31Jan

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

An individual’s mood, energy level, and capacity for function can alter as a result of bipolar illness, a brain disorder. Bipolar disorder patients go through strong emotional states known as mood episodes, which often happen over discrete intervals of days to weeks. Manic/hypomanic (an abnormally cheerful or angry mood) or depression are the two classifications for these mood episodes (sad mood). Most bipolar patients also have periods of neutral mood. Bipolar disease sufferers can live full and productive lives if given the right treatment.

Even those who do not have bipolar disorder go through mood swings. These mood swings, meanwhile, usually only last a few hours as opposed to days. Furthermore, unlike during mood episodes, these alterations are typically not accompanied by the significant degree of behavior change or difficulties adjusting to regular activities and social interactions that bipolar illness sufferers exhibit. A person with bipolar disorder may experience difficulties at work or at school, as well as in their relationships with their loved ones.

Three distinct diagnoses fall under the umbrella of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.

Eighty to ninety percent of those with bipolar disorder have a family member who also has the condition or is depressed. Stress, irregular sleep patterns, narcotics, and alcohol can all cause mood swings in persons who are already vulnerable. Although the exact brain-based origins of bipolar disorder are unknown, dysregulated brain activity is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance. 25 years old on average is the onset age.

Anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are typically present in people with bipolar I disorder (ADHD). Compared to the general population, those with bipolar I disorder have a much-increased risk of suicide.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar illness patients might experience extreme highs of happiness and vigor as well as extreme lows of melancholy, hopelessness, and sluggishness. Usually, people feel normal in the intervals between those times. Bipolar disorder is so named because the highs and lows can be compared to two “poles” of emotion.

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Do Different Bipolar Disorders Exist?

Bipolar disorder comes in a variety of forms, including:

Bipolar I disorder: With bipolar I disorder, your conduct is incredibly unstable and you experience manic “up” phases that last at least a week or are so severe that you require medical attention. Extreme “down” episodes that last at least two weeks are also typical.

Bipolar II disorder: Although the highs and lows are irregular with bipolar II conditions, they are not as severe as they are with bipolar I.

Cyclothymic Disorder: This type includes manic and depressed episodes that span at least two years in adults or one year in children and adolescents. Compared to bipolar disorder I or II, the symptoms are less severe.

Rapid Cycling: Rapid cycling is a term used to characterize the course of the illness in people with bipolar I or II disorder; it is not a kind of bipolar disorder. It is applicable when there are four or more mood episodes within a year. This sort of illness course affects women more frequently than males, and it can appear and disappear at any point during the course of bipolar disorder. Rapid cycling has a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or actions and is primarily fueled by depression.

Misuse of drugs or alcohol can increase the number of episodes in people with bipolar disorder of any kind. A dual diagnosis, or having both bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, necessitates assistance from a specialist who can handle both problems.

“Unspecified” or “other specified” bipolar disorder: The terms “unspecified” or “other specified” bipolar disorder (previously known as “bipolar disorder not otherwise specified”) are now used to refer to conditions in which a person only exhibits a small number of the mood and energy symptoms that characterize a manic or hypomanic episode, or in which the symptoms may not last long enough to be considered as distinct “episodes.”

Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

 

 

30Jan

Clinical Depression

You may have serious depression, also known as clinical depression, if you feel hopeless and depressed all the time.

It could be challenging to work, study, sleep, eat, enjoy friends and hobbies when you’re suffering from major depression. Some people only experience clinical depression once in their lifetime, whereas others do it numerous times.

Although major depression frequently affects people without a family history of the illness, it can occasionally run in families and be passed down from one generation to the next.

What Is Clinical Depression?

A sad or depressed mood is a common human emotion. A loss of interest in routine activities and relationships, however, as well as a melancholy mood throughout the majority of the day, sometimes especially in the morning, are indicators of clinical depression and must be present every day for at least two weeks. You may also have other symptoms of serious depression, according to the DSM-5, a guidebook used to diagnose mental health issues. These signs may consist of:

  • Virtually daily feelings of worthlessness or remorse
  • Almost daily fatigue or energy loss
  • A change in body weight of more than 5% in a month indicates significant weight loss or increase.
  • Having trouble focusing and making decisions
  • Practically daily insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
  • Markedly reduced enjoyment or interest in practically all activities
  • Almost every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
  • Unease or a sense of slowness
  • Recurring suicidal or death thoughts

Are Females More Prone to Clinical Depression?

Major or clinical depression affects nearly twice as many women as males, and hormonal changes associated with puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause may increase the risk.

Additional risk factors for clinical depression in women who are physiologically predisposed to it include increasing stress at home or at work, juggling a profession and family, and providing care for an elderly parent. The risk will also rise if a child is raised by one person.

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Who Is At Risk For Clinical Depression?

Approximately 6.7% of Americans over the age of 18 experience major depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Between 20% and 25% of individuals may experience a significant depressive episode at some point in their lives.

Although older individuals, teenagers, and toddlers are also affected by major depression, these populations usually lack a diagnosis and receive no treatment.

What Indicates a Man Is Suffering from Clinical Depression?

Men’s depression is vastly underreported. Men with clinical depression are less likely to seek assistance or even speak with others about their condition.

Men who suffer from depression may exhibit signs such as irritation, hostility, or drug and alcohol misuse (substance abuse can also be a cause of depression rather than the result of it). Negative emotions that are suppressed can lead to both internalised and externalised violence. Additionally, it may lead to an increase in violence, suicide, and sickness.

The Diagnosis of Major Depression

A full medical evaluation will be carried out by a healthcare professional, such as your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. During a routine checkup with your doctor, you might have a depression screening done. The specialist will enquire about your own and your family’s psychiatric histories and ask you questions that test for major depressive disorder symptoms.

Major depression cannot be identified with any laboratory test, including X-rays, blood tests, or other imaging procedures. To help identify any other medical conditions that exhibit symptoms comparable to depression, your doctor could perform blood testing. For instance, hypothyroidism, drug or alcohol misuse, certain medications, and stroke can all result in some of the same symptoms as depression.

Diagnosis Of Major Depression

Clinical Depression: Is It Preventable?

After experiencing a major depressive episode, your risk of experiencing another is very significant. The best strategy to avoid another episode of depression is to continue taking the recommended medicine to prevent relapse and to be aware of the triggers or causes of major depression (see above). It’s also critical to be aware of the signs of serious depression and to consult your physician as soon as you notice any of these signs.

 

28Jan

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.

Adults And ADHD

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

 

23Jan

Types Of Schizophrenia

In the past, mental health specialists divided schizophrenia into the following subtypes:

  • Catatonic
  • Disorganized
  • Paranoid
  • Residual
  • Undifferentiated

Catatonic Schizophrenia:

Strange, restricted, and abrupt movements indicate the most uncommon kind of schizophrenia. Sometimes you may alternate between being quite busy and being very still. You might not speak much and imitate other people’s movements and speech.

Disorganized Schizophrenia:

Because these individuals typically exhibit disorganized speech and conduct, hebephrenic schizophrenia is also known as disorganized schizophrenia. They could also exhibit incorrect emotional behavior or show no emotion at all.

Paranoid Schizophrenia:

The most typical form of schizophrenia is this one. It could take longer to develop than other types. Hallucinations and delusions are among the symptoms, however, your speech and emotions might not be affected.

Residual Schizophrenia:

If you have had psychosis in the past but are only currently experiencing the negative symptoms, you may be diagnosed with residual schizophrenia (such as slow movement, poor memory, lack of concentration, and poor hygiene).

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia:

Your diagnosis may have some signs of paranoid, hebephrenic, or catatonic schizophrenia, but it doesn’t obviously fit into one of these types alone.

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17Jan

What Is Schizophrenia And Schizophrenia Symptoms?

Schizophrenia alters your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You might experience it in a different way than someone else. Even the symptoms can change over time. Nobody ever possesses all of them.

Typically, they begin between the ages of 16 and 30. Men frequently get them before women do. Before overt symptoms appear, the person frequently gradually changes. The prodrome phase is another name for this.

Schizophrenia sufferers struggle to distinguish between actual and false beliefs when the illness is advanced and symptoms are severe. As they age, this happens less frequently.

Typically, those who have the illness are unaware of it until a doctor or counselor informs them. They won’t even be aware that there is a significant problem. If they do experience symptoms, such as difficulty thinking clearly, they may attribute them to stress or fatigue.

Speak to a doctor or counselor if you’re worried that you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia.

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Schizophrenia Symptoms: What Are Schizophrenia Positive Symptoms?

Positive symptoms are wildly exaggerated thoughts, perceptions, or behaviors that reveal the person can’t distinguish between real and unreal. The term “positive” in this context refers to the presence of symptoms rather than their absence. They may consist of:

Delusions: Most people find these beliefs strange, and it is simple to disprove them. The person affected might think someone is trying to control their brain through TV or that the FBI is out to get them. They might think they have superpowers or that they are someone else, such as a well-known actor or the president. Delusion types include:

  • Persecutory Delusions The impression that someone is stalking, hunting, framing, or tricking you.
  • Reference Hallucinations When a person thinks that a message intended specifically for them is being sent through public mediums like song lyrics or a TV host’s gesture.
  • Somatic Illusions These focus on the human body. The person believes they have a dreadful illness or strange health issues, such as skin worms or cosmic ray damage.
  • Erotomania Delusions A person can think their lover is cheating on them or that a famous person is in love with them. They might also believe that others who aren’t attracted to them are after them.
  • Religious Illusions It’s possible for someone to believe they have a special connection to a deity or that they’re under the control of a demon.
  • Grandiose Delusions They see themselves as a prominent player on the global stage, much like an actor or a politician.

Schizophrenia

Hallucinations: Schizophrenia patients may experience things that others are unable to hear, see, smell, or feel. Schizophrenia can cause a variety of hallucinations, including:

  • Auditory The person hears voices in their head the most frequently. They may be demanding action because they are impatient or irritated. There may be one or several voices heard. They could be furious and demanding, or they could whisper or mumble.
  • Visual Someone may notice patterns, objects, people, or lights. It’s frequently family members or friends who have passed away. They might also have issues with distance and depth perception.
  • Gustatory and Olfactory Good and terrible tastes and odors can be included in this. Someone might decide not to eat because they think they are being poisoned.
  • Tactile This gives the impression that your body is being moved by hands or insects.

Confusion In The Mind And In Speech: Schizophrenia patients sometimes struggle to organize their thoughts. When you speak to them, they might not be able to follow along. Instead, they can appear to be dozing off or preoccupied. They sometimes speak incoherently and with unclear sentences.

Having Trouble Focusing: For instance, when watching a TV show, someone could become disoriented.

Movement Disorder: Some individuals with schizophrenia may appear jittery. There are occasions when they repeat the same movements. However, on occasion, they would remain motionless for hours on end, a condition known as catatonia. Contrary to popular opinion, those who have the illness typically don’t behave violently.

Schizophrenia Positive Symptoms

Schizophrenia Symptoms: What Are Schizophrenia Negative Symptoms?

Negative symptoms describe a loss or absence of regular mental activity, including thinking, acting, and perceiving. You may observe:

Struggling With day-to-day Necessities: They might cease taking care of themselves, like taking a bath.

Lack of Enjoyment: The person might no longer appear to appreciate anything. An expert will refer to this as anhedonia.
difficulties speaking. They might not express their emotions or speak much. This is what medical professionals refer to as an analogy.

Flattening: A person with schizophrenia could appear to be extremely depressed. They sometimes have a flat, emotionless voice when speaking. They might not respond to discussions or events around them with their typical smile or facial expression. This is what a doctor could refer to as emotional flatness.

No Action Taken: Schizophrenia patients have problems sticking to a schedule or completing tasks. Sometimes they are completely unable to begin. A doctor might refer to this as an avolition.

Withdrawal: This can entail ceasing to make arrangements with friends or become reclusive. Talking to them can be like wrangling with a stubborn person; you have to fight hard to get an answer. Doctors refer to condition as indifference.

 

17Jan

Schizophrenia Meaning

Schizophrenia is a long-term, severe mental illness that impacts a person’s ability to think, act, express emotions, perceive reality, and interact with others. Schizophrenia can be the most persistent and incapacitating major mental illness, despite not being as common as other similar conditions.

Schizophrenia patients frequently struggle to function well in relationships, at work, in the classroom, and in society. They might be fearful, withdrawn, and show signs of disconnection from reality. Although there is no cure for this chronic illness, it can be managed with proper care.

Schizophrenia is not a split or multiple personality, unlike what the general public thinks. Psychosis, a sort of mental disorder when a person cannot distinguish between the real world and their imagination, is a component of schizophrenia. People with psychotic disorders occasionally become detached from reality. The world may appear to be a tangle of perplexing ideas, pictures, and noises. They may act in a very peculiar and even startling manner. A psychotic episode occurs when a person experiencing it loses touch with reality and has an abrupt shift in personality and conduct.

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Each person’s level of schizophrenia is unique. Some people only experience one psychotic episode in their lifetime, while others experience multiple episodes throughout the course of their lifetimes while maintaining a largely regular lifestyle. Others might gradually experience increased difficulties with their ability to operate, with little progress in between full-blown psychotic episodes. In cycles known as relapses and remissions, the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to deteriorate and improve.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental condition that has an impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Schizophrenia sufferers may appear to have lost all sense of reality, which can be upsetting to both them and their loved ones. Participating in regular, everyday activities may be challenging for someone with schizophrenia, but there are effective therapies available. Many persons who receive treatment are able to participate in school or the workforce, become independent, and value their connections with others.