They can relate to both the family, and personally it. Depressive neurosis is not a neglected form of a nervous breakdown, it does not appear by itself. Also, studies of scientists do not find confirmation in the genetic predisposition.

When conducting interviews with the therapist with the patient, it becomes clear that in the role of provocateur most of the problems is a serious psychological trauma. It should take into account and various events that carry an emotionally unfavorable coloring.

The causes of neurosis can be anything: death of relatives, conflicts at work or dismissal, alcoholism of parents, the impossibility of their own implementation. Psychotherapists argue that this disorder is often a consequence of problems in childhood. It begins to develop actively if traumatic circumstances affect a person for a long time. The situation seems to him hopeless. All the time he spends on trying to hide his emotions, and not to seek a way out.

Clinical picture

Among the main symptoms of neurotic depression, doctors note inhibition, depressed mood and decreased activity. First, the patient complains of a deterioration in overall health and the appearance of weakness. Then the clinical picture is supplemented with vegetative-somatic signs of the disease. These include the following:

• BP changes;
• dizziness;
• cardiopalmus;
• Decreased appetite.

Patients rarely seek medical help on time, as many of them do not even know about the diagnosis of "depressive neurosis". Symptoms of vegetative-somatic disorders cause you to go to a doctor, at a reception in which they learn about the presence of the disease.

Clinical picture after the course of therapy

After passing the course of symptomatic treatment, not all patients completely recover. Often their state of health worsens, a feeling of weakness appears, and persistent hypotension develops. The psychoemotional state of the patient is also aggravated. He is always sad. Gradually, the clinical picture is supplemented by lean facial expressions and decreased motor activity.

Depressive neurosis is almost always accompanied by problems with sleep. They are manifested by frequent night awakenings and difficulty with falling asleep. In the morning, patients feel broken and weak, very tired. Some are concerned about anxiety attacks, various phobias.

If you compare this disorder with ordinary depression, then its symptoms are less pronounced. Patients always retain the ability to soberly assess the environment, do not lose self-control. They are never visited by suicidal thoughts. They are quite optimistic about different life situations.

Features of the disorder in small patients

Depressive neurosis in children differs fuzzy clinical picture. They often meet so-called equivalents of depression. They are manifested in the form of increased excitability, irritability, uncontrolled behavior. Such children show resentment towards others, including their own parents. For example, even in primary classes, a pupil with severe physical disabilities is the most snooty and hooliganist. He offends everyone who looked at him casually. It seems to him that others constantly scoff at his defects.

In adolescence, depressive neurosis manifests itself as a closed-mindedness and a desire for solitude. These children are usually reduced productivity in school. They are constantly harassed by headaches, insomnia and unpleasant sensations in the heart. They are frequent patients with all kinds of doctors, they readily accept prescription medications.

Methods of diagnosis and treatment

To correctly diagnose and choose therapy, the doctor first needs to collect anamnesis of the patient. At the same time, special attention is paid to information about mental and somatic pathologies among close relatives. The specialist needs to know what changes in the patient's life preceded the change in his state of health.

The diagnosis of "depressive neurosis / neurotic depression" is confirmed in the following cases:

• The patient is disturbed by mood changes and other symptoms that accompany the disorder;
• His ability to evaluate his own condition is not impaired;
• Behavior meets generally accepted standards;
• The disorder is of a persistent nature, not a single response to stress.

Even an experienced doctor is sometimes difficult to put the right diagnosis, because the manifestations of neurosis are similar to many signs of somatic ailments. In this case, the patient is advised to consult a psychoneurologist. To exclude the somatic etiology of the disorder, a number of additional examinations are also prescribed: ECG, ultrasound, EEG.

Treatment involves the provision of psychotherapy sessions, which is supplemented by the use of pharmacological drugs.

Medication Therapy

The basis of this treatment are various antidepressants. Especially effective are the following drugs: "Moclobemide", "Mianserin", "Imipramine." Depending on the characteristics of the course of the disorder, therapy is supplemented with neuroleptics, sedative nootropics, tranquilizers. Even correctly selected medicamental treatment gives only temporary improvement of the condition.

Psychotherapeutic effects on the disorder

Exclusively through drug therapy, one can not overcome depressive neurosis. Therefore, very often, patients are assigned different methods of psychotherapeutic treatment.

The most common treatment is hypnosis. Its use has a beneficial effect on the patient's mental state, and with regular use gives a positive result. Hypnosis sessions help to bring the patient out of a depressed state. The number of visits a specialist depends on the stage of the disorder, the individual susceptibility of the body. This method of exposure is absolutely safe.

Procedural treatment

What else can appoint a doctor with the diagnosis of "depressive neurosis" treatment? Sedation drugs or antidepressants are used only at the initial stage of the development of the disorder. Drug therapy is considered an addition to the main treatment. Its basis is the psychotherapeutic effect and various physiotherapy procedures.

As for the latter, their effectiveness in practice was proved by exercise therapy, darsonval, reflexotherapy and electrosleep. Ayurvedic, classical and point massages are also considered useful. To improve overall well-being and get rid of bad mood, doctors recommend walking, yoga and meditation.

Prognosis for recovery

Depressive neurosis, the symptoms and treatment of which were described a little higher, is not considered a serious ailment. Therefore, the prognosis for the majority of patients is favorable. They have every chance of returning to the usual rhythm of life and full recovery. However, if a violation is started and not treated, it can be transformed into a more dangerous problem - a neurotic personality disorder.