Do I Have Abulia?

Do you experience a loss of productivity, effort, and initiative?

Do you experience emotional indifference?

Do you experience lack of plans?

Do you experience less or absence of speech or action?

Do you experience a lack of emotional responses to important situations?

Do you experience less goal-oriented thoughts?

Do you experience diminished social interest?

Do you have problems with attention?

Are you easily distracted?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have abulia. Abulia is a condition that often occurs after an injury to the brain. It may exist on its own, but the condition is often found together with other neurological or psychiatric disorders. Abulia may cause a lack of motivation and issues of will or drive, despite normal mood and cognition. Abulia is a condition that is often confused with other brain-related problems. It is very important that this condition is diagnosed appropriately to be able to receive the right treatment. In case you answered ‘no’ to all questions, there may be no reason for concern.

Based on your answers, you may be displaying several signs related to abulia. It may be useful to plan a visit to your doctor. Abulia often occurs after an injury to (parts of) the brain. Symptoms may include lack of motivation and drive, despite normal mood. Abulia is more common than often thought, it’s a widely underdiagnosed condition and often confused with other disorders, including depression, dementia, and aphasia. This is the reason why individuals go untreated for a long time. Abulia needs to be identified early so that the best treatment options can be identified.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have abulia. It may be of high importance to seek medical support. Abulia most of the time occurs after an injury to the brain. Symptoms of this disorder include emotional indifference, problems with attention, and a lack of motivation, despite normal consciousness, mood, and cognition. Treatment options include bromocriptine, a medication that lowers apathy. Because of potential side effects, you should always be monitored by a doctor while taking this type of medication.