In the age of the Internet, identifying and monitoring mental health problems has, to a certain extent, become something one can do at home. This does not mean that complete mental health treatment is available via cyberspace. However, the lacuna of general awareness that existed until only ten years ago has been filled by readily [...]
Depression can happen to anyone at any time. It is a medical condition that, if treated, can be managed or cured. A depressed person lacks interest in most activities that were once enjoyed, and lacks energy throughout the day. Most of the time, a depressed person’s is irritable. Family and friends notice signs and symptoms [...]
The SSRIs act by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, and are considered the most popular, effective and safe prescription medications. The new prescription SSRIs used to treat depression include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and sertraline (Zoloft). Citalopram, a chiral compound, has its serotonin reuptake inhibitory activity in [...]
The Natural Antidepressants that impress their effectiveness on experts’ minds include St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan).
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) extract has proved its Antidepressant efficacy to the market. It is a medicinal herb of centuries-old therapeutic stand and has been named “arnica of the nerves” because of its [...]
Clinical depression is a medical term used to refer to any form of depression that requires treatment in order to alleviate it. Typically, people are prone to depression when something bad or what they perceive as bad occurs in their lives, such as the death of a loved one or the breaking up of a [...]
Although no Antidepressant is ideal, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) extract has proved its Antidepressant efficacy to the market that encourages effectiveness. It is a medicinal herb of centuries-old therapeutic stand, and has been named “arnica of the nerves” because of its therapeutic benefit to the nervous diseases. Its benefit of improving mood and [...]
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) are so-called because of their molecular structure, which contains three rings of atoms. They act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Other receptors that might also experience a TCA induced inhibition are muscuranic, alpha1 adrenergic, and histaminic receptors.
The TCAs of interest in the treatment of depression include [...]
In 2002, 8.5 percent of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population had purchased at least one prescription Antidepressant. The currently available classes of Antidepressants include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), novel Antidepressants, and tetracyclic Antidepressants.
MAOIs act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, a complex enzyme system [...]
Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain but it causes many mental problems. The root cause of this disease is not known but bad genes seem to be a hot favorite. It affects both the sexes. Though there are some cases of children being affected, it is normally a disease manifesting during the teenage years.
The [...]
It would appear that at some point after World War I, real mental health became something of a luxury. The absence of any real mental disease like schizophrenia or dementia certainly is not an indicator of complete mental health any longer. The boom in knowledge of human psychology that began in the 1960s has made [...]
Clients to mental health clinics are usually not admitted arbitrarily. The process usually consists of an initial interview with a community worker or a mental health professional. If a client is considered in need of residential or out-patient treatment at a mental health clinic, an extensive history of the mental illness will then be recorded. [...]
Medical science recognizes any disease or medical condition based on symptoms. Just as a good doctor can make an assessment of a patient’s condition from the symptoms, a good psychiatrist can evaluate and suggest the right form of treatment to be given to a patient suffering from depression. Symptoms of clinical depression vary amongst people [...]
Depression not only affects adults, it affects children as well. Children who suffer from depression can be treated using medications and counseling techniques. A child is considered depressed when feelings of depression are ongoing and interfere with the normal behavior of the child.
Children are considered to be at a higher risk for depression if they [...]
Most people with bipolar disorder can be helped – but a psychiatrist or psychologist should first diagnose the disorder. Failure to diagnose and treat this disorder can prove fatal. Sometimes undiagnosed bipolar disorder patient end up in a psychiatric hospital or residential treatment centers and may attempt suicide.
Children and teens with bipolar disorder do not [...]
A person with bipolar disorder usually goes through spells of mania followed by spells of depression. These periods of happiness and sadness are not normal bouts of happiness and sadness that everyone experiences from time to time. Instead, these episodes are intense and may be categorized as severe mood swings. Symptoms of mania are associated [...]
Separation anxiety basically develops as a result separation from one’s home, belongings or separation from the people to whom an individual is attached. It usually occurs in children or adolescents, before or at the age of 18, lasting a month or so. Separation anxiety is responsible for causing substantial distress leading to social, academic or [...]
Most anxiety disorders respond well to two types of treatment: medication and psychotherapy. These treatments are prescribed alone or in combination. Although not cures, both treatments are effective in relieving the symptoms of anxiety disorders, thus enabling individuals to pursue more healthy lives. The psychotherapy method is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and the objective of [...]
It is an established fact that almost two-thirds of all people afflicted with some kind of mental dysfunction do not seek treatment. This is confirmed by the WHO’s Global Burden of Disease study.
The reasons for that people do not seek treatment vary, but some of the most common ones are a fear of the [...]
Do you find it hard to concentrate on your job? Are you experiencing sleeping disorder? Do you worry too much? Have you become irritable? Do you get emotional or upset for no specific reason? Then you may be going through depression. Depression is a tough phase in anyone’s life. However, depression can be treated. If [...]
Two typical lines of treatment are followed to cure anxiety disorders, namely medication and psychotherapy. It is left to the choice of the individual and the doctor as to the course of treatment to be followed. At times, a combination of both methods is used to cure the symptoms of anxiety.
It has been studied that [...]
Anxiety is a normal response to various types of stress or danger. Anxiety can manifest itself as an uneasiness of mind regarding an impending or anticipated ill. Although anxiety can be beneficial in certain situations, more often it is an abnormal and overwhelming sense of fear and apprehension. Self-doubt is a component of anxiety, and [...]
In today’s fast-paced world, some people find themselves overwhelmed by worries that interfere with their ability to function. Daily activities become almost impossible as the person experiences a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. Anxiety and panic attacks may afflict up to 8% of the adult population. Both anxiety and panic can be seen as [...]
General anxiety disorder, also referred to as GAD, is a feeling of constant fear that rests in one’s mind. It is an ongoing feeling of worry, of impending doom and upsets the daily life of the victim. People suffering from this disorder worry about most things whether social, political, environmental, athletic, academic or artistic.
A free-floating [...]
The criteria for diagnosis for depression specify that a person is in a depressed mood and/or experience loss of interest or pleasure for two weeks or more. Five or more of the following symptoms may be experienced by the person most of the day almost everyday, such as depressed mood (irritable, feels sad or empty, [...]
The relationship between anxiety and depression isn’t always clear-cut. If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, you might have anxiety as a secondary condition. Conversely, people diagnosed with anxiety often suffer from depression. While both conditions have many symptoms in common, there are important differences.
Both anxiety and depression can manifest themselves in a variety of physical [...]
