Psychiatric diseases
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts and Contemporary Practices -Nidana Chikitsa / Vyadhi / Psychiatric diseases |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Narayan Prakash 1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2 |
| Editors | Deole Y.S.3, Aneesh E. G.2 |
| Affiliations |
1 Chief Consultant, Hitayurveda healthcare center, KR Puram, Hasaan, Karnataka, India 2Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.& R.A., Jamnagar, Gujarat, India 3 Executive Editor and Professor in Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails | carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Date of first publication: | January 21, 2022 |
| DOI | Under process |
This article is based on a lecture delivered by Dr. Narayana Prakash B, Chief consultant, Hitayurveda Health care, KRPuram, Hassan, Karnataka, India., in Prof. M. S. Baghel Memorial Lecture Series on Sep 09, 2021.
Ayurveda considers body and mind as interconnected entities. It does not separate one from the other in the holistic concept of Purusha. The treatment for body and mind is mentioned by ancient scholars for almost all diseases. Health is the foundation of virtue, wealth, enjoyment, and salvation; diseases are the destroyers of it.
General causes for the diseases of the mind
Any abnormal interactions (excess, absent or erroneous) of mind, time, senses, and sense objects are primary causes of diseases. Rajas (representing activity or passionate involvement) and tamas (representing delusion or inhibition) are the most important pathogenic factors for vitiation of the mind. Abnormal sleep pattern also results in disorders of the mind. The inability to control negative impulses like anger, rash speech etc. may cause diseases of the mind. Severe physical injury may also cause diseases of the mind. Volitional transgression or intellectual errors (prajnaparadha), knowingly indulging in improper food and lifestyle habits, is the root cause for almost all diseases especially that of mind.
Role of intellect (buddhi)
Thoughts are objects of the mind. The mind is continuously involved in process of thinking. The intellect (buddhi)controls the mind and regulates its thinking. It differentiates good and bad thoughts. Continuous indulgence of the mind in harmful thinking and the inability of intellect to control it results in diseases.
Role of sense organs (indriya)
Excessive or improper interaction of objects of senses with sense organs results in vitiation of mind. E.g. excessive usage of mobile phones results in mobile phone addiction, diseases of the eyes and brain, etc. Overuse, disuse, and misuse of sense organs lead to abnormality in rajas and tamas, which ultimately results in diseases. Gain or loss of desirable or undesirable things can cause psychic diseases.
Role of inherent spiritual components (atmaja bhava)
Spiritual (atmaja) and psychological (sattvaja) components present at the time of birth are responsible for the growth and development of each individual. ‘Spiritual (atmaja)’ refers to the genetic or ancestral components. Psychological (sattvaja) includes factors related to the strength of one’s mind.
Importance of food in mental health
The use of incompatible dietetics (viruddhaaahara), can cause psychic disorders. If food is proper, the mind will be healthy. Dietary regulations (aharavidhi) shall be followed while taking food. Then only does it nourish the body and mind. Food plays important role in the manifestation of many psychological diseases.
Mental disorders in children
In the pediatric age group, the mind is seldom afflicted. The psychic abnormalities start by the influence of surroundings as the child grows. The positive or negative inputs from the surroundings lead to nourishment or deprivation of the mind.
Excess food intake in childhood may result in laziness or heaviness of the body. This leads to accumulation and further acquisition and greed which is the cause of all abnormalities. When they reach adolescence, anger, lust, cruelty, aggression, anxiety, distress may also happen.
Diagnosis of mental disorders
All the physical abnormalities must be ruled out before labeling a person as a psychiatric patient. In many physical diseases like hypothyroidism, psychiatric manifestations like depression are present. Careful observation of the patient is needed for proper diagnosis. Tools for a mental examination of a patient are described by ancient scholars. For example, the state of grief should be inferred by despondency, joy by exhilaration, pleasure from a sense of satisfaction, fear from dejection, etc.
Mental strength
The condition of mind (sattva) is also important for mental health. A person with good mental strength (pravara sattva) seldom suffers from any mental disorders. People with medium and low mental strength people suffer from psychic disorders. This influences the prognosis of diseases, too. Diseases occurring in a medium mental strength person can be easily cured, but the treatment is difficult in a person with low mental strength.
Types of mental patterns
| Sattva | Types |
|---|---|
| Shuddha (purity) | 7 |
| Rajasa (aggression) | 6 |
| Tamasa (inhibition) | 3 |
The 7 types of shuddha sattva (pure-minded) people are productive for society. Rajasika and tamasika persons are harmful to society due to their destructive tendencies.
Major psychiatric diseases
Insanity (unmada)
It is an unstable condition of mind, understanding, consciousness, perception, memory, inclination, character, behavior, and conduct. [Cha.Sa. Nidana Sthana 7/5]
Etiopathogenesis of insanity
The weak-minded or timid person is more susceptible to insanity. When his mind is afflicted by raja and tama, dosha vitiation due to unwholesome diet, chronic physical illness, excess passion, anger, greed, excitement, fear, attachment, exertion etc. this condition may result in insanity.
Clinical features
The affliction of mind: Leads to illusions, delusions, and hallucinations.
The affliction of intellect: Leads to poor decision making or failure to decide.
The affliction of consciousness: Loss of orientation towards person, place, and time is lost.
Impairment of memory (smruti vibrama): Loss of immediate, recent, and/or remote memory.
Impairment in desires (bhakti vibhrama): Excessive interest, withdrawal symptoms or very odd interests are observed that are different from past interests.
Impairment of habits (sheela vibhrama): Inappropriate reactions like exaggerated emotions at improper places and times are observed. E.g. Laughing by hearing the sad news. This is seen in general anxiety disorders, stress headaches, etc.
Impairment in body activity (cheshta vibhrama): Controlled and relevant motor activity gets impaired. There might be hyperactivity or hypoactivity.
Impaired social activity (achara vibhrama): The behavior and social attitude of the patient would be unfair, improper, and irrelevant. He may violate all ethics and manners. For eg. the Patient may remain undressed, unhygienic, or have odd dressing.