What is Psychomotor Retardation?-Causes, Symptoms and Alternative Treatment
ABSTRACT
Mental health is the talk of the town these days. While everyone is emphasizing on the importance of mental health. Not much information is available on the various types of underlying effects that a mental disorder can leave on the body. One might not notice such features in the beginning or usually not consider it as a disease but in the long run, proper medicinal therapy and management will be required to deal with it appropriately. One such condition is psychomotor retardation. It may be seen as a parallel effect of some other mental illness, let us know about psychomotor retardation in detail through the following article.
INTRODUCTION OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
Psychomotor retardation is a mental health condition. It is characterized by slowing down of the activities either or both the mental and physical activity. It is also known as psychomotor impairment. The condition of psychomotor retardation is usually seen in the patients of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. The person presents with slow thinking along with slow body movements. There is a lot of research going on regarding the diagnosis and management of psychomotor retardation. As it is observed to become better as the condition of the mental health increases. In the cases of psychomotor retardation, thought processes, body movements, eye movements and facial expression may be affected. The causes and further details regarding psychomotor retardation are described as follows.
CAUSES OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
There can be various causes estimated underlying the condition of psychomotor retardation, some of it can be major depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder. The psychomotor retardation can also be a result of drug addiction or substance abuse. It can also be caused due to hypothyroidism, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Some types of medicines such as diabetes or premenstrual exacerbation management medicines can also result in the condition of psychomotor retardation.
SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
The symptoms of psychomotor retardation will vary from patient to patient. Usually the ones suffering from psychomotor retardation move, speak or react slower than normal. The degree of impact will vary according to the severity of the condition. The physical impairments will include one or more of the following –
- The ability to perform various tasks is impaired.
- The person is sluggish while walking or changing posture. HE/she may also have poor posture generally.
- He/she may react slowly to conditions such as catching a falling object.
- The fine motor tasks are seen to diminish such as writing or tying a shoelace, etc.
- He/ she may seem to be lost in their own thoughts and avoids eye contact. One may speak in a monotonous voice. And often are more quite or take long pauses while talking.
DIAGNOSIS OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
The diagnosis of psychomotor retardation is a bit difficult as it is not just an independent condition but moreover a result of another overlapped mental health illness. The severity of the psychomotor retardation may help the physician to estimate the extent of the depressive disorder. One can observe the following features to identify the psychomotor retardation –
- Body movements
- Various speech patterns
- Body posture
- Eye movements
- Expressions on the face
If a person is not suffering from depression or bipolar disorder and still a patient of psychomotor retardation, further evaluation must be done to diagnose the other mental health conditions.
TREATMENT OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
To manage the condition of psychomotor retardation, various treatment modalities can be employed. If there are any ongoing medicines that are resulting in the condition of psychomotor retardation, one must discontinue or at least reduce its dose. Along with this, medicinal combinations suitable for the patient can be started. Medicines can be accompanied with psychotherapy and various other non medical therapies for stabilising the long term mood disturbances. One should try to figure out the potential triggers and try to eliminate them from the lifestyle. Let us now learn about the ayurvedic perspective of this condition.
AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
Ayurveda is an age old science with enormous medicinal gems. Even owing its origin to so many years back, it has not lost its relevance even a bit. This is a result of the vast medicinal theories, facts and remedies described in the ayurvedic literature. Ayurveda presents a very unique explanation regarding each health topic.
The condition of psychomotor retardation can not be correlated to one specific condition in the ayurvedic aspect. But a group or accumulation of various conditions related to the mind. The factors that affect the mental state according to ayurveda are three elements namely satva, raja, and tama. The dominance of each factor presents various features. Such as, the dominance of raja will be presented as excessive aggressiveness, greediness, clever and jealous attitude, etc. In the tama dominance, the person seems to slow down, he is always sleepy, loses interest in almost everything and feels demotivated, etc. Therefore the condition of psychomotor retardation can be correlated with the dominance of tama.
The neurological functions are majorly controlled by the vata dosha in the body. The abnormality in vata levels will deplete the state of the mind. The management of the psychomotor retardation will include both, managing the levels of tama and vata. This can be achieved by following a healthy diet and lifestyle pattern. Along with the administration of effective ayurvedic formulations. The suitable formulations for the condition of psychomotor retardation will be described as follows.
HERBAL REMEDIES BY PLANET AYURVEDA FOR PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION
Planet Ayurveda is providing various preparations of natural herbs which are prepared using authentic ways and provide great results in improving the condition of psychomotor retardation. All the herbal products manufactured here are free from chemicals, preservatives, starch, additives, colors and fillers. These products are hundred percent natural and are formulated by MD Ayurvedic doctors with deep knowledge of Ayurveda and many years of experience. The ayurvedic formulations beneficial for the condition of psychomotor retardation are described as follows.
1. Neurogenie capsules
Neurogenie capsules are formulated by ayurvedic experts in planet ayurveda. It contains two wonderful ayurvedic herbs namely brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). These two herbs are known to be very effective and beneficial for the nervous system. They help to pacify the excessive vata dosha and also provide strength to the nerves and the brain, thus improving the condition of psychomotor retardation.
Dose – One capsule to be taken two times a day, after meals.
2. Yogendra Ras
Yogendra ras contains a combination of various ayurvedic components such as Parada (Purified mercury), Loha bhasma (Iron bhasma), Vanga Bhasma (Bhasma of tin), etc. Yogendra ras when administered in appropriate doses helps to pacify the excessive vata and pitta from the body. It also helps to strengthen the nerves and muscles of the body. The improvement in the nerve strength will help to manage various psychological conditions including psychomotor retardation.
Dose – One tablet once a day, chew it with warm ghee or warm water.
3. Neuro plan syrup
Neuro plan syrup is prepared by planet ayurveda using a variety of ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), etc. This combination of herbs is very effective in improving the neurological state of the body. It has effective vata pacifying properties and gives strength to the nerves of the body. Thus, improving the condition of the patient suffering from psychomotor retardation.
Dosage : Two teaspoon two times a day.
4. Musli Strength
Musli strength capsules are prepared by planet ayurveda using natural extracts of musli (Asparagus adscendens) and gokshura (Tribulus terrestris). These capsules help to improve the neurological health of the body. The combination of the above said herbs help to pacify the excessive vata dosha from the body, thus musli strength capsules are useful to improve the condition of psychomotor retardation.
Dosage – One capsule two times a day.
5. Kalyanaka Ghrita
Kalyanaka ghrit is being prepared by planet ayurveda. It contains ghrit or ghee prepared with a variety of beneficial ayurvedic herbs such as devdaru (Cedrus deodara), sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), tagar (Valeriana wallichii), etc. This is a very potent combination to improve the neurological state of the body and stimulates the functioning of the brain. Thus pacifying a variety of mental disorders including the psychomotor retardation from the body.
Dosage – 1 tsp two times a day with warm water.
CONCLUSION
After learning all the above information, in a nutshell, it can be concluded that the Ayurvedic literature presents a very unique concept regarding the various mental health conditions, similar concepts can be applied to psychomotor retardation. One can understand the whole condition through the above presented information. Understanding the condition, takes us a step closer towards the management of the disease. The condition of psychomotor retardation can be effectively managed through the use of the above said ayurvedic formulations and one can lead a better life with a healthy mind.
