Category: Disorders

Accident Phobia – Impairs the ability to Drive

Situational Specific Phobia :  Accident Phobia

Accident phobia has been studied most extensively in relation to accidents involving motor vehicles. It has been established that thirty-eight per cent of survivors of car crashes subsequently develop severe phobic fear and avoidance of car travel, which has had a significant effect on their normal life.

Symptoms of accident phobia

Although it is unusual for car journeys to be avoided completely, accident phobics will often only travel when strictly necessary. Also, the journey may only be undertaken at a particular time of day, for example, when traffic conditions are light. Accident phobics experience considerable anticipatory anxiety before the journey and are highly fearful while in the car. Some find it very difficult to be passengers and most constantly give the driver instructions.

It is not unusual for accident phobics to make considerable adjustments to their life to avoid car travel. This can include such extreme measures as moving house or even relinquishing a job and, in most cases, the person’s normal enjoyment of outings, hobbies, holidays and so on, is considerably restricted because of the effect on mobility. It is possible that similar levels of phobic fear and avoidance may occur in those who have been in accidents involving buses, coaches and trains.

The recently developed Accident Fear Questionnaire of American Psychiatry appears to reliably differentiate between the two conditions and indicates that phobic fear develops independently of injury, pain or depression caused by the accident. There is, however, some evidence that a person/ s psychological make-up might predispose them towards developing accident phobia.

Treatment of accident phobia

Treatment for accident phobia is in a process of continual development and refinement. Initial cognitive therapy is needed, aimed at helping the person to realize that he is a survivor, and that there is no reason to suppose that an accident that has happened once will be repeated. Therapy using the person’s imagination and the use of video-taped material may be useful. Eventually, the person is encouraged to embark upon exposure therapy by becoming a car passenger – something that most phobics find extremely difficult. The final stage, if the person is a driver, is for him to start driving again and a refresher instruction course may help in this respect.

Receptive Expressive Disorder

Receptive-expressive developmental language Disorder

In this disorder the understanding of language is below the level appropriate to the child’s mental age. In almost all cases, expressive language is also disturbed (a fact recognized in DSM-IV by the term receptive-expressive language disorder). The development of receptive language ability varies considerably among normal children. However, failure to respond to familiar names, in the absence of non-verbal cues, by the beginning of the second year of age, or failure to respond to simple instructions by the end of the second year, are significant signs suggesting receptive language disorder – provided that deafness, learning disability, and pervasive developmental disorder have been excluded. Associated social and behavioral problems are particularly frequent in this form of language disorder.

The prevalence depends on the criteria for diagnosis, but a frequency of up to 3% of school-age children has been suggested (American Psychiatric Association 1994). The prognosis is poor with around 75% continuing throughout childhood. The prognosis is worse when the language disorder is severe, or there is a co-morbid condition, such as conduct disorder. Treatment is through special education. The psychiatrist’s role is the same as in expressive language disorder.

Receptive Expressive Language Disorder

Receptive-expressive development language disorder

In this disorder the understanding of language is below the level appropriate to the child’s mental age. In almost all cases, expressive language is also disturbed (a fact recognized in DSM-IV by the term receptive-expressive language disorder).

Characteristics of the Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder

The development of receptive language ability varies considerably among normal children. However, failure to respond to familiar names, in the absence of non-verbal cues, by the beginning of the second year of age, or failure to respond to simple instructions by the end of the second year, are significant signs suggesting receptive language disorder – provided that deafness, learning disability, and pervasive developmental disorder have been excluded. Associated social and behavioral problems are particularly frequent in this form of language disorder.

The prevalence depends on the criteria for diagnosis, but a frequency of up to 3% of school-age children has been suggested (American Psychiatric Association 1994a). The prognosis is poor with around 75% continuing throughout childhood. The prognosis is worse when the language disorder is severe, or there is a co-morbid condition, such as conduct disorder.

Treatment of this disorder

Treatment is through special education. The psychiatrist’s role is the same as in expressive language disorder

Specific Developmental expressive Language Disorder

Specific Developmental expressive Language Disorder

In this disorder, the ability to use expressive spoken language is markedly below the level appropriate for the child’s mental age. Language comprehension is within normal limits but there may be abnormalities in articulation. Language development varies considerably among normal children, but the absence of single words by 2 years of age, and of two-word phrases by 3 years of age signifies abnormality. Signs at later ages include restricted vocabulary, difficulties in selecting appropriate words, and immature grammatical usage. Nonverbal communication, if impaired, is not affected as severely as spoken language, and the child makes efforts to communicate. Disorders of behavior are often present.

Cluttering – some children speak rapidly and with an erratic rhythm such that the grouping of words does not reflect the grammatical structure of their speech. This abnormality, which is known as cluttering, is classified as an associated feature of expressive language disorder in DSM-IV but in ICD-I0 it is classified (with stammering) among other behavioral disorders of childhood.

Prevalence of expressive language disorder depends on the method of assessment; a rate of 3-5% of children has been proposed (American Psychiatric Association 1994a).

Prognosis of the disorder

It is reported that about half of the children meeting DSM-IV criteria develop normal speech by adult life, while the rest have long lasting difficulties (American Psychiatric Association

1994a). Prognosis is worse when the language disorder is severe, or there is a co-morbid condition, such as conduct disorder.

Treatment of Expressive Language Disorder

Treatment is mainly through special education.  Psychiatrists are likely to be involved when there is a co-morbid disorder, and may need to advise the parents about the child’s rights for special education.

Mathematics Disorder and Its effects on Children

Mathematics Disorder

This disorder is also known as arithmetic disorder. The first of these terms is used in DSM-IV; is used in ICD-10. It contains difficulty with arithmetic is probably the second most common specific disorder. Problems include failure to understand simple mathematical concepts, failure to recognize numerical symbols or mathematical signs, difficulty in carrying out arithmetic manipulations, and inability to learn mathematical tables.

These problems are not due simply to lack of opportunities to learn and are evident from the time of the child’s first attempts to learn mathematics. There has been no study of its epidemiology, although it is thought to be quite common. Although it causes less severe handicap in everyday life than reading difficulties, it can lead to secondary emotional difficulties when the child is at school.

The causes are uncertain. Dyscalculia occurs in some adults with parietal lobe lesions, but no brain damage has been found in children with specific arithmetic disorder. It seems unlikely that there is a single cause. Assessment is usually based on the arithmetic subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and on specific tests. Treatment is by remedial teaching but it is not known whether it is effective.

Multiple Sclerosis and Depression Patients

Multiple Sclerosis and Depression Effects on Each other

According to Mental Health America, if you are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, whether you have depression or not can be judged by asking yourself following two questions:

  1. During the past two weeks, have you often felt down, depressed or hopeless?
  2. During the past two weeks, have you had little interest or pleasure in doing things?

If you have answered “yes” to either or both of above questions, you might be having depression which is one of the common symptoms of MS.

If you answered “no” to above these, but constantly have low mood, you may be experiencing normal grieving or other changes. Grief is generally time-limited and resolves on its own..

Many people with MS focus only on their physical health and neglect their emotional health — which is an essential component of overall health and wellness.

The Link between MS and Depression

Anyone having too much stress or a tough situation may suffer from depression. Hence it is easy to postulate the effects of MS can cause mood changes and hence depression.

  1. MS itself might also cause depression. The disease may destroy the protective coating around nerves that helps the brain send signals that affect mood.
  2. Depression is also a side-effect of some the drugs that treat multiple sclerosis, such as steroids and interferon.

Depression and other MS symptoms

There are many similarities when it comes about the symptoms of depression and MS. At times, when these conditions coexist what is causing what symptom is often misjudged. For example, fatigue can be related to depression, or may be a direct result of MS, or a combination.

There is no link established on the running length of one symptom being present due to depression and its severity direct impact of another.  For example, someone who is recently diagnosed can be as depressed as someone who has had MS for many years.

Nerve damage and depression in MS

Research has been done to see if depression can be directly linked to MS-related damage in particular areas of the brain. Some studies have suggested that there is a link, though they also suggest that MS-related nerve damage is only part of the equation.

Depression increases risk of Dementia

Is Depression Known to Increase risk of Dementia Multifold?

Lot of things has been researched and studied in the field of mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease and other form of dementia. One of the very interesting areas of research is depression and its connection with dementia.  Depression is known to create impact in people with dementia in following two different ways.

  1. Individuals who have significant depression are at higher risk of developing dementia.
  2. People who are having dementia have depression too which if left untreated worsen confusion and forgetfulness further disrupting the quality of life.

Contribution from Studies on Connection of Depression and Dementia

Dementia and depression are mental health problems that are commonly encountered in neuropsychiatric practice in the elderly. Approximately, half of the patients with late-onset depression have cognitive impairment. The prevalence of depression in dementias has been reported to be between 9 and 68%. Depression has been both proposed to be a risk factor for dementia as well as a prodrome of dementia. The relationship between the two disorders is far from conclusive.

The relationship between depression and dementia is far from clear with the existing body of evidence pointing to a complex interaction. There is a need to sort out several methodological limitations that hinder us from elucidating the relationship. Some of these may include use of uniformed criteria for cognitive impairment, operationalizing, and validating criteria for depression in dementia, using better instruments to measure depression and cognitive impairment when they coexist. This area has enormous public health implications considering our growing elder population, and there is a need to understand the mechanisms involved in the association of these two disorders.

Relationship between these two major illnesses

There are several ways in which depression could be related to dementia and cognitive impairment. First, both being common conditions, they could occur together in the same individual by chance alone. Second, in some individuals, cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms could both be manifestations of the same brain disease. Third, individuals experiencing cognitive deficits could become depressed as a reaction to recognizing their losses and poor prognosis. Fourth, depression might unmask a dementia which had until then remained undetected. Fifth, depression itself could be an independent risk factor for the future development of dementia; this seems a more plausible explanation when the individual has had early-onset recurrent or chronic depression than if the depression occurs for the first time shortly before the dementia is manifested. Finally, these are not mutually exclusive possibilities.

Teen Suicide Facts

Real and Shocking Teen Suicide Facts – Youth Suicide Statistics

Teen Suicide has been a nightmare situation in the US. Currently there is thousands of teen’s suicide each year in the United States. Shockingly, it is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds in the US.

Almost 1 teen among 5 thinks of suicide as an option annually. According to the earlier statistics, there are about 1 million teens who attempted suicide out of which 300000 needed/received medical attentions whereas 1700 died. Currently, the most effective suicide prevention programs equip mental health professionals and other community educators and leaders with sufficient resources to recognize who is at risk and who has access to mental health care.

Some Shocking facts about Suicide in Teens

  1. Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year.
  2. Spring time is the time when there is maximum number of suicides.
  3. On an average, there is a suicide committed every 16.2 minutes.
  4. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.
  5. Almost all the kids or teens who have tried to commit suicide have given clear warning signs.
  6. The risk of suicide increases dramatically when kids and teens have access to guns or firearms at home.
  7. 60% of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun.

Checking on the method of Suicide

The first way of suicide in teens is by the guns or firearms at home. Next method is overdose using over-the-counter, prescription, and non-prescription medicine. Suicide rates and attempt rates differ between boys and girls a lot. While more girls attempt suicide, boys tend to die twice as much as girls due to suicide. The reason is girls think about suicide, but use drug overdose or cutting the wrist as the method, whereas boys think less but take a lethal method like guns, hanging, etc.

Suicide cases in 90% of teens who kill themselves have some type of mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety, drug or alcohol abuse, or a behavior problem. Some of the teens will be victim of physical or sexual abuse causing them to take extreme step.

Possible warning signs

  1. Talking About Dying — any mention of dying, disappearing, jumping, etc.
  2. Recent Loss — divorce, separation, broken relationship, self-confidence, self-esteem, loss of interest in friends, hobbies, etc.
  3. Change in Personality – becoming more sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, etc.
  4. Change in Behavior – sudden poor performance on school, work, routine, etc.
  5. Change in Sleep Patterns
  6. Change in Eating Habits — loss of appetite and weight,
  7. Fear of losing control – acting erratically, harming self or others
  8. Low self esteem — feeling worthless and shameful

Biofeedback Allows Anyone to Control Mental Disorders

Control is key

One of the most interesting procedures that may be used for handling depression and mental disorders is biofeedback. This is a procedure that involves the body learning how to control itself. This uses a procedure where the body is connected to a series of sensors that are used to measure many points in the body. These include things like heart rate or body temperature.

The body is then trained to work with making changes to help control the body to reach certain feedback results. This works with relaxation in mind to help control the way how the body is responding to different stimuli and may work to keep the body secure.

Used for handling depression

Biofeedback is popular in that it may be able to work with controlling depression. This is because biofeedback is used to help teach a person how to work with controls that are used to help relieve the body of pains and irritation that might come from difficult thoughts.

This can also work for mental disorders that relate to anxiety or focus. The need to learn how to control one’s body is important because it will help to keep one’s worries at bay.

Does it work for everyone?

Biofeedback is useful in that it is not invasive and may work instead of many medications to help control the body to the point where it may feel a little more comfortable and prepared for different functions. It can also work with regards to giving anyone to ability to not only control mental concerns but to also control physical parts of the body.

However, there are a few points that need to be reviewed when it comes to biofeedback. It may be irritating to some people. Also, there are some risks that might involve different kinds of problems that relate to different functions that are rough or challenging to the point where one is not able to get signals read properly unless the sensors are attached properly.

Chocolate for mood lift

Chocolate lovers around the world have long associated the consumption of chocolate, manufactured from the simple cocoa bean, with enjoyment and pleasure. However, researchers have found that chocolate has a greater benefit and can make some people who are prone to depression — less anxious. The chocolate inspire to cravings.

Chocolate has been thought to interact with a number of the neurotransmitter systems that affect mood. In particular, it is popularly believed that chocolate or carbohydrate cravings correct a deficiency in the neurotransmitter ’serotonin’, which is in short supply in people who are depressed.

The researchers consider that the chocolate includes endorphins and opoids which make people feel more relaxed. Sugar present in chocolate reduces stress in people and enables you to have cool and pain relieving effect. Eat the chocolate with high reputed brand. Don’t eat the cheap chocolates having high sugar contents and saturated fats which are harmful to your body.

Chocolates release endorphins in the brain that acts as a pain reliever. Some scientist realize that chocolates are complex food. It will boost your appetite without causing weight gain. It reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. It will make you live longer. The benefits of chocolate eating during a depressive episode. The chocolate only provides temporary relief.

Chocolate contains a host of chemicals to bring your mood. The chocolate consist of ingredients like caffeine, tyramine, anandamide, theobromine, phenylethylamine and sugar. The main target of anadamide, a neurotransmitter is brain which is active ingredient. Scientists believe that anadamide causes to hang around in the brain for longer time enhancing its stimulant effect.

Besides sugar in chocolate reduces stress and enables you to have calm and pain relieving effect. On the downside, it is laden with fat and sugar, so of course excess of it is bad. The flavonoid is present in chocolate protect the cell from damage.

Like the chocolates other food substances also help to to lift mood are tryptophan is an essential amino acid, glutamic acid is fuel for the brain, selenium raises the spirits, fishes are good for the heart, green tea act as excellent stimulant, thiamine is a formidable mood booster and folic acid also rises the spirits.

The consumption of dark chocolate improve vascular function and blood pressure. The chocolates remove the feeling of depression. It is high in fat and sugar. The chocolate improve your thinking and you make feel better. So enjoy it!!!

Is chocolate help to lift your mood?

The healthy food help to keep our mental health strong . Like that of food on research it is proved that chocolates are help us to lift mood. The contains present in the chocolates have different functions which help to keep the body and mind fresh. Avocado help to keep the receptors in brain sensitive to serotonin. Dark variety of chocolates gives instant boost.

Milk give the protein which decrease anxiety and frustration. Omega-3 is fatty acid which help to cognitive and behavioral function. Sugar will raise serotonin and endorphin levels of body which indirectly help to increase the insulin. The large percentage of caffeine affects on the body. So small amount of caffiein add in chocolates. The caffeine act as a stimulant.

Chocolate and Emotional Eater?

The people who are emotional they relieve from boring, stress or clinical depression. Generally the people who has rate highly on personality styles of bad temper, rejection sympathy, nervous disturbing, self-criticism and self-focus they crave chocolate and use it to soothe their anxiety.

Some discoverer said that chocolates provide only temporary relief to the person. For keeping strong concentration chocolates help to emotional eater. Generally the emotional eater have freshness after eating the chocolate. Most of the people have chocolate test in different substances like biscuits, cake etc.

Conclusion – While it is too early for doctors to start prescribing chocolate for depression, this study does prove that it has tangible benefits in fighting mood disorders. The good quality dark chocolates will help to remain satisfy. The eating of chocolates has positive effect on mood. The study prove that the chocolates has benefit in fighting mood disorder.