Increased emotional lability is a psychopathological symptom characterized by the ease of developing an affective reaction in response to mild to moderate stimuli. Patients are characterized by tearfulness, fearfulness, outbursts of irritation and anger, embarrassment, an open demonstration of joy. The mood is changeable, emotions are expressed, at the peak of experiences, self-control and the ability to objectively assess the situation are reduced. The main diagnostics is carried out by a psychiatrist, the method of conversation, observation and psychological testing is used. Treatment includes individual and group psychotherapy, family counseling, drug correction.
The concept of “lability” is translated as “instability, mobility”. The term is widely used in physiology to denote the rate of reaction of cells and tissues to the action of a stimulus. In psychology and psychiatry, increased emotional lability is understood as a pathological property of the psyche to give an inadequately expressed affect on an external event. It can be the central manifestation of the disease (with a personality disorder) or one of the symptoms of cerebrovascular syndrome, cerebrovascular diseases, endocrine pathologies. Epidemiological indicators range from 2 to 5%. Emotional lability is most common in children and the elderly.
Disorder of expressiveness of emotions arises against the background of violations of the central nervous system. Provoking factors are socio-psychological negative effects and somatic diseases that indirectly or directly affect the functions of the central nervous system. The most common causes of emotional instability include:
Emotions reflect the direct attitude of a person to objects and situations. Their expressiveness and orientation is an important component of the process of cognition of the surrounding world and one's own state. Increased emotional lability is a violation of the intensity of affective experiences. It occurs when there is an imbalance in the processes of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system with a predominant shift towards hyperactivation. Neural signal transmission is accelerated, focus is reduced. The severity of the emotional response becomes inadequate to the strength of the stimulus. At the same time, the content and orientation of experiences correspond to the situation. For example, a short separation from a loved one causes an uncontrollable attack of sobbing and crying.
The main manifestations are excessive emotionality, frequent mood swings. The most noticeable is increased tearfulness. Crying is provoked by sad and pleasant events - watching a melodrama, watching a child's game, emotional conversation. Reactions of this type are characteristic of vascular pathologies, organic diseases of the brain, and asthenic syndrome. Outbursts of anger and rage are uncontrollable, but quickly fade away. Occur in everyday everyday situations, accompanied by frustration, dissatisfaction. Often they become the cause of impulsive aggressive and auto-aggressive actions - in a fit of anger, patients scream at children, bang their fists on the table, bruise themselves, provoke scandals.
Another common symptom is sensitivity to objections, criticism, rudeness, intolerance to the opinions of others. There is an uncontrollable desire to prove one's own innocence, to establish justice, to argue. At the height of passion, anger can suddenly be replaced by laughter or crying. Patients are characterized by increased fatigue, weakness, reduced performance. Sleep after experiences is superficial, restless, with frequent awakenings. Difficulties in concentration, rapid mood swings affect the ability to get involved in any business, to achieve goals. Patients are often in search of their vocation, trying different activities. They lack perseverance and focus.
Emotional lability is characterized by frequent mood swings
In the absence of treatment, emotionally labile patients experience constant mental stress and fatigue, provoke conflicts with others. Often this condition leads to depression, suicidal thoughts, isolation from society. Nervous exhaustion is manifested by chronic fatigue, the development or exacerbation of somatic diseases. Decreased motivation and focus prevent patients from seeking medical and psychological help on their own. With the development of complications, they need the organizing and stimulating help of relatives.
When examining patients with emotional lability, the main attention is paid to the causes of this symptom, the definition of the underlying disease. The presence of affective instability is detected by a psychiatrist, for differential diagnosis, consultations of somatic specialists are prescribed: a therapist, neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist. Specific research methods are:
To restore the stability of the emotional-volitional sphere, it is necessary to determine the underlying disease and carry out its complex treatment. Thus, etiotropic therapy can be carried out by a psychiatrist, neurologist, endocrinologist, internist, cardiologist and doctors of other specialties, including conservative and surgical procedures. Specific treatments include:
Group psychotherapy
The prognosis depends on the course of the underlying disease, but a competent approach to treatment can always significantly improve the quality of life of patients, compensate for the symptoms of emotional disturbance with relaxation and self-regulation skills. The most effective way of prevention is the rational organization of work and rest. Periods of intense mental work should be replaced by physical activity (preferably in the fresh air). With signs of fatigue, you need to take a break, switch to another type of activity. A good night's sleep and proper nutrition are required.