home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0404
/
04041.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
10KB
|
223 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK04041}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Neurasthenia}
$Subject{Neurasthenia Cardiac Neurosis Chronic Asthenia Da Costa's Syndrome
Effort Syndrome Functional Cardiovascular Disease Irritable Heart Nervosism
Neurocirculatory Asthenia Soldier's Heart Subacute Asthenia Weak Nerves
Angiopathic Neurasthenia Angioparalytic Neurasthenia Pulsating Neurasthenia
Gastric Neurasthenia Neurasthenia Gravis Neurasthenia Precox Primary
Neurasthenia Hyperthyroidism Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Myasthenia Gravis
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
831:
Neurasthenia
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Neurasthenia) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Cardiac Neurosis
Chronic Asthenia
Da Costa's Syndrome
Effort Syndrome
Functional Cardiovascular Disease
Irritable Heart
Nervosism
Neurocirculatory Asthenia
Soldier's Heart
Subacute Asthenia
Weak Nerves
Disorder Subdivisions:
Angiopathic Neurasthenia (also called Angioparalytic Neurasthenia, or
Pulsating Neurasthenia)
Gastric Neurasthenia
Neurasthenia Gravis
Neurasthenia Precox (or Primary Neurasthenia)
Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Hyperthyroidism
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Myasthenia Gravis
Panic-Anxiety Syndrome
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Neurasthenia is a mental disorder triggered by stress or anxiety.
Symptoms may include weakness or fatigue, which may be accompanied by chest
pain. A rapid intense heartbeat which may be irregular (palpitations,
tachycardia), and/or cold, clammy hands and feet may also be present.
Breathing too fast (hyperventilating), feeling dizzy or faint, sighing
periodically, or sweating for no apparent reason may also occur.
Symptoms
Major symptoms of Neurasthenia include a feeling of weakness or fatigue,
which may be accompanied by chest pain. A rapid intense heartbeat which may
be irregular (palpitations, tachycardia) can occur. The individual may have
cold, clammy hands and feet. Hyperventilation causes a dizzy or faint
feeling. Sighing periodically, or sweating for no reason are other symptoms
of Neurasthenia. It may occur along with or after depression or other
psychological disorders.
Angiopathic Neurasthenia (also called Angioparalytic Neurasthenia, or
Pulsating Neurasthenia) refers to a mild form of Neurasthenia in which the
patient feels a pulsing or throbbing sensation throughout the entire body.
Gastric Neurasthenia is a mild form of Neurasthenia accompanied by digestive
dysfunction and stomach enlargement (distention), and by indigestion
(dyspepsia). Neurasthenia Gravis refers to an extreme and persistent form of
Neurasthenia. Neurasthenia Precox (or Primary Neurasthenia) tends to occur
most often in adolescents and is characterized by nervous exhaustion.
Causes
Neurasthenia is a mental disorder caused by emotional stress or anxiety. It
is not caused by any underlying physical (organic) problems even though
physical discomfort can be present.
Affected Population
Neurasthenia is a fairly common disorder which may occur in childhood,
adolescence or adulthood. It affects males and females in equal numbers.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Neurasthenia.
Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
In Hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland is overactive and produces an
excessive amount of thyroid hormones. Symptoms may include sweating,
nervousness, emotional instability, fatigue, insomnia, increased appetite,
weight loss, or diarrhea. A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) or rapid twitching
of the muscle of the heart's upper chambers (atrial fibrillation) may occur.
Other symptoms may include sensitivity to heat (heat intolerance), trembling
of the hands, or muscle weakness. A slight swelling in the neck just below
the Adam's apple (due to thyroid gland enlargement), warm smooth skin, or
bulging of the eyes (exophthalmos) may be present. In older people
depression or heart failure may occur. A blood test for hyperthyroidism can
rule it out as a cause for Neurasthenia. (For more information on disorders
of the thyroid, choose "thyroid" as your search term in the Rare Disease
Database).
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is thought to be an infectious disorder
affecting the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems and the
muscles. Major symptoms may include general exhaustion, headache, muscle
pain, weakness, and possible mental changes. The exact cause of this
disorder is unknown, but researchers believe a virus associated with an
immune system abnormality may be responsible. Adults are most commonly
affected, with more cases seen in females than in males. (For more
information on this disorder, choose "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis" as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disease characterized
by weakness and abnormally rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles, with
improvement following rest. Any group of muscles may be affected, but those
around the eyes and the muscles used for swallowing are the most commonly
involved. In the majority of cases, the course of the disease is punctuated
with periods of greater and lesser weakness. Short term aggravation of
symptoms can be provoked by a host of factors, including excessive physical
activity, emotional upset, menstruation, and pregnancy. Complete spontaneous
disappearance of symptoms has been reported in rare instances. (For more
information on this disorder, choose "Myasthenia Gravis" as your search term
in the Rare Disease Database).
The main feature of Panic-Anxiety Syndrome is the recurrence of panic
attacks. Psychological symptoms may include intense apprehension,
unreasonable fear of dying or impending doom, fear of becoming insane, or
dread of losing control of the self. Physical manifestations are generally
those commonly associated with panic or anxiety such as difficulty in
breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, trembling and faintness. In
addition, patients may experience chest pain, feelings of unreality, abnormal
sensations (burning or pricking), dizziness, or hot and cold flashes. The
symptoms usually become apparent in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Attacks, which can occur at any time, usually last only minutes, though in
rare cases they may last hours. (For more information on this disorder,
choose "Panic-Anxiety" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Therapies: Standard
Testing can be done to rule out any underlying physical (organic) causes that
might lead to the symptoms of Neurasthenia. Treatment includes reassuring
the patient that the symptoms are not due to any physical (organic) causes.
Counseling will be of benefit to the patient in learning how to control
feelings of stress and anxiety. If necessary, biofeedback, sedatives or
tranquilizers may be prescribed.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1991. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Neurasthenia, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-7722
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1901 N. Fort Meyer Dr., Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 524-7600
National Mental Health Consumer Self-Help Clearinghouse
311 S. Juniper St., Rm. 902
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-2481
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20205
(301) 443-4515 or (301) 496-1752
(800) 421-4211 (24 hrs.)
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Editors; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 1322, 1324, 2124-2125,
2286.
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown
and Co., 1987. Pp. 374-375.
THE MERCK MANUAL, Volume 1, 15th Ed.: Robert Berkow, M.D., ed.-in-chief;
Merck, Sharp, and Dohme Laboratories, 1987. Pp. 345.
FEELINGS OF FATIGUE AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: A CONCEPTUAL HISTORY. G.E.
Berrios; Compr Psychiatry (Mar-Apr 1990; issue 31 (2)). Pp. 140-151.
OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLES: NEURASTHENIA AND 'ME'. S. Wessely; Psychol Med
(Feb 1990; issue 20 (1)). Pp. 35-53.
NEURASTHENIA IN THE 1980's: CHRONIC MONONUCLEOSIS, CHRONIC FATIGUE
SYNDROME, AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS. D. B. Greenberg;
Psychosomatics (Spring 1990; issue 31 (2)). Pp. 129-137.