A high state of lack of motivation, desire and energy are symptoms of a disorder known as abuliaThose who suffer from it may also have difficulties thinking or apathy. And in the most serious cases they may show mutism combined with an obvious need to isolate themselves from everyone and everything.
The disorder has similarities with others such as anhedonia or asthenia. All of them are related to depression and can even appear together, complicating the patient's daily life.
Symptoms of apathy
Abulia is a disorder that should not be considered superficial. Some of the symptoms are:
- Exhaustion. There is not enough energy to carry out daily tasks.
- Lack of motivation, initiative.
- Slow motor movements.
- Inability to react to stimuli and make decisions.
- Difficulty in understanding what others are saying.
- Mutism.
Causes of the abulia or lack of will
Abulia is a symptom of major depression. It can be caused by:
- A neurological disorder: suffer an accident or stroke
- A lesion in the corpus striatum or the thalamic nucleus.
- Alteration in the frontal area of the brainthe basal ganglia or the anterior cingulate.
- Different types of infections such as syphilis if it ends up affecting the brain.
- They suffer or have suffered a prolonged stress with a high level of frustration
Treatment of the abulia
The treatment for abulia will depend on the cause and will always have to be previously diagnosed by a professional. For example, a patient with severe depression is not the same as one who has suffered an accident.
As for medications, carbidopa and levodopa are often used because they improve dopamine production and benefit the central nervous system.
But it is also a very good option Psychological therapy, both in person and online therapy. We work on the beliefs and thoughts that may have caused or maintained the problem.
In addition to mediation and therapy, there is also physiotherapy as a treatment. If you do even simple activities, it will increase the production of endorphins and allow you to get back in touch with the physical plane.
Disorders in which abulia appears
Abulia can occur in other disorders, the most common being:
- In dementia: like Alzheimer's, due to the progressive degeneration of brain structures.
- In severe depression: It is the most common one. The state of demotivation, hopelessness and feeling of little control lead to a lack of desire to act, and often present with the absence of pleasure when doing pleasurable activities (anhedonia).
- Schizophrenia: It would reduce the subject's ability to function normally. It may also be considered a residual symptom after a psychotic outbreak.
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