16Apr

Depressive Disorder

It’s typical to feel sadness from time to time, but if you experience it frequently and it interferes with your everyday life, you may be suffering from clinical depression. It’s a condition that you can manage with medication, therapy sessions, and lifestyle adjustments.

Depression can take many different forms. Some are brought on by life events, while others are brought on by chemical changes in the brain.

Regardless of the source, the first thing you should do is express your concerns to your doctor. To determine the sort of depression you are experiencing, they could suggest that you speak with a mental health professional. This diagnosis will help your doctor choose the best course of action.

Bipolar Disorder

A person with bipolar illness, which is frequently referred to as “manic depression,” experiences mood swings that vary from intense bursts of “up” energy to depressing lows.

In the low phase, significant depressive disorder symptoms will be present in you.

Your mood fluctuations may be controlled with medication. Whether you’re going through a high or low point, your doctor might advise taking a mood stabilizer like lithium.

Three medications have received FDA approval to treat the depressive stage:

  • Seroquel
  • Latuda
  • Olanzapine-fluoxetine combination

Sometimes, doctors will recommend additional medications for bipolar depression that are not approved by the FDA, such as the anticonvulsant lamotrigine or the atypical antipsychotic Vraylar.

Because there is no evidence from studies that traditional antidepressants are more effective than a placebo (a sugar pill) in treating depression in patients with bipolar illness, these medications are not always advised as first-line therapies. Additionally, some conventional antidepressants may raise the possibility of a “high” phase of the illness or speed up the frequency of experiencing additional episodes over time in a small percentage of bipolar disorder sufferers.

Additionally, psychotherapy can support you and your family.

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Major Depression

Major Depression

Your doctor might refer to this as a “major depressive illness.” If you experience depression on most of your days of the week, you may have this type.

Other signs you may experience include:

  • A decline in enjoyment or interest in your activities
  • Gain or loss of weight
  • Inability to fall asleep or difficulty staying asleep during the day
  • Restless and irritated feelings, as well as extreme sluggishness and slowing of the body and mind
  • Being worn out and drained of energy
  • A sense of worthlessness or guilt
  • Difficulty focusing or making decisions
  • Visions of suicide

If you have five or more of these symptoms on a daily basis for two weeks or more, your doctor may determine that you are suffering from serious depression. Depression or a loss of interest in activities must be at least one of the symptoms.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Major depression that most frequently occurs in the winter when the days are shorter and you receive less and less sunlight is known as seasonal affective disorder. Usually, it disappears in the spring and summer.

Antidepressants can be beneficial if you have SAD. So too can light therapy. You must spend 15 to 30 minutes per day seated in front of a special bright light box.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder is the name for depression that lasts for two years or longer. Previously called as dysthymia (low-grade persistent depression) and chronic severe depression, these two disorders are now referred to by one word.

You might experience signs like:

  • The way you eat has changed (not eating enough or overeating)
  • Excessive or insufficient sleep lack of energy or weariness
  • A low sense of self
  • Difficulty focusing or making decisions
  • Having no hope
  • Psychotherapy, medicine, or a mix of the two may be used to treat you
16Apr

Adult ADHD Symptoms

A complicated neurodevelopmental condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can make it difficult for you to carry out daily activities like going to school, working, or even just being at home. One of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental diseases in children is ADHD. It frequently persists into maturity and is typically first diagnosed in infancy. Children with ADHD may struggle to focus, manage impulsive behaviors (doing without considering the consequences), or be highly active.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of ADHD?

It is typical for kids to struggle with their attention spans and manners occasionally. However, these behaviors do not just disappear in children with ADHD. The symptoms persist, can be severe, and make it difficult to interact with friends, family, or coworkers.

ADHD Symptoms

A youngster with ADHD could: (ADHD Symptoms)

  • have trouble getting along with other people
  • often daydream
  •  take needless risks
  • have trouble getting along with other people
  • miss or forget something a lot 
  •  have issues sharing the spotlight
  • wiggle or squirm 
  • excessively talk
  • make stupid errors
  • have difficulty avoiding the seduction

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What Are The Causes Of ADHD?

Researchers are examining the causes of and risk factors for ADHD in an effort to improve management and lower the likelihood that someone would get it. Current research indicates that heredity plays a significant role in ADHD, despite the fact that the cause(s) and risk factors are unknown. Recent research relates genetic causes to ADHD 1

Scientists are researching additional potential causes and risk factors in addition to genetics, such as:

  • premature birth
  • brain damage
  • a little birth weight
  • exposure to environmental dangers, such as lead, while pregnant
  • smoking and drinking while pregnant

The widely held beliefs that parenting, excessive television viewing, excessive sugar consumption, or social and environmental variables including family dysfunction or poverty contribute to ADHD are not supported by research. Of course, many factors, including these, could exacerbate symptoms, particularly in some individuals. However, the data is insufficient to draw the conclusion that they are the primary reasons of ADHD.

What Are The Diagnosis Of ADHD?

Identifying whether a child has ADHD is a multi-step process. The symptoms of many other conditions, including anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and specific types of learning difficulties, might be similar to those of ADHD, which cannot be diagnosed with a single test. A medical checkup, which includes hearing and vision testing, is one stage in the procedure to rule out other conditions that have symptoms similar to ADHD. A checklist for grading ADHD symptoms and obtaining a medical history from the kid’s parents, teachers, and occasionally the child themselves are typically used in the diagnosis of ADHD.

What Is The Treatment For ADHD?

Parents frequently worry about the best course of therapy for their child when they receive an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis for their child. With proper care, ADHD can be controlled. There are numerous treatment alternatives, and which one is most effective will depend on the child and family as a whole. It is advised that parents collaborate closely with those who are involved in their child’s life—healthcare professionals, therapists, teachers, coaches, and other family members—to determine the best solutions.

Treatment options for ADHD include

  • medication
  • behavior therapy which includes parent education

ADHD Symptom

Suffering from ADHD

ADHD can make it challenging to perform at your best at home, at work or school, or even within your relationships if you don’t receive treatment.

If you think you, your child, or a family member is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD, speak with a doctor or psychologist to learn more about a possible diagnosis and to get started on the road to treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you may find that the following treatments will lessen your symptoms and improve how you operate in daily life:

Modifications in way of life: Changes to your way of life for ADHD include techniques that can help you deal with the impulsivity, hyperactivity, and lack of focus that the illness produces. If you have ADHD, the following suggestions will help you establish an organization for your day:

  • Develop your study techniques.
  • Develop organizational strategies.
  • Use time-management techniques.

Therapy: One of the most effective forms of treatment for ADHD, particularly for children and adolescents, is behavioral therapy because it identifies the ideas, feelings, and behaviors that are having the most effects.

  • A behavioral therapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be beneficial for adults and adolescents.
  • The most successful behavioral therapies for ADHD in younger children concentrate on parent education, classroom management, and peer interventions.

Medication: In order to lessen the symptoms of ADHD in both children and adults, medication may be used either alone or in conjunction with behavioral treatment.

  • Psychostimulants, which are drugs that raise the central nervous system’s activity, are the first-line treatment for ADHD, according to a study.
  • Some high blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers are additional non-stimulant treatment choices for ADHD.

 

16Apr

ADHD In Adults

Numerous kids with ADHD will continue to satisfy the criteria for the condition as they age and may manifest impairments that call for continuing therapy (Pliszka, 2007). However, occasionally a childhood ADHD diagnosis is overlooked. Many adults with ADHD are unaware that they are affected. The use of adult rating scales or checklists, a medical exam, and a review of previous and present symptoms are all common components of a thorough examination.

Adults with ADHD may receive therapy, medication, or both types of treatment. Support from close relatives as well as behavior management techniques like measures to reduce distractions and improve structure and organization might be beneficial.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act recognize ADHD as a disability (ADA). As a result, organizations that receive federal support are not allowed to discriminate against people with disabilities. People with ADHD symptoms who are impaired at work may be eligible for reasonable work accommodations under the ADA.

Adults And ADHD

What Causes ADHD?

Around 1-3% of kids have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Comorbidity with a wide range of psychiatric diseases, developmental and learning issues, and both is very high. Although there isn’t a single risk factor that causes ADHD, and non-inherited variables also play a role in its genesis, the disorder is very heritable. The neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric outcomes that the implicated genetic and environmental risk factors seem to be linked to include more than simply ADHD.

According to the available data, both uncommon and numerous common genetic variations are likely to contribute to ADHD and alter its phenotypic. Additionally, very low birth weight, premature, and adversity-exposed children tend to be more likely to have ADHD or a related phenotype.

Like other prevalent medical and mental conditions (such as schizophrenia and asthma), ADHD is influenced by a number of genes, non-inherited variables, and their interactions. 5 ADHD has multiple causes, and being exposed to a risk factor does not guarantee the development of the illness. This implies that a risk factor will only be seen in a certain percentage of cases and will also be present in healthy individuals. Additionally, risk factors that affect ADHD’s course and consequences may not always be the same as those that contribute to the disorder’s origins.

The fact that genetic and environmental factors can interact to produce indirect risk effects adds another layer of complexity. Gene-environment interactions, such as those caused by environmental pollutants or psychosocial hardship, can cause changes in susceptibility to environmental dangers. Additionally, inherited variables can affect the likelihood of being exposed to specific environmental dangers. This means that the impacts of hereditary and environmental risk factors cannot be completely separated.

What Is ADHD

Diagnosis And Symptoms

Many kids could struggle to sit still, wait their time, pay attention, not fidget, and not act impulsively. The difference between normal children and those who fulfill diagnostic criteria for ADHD is that the latter group’s symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, organization, and/or inattention are markedly worse than those that would be normal for their age or stage of development. Significant discomfort as well as issues at home, at school, or work as well as in interpersonal interactions result from these symptoms. Not being able to understand tasks or directions or being disobedient are not the causes of the symptoms that have been seen.

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ADHD comes in three primary forms:

  • Predominantly inattentive presentation.
  • Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation.
  • Combined presentation.

A diagnosis is made based on the existence of enduring symptoms that have developed over time and have been apparent over the previous six months. Although ADHD can be identified at any age, this illness first manifests in young children. The symptoms must have been bothersome in more than one setting and have been present before the person is 12 years old when the diagnosis is being made. For instance, the symptoms may appear somewhere else at home.

16Apr

OCD Treatment

The mental disease known as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the impulse to do certain repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions are both common in some people.

OCD is not characterized by behaviors like nail-biting or pessimistic thinking. A compulsive habit might be washing your hands seven times after touching something that might be dirty, whereas an obsession might be the idea that particular numbers or colors are “good” or “bad.” You may not want to think or act in these ways, but you feel unable to stop.

Types Of OCD

OCD can take many different forms, however, the majority of instances fit into at least one of four broad categories:

  • Having a mental illness such as pregnancy or schizophrenia, or checking things like locks, alarm systems, ovens, or light switches
  • Contamination, apprehension about potentially dirty objects, or a need to clean. You could get mental contamination if you experience being treated rudely.
  • Order and symmetry, the requirement that objects be arranged in a specific manner
  • Invasive musings, and a preoccupation with a particular idea. These ideas might include some violent or unsettling ones.

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Diagnosis Of OCD

To confirm that something else isn’t causing your symptoms, your doctor may perform a physical examination and blood testing. They will also discuss your emotions, ideas, and routines with you.

OCD Types

Causes and Risk Factors for OCD

Doctors are unsure about the cause of OCD in some patients. Stress might exacerbate symptoms.

A little more women than males experience it. Teenagers or young adults frequently have symptoms.

OCD risk elements consist of:

  • OCD in a parent, sibling, or child
  • Physical variations in specific brain regions
  • Tics, depression, or anxiety
  • Knowledge of trauma
  • An earlier history of physical or sexual abuse

A youngster may occasionally develop OCD as a result of a streptococcal infection. Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, or PANDAS, is the name given to this condition.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD Therapy

OCD cannot be cured. But with the help of medication, therapy, or a combination of treatments, you might be able to control how your symptoms interfere with your life.

Treatments include:

Psychotherapy: Your thought patterns may be changed with cognitive behavioral therapy. Your doctor will place you in an environment intended to induce anxiety or trigger compulsions as part of a technique known as exposure and response prevention. You’ll discover how to reduce, then stop, your OCD thoughts or behaviors.
Relaxation: Simple practices like yoga, massage, and meditation can ease the symptoms of anxious OCD.

Medication: Selected serotonin reuptake inhibitors are psychiatric medications that assist many people to manage their obsessions and compulsions. Starting to function could take two to four months. Escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline are examples of common ones (Zoloft). Your doctor may prescribe antipsychotic medications such as aripiprazole (Abilify) or risperidone if you continue to experience symptoms (Risperdal).

Compulsions and Obsessions

Many OCD sufferers are aware that their thoughts and behaviors are absurd. They perform them because they are unable to stop, not because they like doing so. And if they quit, they feel terrible and restart.

Obsessive ideas might consist of:

  • Fear of harming yourself or others
  • Constant attention to body sensations like breathing, blinking, or other body functions
  • Suspicion of infidelity in a relationship but no solid evidence to support it

Among compulsive behaviors are:

  • Completing things in a predetermined order or a predetermined number of “excellent” times each time
  • Counting objects, such as steps or bottles
  • Fear of shaking hands, using public restrooms, or touching doorknobs.
16Apr

Depression Definition

A mood disorder is a condition that incorporates depression. Anger, unhappiness, or failure feelings that interfere during daily activity are some common descriptions.

As per the WHO website: – Globally, the total number of people with depression was estimated to exceed 300 million in 2015, equivalent to 4.3% of the world’s population. In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 revealed that nearly 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental health issues and one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. It is estimated that in 2012, India had over 258 000 suicides, with the age-group of 15-49 years being most affected./span>

Although sadness after a traumatic event in life or grieving following the loss of a beloved one both have specific characteristics in common with depression, these emotions are distinct from each other. While sorrow frequently does not, depression frequently does involve self-hatred or low self-esteem.

Usually, feelings of emotional pain are accompanied by pleasant sensations and happy recollections of the deceased while someone is weeping. Sadness is a continuous sensation in major depressive disorder.

Depression manifests itself differently for each person. Your everyday tasks could be hampered, causing you to lose time and reduce production. Relationships and some long-term medical disorders may also be affected.

Depression can lead to specific conditions, such as:

This is important to realize that having sadness occasionally is a healthy component of life. Everyone endures unhappy and troubling things in life. But if you frequently feel depressed or hopeless, you may be suffering from depression.

Without the right treatment, depression is regarded as a dangerous medical illness that might worsen.

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Symptoms Of Depression

Depression might be more than simply a continuously depressed or “blue” feeling.

A major depressive episode can manifest in a number of ways. Some influence your body while others influence your mood. Additionally, symptoms might continue or come and go.

Test For Depression

No single test exists to identify depression. However, based on your symptoms and the results of a psychological assessment, your healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.

They typically probe you with a series of inquiries concerning your:

Moods, hunger, sleep habits, level of activity, and thoughts
Your healthcare provider may also perform a physical examination and request blood work because depression has been connected to other health issues. Sometimes depressive symptoms might be brought on by thyroid issues or a vitamin D shortage.

It’s critical to not disregard depressive disorder symptoms. Seek medical assistance if your mood doesn’t get better or grows worse. There is a chance of difficulties with depression, a significant mental health condition.

Complications might include trusted sources:

  • self-harm
  • drug usage disorder
  • suicidal thoughts due to social isolation
  • panic disorders
  • loss or increase in weight
  • relationship difficulties
  • a physical hurt

General Symptoms And Signs (Depression Symptoms, Symptoms Of Depression )

The symptoms of depression vary from person to person. The degree, regularity, and duration of symptoms can all vary.

You may have depression if you have experienced some of the warning signs and symptoms listed below nearly every day for at least two weeks:

  • feeling depressed, worried, or empty
  • feeling useless, cynical, and hopeless
  • crying a lot feeling upset, irritated, or furious losing interest in
  • activities and pursuits you once found enjoyable
  • reduced energy or weariness
  • the trouble with concentration, memory, or decision-making
  • moving or speaking more slowly, having trouble falling asleep,
  • waking up early, or staying up late, and experiencing changes in appetite or weight
  • persistent physical discomfort with no apparent cause that does not improve with treatment (headaches, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
  • Self-harm, suicide attempts, or death-related ideas

Who Is Most Prone To Depression?

Nobody is immune to depression, regardless of age, gender, or situation. Depression affects over 16 million Americans each year.

Depression may affect women more frequently than it does males. Additionally, having at least one depressing episode in your life is more likely if you have certain medical conditions or genetics.

Is It Possible To Stop Depression?

By getting adequate sleep, maintaining a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular self-care practices like yoga, meditation, and exercise, you can help prevent depression.

If you’ve previously struggled with depression, you could be more prone to do so again. Get treatment if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. You can recover more quickly with care.

16Apr

Mental Retardation

Having below-average IQ and living skills is what we mean when we talk about people with mental retardation (sometimes called intellectual disability). It is found in both young people and adults whose brains do not mature or operate normally.

Intellectual impairment primarily impacts two domains:

♦ Rational cognition, often known as I.Q. (Intelligence Quotient; a score on a standardized intelligence test),: Thinking, reasoning, learning, making decisions, and solving issues fall under this category. The typical person has an intelligence level of 100. Someone with an intelligence score (IQ) below seventy-five is classified as having an intellectual disability.

♦ Adaptation behaviors are those that are crucial to survival and include things like communicating with others, taking care of oneself, and interacting with others.

Mental retardation typically manifests before the age of 18 years old. A person with an intellectual disability will struggle to learn and accomplish routine tasks, such as getting dressed and brushing their teeth, that are second nature to most individuals. Cerebral palsy and Down syndrome are two examples of intellectual disability.

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Mental Retardation Symptoms

The symptoms of intellectual disability vary according to the severity of the disability. Retardation is classified into four levels:

  • Mild Mental Retardation

  • Moderate Mental Retardation

  • Severe Mental Retardation

  • Profound Mental Retardation

Depending on how far along the disability is, different symptoms apply. The typical ones consist of:

  • Having problems with reading and writing​

  • Being socially immature

  • Having a below-average IQ

  • Having other conditions including autism, epilepsy, or physical disability

  • Being slower in understanding and using language

  • Being unable to live independently

  • Having impaired motor skills

  • Seizures

Other behavioral signs, such as: may also accompany these symptoms.

  • Aggression

  • Dependency

  • Withdrawal from social activities

  • Attention-seeking

  • Depression

  • Impulsiveness

  • Getting easily frustrated

  • Short attention span​

Physical deformities including a bent spine and distorted facial features do occur occasionally.​​​

Treatment And Services

Depending on the condition, several treatments are used for mental retardation. If the symptoms you or a loved one are experiencing are minor, you might just only a minimal amount of treatment and medicine. Advanced cases necessitate extensive treatment and therapy. Although they can treat symptoms, medications cannot treat the underlying problem. Medication that is frequently administered includes:

  • Antidepressants: used to treat depression.

  • Anti-anxiety medications: used to treat anxiety disorders, help reduce agitation and manage insomnia.

  • Mood-stabilizing medications: commonly used to treat bipolar disorders, which involve alternating between mania and depression.

  • Antipsychotic medications: used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.​

  • Anti-epileptic drugs to treat seizures

Psychotherapy is an additional choice, which entails meeting with a psychotherapist and going over your condition, moods, feelings, and behaviors. Your therapist will assist you in lowering your stress levels and learning more effective symptom management techniques. Speech therapy, physical therapy, and treatment for substance misuse (such as drug or alcohol addiction) are further forms of therapy.​​

Test And Diagnosis 

Your doctor will evaluate the patient’s intellectual and social abilities to determine if mental retardation is the cause. This assessment involves the following three steps:

  • Interviews with parents

  • Observations of the child

  • Standard tests

Both the IQ and social skills of a youngster are measured using standard exams. These include the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test. The child’s culture, socioeconomic position, and family history all affect the testing and results. The development of a diagnosis will be based on test results and family history.

You will speak with a variety of medical practitioners during the screening process, including:

  • Psychologists

  • Speech therapists

  • Pediatric neurologists

  • Physical therapists

Before determining that you have mental retardation, your doctor will make an effort to rule out other reasons of learning challenges, such as hearing loss, learning disorders, neurological illnesses, and emotional issues.​​