Asthenic Psychopathy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Individuals attract attention to themselves with an extreme degree of sensitivity, indecisiveness and shyness, which is especially noticeable when they get into a new collective, in an unfamiliar environment. Asthenics (dependent, inhibited) are passive, pessimistic, prone to "self-rooting" and self-torture, easily lose weight, weaken, which contributes to various irritating factors. The symptomatology of decompensation resembles classical neurasthenia. This, so to speak, nervous psychopathy in persons with astheno-neurotic type of personality. They are constantly tired, rarely feel well, especially competitive for their activities.
In contrast to paranoids, they are dominated by insecurity in their own abilities and abilities, low self-esteem, a feeling of dependence and fear of future imaginary difficulties. Asthenics are unrequited, obedient and irresponsible, in the sense that they can not initiate any action, nor take even the slightest responsibility, for fear of failing. They are apathetic and sluggish, quickly tired, suffer from suspiciousness and are more often in an oppressed state of mind. They do not differ in performance, they endure the sight of blood, strong noise, temperature changes, in general, they do not tolerate any discomfort. The manifestation of irritability is usually reduced to grumbling, short-lived, even on this they do not have enough strength.
They suffer from hypochondria, listen to their body, trying to find signs of a violation of its functions, which contributes to the aggravation of vegetative disorders. Against the backdrop of unfavorable environmental influences, asthenics often have organic neuroses - gastronecrosis, cardioneurosis and others.
They are very attached to a certain way of life and strive to preserve it with all their might. Characteristic features - pedantry, conservatism, restraint, caution, require the same behavior from a close environment. Not capable of either physical or mental stress, already at an early age, asthenic traits are noticeable. Striving to preserve at all costs the way of life inherent in them, such persons are often pedantic and demand the same from a close circle. Decompensation of personality disorder in these patients is usually caused by a situational breakdown of the dynamic stereotype.
Psychasthenic psychopathy is considered as a kind of asthenic. The main quality of this type of person - hypertrophied anxiety and suspiciousness (they are very worried about any trifles, which are normally indifferent to others). This type of disorder is called in other authors and in ICD-9 an ankastatic psychopathy (an ankastastic, insecure type of personality).
The mental infantilism of the individual is expressed in constant fluctuations, lack of ability to make decisions, confidence and independence. They can not repel the abuser, refuse to ask the applicant, always doubt the correctness of their judgments, which leads them to depend on someone else's opinion and actions. Disturbing and hypochondriac psychasthenics are very sensitive, for a long time they experience negative impressions, negative information about themselves. They often concentrate on solving problems far from reality, little adapted to physical activity, awkward and awkward. In life - impractical, prone to self-analysis, and their abilities are assessed very low, understating the dignity and exaggerating the shortcomings.
Anankastic psychopathy is also the prerogative of people with a weak type of nervous system. They have a well developed signal system of higher nervous activity of the second type, connected with logical conclusions and reflections. This, so-called, intellectual psychopathy. Individuals who are inclined to an endless self-psychoanalysis are subjected to it. Constantly chewing on their "mental" chewing gum, often show emotional dullness, since the alarm system under number one, responsible for emotions, is not working well in psychasthenic patients.
Different life collisions highlight anankalists various character traits.
In the work collective, they sometimes appear to be very energetic employees, great adherents of order and stereotypical forms of behavior, pedants and formalists. Selfish, angry react to insubordination, show tediousness and intrusiveness.
The predominance of character traits is influenced by life experience: at an early age anankast prevails anxiety and suspiciousness, in adulthood - accuracy and pedantry (as a form of psychological protection).
Nevertheless, under favorable circumstances, anankast psychopaths find their place in life and overcome their doubts. They are characterized as neat, judicious and self-critical people, on whom you can rely. In extreme circumstances, they can show firmness and courage, are able to carry out the necessary actions quickly enough and diligently.