Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesAbulia vs. DepressionDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Abulia vs. Depression
Diagnosis
Treatment
Abulia, also known as aboulia, is a state of diminished motivation. In general, abulia refers to a type of apathy that develops as a result of disease, specifically disease that affectsthe brain. Some people who have abulia are aware of the change in the level of motivation, but it is particularly noticeable and upsetting for friends and loved ones.
An individual who experiences abulia may show symptoms that range from subtle to overwhelming in levels of severity, with mutism (not speaking) being the most extreme form. Abulia is most commonly associated with neurologic or psychiatric conditions. It is estimated that approximately 20% to 25% ofstrokesurvivors experience apathy or abulia.
When abulia results from a sudden event, such as a stroke, it may become apparent during or after stroke recovery. When abulia results from a progressive disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, it may worsen over time.
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There are a number of symptoms of abulia. Typical symptoms may include any combination of the following:
Brain damage ordementiacan interfere with normal functioning in the brain, resulting in abulia. Damage to the nerve circuits of the frontal lobes of the brain that impact the dopaminergic system is thought to be the cause of abulia.
The dopaminergic system describes the system of chemicals produced in the brain that provide positive feelings of happiness and satisfaction. Thus, it is possible that once positive feedback is disrupted, there is little incentive to try to attain things that make a person “happy.”
Most people who experience and show symptoms of abulia have experienced one of the following conditions:
Difference From Depression
While they share some features in common, abulia and depression are not the same. Abulia is clinically distinct from depression in that people living with abulia typically do not exhibit signs of sadness or negative thoughts. Instead, they exhibit a lack of concern about their condition or about the world around them.
Establishing the difference between the two conditions and getting an accurate diagnosis is important because abulia does not improve with antidepressant medications, while people who have depression should generally expect to experience improvement of symptoms with antidepressants.
In some cases of abulia, diagnostic imaging with abrain CT scan or brain MRI scancan reveal localized brain lesions such as stroke, one of the main causes of abulia.
Some medical treatments are available for the treatment and management of abulia. Medications that affect the body’s dopaminergic system, which is disrupted in abulia, have shown positive results in treating objective symptoms of abulia.These include:
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.M Das J, Saadabadi A.Abulia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.Jorge RE, Starkstein SE, Robinson RG.Apathy following stroke.Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(6):350-4. doi: 10.1177/070674371005500603
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.M Das J, Saadabadi A.Abulia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.Jorge RE, Starkstein SE, Robinson RG.Apathy following stroke.Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(6):350-4. doi: 10.1177/070674371005500603
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
M Das J, Saadabadi A.Abulia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.Jorge RE, Starkstein SE, Robinson RG.Apathy following stroke.Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(6):350-4. doi: 10.1177/070674371005500603
M Das J, Saadabadi A.Abulia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.
Jorge RE, Starkstein SE, Robinson RG.Apathy following stroke.Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(6):350-4. doi: 10.1177/070674371005500603
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