Disruption Panic

A consistent plague among branded families from time immemorial is the affliction known as disruption panic. The loss of a branded companion causes a catastrophic mental schism in the surviving partner's psyche. Until this year the condition was incurable. The plus side is that conflicts that risked the loss of life on a large scale have been unheard of among the branded population.

Causes

Disruption panic is a mental condition that afflicts any branded individual who loses their companion. Animal companions are also subject to the affliction, although it is unknown to what degree as evaluation of non-human species is problematic.

Symptoms

The onset of disruption paranoia occurs after the death of one half of a branded pair. Immediate symptoms appear as disorientation and confusion. This is quickly followed by small muscle tremors and manic paranoia. The victim acts out against other branded pairs seeking to sever the link between the companions. While not fatal, the condition leaves the afflicted unable to live independently in general society.

Treatment

In the past, a localized ion knife lobotomy with an associated anti-psychotic cocktail would calm the associated neurological conditions, but leave the recipient of the treatment with large memory gaps and borderline personality disorder.
Recently, a previously unknown specimen of resk, anecdotally from the Rift, proved to have venom whose paralytic properties only affected neural ganglion. Microdoses of the newly discovered venom, placed following traced MRIs, had the surprising affect of completely obliterating any indications of disruption panic.
Unfortunately, there was only one resk specimen. It came from a black market dealer who since disappeared. The chemical and biological properties have not been able to be duplicated. The Silent Scream has reached out to the Mubari senate for permission to seek another specimen, but cooperation so far has not been forthcoming.

Affected Groups

Any branded individual is susceptible to disruption panic. The length of time an individual is branded has no severity on the affliction.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common