Gebefrenic syndrome: symptoms and treatment. Psychopathological syndromes

Psychiatry is considered one of the most mysterious areas of medicine. After all, it is very difficult to study mental illness. Each of them can proceed in different ways, depending on the patient's psyche. Some patients have several mental disorders at once. As in any medical specialization, there are certain symptoms and syndromes in psychiatry, the division of which is necessary for the diagnosis of pathologies. Despite the fact that mental disorders manifest themselves in everyone's own way, they have common symptoms. One of the widely known disorders is the hebephrenic syndrome. It can take place in a pathology such as schizophrenia. Less often this psychopathological syndrome is noted in other diseases. Diagnosis of this disorder is possible after a complete examination and observation of the patient. Treatment of this mental deviation is conducted by a psychiatrist.

What is a hebephrenic syndrome?

Gebefrenia is a condition in which there is a violation of the thought process and the emotional sphere. The syndrome is characterized by a change in the patient's behavior. Patients begin to behave like small children: to curl, build faces, run, etc. At the same time, the patient does not perceive remarks from other people (parents, doctors), may be aggressive. Gebefrenic syndrome is almost always manifested in malignant schizophrenia. However, earlier this feature was identified as an independent pathology. From the Greek language, the syndrome is translated as "the youth of reason". It is understood that in the case of gebephrenic, a person again falls into childhood. However, unlike the child, the patient becomes completely uncontrollable. To calm the patient, one must resort to antipsychotic medications. In addition to behavioral disorders, facial musculature contractions are noted. This symptom is associated with neurological changes observed in the disease.

Historical Description of Gebefrenic Syndrome

The syndrome was first described by the scientist Hecker in 1871. At that time, gebephrenia was not yet attributed to schizophrenia. She stood out as a separate mental disorder. Hekker called this syndrome hebephrenic paraphrenia. The term means that the patients had delusions of grandeur with signs of transition to child behavior. The description of this syndrome was published in France in 1895.

Later Kraepelin found similarities between gebefrenic paraphrenia and another psychopathological syndrome called démence précoce. The latter means one of the forms of dementia described by Morel. Later, a syndrome such as demetia praecox was isolated. In Latin, it means "early or premature dementia". This psychopathological syndrome has become synonymous with hebephrenic disorder. In 1898, Kraepelin attributed premature dementia to a group of endogenous diseases leading to mental disorders. Among these pathological processes were identified catatonia, gebefrenia and paranoid thinking. Later, each of these violations began to be treated as a separate form of schizophrenia.

Features of Gebefrenic Syndrome

The main feature of the syndrome of gebefrenia is its early onset. This pathological condition begins to manifest itself in adolescence. Less often it manifests in young people under 25 years old. Another peculiarity of the syndrome is its malignant course. This mental disorder is constantly progressing, so 2-3 years require constant care for the patient and the use of strong drugs - neuroleptics.

Gebefrenic syndrome is more common among the male population. The average age at which the first symptoms occur is 14-16 years. The pathological process is almost always continuous. Periods of prolonged remission and seizures for this disorder are not characteristic.

The causes of the development of gebephrenia

In most cases, the syndrome of gebefrenia is a sign of schizophrenia. This is a special form of this pathology, which is characterized by early onset and rapid development of severe mental disorders. Gebefrenic schizophrenia is difficult to treat. The reasons for the development of this syndrome include:

1. Genetic predisposition to the disease. The likelihood of developing gebefenia is higher in people who have a hereditary anamnesis in terms of mental pathologies.
2. Disorder of the work of neurotransmitter systems.
3. Psychogenic factors. To them, not only stressful influences during childhood and adolescence, but also the impact on the mother during pregnancy.

Syndrome of gebefrenia is rarely observed with organic brain lesions due to atrophic processes, tumors and head injuries. There have also been cases of the development of premature dementia in toxic and reactive psychoses, epilepsy.

Symptoms of Gebefrenic Syndrome

The gebephrenic syndrome develops suddenly, it is characterized by the appearance of pretentious actions, profanity, euphoria. This mental disorder often occurs in children who are nervous, withdrawn, lazy, and other psychopathic personality traits. Classical signs of a hebephrenic syndrome are:

1. Unproductive euphoria - a condition characterized by an elevated background of mood.
2. Reduction of mimic muscles leads to constant grimacing.
3. Silent actions are actions not related to impulsive behavior or delusional motives.

Patients suffering from gebephrenia are quickened when attention is paid to their person. They begin to demonstrate antisocial actions, mannerisms. Because of hypersexuality, patients are inclined to exhibitionism, masturbation. Patients are noted increased appetite, severity of thinking, cheerful mood.

Diagnosis of Gebephrenic Syndrome

The diagnosis of gebefrenia is based on an objective history (questioning the patient's relatives) and monitoring the patient for a long time. This disorder, which proceeds in mild form, can be confused with psychopathies and neuroses. To correctly diagnose, the patient must stay in the hospital for at least 2 months. For the disease are characterized by: cheerful mood, foolishness and the disconnectedness of thinking. Sometimes there is a combination of gebefrenic syndrome with signs of catatonia, hallucinations. The totality of these syndromes indicates malignant schizophrenia. To exclude atrophic and oncological pathologies of the brain, EEG, computer and magnetic resonance imaging are performed.

Treatment of Gebefrenic Syndrome

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely get rid of the symptoms of gebefrenia. Treatment is necessary to control the behavior of the patient, as well as to avoid dangerous consequences for the health of the patient and others. The main group of drugs used to arrest gebefrenia are neuroleptics. These include medicines "Aminazine", "Risperidone", "Haloperidol". Also for treatment use tranquilizers and the drug "Lithium carbonate".

Prognosis for a hebephrenic syndrome

The prognosis for the syndrome of gebefrenia depends on the course of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. The established diagnosis of "malignant schizophrenia" is considered an indication for assigning the 1st or 2nd group of disability. Patients with hebephrenic syndrome require constant care and periodic hospitalization to monitor treatment.