In the practice of a neurologist and a rehabilitation therapist, it is necessary to constantly identify and differentiate signs of organic brain damage and functional disorders of the nervous system. According to A. A. Skoromets, there are many more people with functional disorders of the nervous system. Among the main neurotic syndromes are asthenic, hysterical and obsessive.
1) Asthenic syndrome is characterized by increased fatigue and exhaustion. These persons complain of general weakness, irritability, decreased appetite, sleep disturbance (dyssomnia). Performance decreases, mood is unstable, tearfulness and lack of confidence in one’s abilities are observed. Frequent headaches, dizziness of an orthostatic nature (when getting out of bed abruptly, straightening up from a bending position, etc.). Asthenic syndrome is characteristic of neurasthenia and many somatic and infectious diseases.
2) Hysterical syndrome – characterized by emotional instability; The behavior of this category of persons is determined more by feelings, mood than reason, and bears the features of demonstrativeness. Requiring special attention, these persons constantly strive to be in the center of attention. There is a tendency to posturing, eccentricity, theatricality, fantasy. Neurological disorders in the form of paralysis (with the preservation of deep sensitivity, the absence of pathological hand and foot signs), hemianesthesia (with the border strictly along the midline), etc., are not uncommon.
3) Obsessive syndrome (obsessive-compulsive state syndrome) is manifested by various personal painful doubts, fears, desires, actions, etc., which arise in a person against his will. With obsession, a person almost always has a critical attitude to this condition; With all the understanding of the absurdity of their fears and actions, patients cannot get rid of them. Obsessive fears – phobias – are of the greatest practical importance. A person understands that he is completely healthy, but obsessive fears do not give him peace. Obsessive desires are expressed in the appearance of unusual unpleasant desires – to jump out of the tram on the move, to grab a passer-by by the nose, etc. Obsessive actions are extremely diverse: closing the eyes, sniffing, biting nails, coughing, etc.