Multiple attention syndrome: causes, symptoms, treatment

Distracted attention is a form of inattention in which a person has difficulty concentrating.

The pathogenesis of development and symptoms may vary depending on the nature of the disease.

Causes scattered attention span

The causes of absent-mindedness are not determined by genetic predisposition; the disease is acquired during the patient's life. This pathology can arise for various reasons, since it is not classified as nosospecific. The main causes include:

• fatigue, insomnia, prolonged or frequent sleep deprivation, lack of variety in daily activities
• mental illness (anxiety disorder, depression)
• psychosomatics (if there is no desire to do a particular task, a person cannot concentrate on it)

Thus, risk factors include lack of daily routine, labor-intensive and long-term work, mental illnesses. The exact cause is unknown, but it has been established that upbringing, living conditions, work or education do not affect the development of absent-mindedness.

If absent-mindedness was diagnosed in childhood, its symptoms may appear later. According to statistics, 4% of children aged 6 to 17 have this symptom, 60% of them have difficulty concentrating in adulthood. Among patients over 18, 5% of patients are diagnosed with this pathology. It can be either acquired in older age or be a consequence of such a disorder in childhood. It is believed that boys are more susceptible to absent-mindedness in childhood than girls. Absent-mindedness in adults manifests itself equally in both sexes.

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Symptoms

Attention deficit disorder has different symptoms depending on the type of disease and individual characteristics of the patient. All types are united by the first signs of the syndrome, when it is difficult for a person to concentrate on a certain activity or object.

There are 6 types of syndrome.

1. True inattention, or distraction. This condition is almost identical to prostration. The most common causes are sleep deprivation, monotonous work, fatigue. A subtype of true inattention is road hypnosis, which occurs in drivers during long-term driving and consists of a feeling of a lapse in time.

Main symptoms:

• complete disconnection from important things in a person's environment, including planned actions
• lack of interest in something, boredom
• loss of strength
• vagueness of thoughts and feelings
• a person's attention wanders, he cannot concentrate on something specific for a long time.

2. Student's absent-mindedness. Distant attention in a schoolchild manifests itself in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other psychopathologies.

Main symptoms:

• activity, excessive mobility
• scattered attention, difficulty concentrating on one subject

3. Senile distraction. Occurs in elderly patients. The cause is scattered concentration and attention is not sufficiently focused.
4. Cognitive inattention, or selective. This type of motor inattention manifests itself in relation to such things as the usual external environment, pulse, the sound of a clock.
5. Motivation-driven distraction. Described by Z. Freud, it manifests itself in cases when a person makes efforts to distract himself from certain phenomena, people, objects.
6. Imaginary scattered attention. This type of inattention is a consequence of internal concentration. There are 3 subtypes of imaginary inattention:

• “professorial” is manifested when solving complex problems and tasks, while there is no emotionality, thoughts are clearly directed at a specific goal and are organized
• "poetic" manifests itself in the case of a person's dreaminess
• “Goal hypnosis” is often found in certain professions, such as military pilots, when attention is focused on one goal.

Diagnostics scattered attention span

Diagnosis of attention deficit disorder is made by observing the patient if certain symptoms are observed for 6 months. Subsequently, the patient may be asked to undergo some tests.

In children, the syndrome is diagnosed through:

• collecting data from parents
• collecting data from a place of study or kindergarten
• examination of the child by a specialist for any abnormalities
• full diagnostics.

In adults, the syndrome is diagnosed through the patient's general indications regarding disturbing symptoms and a full diagnosis. It should be noted that adult patients neglect symptoms and do not seek help from specialists, which is not recommended for people with absent-mindedness due to possible negative consequences.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics are carried out to determine the exact etiology, since the cause of the manifestation may be depression, epilepsy, head injuries, ADHD (in children) and other pathologies.

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Treatment scattered attention span

Treatment is determined by a specialist based on specific symptoms and characteristics. The main type of treatment is psychological correction. Unauthorized use of any means is strictly prohibited.

Treatment of absentmindedness with medication involves the use of medications such as:

• psychostimulants

Prescribed only for moderate or severe stages of the disease.

One of the drugs that a specialist can prescribe is Adderall. It is mainly used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It belongs to the pharmacological group of amphetamine psychostimulants. The drug is usually washed down with a glass of water and prescribed for use in the first half of the day, but the exact dosage is determined by a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to deviate from the prescribed dose, since side effects include addiction, allergic reactions, anxiety, headache, intestinal disorders, and insomnia. It is strictly forbidden to take Adderall for atherosclerosis, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, glaucoma, drug or alcohol addiction.

• non-stimulants

In case of absent-mindedness caused by ADHD, the sympathomimetic drug of central action Strattera is often prescribed. This medication can be prescribed to patients of all age groups over 6 years old. Contraindications are heart defects, glaucoma, hypersensitivity to the components. Side effects include disorders of the digestive, central nervous, urinary and cardiovascular systems, deterioration of vision and skin. The drug is prescribed to be taken once a day or 2 times, subject to dividing the daily dose in half. It is recommended to take doses from 80 to 120 (maximum) milligrams.

• antidepressants

These medications help in cases where the cause of distracted attention is related to depression. It should be noted that antidepressants are not as effective in improving concentration, but in case of depression or anxiety disorder they can eliminate the cause directly.

Thus, a drug that is relatively easy for the body to perceive is Fluoxetine. The drug is taken in a course of 3-4 weeks, 1 capsule once a day, preferably in the morning. Fluoxetine is prohibited during pregnancy and lactation, renal or hepatic insufficiency, and suicidal tendencies. This drug is prescribed with extreme caution in epilepsy, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. Maprotiline can also be noted. The drug is taken 3 times a day, 50 milligrams. It is prohibited to use the drug in case of glaucoma, kidney and liver pathologies, and prostate adenoma. Side effects in the form of allergies, tachycardia, intestinal disorders, and vision problems are possible.

An effective drug is Encephabol. This drug is related to drugs that normalize metabolic processes in brain tissue. Encephabol in tablets is prescribed 2 tablets 3 times a day. The drug should be washed down with water. Contraindications are pregnancy and lactation, intolerance to pyritinol and fructose.

Additionally, vitamins are prescribed in the form of multivitamin complexes and physiotherapy treatment.

Herbal treatment can be used as an adjuvant therapy. Thus, lemon balm, betony, hawthorn, and northern rhinoceros are considered the most effective. Traditional treatment is also used:

1. Dried rowan root is infused for 4-6 hours in boiling water based on the proportion of 1 tbsp. of root per 200 ml of water. Take the infusion, evenly distributing the above dose for use during the day, half an hour after each meal. The course of treatment is 1 month.
2. Pine buds are infused in boiling water based on the proportion of 1 tbsp. of root per 200 ml of water. Take an equal amount of infusion during the day after meals. Contraindications are kidney pathologies.
3. Evenly mixed fresh carrot and beetroot juices are consumed 3 times a day after meals.
4. It is believed that inhaling the aromas of essential oils of rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, and basil helps.

When turning to homeopathy, it is recommended to pay attention to the following drugs:

• Calcarea phosphorica (most often prescribed are 3, 6 and 12 dilutions)
• Chamomilla (minimum 6 dilutions)
• Sulfur (doses are prescribed by a specialist, often 6 or 30 dilutions)
• Medorrhinum (doses are prescribed by a specialist, most often in combination with other drugs)

Contraindications include hypersensitivity to drugs.

Complications and consequences

If attention deficit disorder is not diagnosed in a child in a timely manner, the syndrome may accompany the patient into adolescence and adulthood.

A teenager's distracted attention leads to such negative consequences as:

• learning disabilities;
• personal insolvency;
• bad behavior in the place of study;
• subsequent lack of achievement

This syndrome in adults can provoke such negative consequences as:

• unpunctuality, constant absent-mindedness and forgetfulness;
• frequent anxiety;
• low self-esteem;
• communication problems;
• impulsiveness, uncontrolled anger, mood swings;
• procrastination;
• low level of stress resistance;
• inability to organize affairs;
• problems concentrating while reading;
• boredom;
• development of depression;
• asociality, isolation;
• low social status;
• bad habits (abuse of nicotine, alcohol);
• frequent change of sexual partners;
• scattered memory and attention.

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Prevention

To prevent distracted attention in a child with ADHD, the expectant mother should give up nicotine during pregnancy, which doubles the risk of developing the syndrome.

To prevent the symptom in general, you should follow a daily routine, avoid overwork and lack of sleep, and lead an active lifestyle.

Forecast

Distracted attention in children suffering from ADHD is excluded in the future in 30% of cases, since with age this percentage of children outgrow this syndrome. In many children, ADHD is transformed into a persistent chronic syndrome with concomitant distracted attention.

If this condition is diagnosed in adults in a timely manner, absentmindedness can be eliminated by treating the cause of its occurrence.

Distracted attention in children suffering from ADHD is excluded in the future in 30% of cases, since with age this percentage of children outgrow this syndrome. In many children, ADHD is transformed into a persistent chronic syndrome with concomitant distracted attention.

If this condition is diagnosed in adults in a timely manner, absentmindedness can be eliminated by treating the cause of its occurrence.