Who is an imbecile - signs of the disease and methods of treatment

Not many people know who an imbecile is. Moronism, imbecility and idiocy are three stages of mental retardation, mental retardation. Mental retardation manifests itself in childhood; the level of intelligence corresponding to a certain age is never achieved. In most cases, this is a consequence of genetic abnormalities; other causes of retardation:

• birth of a child prematurely;
• birth injuries;
• fetal intoxication;
• damage to the nervous system.

Description

With imbecility, children lag behind in physical development, deviations are noticeable externally.
There may be signs of physical malformations: disturbances in the formation of the head, underdevelopment of the limbs, fingers, defects of the face, ears, eyes, hypogenitalism, etc. There may also be neurological symptoms such as paralysis, paresis. Imbeciles understand those around them, they themselves can pronounce individual words and sometimes even short phrases. Speech consists only of verbs and nouns, is tongue-tied and grammatically incorrect. As a rule, speech consists of very short standard phrases, and the vocabulary is limited to several dozen words (sometimes up to 200-300 words). Thinking is concrete and primitive, but consistent, distractions are inaccessible, the stock of information is extremely narrow, there is a sharp underdevelopment of attention, memory, and will. Imbeciles can form ideas, but the formation of concepts, as a higher stage of mental activity, is inaccessible to them or is severely difficult. They have almost no imagination.

Those suffering from imbecility manage to instill basic self-care skills (dressing themselves, taking care of themselves, eating) and simple work skills, mainly through training in imitative actions. With mild and moderate degrees of imbecility, patients can study in a auxiliary school, but they can be taught little: basic counting (within a few units), writing individual words, reading simple texts.

The emotions of imbeciles are more differentiated than those of idiots, they are attached to their family, and react adequately to praise or blame. Imbeciles lack initiative, are inert, very suggestible, easily get lost when the situation changes, need constant supervision and care, and in an unfavorable environment, behavior can be asocial. The interests of imbeciles are extremely primitive and are limited mainly to the satisfaction of physiological needs.

Sexual desire in those suffering from imbecility is usually reduced, but sometimes there is a painfully increased sexual desire along with a lack of restraining moral restrictions.

Based on their behavior, there are two groups of imbeciles: sluggish and apathetic, indifferent to everything except satisfying natural needs (torpid) and lively, active, restless (erectile). By character they are also divided into two groups: maliciously aggressive, stubborn and sociable, good-natured, friendly, flexible.

Imbecile - signs

What an imbecile looks like - noticeable deviations in physical development are common in these people:

• deformation of the head, face;
• impaired development of limbs;
• paresis up to paralysis;
• hypogenitalism.

Signs of imbecility in behavior and mental development appear from early childhood. Such children have an extremely limited vocabulary, consisting mainly of verbs and nouns; form short, grammatically incorrect phrases. The thought processes of imbeciles are straightforward, there is no imagination, and the amount of information about the world around them is very limited.

To understand who an imbecile is, it should be borne in mind that they can be taught the initial level of writing, counting and reading and basic self-service skills. In behavior, those suffering from imbecility can be both aggressive and good-natured. According to their emotional state, patients are divided into two types:

• torpid - sluggish, indifferent to the surrounding reality;
• erectile - active, mobile.

Imbecility causes and symptoms

The causes of imbecility lie in hereditary factors (microcephaly, Down syndrome, intrauterine damage to the fetus, infectious diseases suffered by the mother, rubella, toxoplasmosis, syphilis), immunological incompatibility of the blood of the fetus and mother, various harmful effects on the fetus, and birth injuries.

In those suffering from imbecility, motor skills are poorly developed, movements are angular and uncoordinated. Small, precise, manual motor acts are inaccessible to them. Their gait is often stiff, awkward, and hunched over.

The face of imbeciles has no facial expression, it is frozen, dull, and the blinking of the eyes is very rare. Many patients have pronounced congenital stigmas (protruding ears, attached lobes, defective bite, rough structure of the facial skull, microcephalic or hydrocephalic skull). Those suffering from imbecility have focal neurological symptoms. It is difficult for such patients to master the skills of neatness, but they happily take on feasible work, are proud of their successes and express displeasure and anger if someone litters in the place they have cleaned. At the same time, patients exhibit poor switchability and extreme lack of independence.

Reasons for the formation of imbecility

The reasons that can provoke imbecility can be divided into several categories.

Intrauterine (prenatal):

1. infectious diseases of the mother (rubella, measles);
2. intoxication;
3. unbalanced and insufficient nutrition;
4. endocrine disorders;
5. radioactive exposure;
6. incompatibility of Rh blood groups between mother and fetus.

During childbirth (perinatal):

1. mechanical damage to the brain;
2. oxygen starvation;
3. bleeding in the brain (cephalohematoma).

After childbirth (postnatal):

1. infectious diseases of the child (meningitis, encephalitis);
2. brain injuries.

Mental retardation does not always develop in the presence of these factors. No less important is the time (period) when the negative impact occurred. And also, what kind of immunity and general condition did the pregnant woman and child have?

Scientists tend to believe that heredity does not have much influence on the appearance of signs of imbecility. For example, Down's disease is not transmitted to offspring, since its occurrence is caused by the nondisjunction of one of a pair of chromosomes during the formation of germ cells in the mother.

parental disorders such as phenylketonuria and Tay-Sachs disease can have an impact They are based on a metabolic disorder that can be inherited by the child.

There is an opinion that microcephaly can also be transmitted, but people with it, as a rule, do not have sexual intercourse.

Characteristics of imbecility

The intelligence quotient (IQ) is determined in imbeciles within the range of 20-50. The International Classification of Diseases distinguishes imbecility as pronounced, in which (IQ is 20-35), and moderately expressed, in which (IQ is 35-50).

Those suffering from imbecility understand speech addressed to them well and are able to pronounce short phrases, but their speech is poor and also has inaccuracies. The active dictionary consists of 200-300 words. Patients' thinking is sequential, concrete, primitive, distractions are inaccessible to them, and the supply of information is extremely narrow. Such people are characterized by a sharp underdevelopment of memory, attention, and will.

Characteristics of imbecility include the following signs: lack of initiative, inertia, suggestibility, loss in a new environment. For those suffering from imbecility, it is possible to instill the simplest work skills, teach counting, reading, and writing. Individuals are able to learn how to perform simple counting operations, as well as learn simple work skills and serve themselves independently. They are capable of rewinding threads, cleaning the yard or room, and performing one operation (for example, gluing boxes, washing dishes).

Emotions in patients are more varied than in idiots. They react adequately to reproach and praise and have a strong attachment to their family. Those suffering from imbecility are deprived of any initiative, are inert, suggestible, and easily get lost in a changed environment. Such people constantly need supervision and care, and an unfavorable environment can make imbeciles antisocial. Those suffering from imbecility do not have the ability to make generalizations or abstract thinking.

Stages of imbecility

After the diagnosis of imbecility is made, the patient’s IQ level and the corresponding stage of the disease are determined.

1. IQ 35-49, mental age 6-9 years correspond to the mild stage of imbecility. Physical abnormalities are present, but in mild forms, there is no imagination and abstract thinking, the patient can perform simple self-care activities.
2. IQ 20-34, mental age 3-6 years - characteristics of the severe stage. Patients are practically unable to care for themselves due to undeveloped fine motor skills; they have the vocabulary of a six-year-old child, but have difficulty putting words into sentences. Physical disorders accompanying imbecility are more pronounced and more severe.

Degrees of imbecility

With this disease, three degrees of imbecility are noted: severe, moderate, and mild. All of them are expressed in various levels of mental underdevelopment. Assimilation of new material is given to patients with great difficulty. This happens within the framework of specific ideas and without any generalization. Imbeciles are incapable of thinking independently. Adaptation to the world around them is carried out only in a familiar and familiar environment. A slight change in the situation leads the patient to difficult moments, and he constantly needs guidance.

Those suffering from imbecility are very suggestible. Their personal interests are very primitive and boil down mainly to the fulfillment of physiological needs. They often show gluttony and sloppiness in eating. Their sexual behavior is characterized by fluctuations with increased sexual desire and promiscuity.

According to its behavior, oligophrenia in the degree of imbecility is divided into two groups. The first includes living, active, mobile people, and the second includes lethargic and apathetic, indifferent people who do not react to anything. According to character traits, imbeciles are distinguished as friendly, good-natured, flexible, sociable and aggressive, malicious. Those suffering from imbecility cannot live independently; they need constant qualified supervision. To do this, they are sent to special schools and institutions such as occupational therapy workshops.

Mechanism of development of imbecility

So, imbecility occurs due to a violation of ontogenesis. What lies behind these words? Who is an imbecile really?

Ontogenesis is the process of development of an organism with its own stages and phasing, the gradual complication of the previous structure. This applies not only to the physical component, but also to mental functions. Those. A person, before growing up and becoming an individual, goes through early, preschool, school and puberty periods (up to 18 years). Before this age, the formation of basic skills and abilities occurs. Mental development has a huge connection with heredity, genetics, constitution, and not just with the influence of environmental conditions (family, upbringing, education, society). Thus, for each person, the formation of the nervous system occurs at an individual pace.

Dysontogenesis is a breakdown, problem, difficulty at one of the stages of development, both physical and mental. Mental underdevelopment includes variants of mental retardation. This mechanism is based on brain damage and disruption of brain activity at the earliest stages of development. More rare variants of the problem are dysfunctions of peripheral analyzers, such as vision and hearing, or fundamentally incorrect parenting.

Mental retardation is an example of total underdevelopment of the mental sphere with a pronounced defect in the intellectual component. This is a fairly broad, capacious and correct, from a medical point of view, concept.

Imbecility treatment

Treatment is focused on proper education, as well as guiding the actions of patients. Doctors prescribe nootropic drugs, antipsychotics, tranquilizers; Classes with a speech therapist or psychoneurologist are recommended, and home training is recommended.

The normal school environment is not suitable for such patients. Children may have speech defects (stuttering, lisp, tongue-tiedness), which require correction. It is possible to teach imbeciles to count, read, and write, but they cannot do complex arithmetic operations.

An antisocial environment has a bad effect on imbeciles; for this reason, patients pose a threat to society. With the development of pathological uncontrollable situations, patients are hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital.

Treatment of imbecility is conventionally divided into specific (causal) and symptomatic. Specific therapy is carried out for phenylketonuria, as well as other enzymopathies. Hypothyroidism is treated with compensatory hormonal therapy (Thyroidin); congenital syphilis, toxoplasmosis is treated with antibiotics, Arsenic preparations, Chloridine; Brain infections in children are treated with antibiotics and sulfa drugs.

The earlier it is started, the more effective treatment is. The importance of corrective therapeutic and pedagogical measures is great.

The prognosis directly depends on the depth of mental retardation. Primary prevention includes medical and genetic counseling. Such consultation is carried out on the territory of medical genetic institutions.

Symptomatic therapy uses drugs that stimulate brain metabolism, these include (Cerebrolysin, Nootropil, Aminalon); B vitamins; psychostimulants (Phenamine, Sidnocarb); dehydrating agents (Lasix, Magnesium Sulfate, Diacarb); drugs with absorbable effect (Potassium Iodide, Biyoquinol); biogenic stimulants. Convulsive syndrome is relieved by systematic use of antiepileptic drugs.

Treatment of mental retardation

Depending on the cause of mental retardation and age, the following will help in treatment :

1. pediatrician or therapist;
2. neurologist (what kind of doctor is this?);
3. speech pathologist;
4. orthopedist;
5. nutritionist;
6. psychotherapist.

If a child develops cretinism due to a malfunction of the thyroid gland, the specialist will prescribe hormone therapy. It also helps with Down syndrome.

For phenylketonuria, a strict diet is prescribed, excluding foods that contain phenylalanine.

There are studies that have documented the positive effect of glutamic acid on improving intellectual function due to its effect on brain metabolism.

Mental retardation is not associated with psychoses or neuroses (what is that?).

But people with imbecility can develop anxiety or aggressive behavior because they cannot perform simple everyday tasks that others can do.

Therefore, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is an important part of treatment and support for the client. In parallel with the sessions, the specialist may prescribe medications, usually from a number of antidepressants.

Education (training) is a separate part of the therapeutic program.

Depending on the disorders and their degree, the child develops :

1. movement coordination;
2. ability to take care of oneself;
3. distinguish external stimuli;
4. skills needed in everyday life;
5. correct speech articulation;
6. basic labor skills.

The training can take place in:

1. psychiatric institutions;
2. specialized schools;
3. at home.

Nature of the pathology

Disturbances in the higher functions of brain activity lead to pathologies in the development of the human personality. A distinctive feature of this congenital disease is the image of an “eternal child”. As a rule, imbeciles master only primitive life skills. Many of the children with this disease easily make contact with others and show different reactions when approached.

Problems associated with pathology of brain activity make it difficult to master complex sciences. This feature can be clearly seen in the example of mathematics. A person suffering from this disease is able to fold only objects that have a certain specificity. Adding or subtracting simple numbers in the head is an impossible task for imbecile children. Also, children with congenital brain diseases have problems with learning to read and write. Even in adulthood, most people only read syllables. The ability to express one's thoughts in writing is usually limited to monosyllabic phrases.

Most patients experience difficulties in mastering social and everyday skills. Many imbeciles cannot dress or eat food on their own. In order to teach a child to perform various actions, they should be repeated over a long time.

The diagnosis of “imbecilism” leaves a peculiar imprint on a person’s appearance. According to statistical data, most patients have a violation of the proportions of head size. It can either significantly exceed or decrease the norm. External signs of imbecility include deformed facial bones, a “petrified” look, earlobes attached to the head and an incorrect bite. Focal neurological lesions lead to problems related to fine motor skills. Most people with imbecility have problems with the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, which is expressed by poor coordination of movements. To assess the extent of the problem, imagine that you cannot cope with such a habitual action as tying your shoelaces.

Imbecility is characterized by a congenital or acquired mental development defect in early childhood, which does not increase throughout life (but can be partially corrected)

In simple terms, this disease is characterized as “freezing” at the age of seven. Parents of people with the problem in question are perceived by the latter as an object of inexhaustible love. Imbeciles start their own family only in isolated cases. As a rule, their social circle is limited only to close relatives and members of rehabilitation groups.

The vocabulary of people with imbelicism is limited to a few hundred simple words that are used only when necessary. In speech, only monosyllabic sentences consisting of several phrases are used. The development of thinking stops at a primitive level, which is reflected in emotional manifestations. Most people with this pathology experience a complete absence of the volitional factor. If usual living conditions change, the patient may experience a feeling of severe fear. Lack of initiative, passivity and a high degree of suggestibility contribute to the high influence of the opinions of others on the behavioral model. Based on the above, we can conclude that throughout his life the patient needs constant supervision and control from relatives.

The patient's horizons have rigid boundaries, and almost never exceed the framework of satisfying simple instincts. Doctors say that many patients do not feel full, which forces them to eat double portions.

A person with this problem should constantly learn basic rules of behavior.

Without parental and medical supervision, imbeciles can become a danger to themselves and those around them. Each holder of this diagnosis experiences difficulties associated with sexual disinhibition, which are expressed in the form of a lack of self-control of sexual desire. Violations in this area can lead to antisocial behavior, harassment of the fair sex and sexual crimes.

Types of the disease and causes of its occurrence

Imbecility, what is it? When examining this issue, it should be said that the disease in question is divided into four types, which differ in the reasons that provoked the development of the pathology. The hereditary type of the disease is associated with the presence of defective genes received from parents. The intrauterine type of pathology develops against the background of bacterial or viral lesions of the fetus during intrauterine development. There is also a special form of delayed intellectual development, provoked by pathologies in the functioning of the brain or endocrine system.

Along with external signs of underdevelopment of intelligence, primitive speech and underdeveloped learning abilities are observed

In addition, there is a type of imbecilism that is caused by asphyxia, brain hypoxia or birth injuries. This form of pathology can occur against the background of traumatic brain injury or serious infectious diseases in infancy. According to experts, there are many different factors that provoke disruptions in mental development. These factors fall into three categories:

1. The first category is internal factors, the list of which includes poor heredity, genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities.
2. The second category is external factors, among which we should highlight the presence of acute infectious diseases during gestation, or prolonged use of narcotic drugs by the child’s parents. This category of factors also includes traumatic brain injuries received during birth.
3. The third category is the combination of the influence of external and internal factors, which significantly increases the risk of developing imbecility.

Methods of treatment and psychotherapeutic correction

Like many congenital psychiatric diseases, imbecility cannot be treated. In this case, therapy helps eliminate only the pronounced symptoms of this disease. All methods used are divided into symptomatic and specific therapy.

Mental changes with imbecility are more pronounced, and learning ability is less pronounced than with debility

Patients with enzyme defects and pathologies associated with metabolism need the use of specific agents. In the case of hypothyroidism, which is characterized as an acute deficiency of hormones, Levothyroxine is used. The treatment strategy is considered individually by a specialist. For toxoplasmosis, potent antibacterial drugs are used, among which “Chloridine” and “Diraprim” should be highlighted. Infectious diseases of the brain are eliminated using a mixture of sulfonamides and antibiotics. Among the medications in this group, Bakterial and Sulfatone are more effective.

For phenylketonuria, patients are prescribed a strict diet. All foods that contain protein should be excluded from your daily diet. With this pathology, the patient’s body exhibits disturbances in the production of the enzyme that is responsible for their breakdown. These problems are closely related to dysfunction of the thyroid gland. In order to compensate for the lack of nutrients, patients are prescribed Carnitine.

Symptomatic therapy involves the use of pharmacological agents aimed at stimulating brain activity. Most often, biostimulants and psychotropic drugs are used, the action of which is aimed at accelerating metabolism, as well as stimulating physical and intellectual activity. Comprehensive treatment includes the use of diuretics, which help the body get rid of excess fluid. To reduce excitement of the nervous system and control the patient's behavior, antipsychotics and tranquilizers are used. Anticonvulsant medications can be used as additional therapy.

In the absence of medical supervision from parents or specialists, a patient with imbeciles can pose a danger to others. In this situation, emergency medical intervention is necessary, since there is a risk of catastrophic consequences for human life.

Severity of pathology

Oligophrenia is divided into three forms of severity, each of which is determined by the degree of mental retardation. Imbecilism, which is a moderate degree of mental retardation, also has several divisions. This pathology is divided into moderate and severe forms. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Moderate imbecility is a condition in which the IQ ranges from thirty-four to forty-eight points. In this condition, there is limited intellectual ability, which is associated with certain situations. People with this form of the disease lack analytical and associative thinking.

The paucity of vocabulary and incorrect construction of sentences forces the patient to use speech skills only in cases of urgent need. The intensity of emotional perception is extremely low. The vast majority of patients experience neurological and psychomotor impairment. Organic lesions of parts of the brain provoke the development of epileptic seizures and symptoms of autism.

With severe imbecilism, IQ scores vary from twenty to thirty-four points. It should be noted that with this form of the disease, neurological symptoms are pronounced. Many patients experience paralysis and significant impairments in psychomotor functions. The degree of personal and intellectual development can be compared with a five-year-old child. The same can be said about vocabulary. People with this form of pathology need constant monitoring and assistance in self-care.

The diagnosis is established on the basis of the clinical picture, assessment of intellectual and psychomotor development

Diagnostics

When assessing mental abilities, it is important to rely not only on clinical data, but also on an objective assessment of intelligence level. The Wechsler test is widely used, and the generally accepted measure is intelligence quotient or IQ. In Russia there is a special adapted test for children aged 5–16 years. For younger children, there are various methods for determining the level of neuropsychic development.

At the same time, a clinical determination of the completeness of vocabulary, memory strength, distractibility, the presence of behavioral disorders is carried out, and the level of self-care skills is assessed.

Diagnostic methods and testing

In order to understand who an imbecile is, you should familiarize yourself with the methods of diagnosing this pathology. According to experts, disorders in the field of brain development can be diagnosed at certain stages of pregnancy. The screening technique allows you to determine the pathology within the first few months. Diagnosis of the level of intellectual development is carried out using various tests and the Wechsler scale. According to established standards, the intellectual development coefficient for this disease varies from twenty to sixty points, taking into account the severity of the disease.

If, as a result of the studies, the patient scores less than fifty-five points, he may be diagnosed with imbecilism. Also, such tests conducted by a neuropsychiatrist help assess intellectual potential. During a diagnostic examination, the doctor conducts a conversation with the patient in order to find out the level of development of the speech apparatus, the breadth of interests and social adaptation. The causes of the disease can be determined using procedures such as magnetic resonance and computed tomography. An electroencephalogram can be used as an additional diagnostic method. In cases of suspected vascular abnormalities, angiography is used.

The photos of imbeciles given in the article allow you to clearly see the anomalies in the development of the human body. It should be noted that imbecility has many similarities with other mental illnesses. The pathology in question has the same clinical manifestations as diseases such as dementia, juvenile schizophrenia and epilepsy.

How to treat imbecility?

Treatment methods for imbeciles logically follow from the answer to the question, what is imbecility. Complete recovery of the patient is unattainable; all therapeutic interventions are aimed at reducing the severity of associated symptoms and maximizing socialization. Drug treatment of imbeciles is carried out in the following areas:

1. Neurometabolics are drugs that nourish brain tissue.
2. Dehydrants are pharmaceutical agents that reduce the number of seizures. For this purpose, diets are also used: salt-free and low-water.
3. Tranquilizers for the correction of behavioral deviations.
4. General restoratives, including tinctures of medicinal herbs.
5. In some cases, antidepressants are indicated.

For a person suffering from a disease such as imbecility, proper care is very important to prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases; three times a day of hospital treatment is indicated throughout the year. Also, families raising imbeciles need to work with a psychologist to improve the adaptation of the ward.

Forecast of imbecility

The dynamics of the condition and prognosis for imbecility depend on the level of intellectual underdevelopment and pathology of personal functions. In mild cases, in the absence of deep defects and behavioral disorders, such people can be fully compensated and safe socially. Thus, about 66% of patients can remain productive in well-organized conditions.

Negative dynamics of the disease are characteristic of severe cases of imbecility. Usually the disease is accompanied by concomitant physical developmental defects, neurological disorders, and brain abnormalities. In the absence of drug treatment, psychological and correctional work, in an unfavorable environment, the condition may worsen. Decompensation can occur during periods of age and gender crises. These conditions may be accompanied by affective disorders with irritability, aggression, neuroses, depression, disinhibition, and behavioral disorders.

It is necessary to train such persons in specialized correctional educational institutions, to create a calm and friendly atmosphere in the team.

Degrees of mental retardation

Delayed brain development can be expressed in different ways. With a mild degree, patients not only take care of themselves, but also freely carry out everyday activities, for example, going to the store, talking with others on everyday topics. Plus, they can work. A severe degree is characterized by a complete lack of thinking. Oligophrenics are divided into 3 types:

1. Morons.
2. Imbeciles.
3. Idiots.

Moronism is a mild degree of mental retardation, in which patients are quite independent, understand speech addressed to them, and are able to answer simple questions. The intellectual development coefficient of such patients is 50-70%.

Oligophrenia in the degree of imbecility is regarded as an average condition. The intellectual coefficient of patients is 20-50%. Imbeciles are people who are able to understand the simplest appeal to them, serve themselves, and also show their emotions.

A severe degree of oligophrenia is idiocy (IQ less than 20%). These patients require constant care, as they are unable to exist independently. Idiots almost completely lack thinking, they do not understand the meaning of words addressed to them, their loved ones must serve them.

Imbecile - who is it?

To be sure how to write correctly: imBicil or imbecil, you need to know the Latin word from which the name comes. Imbecillus – “weak, weak” .

Imbecile is an average degree of oligophrenia (dementia), caused by underdevelopment of the fetus or the acquisition of a defect in the first 3 years of life. According to the IQ test, imbecility corresponds to indicators of 20-50 points.

In this case, not only the sphere of thinking, memory, attention suffers, but also the emotional-volitional one. The disease also affects speech and physical fitness, the ability to independently care for yourself in everyday life and acquire new skills.

Today the name has gone beyond professional use in psychiatry. In everyday language it has acquired a negative connotation .

Therefore, the term "imbecile" was replaced, and it is now more appropriate to use the term " moderate mental retardation " to define the diagnosis.