psychogenic shock

psychogenic shock

Shock due to emotional stress or to seeing an injury or accident.

See: psychic shock

See also: shock

syncope

; psychogenic shock; faint; vasovagal attack sudden fall in blood pressure causing cerebral anoxia and temporary loss of consciousness; characterized by light-headedness/dizziness, low blood pressure, pallor and sweating, yawning, nausea and vomiting, slow/weak/thready pulse, dilated pupils and muscular twitching; patient should be lain flat, with airway open and head to one side, and legs elevated to increase cerebral circulation; differential diagnoses should include postural hypotension, hyperventilation, hypoglycaemia, cardiac arrhythmias or adrenal insufficiency