Vagrancy syndrome

What is meant by a term such as vagrancy syndrome? This is a kind of mental malfunction, which manifests itself as an irresistible urge to run away from home. In the vast majority of such cases, people are not puzzled by the planning of their movement or residence, and also does not realize what such a "free" journey can end. In other words, vagrancy syndrome is a psychiatric pathology, the main feature of which is a sudden, unjustified departure from relatives and friends "to nowhere."

Causes of the vagrancy syndrome

Most often, the first signs of Vagrancy Syndrome are manifested in childhood. The reasons can be very different. Basically, this is an excessive impressionability of the child, an "explosive" character, or hereditary or acquired mental illness.

The first departure from home is often due to misunderstandings from adults, because of conflicts, stress, unrealized opportunities, as well as any factors that to some extent oppress a small person.

Also, one can not exclude the possibility of developing pathology as a result of head injuries, or as an initial sign of serious mental illness: schizophrenia, hysteria,

However, cases of the so-called "false" vagrancy syndrome are also frequent, when a person flies out of the house in search of new emotions, because of routine routine or boredom.

The tendency to develop the syndrome has people who tend to indulge in fantasies, "fall into childhood", or shy away from daily chores at home.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Symptoms of the vagrancy syndrome

Far from always a person's love of travel can mean a vagrancy syndrome. About the disease you have to speak if there are the following symptoms:

• a person leaves the house suddenly, without any preparations, without the knowledge of relatives, sometimes at night;
• in a patient who suffers from vagrancy syndrome, a sense of responsibility is extremely minimized: he warns no one about anything, can easily leave his loved ones and even small children, quit his job, etc .;
• the person suffering from the syndrome acts unplanned: he can leave without taking care of his means of subsistence, in his home clothes, without thinking about the future;
• being on the street, the patient easily resorts to begging, vagrancy and even stealing;
• the patient himself explains his departure with an incomprehensible sense of anxiety and inner anxiety, which causes them to change their situation drastically;
• diagnostic studies determine enhanced brain activity in the temporal areas of the patient, which is a characteristic sign of changes in brain functions.

The syndrome of vagrancy in adults

The emergence of vagrancy syndrome in adults does not always have origins from childhood. In an adult, a sudden desire to leave can arise in such situations:

• as a result of stress;
• due to the emotional "press" on the part of the household;
• after nervous exhaustion or chronic fatigue.

The reason for leaving usually is:

• incomprehension of relatives, tense situation in the family;
• prohibitive requirements;
• excessive mental and physical stress associated with work;
• excessive touchiness;
• dreaminess, dreams unfulfilled in their youth.

If you do not intervene in time and help the sick person in time, then in the future he will leave the house in case of any trouble or even a contrived problem.

Vagrancy syndrome in children

Experts have identified a number of psychological factors that have a direct impact on the child's regular trips from home. The most common age range for such "absences" is 7-15 years, and sex is predominantly boys.

What is the cause of the onset of vagrancy syndrome in a child?

• The desire to learn something new, fatigue from everyday life, loss of interest in the old situation.
• Search adventures (usually, this reason is inspired by watching movies).
• Ill-treatment of elders, ignoring of children's interests, etc.

The child can leave for a short time (for example, for half a day), or for several days. Sometimes the kid "grows" with the age, and his behavior is normalized. But often the desire to change the situation remains forever: after growing up, the "traveler" often goes on a journey and hikes, chooses the kind of activity associated with frequent and long trips.

The vagrancy syndrome in adolescents already has more valid reasons for vagrancy:

• insufficient control by parents;
• search for additional entertainment and fun sources;
• "A sign of protest" in response to the demands of the parents;
• fear of punishment for anything.

According to studies conducted, for teenagers prone to vagrancy, there is no authority - neither in the person of relatives, nor teachers. Sometimes this may be a consequence of the so-called "difficult nature", sometimes it is a gap in upbringing, but often this behavior is associated with mental illnesses that occur against a background of shallow mental retardation. The syndrome can be characterized by autism, limitation, closeness, productive disorders (uncaused fear, suspiciousness, distorted perception, unstable mood).

Complications and consequences

After 14-15 years of age, the signs of vagrancy syndrome can gradually come to naught: the prognosis of childhood recovery is positive in more than 80% of cases. In a nasty situation, as care is repeated, or even more frequent, there are sometimes signs of antisocial behavior. This is due to the need to eat, to support oneself, and is begging, petty thefts, etc. Over time, such violations can become more serious: the influence of the antisocial environment is already affecting. There are often hooligan antics, sexual harassment, frequent use of alcohol or drugs, etc.

The more often a person succumbs to the syndrome and leaves home, the more likely it is that negative personality traits, such as lies, primitivism, a tendency to disorder and an idle lifestyle, will become attached to him.

It should not be forgotten that vagrancy syndrome can be the beginning of a neuropsychic disorder, so often complications of this condition are persistent mental deviations. That is why constant care should be an occasion for consultation of a psychiatrist.

[5], [6], [7],

Diagnostics of the vagrancy syndrome

The initial stage of diagnosis is a conversation with a psychiatrist, which determines the main signs of the disease and the cause of the pathology. The work of a psychiatrist is directly related to the correct perception of the patient's condition, because it is very important to determine the line between the actual disease and the usual craving for adventure and travel. After determining the symptoms, the doctor summarizes them in the syndrome, establishing interdependence. If necessary, connect instrumental studies: in this case, there is an increased cerebral activity in the temporal lobes.

Based on the performed manipulations, the physician builds a scheme and tactics for further treatment.

[8], [9], [10], [11],

Differential diagnosis

Diagnostic differential criteria are:

• information collected during the interview of the patient and his environment;
• age of the patient and the time of the first manifestations of pathology;
• the rate of progression of symptoms (dynamics);
• presence of light gaps;
• research data (laboratory and somatoneurological);
• the patient's opinion about his illness.

[12], [13]

Treatment of the vagrancy syndrome

In most patients, especially children and adolescents, the manifestations of the syndrome subsided independently as the psyche strengthens. The main task of parents is not to panic, because inept and hasty actions can significantly exacerbate the situation. The child grows up, an independent life experience comes to him, and the previous unreasonable aspirations are gradually minimized. Of course, this does not mean that you can safely wait until the baby grows up, and do not pay attention to his departure from home. Consultation of a competent specialist in psychology and psychotherapy is the best solution.

If the pathology of vagrancy syndrome is proved in a diagnostic manner, the physician will prescribe a psychotherapy, the direction of which depends on the true causes of the disease. The main stages of treatment can be called:

• elimination of provoking cause;
• increased self-esteem and consciousness;
• stimulation of the sense of social responsibility of the patient.

Medications or physical procedures are prescribed by the doctor on individual indications.

Prevention

According to statistics, children with vagrancy syndrome often have social or domestic problems. So, in families of such children there can be following features:

• parents in divorce, or lack of parents;
• frequent scandals and quarrels;
• insufficient welfare, poverty;
• alcoholism of family members, antisocial behavior.

Of course, the family is primarily responsible for the upbringing of the child. Parents should be for the kid and a teacher, and educator, and a friend.

If the child will feel love, understanding and care on the part of the elders, then he will never try to leave the house.

The school also plays an important role in the social education of a person. It is in school that a system of relationships is established, social adaptation of the individual. Therefore, it is extremely important that all conditions for the normal development of the schoolchild are created in educational institutions, and also his rights are respected.

Often the vagrancy syndrome is a consequence of loneliness, misunderstanding, or a person's desire to express himself in this way. Therefore, there can often be enough ordinary human attention and participation to prevent the development of pathology.

[14], [15], [16],