Other names: indifference

Apathy can be defined as the complete lack of emotion and motivation.

It occurs in many diseases. For small children it is even a sign of the entire range of diseases – from the syndrome of intracranial hypertension further meningeal syndrome, internal bleeding with injuries, infectious diseases and the like. Therefore, should any apathy parents in their children very well ignore it. Infant within apathy can withstand suck breast milk is like. Sometimes very loud and lively child comes home listless, eg. Falling from a tree with consequent injury to abdominal organs and bleeding. Such examples we found many. Generally, parents should take note of their child’s behavior and look for possible causes of the changes.

In adolescents and adults with apathy manifested depression or depressive episodes. Apathy and narrowing subjective space we find in people with severe depression, who may try to commit suicide like. Depression is also reflected as a loss of hobbies and interests, which man formerly with great verve devoted manifested disinterest in the surroundings, appearing inability to experience joy – anhedonia. Within the depression also appear sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders and the like.

Apathy can also be a symptom of intracranial expansive process, which belong tumors, haematomas, large aneurysms, cysts and the like. Generally, the brain tumor is reflected more symptomatic – headache (mainly in the morning), vomiting, paralysis of limbs, seizures like. apathy is not an important representative of the psychological changes, for example, in addition to a slight forgetfulness like.

A very common cause of apathy is a lesion in the frontal lobe – whether a tumor or such. Bleeding in this area. A so called. Prefrontal syndrome: a man is afflicted with a variety of psychological symptoms, this file was previously known as organic brain syndrome. This is a slowdown in mental activity – the so-called. Bradypsychismus, apathy, abulia – loss of will etc.

Apathy as a psychological symptom is not always evident. Changes must notice mostly around the patient, listless man on your apathy does not think, and certainly it does not visit a doctor. Apathy is often caused by work effort, within the framework of burnout, frustration in his personal life, the loss of a loved one, etc.

If it is only a temporary change in the patient’s behavior may not be a pathological situation. When apathy takes longer, it is very noticeable in relation to the previous behavior, it is advisable to visit a psychologist or practitioner. It is important to realize that some form of apathy experience at least once in their lives everyone.