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Hysterical behavior
Also known as Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict. The fear can be centered on a body part, or most commonly, on an imagined problem with that body part. Disease is a common complaint; see also body dysmorphic disorder and hypochondriasis. Generally, modern medical professionals have given up the use of "hysteria" as a diagnostic category, replacing it with more precisely defined categories such as somatization disorder. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association officially changed the diagnosis of "hysterical neurosis, conversion type" to "conversion disorder".
Source: WikipediaWhat causes it?
The most common causes of hysterical behavior are psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. Other possible causes, such as anxiety, are more rare.
What symptoms are related?
Within all the people who go to their doctor with hysterical behavior, 62% report having depressive or psychotic symptoms, 54% report having hostile behavior, and 52% report having depression.
- Depressive or psychotic symptoms 62
- Hostile behavior strong predictor 54
- Depression 52
- Pulling at ears strong predictor 36
- Fever 36
- Delusions or hallucinations strong predictor 31
- Sharp abdominal pain 25
- Constipation 18
- Temper problems strong predictor 18
- Fainting 18
- Infant feeding problem strong predictor 10
- Restlessness strong predictor 10
What might my doctor prescribe?
Common Tests and Procedures
Patients with hysterical behavior often receive urinalysis, kidney function tests, toxicology screen, intravenous fluid replacement, blood alcohol, liver function tests, insertion of catheter into urinary bladder and prothrombin time assay .
Common Medications
The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with hysterical behavior include lorazepam, risperidone, haloperidol, olanzapine (zyprexa), quetiapine (seroquel), lithium (li), benztropine, aluminum hydroxide / magnesium hydroxide, ziprasidone (geodon), ketamine, fluvoxamine (luvox), benzocaine topical and chlorpromazine (thorazine) .
| Lorazepam | $12 (28 days) | |
| Risperidone | $107 (28 days) | |
| Haloperidol | $28 (28 days) | |
| Olanzapine (Zyprexa) | $536 (28 days) | |
| Quetiapine (Seroquel) | $290 (28 days) | |
| Lithium (Li) | ||
| Benztropine | $8 (28 days) | |
| Ziprasidone (Geodon) | $411 (28 days) | |
| Ketamine | ||
| Fluvoxamine (Luvox) | $44 (28 days) | |
| Benzocaine Topical | ||
| Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) | $26 (28 days) |
Who is at risk?
Groups of people at highest risk for hysterical behavior include age 1-4 years age < 1 years.
Age
| < 1 years | 5.3x | |
| 1-4 years | 3.5x | |
| 5-14 years | 0.9x | |
| 15-29 years | 0.7x | |
| 30-44 years | 1.0x | |
| 45-59 years | 0.8x | |
| 60-74 years | 0.3x | |
| 75+ years | 0.2x |
Sex
| Male | 1.3x | |
| Female | 0.8x |
Race/Ethnicity
| Black | 1.3x | |
| Hispanic | 0.9x | |
| White | 0.9x | |
| Other | 1.4x |
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