The concept of oligophrenia, the main causes and factors of its occurrence. The degree of development of the disease, directions of therapy and prevention of this disease. The disease of oligophrenia is a broad concept that unites all the symptoms of congenital or early acquired mental deficiency. In fact, it includes all forms of mental retardation, in which the development of personality stops at some level. Oligophrenia is manifested by intellectual, emotional and volitional changes, as well as motor and speech disorders.
Description and mechanism of development of oligophrenia in humans
Oligophrenia is a pathology that is manifested by a delay in intellectual development in the early stages. Unlike acquired age-related dementia, which gradually reduces the mnestic functions of the human brain, in this disease they do not even develop.
Oligophrenia is not a progressive disease that progresses. Rather, these are already existing changes in the brain due to some reasons, diseases or other developmental features. That is, the deterioration of the condition should not be expected. Usually, this level of psychomotor development remains for life.
In the international classification of diseases of the 10th revision, oligophrenia is presented under the codes of diagnoses from F70 to F79. Depending on the depth of the process and the degree of intellectual development of a person, diagnoses can have different codes.
Because diagnostic tests can differ from one another, statistics on epidemiology are difficult to establish. Society also plays a role, which significantly affects people with mental retardation. According to general data, about 1% of people on the planet suffer from mental retardation. Most of them are mild and adapt well to social life. As for the gender characteristics of the epidemiology of oligophrenia, men get sick 1.5-2 times more often than women.
The skills of a person with mental retardation, the degree of his adaptation to the conditions of the external world, socialization and the way to contact other people depend on the specific depth of the process. Based on the severity of this disease, patients can do what they love, cope with routine duties, live a full life, or they may need constant supervision and care.
The main causes of oligophrenia
Oligophrenia is not an independent disease, which has its own etiology, pathogenesis and clinic. Rather, it is a pathological condition characterized by a decrease in mnestic functions, intelligence and emotional-volitional reactions. Therefore, the causes of oligophrenia can be completely different. In some cases, several factors act simultaneously.
The main causes of oligophrenia:
- Chromosome pathology … If a child's karyotype does not correspond to the usual male or female, some areas, whole chromosomes are absent or, conversely, there are excess ones, this entails the development of genetic syndromes. Most often they are manifested precisely by oligophrenia. The most common diseases are Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome.
- Genetic enzymopathies … The synthesis of essential substances in the body is encoded with the help of genes. If a mutation occurs at this level, then a metabolic disease develops, which manifests itself in various symptoms, including oligophrenia. Most often this is the pathology of the synthesis of amino acids, special enzymes, which are very important for the normal functioning of the body. In the case of their absence or insufficient number, various pathological processes occur.
- Perinatal pathology … An important role is played by the course of pregnancy, the presence of toxicosis and other complications. Pathology of the placenta, premature or too rapid labor, fetal asphyxia, birth trauma, other features of the course of labor and the early neonatal period can cause oligophrenia in a child.
- Injury or congenital somatic diseases … If a child suffers a head injury at an early age, is born with hydrocephalus or other defects, the chances that he will develop mental retardation increase.
- Infections … All diseases that the mother suffered during pregnancy play an important role. Naturally, rubella is one of the most dangerous. In addition to delays in mental development, it also causes a host of other somatic pathologies. Also, oligophrenia can develop in children who have suffered toxoplasmosis, syphilis and many other viral diseases.
- Bad habits … If the mother of the child during pregnancy uses alcohol, drugs or smokes, the chance of developing mental retardation in the child increases significantly.
- Lack of nutrients … During pregnancy, the mother's body needs much more vitamins, minerals and trace elements, which are necessary for the proper development of the baby. Rest is also required, since the fetus is a great strain on both the heart and other systems. If the mother does not adhere to the correct daily routine, lacks sleep or is malnourished, most likely the child will not receive the nutrients he needs and various vices may form, which entail oligophrenia.
Signs of oligophrenia in humans
Usually oligophrenia is detected in childhood, since it is then that some features begin to appear that distinguish the child from peers. Symptoms do not progress and mental development remains the same regardless of physical development. That is, outwardly, the child grows, changes, but his psyche remains at the level of those years that correspond to a specific degree of mental retardation. As a standard, it is determined by the level of intelligence.
The main symptoms of the disease, which may indicate the presence of this pathology in a child:
- Absent-mindedness … The child is inattentive and incapable of being interested in anything for a long time. It is difficult for him to remember any information and recreate after a while.
- Restlessness … It is difficult to follow the daily routine and follow certain instructions of the parents. The child is constantly in motion, despite the prohibitions, and does not respond to comments.
- Lack of empathy … It is common for these children to not feel certain feelings of solidarity about an event. They cannot form their attitude to this or that situation. In most cases, they behave tactlessly and uncivilized, despite the correct upbringing. Rarely consider the feelings of others, establish relationships of trust, or make friends.
- Analysis … The child is not able to analyze any things, to make logical conclusions. The operations of generalization and sorting of any objects or events cause particular difficulties. Such children cannot draw conclusions from situations, they are difficult to study.
- Adaptation … It is difficult to get used to the new environment, the people around. A change of scenery often causes in children such a symptom of mental retardation as aggressive behavior and other protest reactions. They are difficult to fit into the team, for example, in kindergarten or on the playground. Contact with people creates certain difficulties.
- Stigma … Almost all congenital pathologies that cause mental retardation can be reflected in specific morphological features of the body structure. That is, a child who suffers from mental retardation looks a little different than other children. And this is noticeable from the earliest years. Most often this is an irregular structure of the skull, disproportion in body construction. Such children are lagging behind in growth and sexual development. Many genetic diseases are accompanied by the development of certain defects in the structure of the child's body, so their presence may indicate a possible oligophrenia. The cleft lip is the most common. The formation of a single transverse fold is characteristic of the palms, the little finger is shortened and turned slightly inward. Some features are also important: a flattened face and nose, slanted and wide-set eyes.
Varieties and forms of oligophrenia
There are many different classifications of oligophrenia, but most of them are currently not used or not relevant. Many experts are inclined to graduate the stages of manifestation of this condition, depending on the results of specific psychological tests.
Today the Intelligent IQ is used. Depending on the test result, a person determines his level and thus a form of oligophrenia is exhibited - mild, moderate, severe or deep.
IQ indicator and corresponding ICD degrees:
- Mild degree … Exhibited at an intellectual development index of 50 to 70 points.
- Moderate degree … With an IQ of 35 to 50 points on the corresponding scale of intelligence.
- Severe degree … Determined by an indicator from 20 to 35 points.
- Deep degree of mental retardation … At the same time, IQ does not even reach 20 points.
This gradation helps to standardize all statistical data and determine specific epidemiological indicators of the prevalence of oligophrenia. So, in 85% of all cases, a mild degree is exhibited. The remaining 15% are divided between moderate, severe and profound.
A more common variant of the classification of this pathology is the traditional one. The main forms of oligophrenia:
- Moronity … It is the mildest and most common form of the disease. Children with such mental retardation most often go to school with others. They noticeably lag behind in exact subjects, mathematics is especially difficult. But with an effort, the child can master the program. Disorders in the cognitive sphere are also observed, it is difficult for such children to analyze, generalize any phenomena, objects, build logical chains. They have significantly limited abstract understanding. Objective-specific thinking without understanding the integrity of the situation. Quite rarely, they have their own point of view and are inclined to adopt it from others, thereby quickly succumbing to suggestion, trusting. Memorization of their duties and skills occurs in the form of templates that are executed without understanding.
- Imbecility … People with this type of mental retardation experience significant difficulties in the formation of individual concepts, it is difficult for them to ponder and find specific ways out of situations. At this level, it is no longer possible to analyze, think abstractly, generalize anything. In fact, the ability to develop elementary self-service skills is still preserved. They can perform simple mechanical work, which includes a stereotyped repetition of a set of movements. They understand the speech of others, but do not analyze it. They themselves may also have a minimal set of words that allows them to satisfy their desires and needs. Depending on their personal characteristics, people with imbecility can be apathetic, inactive and calm, or they can behave aggressively and dissolutely. Emotional reactions are limited to rancor, shame. They react sharply to praise and punishment.
- Idiocy … The most severe form of mental retardation, which requires constant supervision and care. Such people are not able to serve themselves, to satisfy their physiological needs. They are characterized by learning disabilities, awkwardness in movements and lack of purposeful reactions. People with this type of mental retardation most often cannot talk. They give out certain sounds with which they try to explain their condition. Emotional responses reveal only satisfaction or dissatisfaction. In most cases, idiocy is associated with serious disorders of the structure of the brain and is combined with other somatic pathologies, therefore, such people are often seriously ill.
Features of the treatment of oligophrenia in humans
Unfortunately, mental retardation cannot be treated, and it is impossible for people with such a diagnosis to recover completely. They practice a variety of correction methods, they are trained in special institutions and are maximally adapted to an independent life. True, in severe forms of mental retardation, constant supervision and help from other people, even in self-care, are necessary. That is why at the moment the range of means of combating this disease is quite narrow, and it is not known exactly how to treat oligophrenia effectively.
Symptomatic therapy
Basically, they use those tools that correct the general behavior and condition of a person. They belong to different groups depending on the symptoms:
- Anticonvulsants … In the presence of structural changes in the cerebral cortex, which, in fact, caused oligophrenia, convulsions are often observed. These are localized or generalized twitching of certain muscle groups, which are provoked by irritation of certain areas of the brain. In order to get rid of such symptoms, anticonvulsant drugs are prescribed.
- Corrective therapy … Often, along with a delay in the mental functions of a person, various defects of the heart and other organs are observed. They can cause significant changes in health, therefore, these features should be taken into account. For example, defects in the septa of the heart or valves affect the overall hemodynamics, therefore, it would be advisable to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
- Psychostimulants … This is not to say that it is possible to achieve a significant effect when using drugs of this series, but it is always useful to improve cerebral blood flow and the state of neurons. It is known that nootropics are drugs that affect human cognitive functions, improve memory and intelligence. That is why they are prescribed almost always for any symptoms of dysfunction of the brain.
- Antipsychotics … The use of drugs of this spectrum is due to the need to correct the behavior of some people with oligophrenia. Due to the simplification of reactions and judgments, they can be aggressive and even harm themselves and others. If this symptomatology is present, the appointment of antipsychotics will be advisable. Treatment of oligophrenia with potent psychotropic drugs should be under the strict supervision of a psychiatrist.
Psychotherapeutic assistance
At the moment, a lot of different programs have been developed for the development of the cognitive spectrum of mental activity. They are built on simple mechanisms of inheritance, imitation, which can be mastered by a person with a low IQ.
These programs are successfully used in specialized institutions to help people with mental retardation. In addition to the usual disciplines that are provided for in the school curriculum for compulsory study, children with mental retardation are taught lessons in verbal and non-verbal communication. They are taught to distinguish the emotional states of people, to react correctly. They also explain practical patterns of behavior that are necessary in everyday communication with others.
The most important part of any psychotherapeutic program is socialization - adaptation to the established norms of behavior and life of the outside world. A person is taught to interact correctly with other people so that in the future it will not be difficult.
In most specialized institutions that deal with such patients, special courses are held for people with mild or moderate mental retardation that teach simple professions. With the help of programs compiled on detailed examples, a person is explained his task, skills are consolidated on the subconscious. After that, he can quite independently find a job that matches his professional qualities.
Rules for the prevention of oligophrenia
This disease can be avoided even at the level of the mother's pregnancy. Since most of the causative factors are hereditary, a mandatory examination of the karyotype will show the possible risks of such diseases in children.
In addition, a pregnant woman should follow several mandatory rules that will ensure the normal development of the fetus and prevent oligophrenia in the baby in the future:
- Accounting … Seeing a gynecologist before the 12th week of pregnancy.
- Survey … Timely examination in each trimester, according to the plan.
- Bad habits … Quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs.
- Correct daily routine … Adequate sleep, avoidance of overwork and prolonged stress, both mental and physical.
- Nutrition … A balanced complex nutrition will provide the body with the necessary set of microelements, vitamins and energy reserves for mother and child.
- Childbirth … Qualified individual selection of the method of delivery. Assessing the risk of fetal injury and choosing between vaginal delivery and caesarean section.
How to treat oligophrenia - watch the video:
Oligophrenia is an urgent problem of our time, since most people with such a diagnosis experience difficulties in socialization and constantly need the help of outsiders. Timely diagnosis and appropriate training in childhood will help a person adapt to society. That is why, in case of detection of the first symptoms, it is necessary to seek help from a doctor.
