Showing posts with label Mental Disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mental Disorders. Show all posts

Sunday, September 12, 2010

know the causes and treatment of schizophrenia

                                                            figure via myhealthguardian

The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, and schizophrenia can not be cured but can be treated. Predictors of good treatment results are normal adjustment before the onset of the disease and no family, schizophrenia, confusion, paranoia, depression or catatonic behavior. Some prognostic factors of poor prognosis are: age of onset, family history of disease, withdrawal, apathy, and a history of thought disorder. There are several theories to explain the development of this disorder. Genetic factors may play a role as close relatives of a person suffering from schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disease. The psychological and social factors, such as disorders of interpersonal relationships and family may also play a role in development.

Hospitalization, psychotherapy and drug treatment:
Psychotherapy can be useful in certain situations. Family therapy is often useful to help families cope with the injured party. Behavioral techniques used in therapy, or at home can help a person learn behaviors that lead to social acceptance.

Hospitalization is often in order to prevent self-injury or injury to others, and to ensure basic human needs like food, rest and hygiene.

The first episode of psychosis. Typical antipsychotic selected on the basis of adverse patient tolerates the best (see examples below). Need 6 to 8 weeks at a therapeutic dose of due process. If no response, consider switching to another class of typical antipsychotics. If both tests are not typical antipsychotics, such as antipsychotics (usually risperidone, olanzapine, and then, and clozapine). Prophylactic treatment is recommended at least 6 months to 1 year. Above is usually done in consultation with a psychiatrist.

Back psychosis. It requires a long-term treatment of antipsychotics. Reducing the dose to prevent long-term antipsychotics (tardive dyskinesia).

supportive counseling, individual psychotherapy or family can be a useful adjunct to reduce the risk of relapse.

Community programs beneficial to provide support, social skills training and vocational rehabilitation.

via psychnet

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Denial - The Psychodynamic Theories of Sigmund Freud

Denial is a refusal to recognize the existence or severity of unpleasant realities external or internal thoughts and feelings.

                                                              figure via antipinoy

In psychology, denial is a concept derived from psychodynamic theories of Sigmund Freud. According to Freud, three mental dynamics, or motivating forces that influence human behavior: the id, ego and superego. Id contains basic survival instincts and what Freud considered that the two dominant human drives: sex and aggression. If D was the only influence on behavior, people are not just more fun, reduce pain and achieve instant gratification. The ego consists of logical and rational. It allows people to analyze the risks and benefits of realistic situations, to tolerate the pain of future profits, and to consider alternatives to a behavior-based ID movement. Superego consists of moral standards and is the basis of consciousness. Although the superego is essential for the sense of good and evil, there can be extreme, unrealistic ideas of what should and should not do.

These forces have different objectives (id, pleasure, ego, reality, superego, morality), and constantly strive for domination, as a result of internal conflicts. This conflict creates anxiety. I, who acts as an intermediary between the two extremes of the id and superego, attempts to reduce this fear by using defense mechanisms. defense mechanisms are indirect ways to treat and cope with fear, as he explains away problems or blame others for problems. Denial is one of many defense mechanisms. This involves ignoring or refusing to believe the unpleasant reality. defense mechanisms protecting mental health in traumatic situations, or in any situation that creates anxiety or conflict. But they do not resolve the situation of unrest and production, if misused, can lead to mental disorders. Although the identity model of Freud, ego and superego is not stressed by most psychologists today, defense mechanisms are still treated as potentially incorrect behavior, which can lead to disorders mentally.

Examples of Denial
Death is common during the refusal. When someone learns the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one, first, it will not be able to accept the reality of the loss. initial refusal to protect that person from shock and pain that often accompanies death. chronic or terminal illness to encourage refusal. People with these diseases may be thinking, "This is not so bad, I am, and refuse to make changes in lifestyle.

Refusal may also refer to internal thoughts and feelings. For example, some children learn that anger is bad in any situation. As adults, they experience feelings of anger they may deny their feelings of others. cultural norms and expectations may be encouraged to refuse to subjective experience. Men who belong to a culture with the greatest concept of masculinity can see fear as a sign of weakness and to deny the inner feelings of fear. The Chinese culture is designed to discourage the recognition of mental illness, which robs people of their symptoms of mental and physical symptoms that often develop instead.

Some personality disorders are generally characterized by denial more than others. For example, people with narcissistic personality disorder to deny information that suggests they are not perfect. Antisocial behavior is characterized by the refusal to harm others (eg, sex offenders or drug addicts).

Refusal to be issued on a large scale between the groups, cultures and even nations. Lucy Bregman gives an example of national denial of direct mortality in 1950: Students participated in exercises in which hidden under the desk in preparation for atomic attacks. Another example of refusal on a large scale is the recent discovery that some do the Holocaust of the Second World War took place.


Treatment of Denial
The refusal is treated differently in different types of therapy. In psychoanalytic therapy, the situation is regarded as an obstacle to progress that must eventually stand, and interpreted. Time is important, however. psychoanalytic therapists await customers seem emotional or, in some insight into how their problems they face. Humanistic and existential therapies, denial is considered in which clients understand their world. Not directly face denial, therapists help clients explore their world view and consider other ways of being. In cognitive behavioral therapy, refusal is not regarded as an important phenomenon. On the contrary, the refusal suggests that the entity has not learned the appropriate behaviors to cope with stressful situations. Therapists help people in the study of thoughts and behavior current and develop opportunities for strategic change.

Traditional treatment programs for drug and other dependencies to deny that the main theme. These programs teach that to overcome the addiction, I must admit that addiction to alcohol. Those who are unable to accept such labels are informed that they are in denial. Even if the labels are accepted, people are still considered a refusal, if you do not recognize the severity of their addiction. From this point of view, development can not be considered as persons in their employment, and denied. But there are many controversies in the field of substance abuse on the role of denial and how it should be treated. Traditional programs stress a direct confrontation. Other experts do not insist on the adoption of the label. They believe that the refusal must be worked through more subtle, empathic, focusing on the personal reasons for refusal and around trying to reinforce the desire to change. This subtle form termination for refusal is known as therapy improved motivation, and can be used with other types of disorders, as well.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

What Causes Depression Occurrence

Depression is a common cold of mental disorders - most people will be affected by depression in life, directly or indirectly, by a friend or family member. The confusion is widespread about depression, as depression, which is exactly and what makes it different just feeling down. There are also many types of depressive disorders (eg unipolar depression, biological depression, manic depression, seasonal affective disorder, dysthymia, etc.) that you can experiment. There were so many terms used to describe this set of emotions we all felt at one time or another in our lives to a greater or lesser degree it is time to clarify the issue.
                                                                 figure via topnews

Depression is characterized by several common symptoms. These include persistent sadness and anxiety, or "empty" and feelings of hopelessness and pessimism. A depressed person often have a sense of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness. I no longer take interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, which can include things such as going out with friends, and even sex. Insomnia, early morning awakening and hypersomnia are common.

Appetite and / or loss of weight or overeating and weight gain may be symptoms of depression in some people. Many others experience decreased energy, fatigue and a constant feeling of "slow". Thoughts of death or suicide does not occur in those who suffer from severe depression. Irritability and anxiety in people who suffer from depression are widespread. A person also has depression, concentration problems, memory problems and make a decision. And sometimes, persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to traditional treatments - such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain - may be signs of depressive illness.
Depressive disorders come in many different types, but each type has its own unique symptoms and treatments.

Major depression, the most common type of depression, characterized by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. This episode exclusion of depression may occur only once, but often occurs several times in my life. of mental health professionals to use this list of specific symptoms of depression, is it or not. Depression is also assessed by a medical diagnosis or mental health in terms of validity - mild, moderate or severe. Severe depression is the most serious.

Less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that does not, but it leads to work well or feel well. Many people with dysthymia also have major depressive episodes at some point in their lives.

Another type of depressive disorder is bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive. Not as common as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but they are generally progressive. When the cycle of depression, you can have all or part of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle the person may be overactive overtalkative, and lots of energy. Mania often affects thinking, court and social behavior so as to cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, a person in a manic phase may feel proud, full of great programs that can understand business decisions unwise to romantic sprees. Mania, left untreated, may worsen psychosis.

Symptoms of Depression

Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people have symptoms, some many. The severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

DEPRESSION
  • Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were previously known, including sex
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, is "derived"
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
  • Insomnia, early morning awakening or hypersomnia
  • Appetite and / or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
  • Thoughts of death or suicide, attempted suicide
  • Anxiety, irritability
  • Persistent physical signs that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Symptoms of mania (for bipolar disorder)
MANIA
  • Improper or excessive excitation
  • Unusual irritability
  • Increased need for sleep
  • The concept of high
  • Increased said
  • Racing thoughts
  • Increase Libido
  • Significantly increased energy
  • Lack of Judgement
  • Inappropriate social behavior

Factors Causing Depression
basic understanding of the causes of depression - and, indeed, cause mental disorders - is that still do not know what causes these disorders. It is widely accepted that all mental disorders are caused by complex interactions and combinations of biological, psychological and social. This theory is called bio-psycho-social causation and the most widely accepted theory of the origin of disorders such as depression by professionals.

Some types of depression in families, suggesting that the biological vulnerability can be inherited. This seems to be the case with bipolar disorder. Studies of families with members of each generation develop bipolar disorder found that Alzheimer's disease have a gene different from those who do not get sick. However, the converse is not true: Not everyone with the gene that causes vulnerability to bipolar disorder is the disease. Apparently, other factors, stresses may be in the home, at work or school, participate in his event.

In some families, depression also seems to occur generation after generation. However, it may also occur in people who have no family history of depression. Are inherited or not, depression is often associated with changes in brain structure or brain function.

People who have low self-esteem, which is still considered the world with pessimism or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, are prone to depression. Does this mean that the psychological predisposition or an early form of the disease is not clear.

In recent years, researchers have shown that physical changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes. medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson's disease and hormonal disorders can cause depression, apathy and a patient does not want to take care of your physical needs, thus prolonging the recovery. In addition, a serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem or stress (reception, and even desired) change in the pattern of life may lead to an episode of depression. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors involved in the development of depressive disorders.

via psychcentral

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

How to Diagnose Anorexia Nervosa


                                                                     figure via ipernity

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder characterized by deliberate weight loss, induced and / or maintained by the patient. The disease occurs most often in adolescent girls and young women, but adolescents and young men may be affected less, and perhaps the children approach puberty and older women with menopause. Anorexia nervosa is an independent team in the sense that:
  • The clinical features of the syndrome are easily recognizable, so that the diagnosis is reliable with a high level of agreement between physicians;
  • Other research has shown that patients who have not recovered, a considerable number continue to show the same main features of anorexia nervosa, in the chronic form.

Although the causes of eating disorders is still elusive, it is obvious that socio-cultural and biological contribute to its causation, and no less specific psychological mechanism and sensitivity of the personality. This disorder is associated with malnutrition in various degrees, with the result of secondary metabolic and hormonal changes and functional disorders of the body. Still do not know whether endocrine disorders is characteristic in its entirety from malnutrition and the direct effect of different behaviors, which led to the subject (eg, limited food choices, excessive exercise and changes in body composition, vomiting, and purification and, therefore, electrolyte disturbances) or whether uncertain factors are also involved.
Guidelines for The Diagnosis
For diagnosis, all are necessary:
  • Body weight is maintained for at least 15% lower than expected (either lost or not achieved) or Quetelet index body mass is 17.5 or less. patients during the growing season may be the lack of expected weight gain during growth.
  • Weight loss is self-induced avoidance of "fattening food" and one or more of the following: vomiting, self-induced purging, excessive exercise, use of filters of appetite and / or diuretics.
  • There is distortion of body image as a specific psychopathology whereby a dread of the fat is intrusive, overvalued idea and the patient imposes a low weight to another.
  • Common endocrine disorder involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is the apparent lack of menstruation in women than in men as loss of sexual desire and power. (Exception visible vaginal bleeding in women with anorexia Maintain hormone replacement therapy, generally regarded as the birth control pill.) It can also be high levels of growth hormone, high levels of cortisol, the hormone changes in the peripheral metabolism of thyroid and insulin secretion impaired.
  • If the start is in the growth period, the sequence of events during puberty is delayed or even arrested (growth ceases; girls breasts are not growing and there is a significant lack of menstruation, genitals boys are minors). With recovery, puberty is often completed correctly, but the menarche is late.

Differential Diagnosis
They may be linked to depression or obsessive symptoms, and characteristics of personality disorders that can cause various types of difficulties and / or require the use of more than one diagnostic code. Somatic causes weight loss in young patients, it is necessary to distinguish chronic debilitating diseases, brain tumors, intestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease or malabsorption.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Mental Retardation That May Occur On Our Children

What is mental retardation?

It is useful to know what is the first interview. Intelligence is a way to describe a person's ability to think, learn and solve problems. Mental retardation is when someone is lower than average intelligence.

People with intellectual disabilities may have difficulty learning and may take longer to see if they are social skills. As in the interaction with society, making friends, etc. People with mental retardation, sometimes certain cases, can not take care of themselves and need help.

Sometimes children who have mental retardation or abuse of ridicule. This is unfortunate because nobody likes to feel isolated and unloved. A person with intellectual disabilities are still people and should be treated with kindness everyone. They want to be like other children, adults and youth.

About mental retardation, needs help in school, learn and behave. Some people life skills. Who is a skill they can use when they are older, so for example a bus or get to work. With all this help and kindness, more and more with mental retardation are able to maintain and live on their own.

What are the causes of mental retardation?

Mental retardation is caused by some damage or injury to the brain, the problem is not to prevent or allow the brain to the farm or grow normally. Mental retardation is not a disease. Many times we do not know why a person of mental retardation. These problems can occur when the baby grows inside its mother during childbirth or after childbirth.

As the child grows

If we become ill during pregnancy can cause problems with your child, such as mental retardation. Some drugs are OK to take when a woman is not pregnant, can cause serious problems if a woman takes them when he has a child. A woman can also put your child at risk of mental retardation or beverages or drugs during pregnancy here.

Mental retardation is a genetic problem they might receive, or someone in your family a. Like their grandparents, parents or grandparents and so on .. So it could be genetic.

During childbirth

If there is a problem during childbirth so that the child's brain does not receive enough oxygen can cause mental retardation.

After the birth of a child

Sometimes a child is born without problems, but it has a serious infection, a small child. Infections in the way the brain develops. In the case of a serious head injury occurs may also cause mental retardation in infants and older children.

How do doctors know if someone has a mental retardation?

Doctors know that the person's mental retardation by examining how the person thinks and solves problems, the type of IQ test. If the child or the child is mentally retarded positive, doctors and other staff meet with the family to know what help is needed. Like your parents, taking as tutoring or hurt in the subject, like math or English.

Is mental retardation be prevented?

Sometimes, mental retardation can be avoided, but not always. There are several tests that can be done if someone is at risk of having a child with the disease, including mental retardation as a condition. When a woman is pregnant, it is important that these healthy foods and avoid alcohol and drugs. And after birth, blood tests are performed to verify some problems. Some of these problems can cause mental retardation, but they are treated immediately, mental retardation can be avoided. There is an increased risk of health problems such as mental retardation, if a pregnant woman drinks or takes drugs, smokes, and all the options mentioned.

It is also important for children to care that they are not a headache. Children must be safe so as not to damage the head with things like gangs. The same applies to older children in the car seat belts and helmets in sports, if any.

What it means to have mental retardation?

"Like all children, people with mental retardation want to develop their skills according to their abilities. They have to go to school, play and feel the support of family and friends love the property. What can you do? " If you know someone who has mental retardation, being a friend!