|
|
Enter secondary content here
|
|
|
|
|
|
PORPHYRIA FACTS: Psychological Asoects-2
PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY IN PORPHYRIA
Mental change is commonly associated with acute episodes of porphyria.
In the past and still somewhat today, acute porphyria patients are wrongly
diagnosed with psychological illness rather than a transient conditions caused
by the porphyria episode itself.
The following are a list of terms that will help you with mental health definitions
that may be used rightly or wrongly in your medical charting.
SOURCE:
Dr. Kenneth Carlson
Neuropsychiatric
++++++++++
acting out.
Expressing emotional conflict or stress through behavior and actions rather than
reflections or feelings.
addiction.
Physical or emotional dependence, or both, on a substance, such as alcohol or
drugs, usually resulting in the need for increasing amounts of the substance to
achieve the same desired effect or continued use despite adverse
consequences.
adjustment disorder.
A psychological response to an identifiable stressor that results in the
development of emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or certain
conduct, that are greater than would be expected by the stressor or that cause
significant impairment in functioning.
Often misdiagnosed initally in mental change of acute porphyria patients.
affective disorder.
A type of mental disorder that primarily affects mood and interferes with the
ability to function, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
This is not associated with mental change in porphyria.
anxiety.
An unpleasant emotional and physical state of overwhelming apprehension and
fear.
Anxiet is a key manifestation in mental change found in acute porphyria.
anxiety disorder.
A group of conditions marked by persistent, extreme or pathological anxiety
that's manifested by disturbances in mood or emotions, as well as physiological
activity, such as elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.
Anxiety disorder is not associated with mental change in porphyria.
biofeedback.
A behavior-training program that teaches a person how to gain some control
over autonomic reactions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature
and muscular tension.
Sometimes used in conjucntion with treatment of muscle tension and PN pain
asociated with porphyria.
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is not associated with mental change in
porphyria.
chronic.
A term used to describe long-lasting diseases or conditions.
cognitive.
Pertaining to the mental process of thought, including perception, reasoning,
intuition and memory.
cognitive disorders.
The set of disorders consisting of significant impairment of cognition or memory
that's a marked deterioration from a previous level of functioning.
This is the primary standard by which porphyria patients can obtain social
security disability.
comorbidity. T
wo or more diseases or conditions occurring at the same time,
crisis.
A sudden intensification of symptoms, resulting in marked inability to function,
and possibly raising the risk of harm to the person in crisis or others because of
overwhelming emotion, disturbed thinking or risky behavior.
Crisis is often seen during the very onset of an attack which finds the porphyria
patients being examined in the ER.
delirium.
A state of mental confusion, sometimes characterized by disordered speech and
often accompanied by hallucinations.
Delirium is common in mental change during acute attacks.
delusions.
A firmly held belief with no basis in reality — that is, clinging to a belief even
when the evidence shows that it's false.
Delusions occur often during severe mental changes taking place during
acute attacks.
dementia.
Mental deterioration .
Dementia is not associated with porphyria.
dependence, psychological.
A strong need to rely on another person or thing for emotional strength.
Dependence on pain killers can happen in porphyria.
depression.
A mood state that may be mild and short-lived or more severe and persistent.
The latter, a mood disorder, is characterized by extreme sadness, hopelessness,
lack of self-worth and discouragement.
Often marked by giving up hope of correct diagnosis or attainable treatment for
porphyria.
Signs and symptoms include disruption of sleeping and eating patterns and lack
of energy.
Depression can occur in connection with mental changes in porphyria and
especially in connection with PN.
dyskinesia
Involuntary muscle activity causing distorted movement of the lips, tongue,
neck, arms or trunk, sometimes as a side effect of certain medications.
Has been idenfied in some porphyria patients due to medications.
hallucination.
A sensory perception with no basis in reality; may be seen, heard, touched or
smelled.
Commonly associated with mental change in porphyria.
illusion.
A distorted perception, such as interpreting shadows to be an intruder; common
in delirium.
Sometimes found in conjunction with mental change in acute porphyria.
insomnia.
Difficulty falling asleep, inability to stay asleep or poor sleep quality.
Often found in association with acute attacks of porphyria.
nicotine.
An addictive chemical found in tobacco.
Nicotine is contraindicated in porphyria patients.
paranoia.
A mental disorder, or an element of several other mental illnesses, characterized
by suspicion, delusions of persecution and jealousy.
Paranoia is experienced by some porphyria patients during mental changes
related to acute episodes of porphyria.
psychiatrist.
A medical doctor (M.D.) or an osteopathic doctor (D.O.) who has completed
advanced training in psychiatry.
psychiatry.
Specialty of medicine devoted to the study, treatment and prevention of mental
disorders.
psychologists.
Specialists in psychology who can provide evaluation, assessment, testing and
treatment of mental disorders. Usually have a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in
psychology.
psychology.
Branch of science that deals with the mind, mental processes and behaviors.
psychosis.
A mental disturbance characterized by a loss of contact with reality. Delusions
and hallucinations are often present.
Psychosis can demonstrate during acute episodes of porphyria.
psychotherapist.
Term for anyone who provides psychotherapy, with or without specialized
licensure or training.
psychotherapy.
A method of treating mental disorders that involves verbal and nonverbal
communication about thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviors in individual,
group or family sessions in order to change unhealthy patterns of coping, relieve
emotional distress and encourage personality growth and improved
interpersonal relations. Also called counseling or talk therapy.
psychotic.
Delusions or hallucinations that cause disorganized thinking, unusual behaviors
and loss of touch with reality.
Porphyria patients can appear psychotic during the onset of acute attacks.
remission.
Abatement of signs and symptoms.
side effects.
Unwanted changes produced by medication or other treatment.
sign. An objective manifestation of a condition that's observable, such as rapid
speech or fever, rather than reported by the person with the condition. See also
symptom.
social phobia. A type of anxiety disorder that causes significant anxiety and
discomfort related to a fear of being embarrassed, judged, humiliated or scorned
by others in social or performance situations.
split personality. A nonmedical term sometimes used to describe dissociative
identity disorder (formerly called multiple personality disorder) or, incorrectly,
schizophrenia.
stigma. Negative attitudes about or toward those with mental illness, usually
stemming from fear and misunderstanding, and resulting in disgrace,
embarrassment or humiliation for those with mental illness.
suicide.
Intentionally taking one's own life.
One of the top causes of death among porphyria patients, second to
respiratory paralysis and ahead of kidney failure and liver failure.
symptom.
A subjective manifestation of a condition that's reported by the individual and not
observable by others.
syncope
Fainting.
SOURCES:
Dr. Kenneth Carlson
Neuropsychiatric Medicine
++++++++++++
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
+++++++++++
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|