Medical issues
with psychological
effects –
that need medical attention
Press release:
“30-year-old mother-of-two from Inverness, in Scotland…Julie MacRae was initially thought to be suffering from depression,
and was admitted to the New Craigs psychiatric hospital, in Inverness. Her
condition gradually worsened and Mrs MacRae died…The diagnosis of CJD
was made after a post-mortem examination. Mrs MacRae worked as a medical
receptionist. (Daily Record 10/09/01; p.7)
There are
many psychiatric
conditions such as manic depression, schizophrenia and psychosis
that require
us
to refer the client onto medical assistance. But
we
also need to be aware of
medical illnesses that can present themselves as depression and anxiety in
clients. Some common general symptoms of
organic conditions affecting a person mental state
include:
very poor concentration
confusion
delirium
mood changes
lability
of mood
paranoid ideation
changes in behaviour/personality
hallucinations
restlessness
apathy
You will see from this list that many such symptoms
occur in depression and anxiety. The following is some general signs of some of
the main conditions to be aware of.
Dementias (age 40 +)
[presenile,
alzeimers, huntingtons, HIV +ve]
poor short term memory
confusion
mood lability – depressed or euphoric
socially unacceptable behaviour
inappropriate emotional expression
apathy
self neglect
depression, especially when insight is present
Huntingtons Disease
Inherited pre senile dementia
abnormal, limb movements and multi symptoms including
depression
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Labile mood, depression, erratic behaviour, high
suicide rate.
Multiple sclerosis
Visual disturbances (double vision), paralysis often
starting in a lower limb, insight present,
depression, starts in young adults
Glandular fever:
fatigue and depression
Space occupying lesions
(tumours,
metastases, haematoma)
Severe headaches, vomiting, drowsy, visual
disturbances. Changes in personality and mood
Thyrotoxicosis
Goitre
Nervousness
irritability
feeling on edge
anxious
weight loss
good appetite
prominent eyes
tachycardia
can exhibit a variety of symptoms
Hypothyroidism
apathy, tiredness, slowness.
Post natal depression
Tiredness,
irritability, anxiety, excessive worry, poor concentration, less common –
sadness,
weepy, don’t
often realise they are
ill,
may cover up or don’t realise low self
worth. May have had prior depression and /or relationship difficulties.
May recover with none or minmal
intervention but can relapse. 15% of women.
Puerperal Psychosis
Severe depression or elation, 1 in 500 occurence,
resulting in delusions and hallucinations. A
biochemical
disorder like manic-depression who have 20% increased chance of getting it.
Family history of depression in 65% of women. Often
suicidal or infanticidal. Drug treatment
is very
effective and ECT when necessary, if drugs are ineffective and in marked suicide
ideation. Treatment rapidly leads to full recovery.
Other conditions affecting our mental condition
include:
Meningitis
Diabetes
Head injury
Transient Ischemic attack
Menopause
PMT
PTSD
Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME)
Testosterone Deficiency