Българско списание за психиатрия, 2020; 5(1):24-29
ASPECTS OF DRUG PATHOMORPHOSIS OR AN “OLD WINE IN A NEW BOT-TLE”
Abstract. Under the term drug pathomorphosis we understand a permanent and protracted variation of the symptoms and the longitudinal course of the disorder in comparison with its classic description coming from the epoch before the psychopharmacology and this change becomes natural and typical and is connected with the impact of the drug therapy. In the somatic diseases the drug pathomorphosis is connected with the influence upon the etiologic factor, while in mental disorders – with intervention in the pathogenesis of the disorder. Main subject of this article are the affective disorders and especially two results of the drug pathomorphosis in these patients – the destruction of the natural cyclic structure of these disorders and the price of the clinical improvement, paid by the reduction of “normal” emotions. Some approaches to correct these phenomena are proposed in the article.
Key words: drug pathomorphosis, emotional blunting, cyclicality, bipolar affective disorder, recurrent depression
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