Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Which aisle stocks the peanut butter? Where is the project file? What's the name of that actor in the movie we saw last week? These are all questions that can unhinge our memory at times. A little memory blip is nothing to worry about. We all have them now and then. But some occurrences could signal a more serious memory problem. Although aging ups the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), the condition isn't a normal part of aging. So how do you know what's normal behavior and what's not?
Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease
Many people believe that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can't be treated. The truth is that medications are available that may help slow the progression of symptoms. Although these drugs don’t work for everyone, they offer some hope for the more than 5 million people who have AD.
The FDA has approved five medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease. All the drugs may help prevent some AD symptoms, such as confusion and forgetfulness, from getting worse for a while.
In addition to memory loss and confusion, AD can cause worsening speech and mood swings. In the later stages, the disease destroys a person’s personality and ability to think and function. In some people, AD worsens quickly. In others, it progresses slowly.
Living with Alzheimer's
Diagnosing memory problems can be confusing. In older people, it's easy to mistake such problems for the everyday forgetfulness that some people experience as they grow older.
"However, if a person's memory problems are severe and persistent and accompanied by other changes that make it difficult for him or her to cope with everyday life, the person may have Alzheimer's disease or dementia," says Daniel Kaplan, CSW, LICSW, director of social services at the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
One should be assessed by a doctor:
When the person is unable to remember familiar things or people.
When the person is increasingly forgetful or has trouble remembering recent events.
When the person has trouble doing familiar things, such as cooking.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa (or simply anorexia) is an eating disorder in which people intentionally starve themselves. It causes extreme weight loss, which the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), defines as at least 15 percent below the individual's normal body weight.
Food and weight become obsessions. Compulsiveness may cause strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front of others. It is not uncommon for people with anorexia to collect recipes and prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends, but not partake in the meals themselves. They may also adhere to strict exercise routines to keep off weight.
What causes anorexia nervosa?
The cause of anorexia nervosa is not known. Anorexia usually begins as innocent dieting behavior, but gradually progresses to extreme and unhealthy weight loss. Social attitudes toward body appearance, family influences, genetics, and neurochemical and developmental factors are considered possible contributors to the cause of anorexia. Persons who develop anorexia are more likely to come from families with a history of weight problems, physical illness, and other mental health problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Further, often persons with the disorder come from families that are challenged by appropriate problem solving, being too rigid, overly-critical, intrusive, and overprotective. Persons with anorexia may also be dependent, immature in their emotional development, and are likely to isolate themselves from others. Other mental health problems such as anxiety disorders or affective disorders are commonly found in persons with anorexia.
Who is affected by anorexia nervosa?
The occurrence of anorexia nervosa has increased over the past 20 years. Approximately 90 percent are women between ages 12 and 25. Initially found mostly in upper- and middle-class families, anorexia is now found in all socioeconomic groups and a variety of ethnic and racial groups.
What are some common characteristics of people with anorexia nervosa?
Most people with eating disorders share certain personality traits and use abnormal eating rituals as a means of handling stress and anxiety. These personality traits often include, but are not limited to, the following:
low self-esteem
feelings of helplessness
fear of becoming fat
People with anorexia nervosa:
rarely break rules or disobey.
often keep their feelings to themselves.
tend to be perfectionists, good students, and excellent athletes.
It is believed that they restrict food - particularly carbohydrates - to gain a sense of control in some/one area of their lives. Controlling their weight appears to offer two advantages:
taking control of their bodies
gaining approval from others
What are the different types of anorexia?
There are two subgroups of anorexic behavior aimed at reducing caloric intake, including the following:
restrictor type - severely limits the intake of food, especially carbohydrates and fat containing foods.
bulimia (also called binge-eating/purging type) - eats in binges and then induces vomiting and/or takes large amounts of laxatives or other cathartics (medications, through their chemical effects, that serve to increase the clearing of intestinal contents).
What are the symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
The following are the most common symptoms of anorexia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
low body weight (less than 85 percent of normal weight for height and age)
intense fear of becoming obese , even as individual is losing weight
distorted view of one's body weight, size, or shape; sees self as too fat, even when very underweight; expresses feeling fat, even when very thin
refuses to maintain minimum normal body weight
in females, absence of three menstrual cycles without another cause
excessive physical activity
denies feelings of hunger
preoccupation with food preparation
bizarre eating behaviors
The following are the most common physical symptoms associated with anorexia - often that result from starvation and malnourishment. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear. It's a normal feeling when a loved one is ill or a project you are working on is late.
When that anxiety spills over to everyday problems, or when it occurs every day, you could have an anxiety disorder, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says.
One of the most common anxiety disorders is called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with GAD tend to worry constantly. They worry about their finances, their health, their jobs, world events, and the future. Their worry is often out of proportion to reality.
Although GAD affects a person’s mental state, it also can cause these physical symptoms:
Learn more about anxiety ›
Treatments for Anxiety
You may suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) if you go through the day worried, tense or anxious about your family, health or work, even when you know there are no signs of trouble.
Someone with GAD may have a good job, a happy marriage and well-adjusted kids, for example, but worries constantly it's all going to fall apart. Such a person may not let their children go on school trips because they fear they'll get kidnapped.
Constant worrying may interfere with GAD sufferers' day-to-day functioning. It may be accompanied by chronic physical symptoms, such as aches and pains, irritability, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness and frequent trips to the bathroom.
Learn more about treating anxiety ›
Living with Anxiety
Some anxiety can be good. It can alert you to danger--and give you extra oomph to get out of it. It also can motivate you to get things done, like study hard for an exam or deal with problems at the office. The trouble comes when anxiety makes you feel fearful for no apparent reason, throwing a wrench in your life. You might have chest pains or nightmares, or have a hard time leaving the house. These could be signs of an anxiety disorder, and you should see your primary care doctor.
Autistic Disorder
Autistic disorder (also called autism; more recently described as "mindblindedness") is a neurological and developmental disorder that usually appears during the first three years of life. A child with autism appears to live in his/her own world, showing little interest in others, and a lack of social awareness. The focus of an autistic child is a consistent routine and includes an interest in repeating odd and peculiar behaviors. Autistic children often have problems in communication, avoid eye contact, and show limited attachment to others.
Autism can prevent a child from forming relationships with others (in part, due to an inability to interpret facial expressions or emotions). A child with autism may resist cuddling, play alone, be resistant to change, and/or have delayed speech development. Persons with autism tend to exhibit repeated body movements (such as flapping hands or rocking) and have unusual attachments to objects. However, many persons with autism excel consistently on certain mental tasks (i.e., counting, measuring, art, music, memory).
Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) describes five pervasive developmental disorders: autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger's disorder, Rett's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Although they differ in some specifics, these disorders share three core features: impaired social interactions, difficulty in communicating with others, and repetitive or inflexible behavior. Recognizing that these disorders differ mainly in terms of severity, authors of the draft DSM-V, now undergoing review, have proposed deleting Rett's disorder and including the other four under the single category of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
It remains unclear what causes an ASD, but most risk factors are genetic. When one identical twin develops an ASD, then 82% to 92% of the time the other one (who shares the same genes) will also develop the disorder. The concordance rate drops to 10% or less in fraternal twins, who share only some genes.
Learning More About Autism
Cases of autism are on the rise across the country. And many Indians find they have more questions than answers regarding this mental disorder.
Autism is not one single disorder, but refers to a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders. At one end of the spectrum are children with little impairment. At the other end, children can be severely limited in their communication skills and social abilities.
"It affects individuals differently and to varying degrees, says Dr. Chris P. Johnson, pediatric specialist and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Dispelling Myths About Autism
The boy continually flicks his hand while ignoring everything around him. He seems locked in his own world. He suffers from a condition called autism. A recent article in Pediatrics reported that about one in 91 children has autism spectrum disorder. Autism is more prevalent in boys than girls, with four times as many boys affected than girls. It usually shows up before a child turns 3. An autistic child may not speak or may simply mimic sounds. He may be prone to bizarre gestures and often rejects physical contact. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children should be screened for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 18 months and 24 months, regardless of whether there are any signs or concerns about a child's developmental progress
When psychiatrist Bryna Seigel, Ph.D., began working with autistic children, experts thought that mothers could cause autism by not giving their child enough hugs. She helped dispel this belief by showing that autism was a neurological condition.
What is Autism?
Most infants and young children love to be held and cuddled. This helps them form close bonds with their parents and other caregivers. But children with autism may resist being touched. And they may often seem remote and withdrawn. Some may never learn to talk. Although there is no cure for autism, many children with the disorder can be greatly helped.
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is an illness that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. It differs from bulimia because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food via vomiting, laxative abuse, or diuretic abuse.
Who is affected by binge eating disorder?
Individuals with binge eating disorder often:
Eat large quantities of food.
Do not stop eating until they are uncomfortably full.
Have a history of weight fluctuations.
Have more difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people with other serious weight problems.
Binge eating disorder is found in about 2 to 3 percent of the general population, and is more often seen in women than men.
What are complications of binge eating disorder?
Medical complications that may result from binge eating disorder include, but are not limited to, the following:
Overweight or obesity
Increased risk for the following:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Gallbladder disease
Heart disease
Some types of cancer
Increased risk for psychiatric illnesses--particularly depression
People with binge eating disorder (and bulimia) typically consume huge amounts of food at one time--often junk food--to reduce stress and relieve anxiety.
With binge eating, however, comes guilt and depression.
Purging brings relief that is only temporary.
Individuals with bulimia are usually impulsive and more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as abuse of alcohol and drugs.
Biochemistry and eating disorders
To understand eating disorders, researchers have studied the neuroendocrine system, which is made up of a combination of the central nervous and hormonal systems.
The neuroendocrine system regulates multiple functions of the mind and body. It has been found that many of the following regulatory mechanisms may be, to some degree, disturbed in persons with eating disorders:
Sexual function
Physical growth and development
Appetite and digestion
Sleep
Heart function
Kidney function
Emotions
Thinking
Memory
Eating disorders and depression
Many people with eating disorders also appear to suffer from depression, and it is believed that there may be a link between these two disorders. For example:
In the central nervous system, chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters control hormone production. The neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine have been discovered to have decreased levels in both acutely ill anorexia and bulimia patients, and long-term recovered anorexia patients.
Research has shown that some patients with anorexia may respond well to antidepressant medication that affects serotonin function in the body.
People with anorexia, or certain forms of depression, seem to have higher than normal levels of cortisol, a brain hormone released in response to stress. It has been shown that the excess levels of cortisol in both persons with anorexia and in persons with depression are caused by a problem that occurs in, or near, the hypothalamus of the brain.
Biochemical similarities have been discovered between people with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and patients with OCD frequently have abnormal eating behaviors.
Genetic and environmental factors related to eating disorders
Because eating disorders tend to run in families, and female relatives are the most often affected, genetic factors are believed to play a role in the disorders.
But, other influences, both behavioral and environmental, may also play a role.
Although most victims of anorexia and bulimia are adolescent and young adult women, these illnesses can also strike men and older women.
People pursuing professions or activities that emphasize thinness, such as modeling, dancing, gymnastics, wrestling, and long-distance running, are more susceptible to these disorders
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that is characterized by cycling mood changes from intense mania or euphoria to episodes of depression. Bipolar disorder is classified as a mood disorder, which seriously affects a person’s mood and interferes with a person’s ability to function effectively in everyday life. Bipolar disorder occurs in equal numbers in both sexes.
During the periods of intense mania, the person has a very high level of energy, alertness and excitability with an extremely elevated mood. These periods of mania alternate with episodes of depression that includes a low energy level and overwhelming, persistent feelings of sadness and despair.
Some people with bipolar disorder may experience a combination of symptoms of mania and depression called a mixed state. In some cases, there can be a rapid shifting from symptoms of mania to symptoms of depression called rapid cycling.
There is no specific cure for bipolar disorder, but the good news is that bipolar disorder is treatable. Treatment of bipolar disorder varies depending on the severity of the condition, and your medical history, age, and general health. Treatment generally includes a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
Complications of bipolar disorder can be serious, even life threatening, and include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts and, in extreme cases, suicide attempts. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with or know, are delirious, delusional, or are having or expressing feelings of wanting to hurt or kill oneself or another person.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
The severity and types of symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person but generally affect mood, energy and functioning. Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of intense mania or euphoria that alternate with episodes of depression. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can seriously interfere with a person’s ability to function normally in relationships and activities of everyday life, such as work, school, social activities, and self-care....
CAUSES
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, but there may a genetic link to the disorder. Most people with bipolar disorder have a close relative with bipolar disorder or with depression. Bipolar disorder is also sometimes associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain or hormonal deficiencies....
TREATMENTS
How is bipolar disorder treated?
The overall treatment goal for people living with bipolar disorder is to minimize mood swings and other symptoms so that they can live functional and productive lives. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, and treatment generally needs to be lifelong to most effectively control symptoms. The most effective treatment plans employ a multifaceted approach
What is borderline personality disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is a condition characterized by long-term mood instability that can disrupt relationships and lead to frequent changes in goals, values and self-identity. People who have borderline personality disorder have a tendency to see things as all bad or all good, and their views about specific people and conditions can fluctuate from one extreme to the other. Suicide attempts and self-injury without suicidal intent are both common. Coexisting psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, other personality disorders, or drug and alcohol abuse, may be present.
Although the cause of borderline personality disorder is not known, it seems to be more common in those whose childhood or adolescence involved abandonment, neglect, separation, disruption, physical or sexual abuse, or poor communication within their families. Borderline personality disorder accounts for 20% of psychiatric hospitalizations, and it is more common in women. It is estimated that about 2% of adults are affected by this disorder (Source: NIMH).
People who have borderline personality disorder often fear abandonment. They may be sensitive to rejection and may meet even minor disappointments with anger. They may respond to perceived abandonment by threatening suicide or self-harm. Relationships may start with intense attachments and admiration, only to end abruptly with profound animosity and devaluation. Impulsive spending and sexual activity, bingeing, and drug use may occur.
The foundation of treatment for borderline personality disorder is psychotherapy, which is often at least partially effective. It may initially focus on self-destructive behaviors, and may start in the hospital if suicide is a concern. Longer-term therapy may include discussion of current and past issues, working on coping skills, and changing thoughts and behaviors. Medications can be helpful and may include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or antipsychotics, depending on the person’s symptoms.
Self-harm and suicidal behavior, threats, and dangerous actions are common in people who have borderline personality disorder. Seek immediate medical care for behavior or actions that could be dangerous, including threatening, irrational or suicidal behavior.
Seek prompt medical care if you are concerned about possible borderline personality disorder or if you are being treated for borderline personality disorder but symptoms recur or are persistent.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder?
Long-term mood instability, which can disrupt relationships and lead to frequent changes in goals, values, relationships and self-identity, is a common symptom of borderline personality disorder....
CAUSES
What causes borderline personality disorder?
The cause of borderline personality disorder is not known. It is more common in people whose childhood or adolescence involved abandonment, neglect, separation, disruption, physical or sexual abuse, or poor communications within their families....
TREATMENTS
How is borderline personality disorder treated?
Psychotherapy forms the foundation of treatment of borderline personality disorder. Medications may be used to treat mood instability, Depression, or disordered thinking. Although borderline personality disorder can be difficult to treat, many people improve with therapy. A type of psychotherapy designed specifically for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, called dialectical behavior therapy, has shown promise in clinical trials..
What is bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa, usually referred to as bulimia, is defined as uncontrolled episodes of overeating (bingeing) and usually followed by purging (self-induced vomiting), misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications that cause increased production of urine, fasting, or excessive exercise to control weight. Bingeing, in this situation, is defined as eating much larger amounts of food than would normally be consumed within a short period of time (usually less than two hours).
What causes bulimia?
The cause of bulimia is not known. Factors believed to contribute to the development of bulimia include cultural ideals and social attitudes toward body appearance, self-valuation based on body weight and shape, and family problems.
Who is affected by bulimia?
The majority of bulimics are female, adolescent, and from a high socioeconomic group. All westernized industrial countries have reported incidence of bulimia. An estimated 0.1 to 1.5 percent of the Indian population are reported to have bulimia. Adolescents who develop bulimia are more likely to come from families with a history of eating disorders, physical illness, and other mental health problems, such as mood disorders or substance abuse. Other mental health problems, such as anxiety disorders, or mood disorders, are commonly found in persons with bulimia.
Family, friends, and doctors may have difficulty detecting bulimia in someone they know because they binge and purge in secret. Often, they are able to maintain normal or above normal body weight, but hide their problem from others for years. Many individuals with bulimia do not seek help until they reach the ages of 30 or 50--when their eating behavior is deeply ingrained and more difficult to change.
What are some common characteristics of persons with bulimia?
Most people with eating disorders share certain personality traits and use abnormal eating rituals as a means of handling stress and anxiety. These personality traits often include, but are not limited to, the following:
Low self-esteem
Feelings of helplessness
Fear of becoming fat
People with bulimia (and binge eating disorder) typically consume huge amounts of food--often junk food--to reduce stress and relieve anxiety.
With binge eating, however, comes guilt and depression.
Purging brings relief that is only temporary.
Individuals with bulimia are usually impulsive and more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as abuse of alcohol and drugs.
What are the different types of bulimia?
There are two subgroups of anorexic behavior aimed at reducing caloric intake, including the following:
Purging type. This type regularly engages in self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas, or other cathartics (medications, through their chemical effects, that serve to increase the clearing of intestinal contents).
Nonpurging type. This type uses other inappropriate behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, rather than regularly engaging in purging behaviors to reduce caloric absorption of excessive amounts of food by the body.
What are the symptoms of bulimia?
The following are the most common symptoms of bulimia. However, each individual may experience signs differently. Symptoms may include:
Usually a normal or low body weight (sees self as overweight)
Recurrent episodes of binge eating (rapid consumption of excessive amounts of food in a relatively short period of time; often secretive) , coupled with fearful feelings of not being able to stop eating during the bingeing episodes
Self-induced vomiting (usually secretive)
Excessive exercise or fasting
Peculiar eating habits or rituals
Inappropriate use of laxatives, diuretics, or other cathartics
Irregular or absence of menstruation
Anxiety
Discouraged feelings related to dissatisfaction with themselves and their bodily appearance
Depression
Preoccupation with food, weight, and body shape
Scarring on the back of the fingers from the process of self-induced vomiting
Overachieving behaviors
The symptoms of bulimia may resemble other medical problems or psychiatric conditions. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
What is conduct disorder (CD)?
Conduct disorder is a behavior disorder, sometimes diagnosed in childhood, that is characterized by antisocial behaviors which violate the rights of others and age-appropriate social standards and rules. Antisocial behaviors may include irresponsibility, delinquent behaviors (such as truancy or running away), violating the rights of others (such as theft), and/or physical aggression toward others (such as assault or rape). These behaviors sometimes occur together; however, one or several may occur without the other(s).
What causes conduct disorder?
The conditions that contribute to the development of conduct disorder are considered to be multifactorial, with many factors (multifactorial) contributing to the cause. Neuropsychological testing has shown that children and adolescents with conduct disorders seem to have an impairment in the frontal lobe of the brain that interferes with their ability to plan, avoid harm, and learn from negative experiences. Childhood temperament is considered to have a genetic basis. Children or adolescents who are considered to have a difficult temperament are more likely to develop behavior problems. Children or adolescents from disadvantaged, dysfunctional, and disorganized home environments are more likely to develop conduct disorders. Social problems and peer group rejection have been found to contribute to delinquency. Low socioeconomic status has been associated with conduct disorders. Children and adolescents exhibiting delinquent and aggressive behaviors have distinctive cognitive and psychological profiles when compared to children with other mental health problems and control groups. All of the possible contributing factors influence how children and adolescents interact with other people.
Who is affected by conduct disorder?
The disorder is more common in boys than in girls. Children and adolescents with conduct disorders often have other psychiatric problems as well that may be a contributing factor to the development of the conduct disorder. The prevalence of conduct disorders has increased over recent decades. Aggressive behavior is the reason for one-third to one-half of the referrals made to child and adolescent mental health services.
What are the symptoms of conduct disorder?
Most symptoms seen in children with conduct disorder also occur at times in children without this disorder. However, in children with conduct disorder, these symptoms occur more frequently and interfere with learning, school adjustment, and, sometimes, with the child's relationships with others.
The following are the most common symptoms of conduct disorder. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. The four main groups of behaviors include the following:
Aggressive conduct. Aggressive conduct causes or threatens physical harm to others and may include the following:
Intimidating behavior
Bullying
Physical fights
Cruelty to others or animals
Use of a weapon(s)
Forcing someone into sexual activity, rape, molestation
Destructive conduct. Destructive conduct may include the following:
Vandalism; intentional destruction to property
Arson
Deceitfulness. Deceitful behavior may include the following:
Lying
Theft
Shoplifting
Delinquency
Violation of rules. Violation of ordinary rules of conduct or age-appropriate norms may include the following:
Truancy (failure to attend school)
Running away
Pranks
Mischief
Very early sexual activity
The symptoms of conduct disorder may resemble other medical conditions or behavioral problems. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.
How is conduct disorder diagnosed?
A child psychiatrist or a qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses conduct disorders in children and adolescents. A detailed history of the child's behavior from parents and teachers, observations of the child's behavior, and, sometimes, psychological testing contribute to the diagnosis. Parents who note symptoms of conduct disorder in their child or teen can help by seeking an evaluation and treatment early. Early treatment can often prevent future problems.
Could You Be Depressed?
Everyone gets down in the dumps sometimes. But when those feelings are persistent and affect your daily life--interfering with work, school, and close relationships--depression could be to blame. Bad breakups, losing a job, the death of a loved one--all can trigger depression. But traumatic events aren't the only cause. It can also be brought on by stress, diet, or medical conditions. And depression can be a family affair, inherited through genes or learned by behavior.
Treatment: Taking Action
I have always resented that commercial urging us to "just do it." For people with depression, it's insulting — and useless — because the smallest task can seem like a huge obstacle. There are many times in life when moving forward requires bearing discomfort. Transitions from middle school to high school to college, or from one job to another, challenge us to master new skills. But people with depression sometimes have a tougher time during these periods because they have less confidence than the average person or because of their talent for imagining the worst — not because they are less capable than anyone else.
Learn more about treatment for depression ›
Living with Depression
Recognize that a depressive disorder is more than the blues. Without treatment, depression can last for weeks, months, even years. The first step is to see your primary care physician. A big reason to head to the doc: Some medications and medical conditions can cause symptoms that seem like depression. Your doctor will work to rule out these possibilities.
What is drug abuse?
Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter medications in ways other than recommended or intended. It also includes intentional inhalation of household or industrial chemicals for their mind-altering effects. Tobacco use and problem drinking are sometimes included in the definition of drug abuse. Chemical abuse and substance abuse are terms sometimes used interchangeably with the term drug abuse, or they may be used to refer to a combination of drug abuse and tobacco use or problem drinking.
Many drugs that are abused are also addictive; they cause cravings and a continued desire to use them despite negative consequences. Drug abuse can start in childhood and continue in adulthood. Studies of high school students indicate that approximately 42% drink alcohol, 21% use marijuana, and 3% use cocaine. Approximately 12% have used inhalants, and 20% have abused prescription drugs (Source: CDC).
People who abuse drugs may take them initially out of curiosity, to escape, to feel good, due to peer pressure, or for a variety of other reasons. Drugs can affect a number of different organs, and complications can result from damage to the brain or to other parts of the body. Other negative consequences often result from the effects drugs have on a person’s mind, as well as actions an individual may take while under their influence.
Treatment can be on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on the drug being abused, whether addiction is present, and whether there are coexisting health or psychological problems. Supervised withdrawal, also called detoxification (or detox), may be necessary if physical symptoms are common when the drug is stopped. Medications may be used to decrease cravings, counteract the effects of the drug, or to cause unpleasant reactions if the drug is used. Behavioral therapy is commonly an important part of treatment, providing skills, helping change attitudes and behaviors, and helping maintain recovery.
Drug abuse can have serious, even life-threatening, complications, such as drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, trauma, and suicidal or violent behavior. Seek immediate medical care for serious symptoms, including threatening, irrational or suicidal behavior; serious injury; respiratory or breathing problems; rapid, slow or absent pulse; chest pain or tightness; persistent vomiting; cold, clammy, or hot, dry skin; severe abdominal pain; seizure; or confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment.
Seek prompt medical care if you think you might have a problem with drugs.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of drug abuse?
Symptoms of drug abuse include those of intoxication and those related to unfulfilled responsibilities and the social consequences of drug use...
CAUSES
What causes drug abuse?
The cause of drug abuse is not known, nor is it understood why some people can abuse drugs briefly and stop without difficulty, whereas others continue using drugs despite undesirable consequences. Biological factors, such as genetics and the presence of other psychiatric disorders, may play a role, as may environmental factors, such as peer pressure, history of abuse, and Stress, and developmental factors, such as the timing of drug exposure....
TREATMENTS
How is drug abuse treated?
The goals of drug abuse treatment are aimed at stopping drug-seeking and use, preventing complications of drug withdrawal, rehabilitation, maintaining abstinence, and preventing relapse. Treatment depends on the drug being abused, whether addiction is present, and whether there are coexisting health or psychological problems...
What is dysthymia?
Dysthymia, also known as dysthymic disorder, is classified as a type of affective disorder (also called mood disorder) that often resembles a less severe, yet more chronic form of major (clinical) depression. However, persons with dysthymia may also experience major depressive episodes at times.
Depression is a mood disorder that involves a person's body, mood, and thoughts. It can affect and disrupt eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns, and is not the same as being unhappy or in a "blue" mood, nor is it a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Treatment is often necessary and many times crucial to recovery.
There are three primary types of depression, including:
Major depression (clinical depression)
Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
Dysthymic disorder (dysthymia)
Who is affected by dysthymia?
Dysthymia affects women twice as often as men. Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent--or 3.3 million American adults age 18 years of age or older--during their lifetime. According to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, about 40 percent of adults with dysthymic disorder also meet criteria for major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in a given year.
What are the symptoms of dysthymia?
Although less severe, yet more chronic than major depression, the following are the most common symptoms of dysthymia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
Loss of interest in activities once previously enjoyed
Excessive crying
Increased restlessness and irritability
Decreased ability to concentrate and make decisions
Decreased energy
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
Increased feelings of guilt, helplessness, and/or hopelessness
Weight and/or appetite changes due to over- or under-eating
Changes in sleep patterns
Social withdrawal
Physical symptoms unrealized by standard treatment (i.e., chronic pain, headaches)
For a diagnosis of dysthymia to be made, an adult must exhibit a depressed mood for at least two years (one year in children and adolescents), accompanied by at least two other depressive symptoms (noted above). The symptoms of dysthymia may resemble other psychiatric conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.
How is dysthymia diagnosed?
Because depression has shown to often coexist with other medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, and other psychiatric disorders, such as substance abuse, or anxiety disorders, seeking early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to recovery. A diagnosis is often made after a careful psychiatric examination and medical history performed by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.
Treatment for dysthymia
Specific treatment for dysthymia will be determined by your health care provider based on:
Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the condition
Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference
Treatment may include either, or a combination, of the following:
Antidepressant medications (especially when combined with psychotherapy has shown to be very effective in the treatment of depression)
Psychotherapy (most often cognitive-behavioral and/or interpersonal therapy that is focused on changing the individual's distorted views of themselves and the environment around them, working through difficult relationships, and identifying stressors in the environment and how to avoid them)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Because episodes of dysthymia usually last for longer than five years, long-term treatment of the disorder may be necessary.
What are hallucinations?
Hallucinations are sensations or perceptions that occur in a wakeful state and seem real, but are created by the brain. Hallucinations may be seen, heard, smelled, felt or tasted. They can be pleasant or threatening and may be related to sensations, imagery, or events of the past, or they may be unrelated to experiences. Common hallucinations include hearing voices; seeing objects, lights or people who are not there; and the sensation of crawling skin.
Hallucinations are different than delusions, vision changes, and dreams. Delusions are related to thought processes and conclusions. Vision changes, such as floaters, spots, and flashes of light, can be caused by conditions of your eye. Dreams occur while you are asleep.
Hallucinations are associated with some psychiatric disorders or medical conditions. Psychiatric conditions associated with hallucinations include schizophrenia, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders, psychotic depression, and bipolar disorder. Medical conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as brain tumors, delirium, dementia, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, and stroke, can be associated with hallucinations. Hallucinations can also be experienced with high fevers.
Some people abuse certain medications and substances because those items can cause hallucinations. Other substances, such as alcohol, can cause hallucinations when used in large quantities or during withdrawal. Hallucinations can be side effects of some medications and may occur with visual or hearing loss. Sleep deprivation or severe fatigue can also cause hallucinations.
Hallucinations can be symptoms of serious and even life-threatening conditions. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, experience hallucinations that cannot be distinguished from reality, or that are accompanied by bluish coloration of the lips or fingernails; chest pain or pressure; cold, clammy or dry, hot skin; confusion or loss of consciousness for even a moment; high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit); persistent vomiting; rapid, slow or absent pulse; respiratory or breathing problems, such as rapid or slow breathing, shortness of breath, or no breathing; seizure; serious injury; severe abdominal pain; or threatening, irrational or suicidal behavior.
Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for a condition that causes hallucinations and your symptoms are persistent, worsen, or otherwise cause you concern.
SYMPTOMS
What other symptoms might occur with hallucinations?
Hallucinations may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the brain may also involve other body systems....
CAUSES
What causes hallucinations?
The specific cause of hallucinations is not known, but they can be associated with some psychiatric disorders or medical conditions. Substance Abuse, medication side effects, sensory loss, sleep deprivation, and severe Fatigue can also be associated with hallucinations...
What is malaise?
Malaise is a general feeling of being unwell, either emotionally or physically, or a combination of the two. Almost any medical or emotional condition can bring on feelings of malaise.
Long-term (chronic) conditions, such as anemia (low red blood cell count) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), may cause malaise in addition to such conditions as infections, cancers, arthritis, kidney diseases, lung diseases, or other illnesses. Short-term (acute) conditions, such as a urinary tract infection or viral respiratory infection, may also lead to malaise.
Malaise can be associated with depression and fatigue. Depression is defined as feeling blue, miserable or sad. You may occasionally experience mild depression and that is normal. Fatigue is characterized by a lack of energy and feeling tired. Again, you may occasionally experience mild fatigue and this is normal. However, long-term depression, often called clinical depression, and chronic fatigue can be characterized as malaise and may indicate more serious emotional or psychological problems.
Stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet are all factors that worsen malaise.
Malaise that is related to an acute condition, such as an illness that is caused by an infection, may require emergency attention. Seek immediate medical care if you experience malaise along with other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or cramping, high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit) and chills, chest pain or pressure, muscle weakness or paralysis, or difficulty breathing.
Seek prompt medical care if you experience enduring malaise to determine whether your malaise is related to a chronic medical condition.
SYMPTOMS
What other symptoms might occur with malaise?
Malaise may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Malaise that is related to a physical disorder may differ from malaise that is related to an emotional or psychological condition in terms of the symptoms it causes....
CAUSES
What causes malaise?
Malaise can result from a wide variety of physical and emotional disturbances
What is nervous breakdown?
A nervous breakdown refers to an acute attack of anxiety that disrupts your daily life. Nervous breakdowns are part of a family of mental disorders known as anxiety disorders. Nervous breakdowns can happen when you are experiencing sudden, extreme, or prolonged stress. When a nervous breakdown happens, you may feel like you lose control of your feelings and give in to stress, anxiety, or worry.
Symptoms of a nervous breakdown include feelings of worry, nervousness, fear, anxiety, or stress. They can also include sweating, crying, fast thinking, muscle tension, trembling, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, irritability, and insomnia. Unlike panic attacks, which can happen suddenly and without apparent reason, nervous breakdowns are usually related to some sort of stress.
The cause of a nervous breakdown is usually an excessive stress response by the body. They can also result from a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters, substances that control brain and nerve signaling. Nervous breakdowns can happen to anyone, but are more likely if you have a personal history of anxiety disorders or if you are experiencing a period of high stress in your life.
Treatment for nervous breakdowns may be as simple as modifying your lifestyle to include more sleep and relaxation. Therapy, such as talk therapy, may also be helpful when confronting stressful periods of your life or stressful memories. In some cases, medications may be required to help you cope with your anxiety. With the use of therapy and medications, nervous breakdowns can usually be avoided or managed.
Seek immediate medical care for serious symptoms, such as thoughts of self-harm or suicide, inability to care for your basic needs, or thoughts of harming others.
Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for an anxiety disorder and symptoms persist or worsen.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of nervous breakdown?
Symptoms of nervous breakdown include negative feelings, such as feelings of nervousness and stress. Nervous breakdowns usually correspond to a period of high stress in your life, or a time when you feel like you just can’t take any more...
CAUSES
What causes nervous breakdown?
Nervous breakdowns are caused by your body’s stress response. In some cases, your body reacts inappropriately to stress, or you are faced with so much stress that your body cannot react appropriately. In these cases, you can feel excess anxiety that can lead to a nervous breakdown....
TREATMENTS
How is nervous breakdown treated?
Nervous breakdowns may be treatable by lifestyle modifications such as practicing regular relaxation or learning breathing techniques to practice when you feel stress coming on. In some cases, however, especially when nervous breakdowns are related to an anxiety disorder, medication may be required to treat your nervous breakdown. Therapy, such as talk therapy, is also helpful for many people
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an unreasonable thought, fear, or worry that he or she tries to manage through a ritualized activity to reduce the anxiety. Frequently occurring disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions, and the rituals performed to try to prevent or dispel them are called compulsions.
What are obsessions, as they relate to OCD?
Obsessions are irrational thoughts, fears, or worries that frequently recur and cause great anxiety, but cannot be controlled through reasoning. Common obsessions include the following:
An extreme preoccupation with dirt or germs
Repeated doubts (for example, about having turned off the burners on a stove)
A need to have things in a very particular order
Thoughts about violence or hurting someone
Spending long periods of time touching things or counting
Preoccupation with order or symmetry
Persistent thoughts of performing repugnant sexual acts
Troubled by thoughts that are against personal religious beliefs
Although an individual with an obsession realizes that the thoughts are unreasonable and not related to real-life problems, this knowledge is not enough to make the unwanted thoughts go away.
In an attempt to get rid of the obsessive thoughts, people with OCD engage in compulsive behavior.
What are compulsions, as they relate to OCD?
Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized behaviors enacted to reduce anxiety caused by the obsession(s). Examples of compulsions include:
Repeated hand washing (often 100+ times a day)
Checking and rechecking (repeatedly) to ensure that a door is locked or that the oven is turned off
Following rigid rules of order (for instance, putting on clothes in the very same sequence every day, alphabetizing the spices in the spice cabinet, and becoming upset if the order becomes disrupted)
Compulsive behaviors can become excessive, disruptive, and time-consuming, and may interfere with daily activities and relationships.
Who is affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder?
OCD affects approximately 2.2 American adults. OCD often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but can also first occur in childhood. OCD affects men and women equally, and appears to run in families. It is not unusual for other anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, or substance abuse to accompany OCD. People may avoid situations in which they might have to confront their obsessions, or try unsuccessfully to use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.
How is OCD diagnosed?
The disorder is diagnosed only when such activities:
Consume at least one hour each day.
Are very distressing.
Interfere with daily life.
Always see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder:
Specific treatment for OCD will be determined by your doctor based on:
Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the disease
Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disease
Your opinion or preference
Treatment may include:
Medication
Psychological treatment (for instance, cognitive behavioral or behavioral therapy
What is oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)?
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavior disorder, usually diagnosed in childhood, that is characterized by uncooperative, defiant, negativistic, irritable, and annoying behaviors toward parents, peers, teachers, and other authority figures. Children and adolescents with ODD are more distressing or troubling to others than they are distressed or troubled themselves.
What causes oppositional defiant disorder?
While the cause of ODD is not known, there are two primary theories offered to explain the development of ODD. A developmental theory suggests that the problems begin when children are toddlers. Children and adolescents who develop ODD may have had a difficult time learning to separate and become autonomous from the primary person to whom they were emotionally attached. The "bad attitudes" characteristic of ODD are viewed as a continuation of the normal developmental issues that were not adequately resolved during the toddler years. Learning theory suggests, however, that the negativistic characteristics of ODD are learned attitudes, reflecting the effects of negative reinforcement techniques used by parents and authority figures. The use of negative reinforcement by parents is viewed as increasing the rate and intensity of oppositional behaviors in the child as it achieves the desired attention, time, concern, and interaction with parents or authority figures.
Who is affected by oppositional defiant disorder?
Behavior disorders, as a category, are, by far, the most common reason for referrals to mental health services for children and adolescents. Oppositional defiant disorder is reported to affect 1 to 16 percent of the school-age population. ODD is more common in boys than in girls.
What are the symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder?
Most symptoms seen in children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder also occur at times in children without this disorder, especially around the ages or two or three, or during the teenage years. Many children, especially when they are tired, hungry, or upset, tend to disobey, argue with parents, or defy authority. However, in children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder, these symptoms occur more frequently and interfere with learning, school adjustment, and, sometimes, with the child's relationships with others.
Symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder may include:
Frequent temper tantrums
Excessive arguments with adults
Refusal to comply with adult requests
Always questioning rules; refusal to follow rules
Behavior intended to annoy or upset others, including adults
Blaming others for his/her misbehaviors or mistakes
Easily annoyed by others
Frequently has an angry attitude
Speaking harshly, or unkindly
Seeking revenge
The symptoms of ODD may resemble other medical conditions or behavior problems. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.
How is oppositional defiant disorder diagnosed?
Parents, teachers, and other authority figures in child and adolescent settings often identify the child or adolescent with ODD. However, a child psychiatrist or a qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses ODD in children and adolescents. A detailed history of the child's behavior from parents and teachers, clinical observations of the child's behavior, and, sometimes, psychological testing contribute to the diagnosis. Parents who note symptoms of ODD in their child or teen can help by seeking an evaluation and treatment early. Early treatment can often prevent future problems.
Further, oppositional defiant disorder often coexists with other mental health disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, increasing the need for early diagnosis and treatment. Consult your child's doctor for more information.
Treatment for oppositional defiant disorder
Specific treatment for children with oppositional defiant disorder will be determined by your child's doctor based on:
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden attack of anxiety that may occur as part of another anxiety disorder. Panic attacks may happen due to stress or for a reason not known. A panic attack is a period of extreme panic (you may feel frozen in place) that lasts for about five to 30 minutes.
Symptoms of a panic attack include tightening of the throat, pressure in the chest, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), dizziness, sweating, trembling, nausea, tingling or numbness, and hot flashes. You may feel like you are in a dream, like you have no control over your body, or like you are going crazy. Panic attacks happen unexpectedly. Sometimes, panic attacks can be mistaken for heart attacks.
The cause of panic attacks is not known. In some cases, panic attacks and anxiety disorders may be hereditary. They may also be linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Women are more likely than men to have panic attacks. Usually, panic disorders, in which a person has repeated panic attacks, are diagnosed before age 30 (Source: PubMedHealth).
There is no cure for panic attacks, but they can be treated. The goal of treating panic attacks is to lessen their frequency and severity. Usually, treatment includes psychotherapy and medication. Medications may include antidepressants and anticonvulsants (seizure medications). It is also important to get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly to lessen your likelihood of having a panic attack.
Seek immediate medical care for serious symptoms, such as sweating, severe difficulty breathing, and chest pain or pressure, which may be combined with pale or blue lips, fast heart rate, and anxiety. While these are symptoms of a panic attack, they may also be symptoms of a heart attack.
Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for an anxiety disorder and are experiencing panic attacks.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of a panic attack?
Symptoms of a panic attack include sudden, intense feelings of panic. Panic attacks may last anywhere from five to30 minutes. It may take up to an hour to recover from a panic attack....
CAUSES
What causes panic attacks?
The underlying cause of panic attacks is not known. They can occur randomly, or can be triggered by situations or things that make you anxious. In some cases, it is thought that panic attacks and anxiety disorders are hereditary. In other cases, they may be related to a brain injury or infection....
TREATMENTS
How are panic attacks treated?
Panic attacks are usually treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both. While there is no cure for panic attacks, these treatments are usually effective at managing symptoms, allowing you to lead a normal, healthy life...
What is paranoia?
Paranoia refers to feelings of distrust, suspicion, or persecution that are not based in reality. Paranoia is a kind of delusion in which a person thinks he or she is being singled out in a negative way. People with paranoia will look for evidence to prove they are being singled out, and refuse to see that they have an exaggerated view of their own significance.
The exact cause of paranoia is not known. Paranoia is more common in men than in women, though the exact prevalence of paranoia is not known. Paranoia is a mental and emotional symptom of many types of mental illness, including paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. There are many types of paranoia.
Paranoia is characterized by delusions that others have hidden motives or a wish to harm you, feelings of mistrust and hostility, a sense of being persecuted, and social isolation and withdrawal. Paranoia should be evaluated by a mental health care practitioner. It is often difficult to treat paranoia, because people with paranoia are frequently suspicious of medical intervention.
For those who do receive treatment, therapy and medication may help to reduce feelings of paranoia. Usually, paranoia occurs as part of a personality disorder or mental illness, so full treatment depends on the underlying disorder. Untreated paranoia may lead to social isolation and absenteeism from work or school.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience paranoia along with hearing voices or seeing things that are not real (hallucinations), if you are unable to care for your basic needs, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others.
If your paranoia is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care.
SYMPTOMS
What other symptoms might occur with paranoia?
Paranoia may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Mental and emotional symptoms such as paranoia may be a sign of a complicated mental illness....
CAUSES
What causes paranoia?
The exact cause of paranoia is not known. It may be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, heredity, Stress, or a traumatic life event. In some cases it may be due to injury or infection of the brain. Usually, paranoia is a symptom of a mental illness..
What are personality disorders?
For persons without a personality disorder, personality traits are patterns of thinking, reacting, and behaving that remain relatively consistent and stable over time. Persons with a personality disorder display more rigid and maladaptive thinking and reacting behaviors that often disrupt their personal, professional, and social lives.
What are the most common types of personality disorders?
Generally, personality disorders are divided into three subtypes (or clusters), and include the following:
Subtype
Classification
Cluster A:
odd/eccentric
Cluster B:
dramatic/erratic
Cluster C:
anxious/inhibited
Examples of odd/eccentric (Cluster A) personality disorders:
paranoid personality disorder
Persons with this disorder are often cold, distant, and unable to form close, interpersonal relationships. Often overly, yet unjustifiably, suspicious of their surroundings, persons with paranoid personality disorder generally cannot see their role in conflict situations and often project their feelings of paranoia as anger onto others.
schizoid personality disorder
Persons with this disorder are often cold, distant, introverted, and have an intense fear of intimacy and closeness. Persons with schizoid personality disorder are often too absorbed in their own thinking and daydreaming that they exclude themselves from attachment with persons and reality.
schizotypal personality disorder
Similar to schizoid personality disorder, persons with this disorder are often cold, distant, introverted, and have an intense fear of intimacy and closeness. Yet, with schizotypal personality disorder, persons also exhibit disordered thinking, perception, and ineffective communication skills. Many symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder resemble schizophrenia, but are less mild and intrusive.
Examples of dramatic/erratic (Cluster B) personality disorders:
borderline personality disorder
Persons with this disorder present instability in their perceptions of themselves, and have difficulty maintaining stable relationships. Moods may also be inconsistent, but never neutral - their sense of reality is always seen in "black and white." Persons with borderline personality disorder often feel as though they lacked a certain level of nurturing while growing up and, as a result, incessantly seek a higher level of caretaking from others as adults. This may be achieved through manipulation of others, leaving them often feeling empty, angry, and abandoned, which may lead to desperate and impulsive behavior.
antisocial personality disorder
Persons with this disorder characteristically disregard the feelings, property, authority, and respect of others, for their own personal gain. This may include violent or aggressive acts involving or targeting other individuals, without a sense or remorse or guilt for any of their destructive actions.
narcissistic personality disorder
Persons with this disorder present severely overly-inflated feelings of self-worth, grandiosity, and superiority over others. Persons with narcissistic personality disorder often exploit others who fail to admire them, and are overly sensitive to criticism, judgment, and defeat.
histrionic personality disorder
Persons with this disorder are overly conscious of their appearance, are constantly seeking attention, and often behave dramatically in situations that do not warrant this type of reaction. The emotional expressions of persons with histrionic personality disorder are often judged as superficial and exaggerated.
Examples of anxious/inhibited (Cluster C) personality disorders:
dependent personality disorder
Persons with this disorder rely heavily on others for validation and fulfillment of basic needs. Often unable to properly care for themselves, persons with dependent personality disorder lack self confidence and security, and are deficient in making decisions.
avoidant personality disorder
Persons with this disorder are hypersensitive to rejection and thus, avoid situations with any potential for conflict. This reaction is fear-driven, however, persons with avoidant personality disorder become disturbed by their own social isolation, withdrawal, and inability to form close, interpersonal relationships.
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Persons with this disorder are inflexible to change and bothered by a disrupted routine due to their obsession for order. Thus, they experience anxiety and have trouble completing tasks and making decisions. Persons with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often become uncomfortable in situations that are beyond their control and have difficulty maintaining positive, healthy interpersonal relationships as a result.
Treatment for personality disorders:
Specific treatment for each personality disorder will be determined by your physician based on:
your age, overall health, and medical history
type and severity of symptoms
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference
Personality disorders are often difficult to treat and may require long-term attention to change the inappropriate behavior and thought patterns. Treatment may include:
medication (although medication may be abused and has limited effectiveness)
psychological treatment (including family involvement)
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. The fear experienced by people with phobias can be so great that some individuals go to extreme lengths to avoid the source of their fear. One extreme response to the source of a phobia can be a panic attack.
Who is affected by phobias?
Every year, approximately millions of Indians experience one or more phobias that range from mild to severe. Phobias can occur in early childhood, but usually are first evident between the ages of 15 and 20 years. They affect both genders equally, although men are more likely to seek treatment for phobias.
What causes phobias?
Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset of phobias. Specific phobias have been associated with a fearful first encounter with the phobic object or situation. The question still exists, however, whether this conditioning exposure is necessary or if phobias can develop in genetically predisposed individuals.
What are the three primary types of phobias?
specific phobia
What is specific phobia?
Specific phobia is characterized by extreme fear of an object or situation that is not harmful under general conditions.
Examples may include a fear of the following:
flying (fearing the plane will crash)
dogs (fearing the dog will bite/attack)
closed-in places (fear of being trapped)
tunnels (fearing a collapse)
heights (fear of falling)
What are the characteristics of specific phobia?
People with specific phobias know that their fear is excessive, but are unable to overcome their emotion. The disorder is diagnosed only when the specific fear interferes with daily activities of school, work, or home life.
Millions Indian adults ages 18 to 54, in a given year, have some type of specific phobia. There is no known cause, although they seem to run in families and are slightly more prevalent in women. If the object of the fear is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel the need to seek treatment. Sometimes, however, they may make important career or personal decisions to avoid a situation that includes the source of the phobia.
Treatment for specific phobia:
There is currently no proven drug treatment for specific phobias, however, in some cases, certain medications may be prescribed to help reduce anxiety symptoms before someone faces a phobic situation.
When phobias interfere with a person's life, treatment can help, and usually involves a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy called desensitization or exposure therapy. In this, patients are gradually exposed to what frightens them until the fear begins to fade. Relaxation and breathing exercises also help to reduce anxiety symptoms.
social phobia
What is social phobia?
Social phobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person has significant anxiety and discomfort related to a fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or scorned by others in social or performance situations. Even when they manage to confront this fear, persons with social phobia usually:
feel very anxious before the event/outing.
feel intensely uncomfortable throughout the event/outing.
have lingering unpleasant feelings after the event/outing.
Social phobia frequently occurs with the following:
public speaking
meeting people
dealing with authority figures
eating in public
using public restrooms
What are the characteristics of social phobia?
Although this disorder is often thought of as shyness, the two are not the same. Shy people can be very uneasy around others, but they do not experience the extreme anxiety in anticipating a social situation - and, they do not necessarily avoid circumstances that make them feel self-conscious. In contrast, people with social phobia are not necessarily shy at all, but can be completely at ease with some people most of the time.
Most people experiencing social phobia will try to avoid situations that provoke dread or otherwise cause them much distress.
Diagnosing social phobia:
Social phobia is diagnosed when the fear or avoidance significantly interferes with normal, expected routines, or is excessively upsetting.
Social phobia disrupts normal life, interfering with career or social relationships. It often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcoholism. Social phobia often begins around early adolescence or even younger. Approximately 15 million American adults ages 18 to 54 experience social phobia in a given year.
Treatment for social phobia:
People who suffer from social phobia often find relief from their symptoms when treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy, or medications, or a combination of the two.
agoraphobia
What is agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is a Greek word that literally means "fear of the marketplace." This anxiety disorder involves the fear of experiencing a panic attack in a place or situation from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing.
The anxiety associated with agoraphobia is so severe that panic attacks are not unusual, and individuals with agoraphobia typically try to avoid the location or cause of their fear. Agoraphobia involves fear of situations such as, but is not limited to, the following:
being alone outside his/her home
being at home alone
being in a crowd
traveling in a vehicle
being in an elevator or on a bridge
People with agoraphobia typically avoid crowded places like streets, crowded stores, churches, and theaters.
What are the characteristics of agoraphobia?
Most people with agoraphobia develop the disorder after first suffering a series of one or more panic attacks. The attacks occur randomly and without warning, and make it impossible for a person to predict what situations will trigger the reaction. This unpredictability of the panic causes the person to anticipate future panic attacks and, eventually, fear any situation in which an attack may occur. As a result, they avoid going into any place or situation where previous panic attacks have occurred.
People with the disorder often become so disabled that they literally feel they cannot leave their homes. Others who have agoraphobia, do go into potentially "phobic" situations, but only with great distress, or when accompanied by a trusted friend or family member.
Persons with agoraphobia may also develop depression, fatigue, tension, alcohol or drug abuse problems, and obsessive disorders, making seeking treatment crucial.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that often follows a terrifying physical or emotional event - causing the person who survived the event to have persistent, frightening thoughts and memories, or flashbacks, of the ordeal. Persons with PTSD often feel chronically, emotionally numb.
PTSD was first brought to public attention by war veterans and was once referred to as "shell shock" or "battle fatigue." The likelihood of developing PTSD depends on the severity and duration of the event, as well as the person's nearness to it.
What triggers PTSD to develop?
The event(s) that triggers PTSD may be:
something that occurred in the person's life.
something that occurred in the life of someone close to him or her.
something the person witnessed.
Examples include:
serious accidents (such as car or train wrecks)
natural disasters (such as floods or earthquakes)
man-made tragedies (such as bombings, a plane crash)
violent personal attacks (such as a mugging, rape, torture, being held captive, or kidnapping)
military combat
abuse in childhood
Characteristics of PTSD:
Persons with PTSD experience extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress when exposed to situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Some may repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day, and may also experience the following:
sleep problems
depression
feeling detached or numb
feeling jittery or "on guard"
being easily startled
loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
trouble feeling affectionate
feeling irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent
avoidance of certain places or situations that bring back memories
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
The following are the most common symptoms of PTSD. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
irritability
violent outbursts
trouble working or socializing
flashbacks or intrusive images
A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, usually believes that the traumatic event is happening all over again.
losing touch with reality
reenacting the event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days
The symptoms of PTSD may resemble other psychiatric conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
How is post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed?
Not every person who experiences a trauma develops PTSD, or experiences symptoms at all. PTSD is diagnosed only if symptoms last more than one month. In those who do have PTSD, symptoms usually begin within three months of the trauma, but can also start months or years later.
PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood, and may be accompanied by the following:
depression
substance abuse
anxiety
The length of the illness varies. Some people recover within six months, others have symptoms that last much longer.
Treatment for PTSD:
Specific treatment for PTSD will be determined by your physician based on:
your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference
As persons with PTSD are more susceptible to other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse, treatment is critical and may include:
medication (i.e., antidepressants and/or anxiety-reducing medications)
psychological treatment
Is It Schizophrenia or Something Else?
It's confusing when your own reality seems out of sync with the rest of the world's view of things. You might jump to the conclusion that the problem is schizophrenia. But other conditions can also cause symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Getting a correct diagnosis is the first—and very important—step toward finding effective help.
Life would be simpler if there were a lab test or brain scan that could definitely tell whether you have schizophrenia. Unfortunately, it's not so easy. To make the diagnosis, a health care professional first evaluates your symptoms, how long they've lasted, and how they affect your daily life. Then the professional considers all possible causes before deciding whether the symptoms are due to schizophrenia or something else.
Does a New Blood Test for Schizophrenia Make the Grade?
Unlike a cholesterol test, which can reveal a definite risk of heart disease, there have never been lab tests to diagnose the risk for or presence of mental health disorders. But that may be changing. Now a blood test called VeriPsych aims to help diagnose people with schizophrenia. The test is new, however, so it's still unclear how well it really works.
VeriPsych is the first blood test designed to aid in diagnosing schizophrenia soon after the first symptoms appear. The test was introduced in the United States in 2010. It analyzes a set of 51 proteins in the blood, called biomarkers. These biomarkers have been linked to brain health and schizophrenia
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder characterized by depression related to a certain season of the year – especially winter. However, SAD is often not described as a separate mood disorder but as a "specifier," referring to the seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes that can occur within major depression and manic depression.
SAD is a clinical diagnosis accepted in the medical community. Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, Chief of Environmental Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, is the researcher credited with discovering SAD.
Who is affected by SAD?
Onset usually occurs during adulthood (with the average onset occurring at approximately age 23), and is four times more likely to affect women than men. According to the National Mental Health Disorders Association, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the population suffers from mild winter SAD, and nearly 5 percent suffer from a more severe form of the disorder.
What are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder?
Two seasonal patterns of symptoms have been identified with SAD: a fall-onset type, also called "winter depression," in which major depressive episodes begin in the late fall to early winter months and remit during the summer months, and a spring-onset type, also called "summer depression," in which the severe depressive episode begins in late spring to early summer. The following are the most common symptoms of SAD. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Increased sleep and daytime drowsiness
Irritability
Fatigue, or low energy level
Decreased sex drive
Diminished concentration
Difficulty thinking clearly
Increased appetite, especially for sweets and carbohydrates causing weight gain
The symptoms of SAD may resemble other psychiatric conditions. Always see your health care provider for a diagnosis.
What causes SAD?
Decreased sunlight is thought to be part of the cause of SAD, and is under clinical investigation.
Treatment for seasonal affective disorder
Specific treatment for SAD will be determined by your health care provider based on:
Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the disease
Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disease
Your opinion or preference
The treatments for "winter depression" and "summer depression" often differ, and may include any, or a combination, of the following:
Light therapy
Antidepressant medications
Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy
What is smoking?
Smoking is an unhealthy behavior that can become an addiction. Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (Source: AHA).
Smoking includes all forms of smoking, such as cigar smoking, cigarette smoking, pipe smoking, and exposure to secondhand smoke. All forms of smoking are harmful and there is no form of safe or safer smoking. For example, smoking mentholated, natural, or low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes does not lower the risk of serious complications of smoking.
Smoking causes or worsens many diseases and damages almost every tissue and organ in the body. Smoking causes the vast majority of cases of lung cancer and causes or exacerbates many other diseases, such as lung diseases, diabetes, cancer, and diseases and conditions of the cardiovascular system including hypertension, blood clots, high cholesterol, and stroke. Smoking also increases the risk of certain complications of pregnancy and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Smoking tobacco exposes you to over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic. Toxins found in cigarettes include formaldehyde and cyanide. Another harmful substance in cigarettes and tobacco is nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive drug with serious side effects. Smoking also exposes you to carbon monoxide, which lowers the level of oxygen in the blood. People close to a smoker are exposed to the same toxins and can experience similar complications of smoking due to the inhalation of secondhand smoke.
Because of the addictive nature of smoking, quitting is a difficult challenge. However, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your health, and your family and friends. Quitting smoking improves the health of the lungs and increases respiratory capacity. This is the ability to take in sufficient amounts of oxygen. People who quit smoking experience a rapid increase in oxygen levels in the blood, less shortness of breath with activities, feel less fatigue, and have more energy. Another important benefit of smoking cessation is the improvement in vital signs including a decrease in high blood pressure and pulse. The amount of carbon monoxide in the blood also drops after smoking cessation.
Because smoking constricts blood vessels and negatively affects circulation, smoking cessation is very beneficial for people who have other serious diseases that affect blood vessels and circulation, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases.
SYMPTOMS
What are the symptoms of smoking and smoking-related diseases?
There are many signs and symptoms of smoking and smoking-related diseases including addiction to nicotine, a harmful substance found in tobacco....
CAUSES
What causes smoking?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 46 million people in the United States (18 years of age and older) smoke cigarettes. Smoking is more common in men than women and appears to be prevalent across a variety of different ethnic groups. The highest percentage of smokers is in the 25 to 44-year old age group.
TREATMENTS
How is smoking treated?
Quitting smoking is a very challenging undertaking that often requires several attempts before you can successfully and permanently quit. The best way to quit smoking is through a multifaceted smoking cessation program that includes perseverance, the support of the people close to the smoker, and often nicotine replacement therapy
Sidetrack Your Stress
In now a days life, you deal with stress on a daily basis.
Money and work are the leading causes of stress for 75 percent of Indians. This is a dramatic increase over the 59 percent reporting stress in 2006.
Almost half of all Americans report that stress has had a negative effect on both their personal and professional lives.
Stress causes 54 percent of Indians to fight with people close to them.
Many people (up to 77 percent) report having physical symptoms and psychological symptoms related to stress in the last month.
Stress Can Pack on Pounds
Some people respond to impending deadlines, financial problems, relationship meltdowns, and other difficulties by eating less. But if you respond to added stress by eating more, you could end up with added pounds.
Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid stress-related weight gain. To begin, consider which of the following behaviors you’re prone to, and then take steps to counteract your usual behavior, says the Weight-control Information Network.
Behavior: You don’t have time to prepare healthy meals.
If having a lot to do means less time to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy ingredients, you may be more likely to grab fast food or order high-calorie, high-fat takeout meals.
Stress Can Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease
Stress is a normal part of life. Stress can come from physical causes, such as not getting enough sleep or having an illness. It can come from mental causes, such as not having enough money or death of a loved one, or less dramatic causes, such as everyday obligations and pressures that make you feel that you are not in control.
Your body’s response to stress was designed to protect you, but if it is constantly activated it can harm you. Studies suggest that the high levels of cortisol from chronic stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. These are traditional risk factors for heart disease.
Managing Work-Related Stress
Workplace stress is highly personal. Some people thrive in fast-paced jobs (think emergency room nurses, police officers and air-traffic controllers) where making a mistake can put people’s lives at stake.
But just because the rest of us wouldn’t last a day in such high-pressure environments doesn’t mean our jobs are less stressful. Short deadlines, endless paperwork, the occasional irate customer, and meetings that drag on for hours, putting us even further behind, all can cause stress.
In other words, it’s not the job that creates stress, it’s the way a person responds to the urgencies and demands of each workplace environment that makes him or her stressed or energized.
Relaxation Techniques That Really Work
Everyone experiences stress and its effects. Short-term effects of stress include headaches, shallow breathing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and upset stomach. Long-term chronic stress can increase the risk for heart disease, back pain, depression, persistent muscle aches and pains, and a weakened immune system, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Chronic stress can affect your emotions and behavior by making you irritable, impatient, less enthusiastic about your job, and even depressed.
To keep stress at a minimum and reduce its effects on your life, you need to find and practice healthy ways to manage it, Try the following techniques to see what works best for you.
Using Yoga to Relieve Stress
To combat stress, many people turn to meditation or other mental stress reduction tools. But stress also creates physical response in the body and, as such, can be managed with exercise—in particular, with yoga.
"Stress sends the entire physical system into overdrive," says Garrett Sarley, president and CEO of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Mass. "The muscles tense, the heart beats faster, breathing patterns change, and if the cause of stress isn't discontinued, the body secretes more hormones that increase blood sugar levels, raising blood pressure. Yoga is one of the few stress-relief tools that has a positive effect on all the body systems involved."
What is Tourette's disorder (TD)?
Tourette's disorder (TD), sometimes called Tourette's syndrome (TS), is a neurological disorder characterized by multiple repeated tics. Tics are abrupt, purposeless, and involuntary vocal sounds or muscular jerks. Symptoms of TD usually begin between the ages of five and 10 years of age, and usually begin with mild, simple tics involving the face, head, or arms. With time, tics become more frequent and increase in variety, involving more body parts such as the trunk or legs, and often become more disruptive to activities of daily living (ADLs).
What causes Tourette's disorder?
Tourette's disorder is an autosomal dominant disorder. Autosomal means that both males and females are affected, and dominant means that one copy of the gene is necessary to have the condition. This means that a parent with TD or a parent who has the gene for TD has a 50/50 chance, with each pregnancy, to pass the gene on. TD is associated with a non-genetic cause in 10 percent to 15 percent of children. Complications of pregnancy, low birth weight, head trauma, carbon monoxide poisoning, and encephalitis are thought to be associated with the onset of non-genetic TD.
Dominant disorders exhibit something known as incomplete penetrance, which means that not everyone with the gene will have symptoms of Tourette's disorder. In other words, if a parent passes the gene on to a child, the child may not have any symptoms of the disorder. If a daughter inherits the gene, there is a 70 percent chance that she will have at least one of the signs of TD. On the other hand, if a son inherits the gene, there is a 99 percent chance that he will have at least one of the signs of TD.
Finally, dominant disorders can also exhibit something known as variable expressivity. This means that there are differences in the expression of the TD gene in different people. For example, one person with TD may have obsessive-compulsive disorder, while another has a chronic tic disorder, while another has full-blown TD. In addition, there are differences in expressivity between males and females: males are more likely to have full-blown TD or chronic tics, while females are more likely to have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Who is affected by Tourette's disorder?
A diagnosis of TD is generally made before the child reaches his or her 18th birthday. In the majority of cases, a child is diagnosed around the age of 7. TD affects more males than females.
What are the symptoms of Tourette's disorder?
Tic behaviors seen in TD change over time, and vary in frequency and complexity. The following are the most common tic behaviors associates with TD. However, each child experiences symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Involuntary, purposeless, motor movements (may involve different parts of the body, such as the face, neck, shoulders, trunk, or hands)
Head jerking
Squinting
Blinking
Shrugging
Grimacing
Nose-twitching
Any excessively repeated movements (i.e., foot tapping, leg jerking, scratching)
Some of the more complex tic behaviors associated with TD may appear purposeful, and may include the following:
Kissing
Pinching
Sticking out the tongue or lip-smacking
Touching behaviors
Making obscene gestures
In addition to some, or all, of the above symptoms, TD is also characterized by one or more vocal tics (meaningless sound), in order for a diagnosis of TD to be made, including the following:
Grunting or moaning sounds
Barking
Tongue clicking
Sniffing
Hooting
Obscenities
Throat clearing, snorting, or coughing
Squeaking noises
Hissing
Spitting
Whistling
Gurgling
Echoing sounds or phrases repeatedly
Many children and adolescents who have TD also have attention problems and some also have academic difficulties. However, most have normal intelligence and do not usually have primary learning disabilities. Some individuals also experience symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an unreasonable thought, fear, or worry (obsession) that he or she tries to manage through a ritualized activity (compulsion) to reduce the anxiety.
The symptoms of TD may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's health care provider for a diagnosis.
How is Tourette's disorder diagnosed?
A pediatrician, child psychiatrist, or a qualified mental health professional usually identifies TD in children and adolescents. A comprehensive evaluation of the child or adolescent's psychological, social, and educational status is recommended, as well as a thorough medical, developmental, and family assessment. A detailed history of the child's behavior from parents and teachers, in addition to observations of the child's behavior, contribute to making the diagnosis.
Treatment for Tourette's disorder
Specific treatment for Tourette's disorder will be determined by your child's health care provider based on:
Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of disruption caused by tic behavior
Your child's tolerance for specific medications or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disorder
Your opinion or preference
The effect of symptoms on the child's or adolescent's self-concept, family and peer relationships, and classroom participation determines what needs are to be addressed in treatment. In many cases, TD is not disabling. Development may proceed normally, and there is no need for treatment. However, when tics interfere with functioning or school performance, and/or if there are other disorders also present (i.e., obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), some effective medications are available. Children with TD can generally function well at home and in a regular classroom. If they have accompanying emotional or learning problems, they may require special classes, psychotherapy, and/or medication.
Prevention of Tourette's disorder
The genetics behind Tourette's disorder are complicated. For this reason, it is important for individuals and families with Tourette's disorder to have genetic counseling by a geneticist (a doctor with specialized training and certification in clinical genetics) or a genetic counselor, once a diagnosis has been made in the family.
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