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Query: UMLS:C0023380 (lethargy)
 5,697 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

While there is still much to be learned about depression in the context of HIV illness, studies over the past decade are generally reassuring. True, low-grade depressive symptoms are frequent among both HIV-positive and at-risk HIV-negative adults, but depressive disorders are the exception and not the rule, occurring in about 1 of 10 individuals. Similar to non-HIV populations, these depressive disorders are more likely to occur among those HIV-infected adults with severe personality problems, with a history of previous depressions, and with limited current social support. Although rates of depression may slightly increase with development of more severe physical symptoms, even then the clinician should not consider the presence of a depressive disorder as understandable, justified, and therefore "normal." Rather, depressive symptoms accompanied by suicidal ideation are signals for further evaluation and treatment. When antidepressant treatment is indicated, the weight of current evidence suggests that standard therapies can be safely and effectively prescribed for HIV-infected adults. For outpatients without severe physical illness, antidepressant medications are generally well tolerated in recommended dosages and do not increase immunosuppression. For those with more severe physical impairment, the adage for geriatric populations is applicable: "Start low and go slow." If lethargy and cognitive slowing is a major component of the depression, especially among those in later stages of disease, then psychostimulants may be helpful. When concerns about drug abuse preclude such a prescription, an activating antidepressant may be just as helpful to improve both mood and energy. For severe or refractory depressions, such as delusional affective disorders. ECT has been safely given to HIV-infected patients. And finally, accumulated clinical experience and a couple of systematic studies suggest that psychotherapy, alone or in combination with antidepressant drug therapy, can be remarkably beneficial. In sum, data support the fact that we have much to offer our depressed HIV-infected patients. Our task is to make sure that we identify their depressions when present and counter their feelings of hopelessness by ensuring that effective antidepressant treatments are provided.
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PMID:HIV-related depression. 811 15

Intravenous infusion of physostigmine (a centrally active anticholinesterase agent) in normal subjects leads to a syndrome of psychomotor inhibition; this has been proposed as a model for selected symptoms of depression. In view of its similarity to the negative schizophrenic syndrome, we compared the 'physostigmine syndrome' to the negative symptom profile by evaluating the behavioral effects of intravenous physostigmine infusion in seven normal volunteers. Observer ratings and self description revealed significant withdrawal, apathy, alogia, lethargy, decreased energy, slowed thoughts, diminished affective responsivity, and reduced hedonic capacity. Subjects did not report sadness, ideas of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt. These findings support the implication of cholinergic hyperactivity as one mechanism in the pathophysiology of negative schizophrenic symptoms.
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PMID:Cholinergic hyperactivity and negative symptoms: behavioral effects of physostigmine in normal controls. 846 Dec 67

Menstruation is a biological phenomenon that has been subject of myths and taboos within and among various cultures. These myths distort the reality surrounding menstruation and create ambivalent feelings about the value and usefulness of this function outside of its necessity as mean of reproduction. Thus studies concerning menstruation need to take into account cultural and psychosocial factors that define the meaning, values and behavior associated with this biological phenomenon. According to several studies, 70% of women experience psychological faintness during this menstrual phase, 40% of them have these symptoms at each menstruation and between 3 to 8% of them suffer severely reacquiring medical support. This entity called premenstrual dysphoric disorder is defined by the presence of several symptoms (distress, tension, irritability, moodiness.) with a significant impairment in work or social functioning beginning during the week before and ending within a few days after the onset of menses. Several studies conducted over the past few years suggested that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotoninergic tricyclic drugs may be more effective than other types of antidepressants in treating PMS symptoms. Two protocols are proposed; a continuous treatment or intermittent use during few days during pre-menstrual and menstrual phase for several cycles. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of a potential premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during one menstrual cycle, in a representative sample of general population of Casablanca, according the DSM IV criteria. On the other hand, a questionnaire, available from the authors, was used to explore socio-demographic data. Among 618 women interviewed, 310 met the criteria of a potential PMDD (50.2%). The mean age of the population with PMDD was 32.2 8 years ranging from 20 to 50 years; 54.8% of them were married, 33.9% of them were single and 66.5% of them had between 1 to 4 children. Two third of them were without a professional activity. During this premenstrual phase the following symptoms were found among the whole sample: marked depressive mood, feeling of hopelessness, or self-depreciation thoughts (77.7%, n=241%); difficulty of concentration (65%, n=201); marked change in appetite, overeating or specific food craving (82.8%, n=256); marked affective lability, with sadness tearful and increased sensitivity to rejection (65.8%, n=204); hypersomnia or insomnia (59.7%, n=185); subjective sense of being overwhelmed or out of control (55.7%, n=172); lethargy, excessive fatigability (91.6%, n=283); physical symptoms including breast tenderness, swelling, headache, joint or muscular pain, and a sensation of bloating and weight gain (81.9%, n=253). The most severe symptoms were fatigue and irritability. On the other hand, 73.9% of the sample had a disturbance in their socio-professional lives as a consequence to the psychological disturbances. Half of these women consulted a physician, mostly a general practitioner. These data are in accordance with the literature, confirming that this disorder is common and has a bad impact on mental health and on quality of life of the women suffering from PMDD.
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PMID:[Assessment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms: population of women in Casablanca]. 1250 65

The patient was a 44-yr-old man with end-stage renal disease who had developed chorea as a result of hypoglycemic injury to the basal ganglia and thalamus and who was subsequently diagnosed with depression and restless legs syndrome (RLS). For proper management, the presence of a complex medical condition including two contrasting diseases, chorea and RLS, had to be considered. Tramadol improved the pain and dysesthetic restlessness in his feet and legs, and this was gradually followed by improvements in his depressed mood, insomnia, lethargy, and feelings of hopelessness. This case suggests that the dopaminergic system participates intricately with the opioid, serotoninergic, and noradrenergic systems in the pathophysiology of RLS and pain and indirectly of depression and insomnia.
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PMID:A case of a patient with both chorea and restless legs syndrome. 1858 95

This article describes the experience of a nurse directly responsible for the care of a patient with terminal stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma who refused all medical treatment. Tumor bleeding had caused loss of consciousness, which led to the family arranging ICU admission. While in the ICU, the patient was overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness regarding his disease and believed his family was not emotionally supportive. The patient was verbally non-responsive, angry and lethargic. He also refused to accept any medical care or treatment. The author collected data through observation, physical assessment, interviews and written communication between May 9th, 2007 and May 23rd, 2007. The author confirmed the diagnosis and found that the patient had some related mental health problems, including imbalanced nutrition (less than body requirements), chronic feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. The author established a positive relationship with the patient utilizing Watson's caring theory and case-establishment trust in the nursing process. The author provided disease-related information to the patient, worked as an intermediary to encourage greater family member support and encouragement, helped the patient interact with visitors and encouraged development of the patient's self-esteem. This experience can benefit nursing professionals by fostering a greater understanding of patient self-esteem and the benefits of a positive treatment environment.
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PMID:[Caring for a terminal patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the ICU who refuses treatment: a nurse's experience]. 1922 7