Hot weather causes many people to have mental illness relapses

In recent days, the number of people coming to the HCM City Mental Hospital for medical examination has increased. According to the HCM City Mental Hospital, a week ago there were about 2,800 cases, but now it has increased to 3,600 cases.

Double the dose

On the morning of May 9, many patients and relatives were waiting to be examined at the examination area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City Mental Hospital.

Wearing a faded pink shirt, Mrs. D.TAT (44 years old) had a dazed look on her face. Mrs. T. had been suffering from schizophrenia for many years and had been treated for it, but now her illness had “suddenly” relapsed.

Her sister said that in recent days, Mrs. T. could not eat or sleep, felt restless and heard voices in her head.

Doctor Luu Quoc Thai, head of the examination department at Ho Chi Minh City Mental Hospital, listened to the patient's family, then prescribed medication with a dosage twice as high as the previous prescription.

Ms. T. is one of the patients with schizophrenia, treated by Dr. Quoc Thai for many years but due to the heat, the disease relapsed.

Doctor Quoc Thai said that in recent days, many relatives of patients with depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis... have brought their family members to see a doctor after a long period of stable treatment.

Relatives said that suddenly the patient often woke up in the middle of the night, ate poorly, heard voices in his head, was restless, screamed...

In these cases, Dr. Thai had to double the dosage of medication and schedule a follow-up appointment.

Need to detect early to see a doctor

Doctor Quoc Thai analyzed that when the weather is hot, the body will "regulate" to cool down the body, at that time the body becomes weak, people with mental illness are more likely to relapse.

Therefore, Dr. Quoc Thai advises relatives of mentally ill people to pay attention and keep an eye on them regularly. The most important thing is to recognize the symptoms of relapse such as poor appetite, insomnia, restlessness...

At that time, the family needs to take the patient to the hospital, otherwise the disease will become more serious and the patient may commit dangerous acts.

People with anxiety disorders can run out into the street even when the road is crowded with vehicles; people with depression will have sleep disorders and lose the ability to work; people with schizophrenia can beat people and have behaviors that are dangerous to others...

Family members should not leave sharp, pointed, or flammable objects within the patient's sight because a relapse can easily lead to unpredictable dangers. In addition, the patient should be kept in a cool place and given more than 2 liters of water per day.

According to Tuoitre