Mental Health

Due to hormonal and physical changes brought on by Acromegaly, patients can experience psychological symptoms. Because Acromegaly presents itself differently for each patient, not all patients experience the same symptoms. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression

  • Mood swings

  • Personality changes

  • Anxiety

  • Decreased quality of life

  • Social isolation caused by dysmorphia

  • Apathy

  • Compassion Fatigue

Watch the following videos to better understand how to cope with psychological symptoms:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • An apathy syndrome is defined as a syndrome of primary motivational loss, that is, loss of motivation not attributable to emotional distress, intellectual impairment, or diminished level of consciousness.

  • Many acromegaly patients commonly report fatigue and weakness. And new for the 2011 guidelines, the Association reports that acromegaly appears to be associated with psychological changes and alterations in personality. Patients often have depression, apathy and considerable mood changes.

  • Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the negative cost of caring. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress.

    • Affects many dimensions of your well-being

    • Nervous system arousal (Sleep disturbance)

    • Emotional intensity increases

    • Cognitive ability decreases

    • Behavior and judgment impaired

    • Isolation and loss of morale

    • Depression and PTSD (potentiate)

    • Loss of self-worth and emotional modulation

    • Identity, worldview, and spirituality impacted

    • Beliefs and psychological needs-safety, trust, esteem, intimacy, and control

    • Loss of hope and meaning=existential despair

    • Anger toward perpetrators or causal events