Apopheny

In the middle of the last century, the psychologist-neurologist Klaus Konrad defined the term "apophenia" from the Latin apophene (discuss, declare). By this term, the psychologist meant the ability of the human psyche to capture the relationship in utopian or accidental information and to find the share of meaning in random combinations and coincidences. Apophy can also be called an illusory attempt to comprehend ties.

Epidemiology

Special statistical studies on how many people in the world suffer from abnormal apophonia have not been carried out. Psychologists themselves agree that this property of the brain is possessed by the majority of the world's population: apophony is considered by many not to be a disease, but a normal quality of the human brain. Nevertheless, medicine and psychiatry always talk about apopsy, as a certain perception error, or about a separate stage of schizophrenia.

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Causes of the apotheosis

The human brain is in constant search of any non-random events and regularities: this is its nature - to see the desired where it is absent. However, in some cases - for example, in schizophrenia - this ability of the brain is transformed into a slowly growing pathology characterized by an anxiety state, the idea of persecution, "someone else's" eavesdropping, etc. Thoughts that arise in the head of the patient are perceived by the patient as alien, imposed , illusory. This peculiar property of brain activity can be called apophenia - originally an incorrect opinion based on a specific vision and desire.

The cause of pathological apopheny can be a combination of several factors leading to disorders of brain activity. It can be:

• frequent stress, alcohol abuse or drug dependence, taking certain medications;
• dysfunction of brain neurotransmitters;
• hereditary predisposition (if someone has suffered schizophrenia, delusional conditions in the family, then there is a danger that similar diseases, including apophenia, will occur in other generations).

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Risk factors

There are a number of factors that may favor the development of apopheny:

• age after 60 years;
• prolonged absence without sleep;
• systemic chronic diseases;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• frequent visits to hospitals, long protracted illnesses;
• severe injuries;
• chronic intoxication;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• deficiency of vitamins in the body.

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Pathogenesis

Initially, the term "apopheny" had to describe an incorrect mapping of reality, which is part of the psychosis. For example, in patients with a manic condition, always connective thoughts, identifying everything that happens with each other.

But at the present time, speaking of apopheny, one can have in mind a normal, healthy mindset, not provoked by a disturbance of the psyche. Sometimes apopheny is a kind of "stormy fantasy" of a person, in some cases without any logical basis.

Both types of apopheny are quite common and have many common characteristics.

The research conducted by scientists allowed to draw conclusions that apopheny can be caused by an excessive function of the right hemisphere. It is this part of the brain that is responsible for all sorts of metaphors and associative combinations.

An additional factor in the development of this condition is dopamine. The study showed that the higher the level of dopamine in the blood, the more often patients see logic in random coincidences.

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Symptoms of the apotheosis

At every step of the person, there may be any coincidences or occasional situations. Most people do not pay attention to them and do not seek a certain connection between the events. However, some people mentally build a whole logical (in their opinion) chain of such accidents and separate events, and even make every effort to prove their rightness to others.

We can say that a person is replacing real events with his own fictitious system.

If we talk about apopheny, characteristic of a healthy person, then in that case, he can become a hostage of religious influence, an inexplicable number of situations. For example, one of the manifestations of apathy is superstition - many people unreasonably believe that if a black cat crossed their path, then one should expect trouble (and if this happened twice on the same day, it is better not to leave the house at all). Such people are sure of their superstition, and they are not at all interested in the total absence of any sense and proof.

The first signs of apopheny can arise already in a conscious childhood - it can be not only superstitions, but also certain rituals, associations, etc. Most often, people with developed fantasy, with a certain degree of talent, but with a weakened nervous system are affected by this state.

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Complications and consequences

People to whom the doctor makes the diagnosis of pathological apophenia, may suffer from other mental disorders. For example, they often find depressive states, obsessions. In severe cases, rejection of their opinion can provoke aggression in patients or inadequate behavior.

If apopheny is out of control, then the patient may have problems in society, in his personal life.

If the patient does not deem it necessary to undergo treatment, the symptoms of apopheny will accompany him to the end of his life.

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Diagnostics of the apotheosis

For the diagnosis of pathological apopheny, it often becomes easy to interview a patient. The doctor clarifies some important points for diagnosis:

• heredity;
• presence of diseases and injuries;
• use of alcohol, drugs or medicines;
• stability of the patient's mental state.

To clarify the state of the body doctor can appoint:

• blood and urine tests (to exclude inflammatory processes in the body);
• blood tests to assess the balance of vitamins and trace elements in the body;
• a blood test for sugar.

If the doctor suspects any disease that could cause the development of pathological apopheny, then in this case he conducts the following studies:

• tomography - to exclude tumor processes;
• ECG - to assess the performance of the heart;
• encephalogram - to assess the state of the brain.

It may also be necessary to diagnose the endocrine system, kidneys and liver.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis allows you to diagnose if any symptoms point to several pathologies at once. So, before the diagnosis of apophenia, the doctor will necessarily assess the differences of the relevant clinical picture from delusional disorder, schizophrenia, affective psychosis and psychogeny.

Treatment of the apotheosis

If the cause of apophenia consists in an organic violation of the brain, caused by chronic intoxication or trauma, the doctor will first prescribe medicines to stop the underlying disease.

If the diagnosis indicates the presence of mental disorders, then antipsychotics may be prescribed - for example, Triftazine, Aminazine and other similar drugs. Such medications are blockers of dopamine receptors in brain structures. However, in some cases, such drugs can provoke the development of neurolepsy. In order for this to happen, you should simultaneously use a medicine such as Cycladol.

Some specialists use new generation drugs - Azaleptin, Haloperidol, Azaleptol. These drugs block not only dopamine receptors, but also serotonin.

In addition, the patient receives treatment with tranquilizers and sedatives: it is prescribed Fenazepam, Tazepam, Deprim.

The dosage of drugs and the duration of the course is determined by the doctor.

Prevention

There is no specific prevention of apophenia. In families where people with an increased risk of apopheny develop, it is recommended to maintain a soft, calm aura, with the construction of strong, mutually respectful relationships between household members. Close people should avoid conflicts, do not use violence, do not start scandals and do not resort to assault.

Everyone must learn to ignore stressful situations, move away from conflicts and solve them exclusively peacefully.

To separate patients, if the initial symptoms of pathology are detected, the doctor can prescribe antipsychotic medications in small amounts for prophylactic purposes and only for a short period of time.

Positive moments in prevention are:

• maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle;
• creative activity;
• presence of friendly relations with surrounding people;
• desire to learn new things;
• social activity.

Forecast

The prognosis may depend on the progression and belonging of the underlying disease. If the patient has a tendency to further aggravate the pathology, then manic states and hallucinations may appear.

If the drug correction is carried out in a timely and qualitative way, then apopheny does not entail stable personality changes and is minimized during a certain individual rehabilitation period.

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