Acute stress reaction, also known as acute psychogenic reaction, is triggered by intense psychological trauma. Symptoms appear within minutes or hours after the stimulus. It is short-lived, typically resolving within a few days to a week, with a favorable prognosis.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

1. The onset is triggered by an unusually severe and abnormal stressful event;
2. the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms is closely linked in time to the stressor, often appearing within minutes or hours.
3. The main symptoms are disturbances of consciousness (e.g., disorientation, narrowed attention) accompanied by intense emotional changes and psychomotor agitation or inhibition (excitement, agitation, shouting, restlessness, increased activity, emotional outbursts).
4. Symptoms are short-lived, lasting from a few hours to one week.
5. Differential diagnosis includes acute organic brain syndrome; affective psychosis; hysteria.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

1. Psychotherapy: Psychogenic mental disorders are all caused by obvious and intense psychological and social stressors, making psychotherapy highly significant. Efforts should be made to establish a good doctor-patient relationship during interactions with the patient, engaging in conversations with them. Analyze the onset process with the patient, provide explanations, and guide them on how to cope with stressors and eliminate them. At the same time, offer strong psychological and social support to buffer the patient's traumatic reactions and help them build confidence to overcome the illness.
2. Environmental Therapy: Whenever possible, leave or change the environment to eliminate traumatic experiences and accelerate symptom relief.
3. Drug Therapy: For those experiencing anxiety or restlessness, hypnotics and anxiolytics can be selected to prolong physiological sleep and strengthen internal inhibitory processes. Commonly used medications include diazepam, estazolam, and chloral hydrate, but care must be taken to avoid excessive or long-term use.