Abulia

In neurology, abulia, or aboulia (from Ancient Greek: βουλή, meaning "will"),[1] refers to a lack of will or initiative and can be seen as a disorder of diminished motivation. Abulia falls in the middle of the spectrum of diminished motivation, with apathy being less extreme and akinetic mutism being more extreme than abulia.[2] The condition was originally considered to be a disorder of the will,[3][4] and aboulic individuals are unable to act or make decisions independently; and their condition may range in severity from subtle to overwhelming. In the case of akinetic mutism, many patients describe that as soon as they "will" or attempt a movement, a "counter-will" or "resistance" rises up to meet them.[5]

  1. ^ Bailly, A. (2000). Dictionnaire Grec Français, Éditions Hachette.
  2. ^ Marin, R. S., & Wilkosz, P. A. (2005). Disorders of diminished motivation Archived 2012-11-22 at the Wayback Machine. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 20(4), 377-388.
  3. ^ Berrios G.E. and Gili M. (1995) Will and its disorders. A conceptual history. History of Psychiatry 6: 87-104
  4. ^ Berrios G.E. and Gili M. (1995) Abulia and impulsiveness revisited. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 92: 161-167
  5. ^ Sacks, Oliver (1973). Awakenings. United States: Vintage Books. p. 7.