Vegetative symptom

Beach and Amir have demonstrated that with a given sample using the same procedures, some markers of depression may define a taxon, while others do not. In other words, both continuous and taxonic forms of depression exist. However, questions remain about the nature of the identified taxon. Is it really a depression taxon or has the exclusive focus on vegetative symptoms changed the nature of the construct Interestingly, certain somatic symptoms, such as sleep and appetite disturbance, are common in many disorders and can be considered the physical component of nonspecific distress (Clark Watson, 1991). Thus, perhaps the identified taxon is not a depression taxon at all and actually reflects general somatic complaints. Only construct validation can address these concerns. 

In summary, major depression is a heterogeneous group of disorders bound together by the presence of low mood plus disturbances in vegetative symptoms, such as ... 

Typically, for the diagnosis to be more definitive, the patient must have one or more of these symptoms on a sustained basis present most days for a period of at least two weeks. Sporadic or occasional vegetative symptoms may hint at a neurotransmitter abnormality, but do not suggest an entrenched clinical depression. 

This data, coupled with numerous positive outcome studies of the effectiveness of antidepressants, has led to the development of the monoamine (or biogenic amine) hypothesis of depression. The theory holds that depressive symptoms are ushered in by a malfunction of either norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT) neurons, which play critical roles in the functioning of the limbic system and the adjacent hypothalamus. The basic neuronal malfunction is felt to be identical for either NE or 5-HT neurons, thus what follows (a description of the pathophysiology of NE neurons) can also be seen to occur in individuals in whom 5-HT neurons are affected. For reasons that are not well understood, patients with major depression (with vegetative symptoms) appear to suffer from either NE or 5-HT dysfunction, but probably not both simultaneously (although some exceptions exist). 

The diagnosis of non-ischaemic chest pain is made on the basis of its characteristics (atypical localisation, with no radiation, non-oppressive and with no vegetative symptoms) and other circumstances (age, lack of risk factors, prior history, concomitant findings, complementary tests, etc.) (Figure 7.1). Occasionally, the diagnosis of non-ischaemic chest pain is clear, as it occurs with radicular pain (patient... 

Provendo M, Espinosa R, Sdnehez A, Espana P. Flumazenil in the treatment of dizziness and vegetative symptoms after intravenous infusion of paclitaxel. Qnkologie 2008 31(4) 203. 

Psychological In a prospective, open, non-interventional study, objective and subjective cognitive measures were evaluated in 401 patients with epilepsy before and 3 and 6 months after introducing levetiracetam [188 ]. Very good tolerance was reported by 68% and cognitive improvement by 58%. Objective improvement was significant in one-quarter of the patients, while 5-6% deteriorated. Adverse events were reported in 28 patients. Psychotropic effects were reported by 1.5%, tiredness by 0.7%, vegetative symptoms by 1.7%, and increased seizure frequency by 0.7% of patients. 

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