These are often called neuro- psychiatric diseases and they are very common in middle age groups and adolescence, particularly in a female population.
Dull mood (Depression):
These patients will have dull mood, lack of energy, easy fatigue, pain in multiple parts of the body, generalized weakness, sleep disturbances etc. They lack the ability to cope with various difficulties in life. They cannot get happy from any event or substance in life. They can have suicidal tendencies also.
Excess tension, worry (Anxiety, Phobia):
Certain persons will have excessive sweating, jitteriness, tremulousness, chest palpitations etc frequently, and more during unfamiliar or critical situations. They may be having anxiety and this will interfere in smooth functioning of their activities.
Behavioral disturbances (Psychosis):
Some patients will not have the insight about their illness and they believe strongly that they are correct. They will have a mismatch between what really exists around them and what they perceive or appreciate. There are as follows.
- Hallucinations – Appreciation of visual, hearing or tactile sensation in the absence of real stimulus.
- Illusions – the Abnormal distorted perception of the real stimulus.
- Delusions – Correctly sensed but abnormal wrong significance is given to it.
Psycho-somatic illness:
These are very common in neurological practice. These patients will have some neurotic or psychiatric problems like depression, anxiety, psychosis etc but they present with various body complaints like pain in multiple areas, giddiness, numbness, sleep disturbances etc. Detailed clinical examination and investigations will help ruling underlying neurological and general medical diseases. These patients will be benefited with certain drugs, reassurance and Counseling.
