The depressive triad is a very ambiguous term in psychiatry. This is the name of unity formed from the three main manifestations of this melancholic disorder. Which ones? Is there a sequence of their manifestations? In fact, there are many questions regarding this topic. And now it’s worth giving answers to at least some of them.
Definition
Some experts call the depressive triad a combination of the three main symptoms of this disorder, which include longing, apathy, and anxiety. Depending on the severity and nature of motor, as well as ideator disorders, distinguish the types of this phenomenon. A depressive triad can be harmonious, disharmonious and dissociated.
However, most professionals prefer an extended term. The triad is the set of inhibitions that are observed in the affective, intellectual and volitional sphere. That is, hypotension, bradyphrenia and hypobulia.
All these phenomena strongly affect a person and his psyche. And since these are individual components of a mental disorder, you need to pay a little more attention to their study.
Hypothymia
In simple terms, this is the name of the chronically lowered mood that accompanies a person for a long time.
People suffering from hypotension cannot emotionally experience any events, lead an active, full-fledged lifestyle.
Of course, this phenomenon, which precedes the depressive triad, does not occur on its own in one moment. Hypothymia is a consequence of borderline states of the psyche and many problems. It can be observed after an attempted suicide, some form of dependence, a strong shock.
The state of emotionlessness covers a person completely. He is chronically sad and sad. It is impossible to cheer. Here is what else is typical for a person with hypotension:
- Decreased motor activity.
- Reduction of social contacts.
- Reluctance to engage in physical labor.
- Decrease in mental activity. Lack of interest in general to everything.
- Deterioration of memory and concentration, complexity in the process of inference and analysis.
- Catastrophically low self-esteem, loss of self-confidence.
- Disharmony, imbalance in the perception of the world.
- Loss of self-worth.
- Self-incrimination, self-flagellation.
- The loss of the meaning of life and possible prospects for the future.
In addition, hypotension can be accompanied by painful pain in the abdomen and chest, as well as weakness, lethargy, depression, weight loss, loss of appetite, even a change in taste preferences. Constipation, insomnia (or too long sleep), laziness appear. In general, it is impossible not to notice one of the components of the classical depressive triad.
Bradyphrenia
A little needs to be told about this symptom. Without bradyphrenia, the classic depressive triad cannot exist. According to reports of patients suffering from it, the sensations experienced can be described in these words:
- Emptiness in the head.
- The appearance of "barriers" in the way of thoughts.
- Sensation of confusion in the head.
- Stiffness of thoughts.
This is the same case when a person sits, looks at one point, and generally does not think about anything. Here is what else such people face:
- Aspiration of thinking.
- Difficult reproduction of previously experienced experience.
- Superficial perception of what is happening in real life.
- Slow motion of thoughts.
- Focus on depression.
- The prevalence of gloomy thoughts that seem to "go in a circle."
- Haphazard thinking.
- Dullness of memory.
- The disappearance of curiosity and inquisitiveness, resourcefulness and ingenuity, ingenuity.
- Loss of one's own activity. Thoughts begin to float as if on their own.
- The emergence of difficulties in the formulation of thoughts.
- Uncertainty in judgment.
- Appearance, reservations, corrections and clarifications in speech.
- Loss of ability to follow other people's thoughts.
A person suffering from a depressive triad complains about the absence of specific thoughts, but at the same time he has a continuous flow of different associations. Sometimes childhood memories arise or even false ones.
Sometimes bradyphrenia reaches such an extent that a person ceases to cope with life situations. Habitual activity is given to him not bad, but where you need to speed up the pace or make a non-standard decision, he is simply lost.
Hypobulia
Continuing to talk about concepts related to the depressive triad, this phenomenon also needs to be addressed.
Hypobulia is characterized by the suppression of all the main types of attraction. The appetite almost completely disappears. Of course, a person can be convinced of the need to eat, but he will be with great reluctance, and tiny portions.
Sexual drive also disappears, and with it the interest not only in sex, but also in personal care.
The desire to communicate with someone disappears. Even those who previously could not imagine life without social contacts are burdened by the presence of people nearby. A person suffering from hypobulia prefers loneliness.
He is fixated on his experiences and sufferings, does not care about loved ones, and may even attempt suicide due to a weakened instinct for self-preservation. Another characteristic feature is shame for one’s inaction and helplessness, but unwillingness and inability to fix something.
The movements also become inhibited, the handwriting changes, the gait is disturbed, and the pose takes on a mournful appearance. On the face - a constantly suffering expression on his face with a dull look and uplifting corners of the mouth. With all his appearance, he radiates hopelessness, despair and longing.
What are the reasons?
The triad of depressive syndrome was considered above. Now it’s worth talking about why this condition generally arises. In fact, everything is very subjective.
In most cases, the trigger for the development of depression is an acute psychological trauma. That is, an incident that “broke” a person. And they can be anything.
The specifics depend on what is of greatest importance and value to the patient. After all, a situation that can mentally kill one person may not affect the other at all, because it simply will not have any significance for him.
Summarizing, I must say that most often the causes of the appearance of the classical depressive triad, which includes indicator inhibition and other listed phenomena, are:
- Chronic stress
- Divorce or separation from a loved one.
- A serious illness or death of someone close to you.
- Dismissal, conflicts at work.
- Own disability or serious illness.
- Retirement.
- Bankruptcy, sharp impoverishment.
- Relocation.
- A chain of disappointments and failures that has not stopped for several years.
Rarely does the triad of depressive syndrome appear on the wave of success, after a person has achieved an important goal. Such a disorder is caused by the loss of the meaning of life, since the patient lived for a very long time with one idea, only dreamed about it.
Extremely rarely, endogenous depression occurs. They appear against the background of manic psychosis, with bipolar disorder and other psychological diseases. The reason is the action of neurochemical factors. These are metabolic disturbances of biogenic amines, changes in metabolism, hormonal changes. It can also be caused by somatic disease or brain damage.
Is it possible to warn the condition?
No, because often it arises for reasons beyond the control of the patient. In addition, man is a social creature, which is characterized by experiencing, feeling, experiencing emotions. But if the cause is, for example, stress, then you can try to prevent the aggravation of the condition. We must respond to the situation on time.
So, the classic depressive triad includes emotional lability. That is, an unstable mood with sharp changes. Having noticed this symptom, you need to quickly change everything - to leave the boring work with frustrating colleagues, to divorce a disgusting partner, to move from a gray city, etc. The specific actions depend on the cause of the disorder. The main thing is to direct them to eradicate it.
And do not look for excuses! A person can immediately list a thousand excuses: “Now there is no money”, “I can’t quickly find a new job”, “I have a life here,” “I'm afraid”, “But what about my loved ones”, etc. We must remember: there will never be an ideal moment for change. And you can always find an opportunity, there would be a desire.
But it is worth returning to the topic of the depressive triad. In depression with pronounced emotional lability, the following symptoms are observed:
- Impulsiveness.
- Performing spontaneous acts.
- Violent response to everything that happens around.
- Lack of self-control and thoughts about the possible consequences.
- Outbreaks of affect that occur even on the most insignificant occasion.
- Angry, dreary, constantly tense state with severe irritability. Sometimes interspersed with aggressiveness and anger.
- Unwillingness to concede to anyone in anything.
- Vengeance and grudge.
- Special sensitivity and increased susceptibility.
- A violent and emotional reaction of a hyperbolic nature even to trivial events.
Such a state will not lead to anything good. Having noticed it at home, you need to start correcting the situation. It will only get worse.
Disinhibition of drives
This symptom also deserves special attention. As already mentioned, the classic depressive triad includes disinhibition of drives. And this refers not only to the disappearance of various desires in a person. There are situations much more serious.
Some patients have a tendency to gambling, to kleptomania or pyromania, as well as aggressive, sado-masochistic hobbies, etc.
All this is characteristic of deviant behavior, and therefore requires treatment. Because some of the hobbies to which the patient suddenly begins to attract are criminogenic or immoral. They can affect other people or creatures that are completely innocent.
There may be plenty of such “hobbies”. And in the formation of each of them a whole complex of very different factors is involved - social, psychological, psychopathological. If a patient who is apathetic and does not feel any desire at all is harmless to others, then such persons are very dangerous. And forced therapy is the only way to prevent their pathological behavior.
Treatment
Discussing what the depressive triad includes, we need to talk about how this disorder is generally eliminated. Treatment is specific because it depends on the origin of the disease. And they are individually engaged in a psychotherapist and psychologist.
The most important stage of treatment is the study of the situation, its consideration from various sides, awareness, acceptance. A complex process aimed specifically at the problem, at the cause of the condition.
Mandatory is the maintenance of drug therapy. As already mentioned, the classic depressive triad includes hand tremors and other disorders. You can’t do without medical treatment, since it is aimed at normalizing the state of the nervous system.
Antidepressants, for example, regulate the concentration of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, restore the biochemical background. This positively affects the mood, activates psychomotor. Alarms pass, apathy is eliminated, anxiety and fatigue disappear.
Antipsychotics help get rid of hallucinations and delusions, reduce arousal. Tranquilizers eliminate tearfulness and anxiety. Nootropics improve mental abilities.
But each drug is prescribed only by a doctor. First you need to take tests, talk with the patient, discuss his situation. Self-medication can only aggravate the situation. Yes, and many drugs are dispensed only by prescription. In addition, the classical depressive triad includes ideative inhibition and many other specific manifestations. And for each case, certain medications are needed.
Raising self-esteem
This is perhaps the most important topic. Because the depressive triad is characterized precisely by a destructive assessment of the self and the whole world as a whole.
Psychologists compiled a short list of simple tips that help to cope with this condition. Especially at an early, unreleased stage. So here are some guidelines:
- You need to get closer to nature. It is advisable to temporarily move out of town. Many claim: being in the lap of nature, it is difficult to remain discouraged for a long time.
- It is worth finding a support group. If a person with sadness realizes that friends and family are not capable of this, then you can try anonymously looking for help in social networks.
- It is necessary to get rid of unnecessary things, do the cleaning, free up space. Leave only that which brings pleasure. In addition, this is a good way to understand what a person really appreciates.
- Do not "close". Alienation at the moment of despair only exacerbates depression. A walk may lead to new thoughts or you will be able to notice something interesting or beautiful along the way.
- It is recommended to do creativity. To sing, dance, play music, and even paint with fingers smeared with paint on the canvas - this will give vitality.
- You can talk to yourself. This will help get rid of psyche-leaden thoughts. And you can "negotiate" with yourself, set new goals. At least some small ones - for starters.
- Need to find and visualize desires! In a depressed state it is difficult, but ... Why not turn this task into a goal?
How to restore brain activity?
Another topical issue. The classic depressive triad is characterized by serious changes in thinking and brain activity, as already mentioned. And if the patient is in this state for a long time, then he can degrade. What to do with this?
First, you need to be cured. And not just tablets. You can not "crush", mask the experience of tranquilizers and antidepressants.
Only systematic work with a psychotherapist will help. This is a very important process for organizing the past as well as the present and future. It helps to find new ways to harmonize personality and behavior tactics. Here we also need the efforts of the patient, and not just the therapist. This is the first step towards restoring brain activity.
It must be remembered that the capabilities of the body (including the psyche and brain) are unlimited. A positive attitude, good thoughts, self-confidence, as well as patience and perseverance - this is what can help the patient.
It will also be useful to acquire developing hobbies. Let's start listening to lectures of people who have achieved a lot in life. The speeches of such persons are incredibly inspiring, as is their example. You should also start reading or listening to audio books, watching movies with intellectual workload. In general, you will have to gradually give your brain “food”. And let the volumes be small at first. Still, one small step forward is much better than standing still.