levels of consciousness and disorder s

Altered States of Consciousness

  • Consciousness Definition: Awake, alert, aware of surroundings, able to respond to stimuli.
  • Unconsciousness Definition: Not awake, unaware, unable to respond to stimuli.

Conditions Affecting Consciousness

  • Lethargy: Lowered consciousness, listless, drowsy, apathetic.
  • Stupor: Unresponsive state, can be briefly aroused only by vigorous attempts.
  • Syncope: Brief loss of consciousness due to drop in blood pressure and blood flow.
    • Triggered by vasovagal response; common in fainting due to intense emotions or prolonged standing.
  • Coma: Deep unconsciousness; no reaction to painful stimuli.
  • Persistent Vegetative State: Appears awake but severe brain damage prevents recovery.

Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA)

  • Types of Stroke:
    • Ischemic Stroke: 85% of strokes; acute blockage of blood flow to the brain.
    • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Rupture of blood vessels; blood flows into brain tissue.
  • Symptoms: Location-dependent; right side damage affects left side of the body and vice versa.
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Temporary loss of function; warning stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, numbness, blurred vision.

Epilepsy

  • Definition: Chronic neurological condition with recurrent seizures; caused by various factors.
  • Seizures are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain; must be recurrent to classify as epilepsy.

Mental Health Disorders

  • Affect thinking, feeling, mood; can manifest in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
  • Anxiety Disorders: Excessive irrational dread of situations.
    • Examples: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Panic Disorder, PTSD.
  • Mood Disorders: Affect daily life, include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder.
    • Major Depression: Extreme sadness, potentially suicidal thoughts.
    • Bipolar Disorder: Cycles of severe mood changes (mania and depression).
  • Psychotic Disorders: Loss of contact with reality.
    • Example: Schizophrenia; characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and illogical thinking.

Brain Tumors

  • Types: Malignant (destroy tissue), Benign (displace tissue, increase pressure).
  • Prognosis is often less favorable due to difficulty in surgical removal.