He Syndrome Is a set of symptoms - communication problems, communicative, cognitive and behavioral deficits, changes in sleep patterns - that arise from alterations in the brain of executive functions.
The severity of the dysfunctions varies greatly depending on the etiology of the problem and the individual characteristics, such as their previous personality, their experiences and intellectual or cultural level.
Executive functions allow us to manage the problems and tasks that must be done, including understanding and evaluating both the situation and our strengths and weaknesses, planning the actions to be performed and maintaining the attention to perform them, and finally evaluating everything The procedure for changing patterns of behavior that have not worked.
Executive functions may deteriorate or be lost if the brain is damaged as a result of neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, or after Repeated exposure to toxic substances , Such as drugs, chemicals or heavy metals.
Symptoms of Dysfunctional Syndrome
The symptoms of the disejective syndrome include communication problems, cognitive deficits (especially in memory and executive functions), behavioral changes (egocentric, irritable, compulsive and / or obsessive behavior) and changes in sleep patterns.
Communication problems
Maintaining a conversation with a person with an implant syndrome is often complicated by Cognitive deficits And behavioral problems. Patients talk about their own interests without regard for others and often respond rudely or hurtfully regardless of what the other person may feel.
Therefore, the people around them begin to avoid them and become isolated. Family members and caregivers should be very patient and never think that they want to do it or put it on. You have to keep in mind that you can not avoid it and you really are not aware that someone can offend you with your comments.
The right thing would be to correct their behavior, but not get angry or take it personally, always to help them and improve the situation.
Cognitive deficits
- Memory Problems
When the disejecutive syndrome occurs as a consequence of a neurodegenerative disease, it often causes Deficits in patient memory .
These deficits are very slight at the beginning and the person identifies them as lapsus, but there comes a time when he realizes that he has too many.
Sometimes they do not remember where they put things and distrust others because they believe they have been stolen, this causes disputes and further deteriorates their relationship with others.
As the disease progresses, memory problems are getting worse, especially those related to recent events, creating confusion in the person and, finally, making him not even aware that he has a disease.
- Executive functions
Executive functions are the most affected in this syndrome. The person is unable to effectively assess the situation and their abilities to manage it correctly. This causes serious problems in performing daily tasks such as going shopping, cooking or taking public transport.
In addition, they are unmotivated and seem to have lost interest in any kind of activity that they would like, as a hobby.
Behavioral changes
Executive dysfunction makes people unable to control their behavior by having aggressive behaviors, Egocentric And impulsive.
It is normal for them to react aggressively to any stimulus that has seemed to them to be aversive, even though no intention has been made to provoke or harm it. An example may be that when you pass the ball, you do not catch it and hit you in the body.
They often do what they like at any moment, without thinking if that behavior can harm someone or if it is appropriate in that situation, such as getting up and talking loud in the middle of a play.
They also tend to have obsessions and impulses, which can be complex or simple. If the syndrome is caused by a neurodegenerative disease, they usually start out as complex as wanting to eat the same every day or walking for hours, but gradually they become simpler and may end up being automatisms, such as repeatedly moving the arms.
These behavioral problems are aggravated as memory deficits increase, as they irritate them not to recognize their caregivers and family members. They may feel violent if they try to wash or undress. Something totally understandable, since you imagine that someone you do not know tries to undress you, would not be very funny, right?
Changes in sleep patterns
People who suffer from a disejective syndrome, as a consequence of a neurodegenerative or psychiatric disease, usually present Changes in sleep patterns Characterized by daytime drowsiness and Night insomnia .
It is usual for patients to get up at night and start wandering around the house without a steady course. They even dress and try to leave the house, so it is very important to lock the door well and do not leave handles to avoid getting lost in the street.
It is also very common to wake up in the middle of the night believing that it is time to get up and try to start the day at 3 or 4 in the morning, having breakfast, calling, etc.
References
- Aged Services, Royal Hobart Hospital. (S.f.). Dysexecutive Syndrome. Dealing with day-to-day decision making. Information for Patients and Carers. Retrieved June 6, 2016, from Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmanian GovermentHanna-Pladdy, B. (2007). Dysexecutive syndromes in neurologic disease. J Neurol Phys Ther., 31 (3), 119-27.