Psychiatric Consultant | Hawaii Psychiatric

Bipolar Disorder in Teenagers

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Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that usually only affects adults. Sometimes, however, this disorder can be seen in teenagers. Oftentimes the symptoms of bipolar disorder will begin in childhood and will manifest as manic or depressive behavior. Diagnosing bipolar disorder in teenagers is imperative in order that they begin immediate treatment.

Bipolar disorder is non-discriminating. It can be found in teenagers in wealthy homes or poor ones. It can be found in seemingly well adjusted teenagers or those who are having social difficulties. One thing is consistent, however. Families with a history of drug or alcohol abuse results in a higher percentage of teens with bipolar disorder.

Some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder in teenagers include severe changes in mood. Their mood will go from being silly or very happy and can plummet in a second to aggressiveness or agitation. Teenagers with early symptoms can believe that they are invincible or develop the ability to go for days on end without sleep. They can be distracted very easily and move from task to task very quickly without completing any of them.

Bipolar disorder in teens is difficult to diagnose due to the sheer number of possible symptoms, and differentiating between normal teenage behavior and bipolar disorder can be difficult. However difficult the diagnosis may be, bipolar in teens can be successfully treated. Treatment includes education for the family and patient and mood-stabilizing drugs as well as psychotherapy. Drugs are necessary at first to ensure that there are no more episodes while the patient begins therapy.

It is imperative that parents remain vigilant if they suspect their teenager is suffering from abnormal mood behaviors, and if there is any doubt they should consult a physician. Early diagnosis can lead to a completely stable adult, not to mention the resumption of normal teenage behavior and activities.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Bipolar disorder, Diagnosis, Major depressive disorder, Mania, Mental disorder, Mental health, Mood stabilizer, Symptom

Mental Health in Nursing Home Patients

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Geriatrics usually suffer from such a huge host of medical problems, that taking care of their physical issues usually supplants their mental health needs. When in a nursing home, resources are not often available to maintain the patient’s optimal mental health.

Depression is the leading mental health issue among nursing home patients. They know they’re there to die, and that it is only a matter of time before they succumb to either age or their maladies. Their lifestyle may have radically changed over a short period of time making adjustment difficult. Furthermore, for many elderly patients, discussing their mental health state is difficult and embarrassing.

Many nursing home facilities are not equipped with sufficient resources to improve the mental health of the patients. If mental health issues do get diagnosed, then all too often the treatment involves drug therapy. Such drugs may exacerbate the depression or other mental disorders rather than cure the problem.
While most nursing homes do include some recreational activities, these programs do not sufficiently address the individual needs of the patients. And, if the patients are hampered by limited mobility or articulation then their sense of depression, isolation and despair may intensify, despite the use of drug therapy.

There are no easy answers to this problem. If fortunate, the elderly patient may have observant family members who can act as their advocate to receive proper geriatric therapy instead of just over medicating. The problem with this is that many families just expect their aged parents or grandparents to have mental issues; but this is never normal.

There is help available for elderly patients suffering from mental health disorders. The key is to articulate the need in such a way as to receive this help. Communicating with family members and doctors is one way to receive needed help. Always encourage your elderly family members to talk about how they’re feeling, and act on their behalf if necessary.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Disorders, Health, Mental disorder, Mental health, Nursing home, Oceania, Patient, United States

Mindfulness Meditation

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Mindfulness is a practice for improving mental health that is becoming more and more common. It is related to the Buddhist practice of meditation and awareness, but this form of meditation focuses more on being aware while in the present. It also involves having a non-judgmental attitude while holding your attention and concentration on the moment. This results in becoming more accepting of events in one’s life, thereby reducing the stress and anxiety that may result.

Mindfulness can be practiced by anybody, at any age. And, regularly practicing it has shown remarkable benefits in the reduction of stress, anxiety and even depression. By meditating and focusing on the moment one can slowly change the pattern of negative thought and even harmful behaviors.

Actually practicing mindfulness is simple, and begins in a quiet and comfortable place. Simple sit on the floor or in a chair and breathe regularly. With your eyes closed, try to set aside all thoughts of the past and future, and concentrate only on the present, the moment you are in at that time. This can be done by focusing on your breathing, on the sensation of air flowing through your body. Concentrate on your breath to the exclusion of all else. If thoughts to threaten to break your concentration simply acknowledge them but don’t think about them, just focus once again on your breathing. After a few moments get up and resume your activities.
A key element to successful mindfulness meditation is to not judge yourself if you fail, or if your concentration is broken. This practice takes a while to master and you need to be forgiving of yourself in the duration.

While more scientific studies need to be completed in order to catalog the benefits of this form of meditation, one thing is certain: no harm comes from it and it does result in a sense of inner peace which can only bolster one’s mental health.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Alternative, anxiety, Buddhism, Health, Meditation, Mental health, Mindfulness (Buddhism), Religion and Spirituality

The Three Most Common Mental Health Disorders

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Millions of people suffer from a variety of mental disorders. These disorders are non-discriminating. They can affect people of all ages and from all walks of life. The prompt diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders is essential for recovery, but realizing that there is a problem is the first, and most commonly missed, step. The following are the three most common psychiatric disorders and some of their common symptoms.

Attention Deficiency Hyper-Active Disorder (ADHD)

Contrary to popular belief, ADHD can strike anybody and not just children. It has been estimated that nearly 5 percent of all adults and 4 percent of all children suffer from ADHD, many of whom go undiagnosed. ADHD is easily treatable through drug and talk therapy. Some of the common symptoms vary from adults to children but included in both age groups are: difficulty paying attention, disorganization, procrastination, easily distracted and excessive energy.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar diagnosis is the most difficult part of this disorder. Once diagnosed, treatment is relatively easy and is usually a combination of drug and psychotherapy. Once only seen in adults, bipolar disorder is now being diagnosed among teenagers and even children. Some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder include: severe mood swings, acting recklessly or believing to be invincible, delusions or hallucinations and racing thoughts.

Schizo-Affective Disorder

Schizo-affective disorder is a disorder that is found in patients who suffer from both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Patients exhibit symptoms of both these disorders, and while it can be difficult to diagnose, more and more occurrences of it are being diagnosed each year. Some of the common symptoms of schizo-affective disorder include: suspicion, hostility, withdrawing from society, extreme reactions and irrational speaking or thought patterns.

In nearly all cases, prompt diagnosis of mental disorders is essential to treatment and recovery. Always seek the advice of a professional and closely follow their recommendations.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Bipolar disorder, Diagnosis, Health, Mental disorder, Mental health, Schizoaffective disorder, Symptom

Coping with Anxiety

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Many people find themselves from time to time, dealing with anxiety. For those with anxiety disorder, they suffer from constant, recurring anxiety. Anxiety that is present on a daily basis can have a negative impact.

People with debilitating anxiety should seek professional help, but for those with naturally occurring and short lived anxiety, can learn to cope and overcome its affects. When first recognizing the signs of anxiety such as trembling, sweating or the nauseous feeling in the stomach, it is important to recognize that you’re dealing with anxiety and then implement some of the following strategies to deal with it.

Breathe

When in the grasp of anxiety, the best thing to do to shorten its course is to breathe. Breathing deeply through the nose and out through the mouth, concentrating on each breath, is the simplest and most effective thing you can do. Focusing on regulating your breath will slow your heart rate and calm your nerves. Once you have your breathing under control you can be objective about your situation.

Objectivity

When you’ve attained a measure of calm, you can begin to analyze your situation and be objective about it. You need to recognize the problem or issue and then form a plan in order to rectify the situation. Sometimes all that means is leaving the room or moving on to another task.

Consideration

Once you’ve removed the source and symptoms of your anxiety, consider what caused it in the first place. It is important to fully understand your reaction from start to finish so that you can learn to more quickly recognize the onset of anxiety and so that you can resolve the situation more quickly.

Anxiety is a mental health issue that should not be trifled with. It is serious and if left unchallenged it can become an even more dire issue. Always consult with you physician if you think that you’re experiencing more than normal anxiety.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: anxiety, Anxiety disorder, Breathing, Disorders, Health, Heart rate, Mental health, Panic attack

The Dangers of Self Diagnosis

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The widespread use of the internet as well as medical knowledge becoming mainstream in television makes the wealth of medical knowledge easily acceptable by the common person. Such information is easily accessed which leads to people self-diagnosing medical issues. The problem with self-diagnosis is that it can be dangerous to one’s health.

While it is important for people to be their own advocate regarding their mental and physical health, there is a point where too much information can be not only misleading but dangerous. One of the main problems with self-diagnosis is that the physician must first overcome the patient’s notion of what may be wrong. Patients tend to over stress and worry about a problem that may seem to be very serious when in reality it may be a minor issue.

Patients that tend to read too much online about symptoms can actually begin to feel symptoms of a disorder that they didn’t originally have. These phantom symptoms pose an additional complication to the physician who now needs to order unnecessary tests to rule out psychosomatic symptoms. Commercials on television that rattle off a whole stream of potential symptoms that can be a sign of a problem can lead patients to believe that they’ve got all sorts of medical issues. These commercials are almost convincing; people begin to feel symptoms that they didn’t otherwise have.
Another danger of self-diagnosis is that it typically leads to self-treatment. While many herbal supplements are harmless, when combined with pharmaceuticals or even other natural supplements deadly complications can arise.

The stress and anxiety that arises from self-diagnosis, especially when the diagnosis is wrong, can exacerbate the problem or even create new ones. The best way to deal with any sort of symptoms is to see your doctor and only after a professional diagnosis should you read up on it and investigate it further.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases, Diagnosis, Health, Medicine, Patient, Physician, Self-diagnosis, Symptom

Depression and Alzheimer’s

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The struggle to fully understand Alzheimer’s is continually ongoing with the hope that one day a cure may be found. Until that time the best we can do is prevent it from happening and if it does strike, then to treat it as best as possible.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes loss of memory and the inability to carry out common activities. It is caused by the build up of plaque on nerve cells that in turn causes the death of these nerve cells. Scientists have known for years that depression plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, but recent studies have shown a definite correlation between the two.

The elderly are already prone to depression, but studies are showing that their risk of getting Alzheimer’s can be increased by as much as 50 percent if they are already depressed. Further studies need to be conducted in order to fully understand the physicality of how depression can cause cognitive decline, but the suspicion is that depression causes structural changes in the brain which makes it more susceptible to dementia.

Studies have shown that depression is not a symptom of Alzheimer’s, and dealing with depression as it starts is only practical regardless of the connection between Alzheimer’s and depression. Natural supplements such as fish oil and vitamin B12 have been shown to reduce the effects of depression which can in turn lessen the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s later in life. Taking these supplements can aid in your overall mental health but you should always discuss your options with a doctor prior to taking any supplement.

Alzheimer’s is a terribly debilitating disease that we all strive to avoid getting, but we really have no choice. Until a cure or preventative treatment is developed, the best we can do is live a healthy, happy life, free of depression.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: alzheimers, alzheimers disease, Fish oil, Health, Memory loss, Neurological disorder, Neuron, Symptom

Steps Towards Mental Health Reform

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Mental health practices have come a long way since the terrible tradition of putting “mad” people on ships and casting them off into the ocean. Readers of the Cormac McCarthy American Epic “Blood Meridian” will remember the portrayal of the character “the fool”. In the novel he is displayed for entertainment purposes and treated no better than a circus act animal.

McCarthy’s account is not made for shock value. Using mentally disturbed people as entertainment was a regular act in colonial America. In 1760s Philadelphia it was a regular practice for guests to visit insane asylums on Sundays as if visiting a zoo. Guests would often entertain themselves by taunting the patients, particularly those restrained by chains. The problem became so bad that at one Philadelphia hospital administrators erected a fence to keep tourists out. This failed as the public pushed past the barrier. Rather than attempt to keep the public out, staff began to charge admission.

Perhaps others would have come to similar conclusions, but the terrible practice of using mental patients as spectacle came to an end due to the efforts of Benjamin Rush. Rush was a devote Quaker and a leader in the Philadelphia community. By the turn of the nineteenth century his reforms were giving Pennsylvania Hospital the appearance of a place were actual treatment was taking place rather than just confinement.

Prior to Rush’s arrival it the usual sight was neglected prisoners restricted to cold dingy cells. Of the first changes Rush made was providing patients with a stove to ease the cold and an occasional warm bath. The effects of even these simple pleasures were enough to cause major positive changes in several patients. Rush knew that the body want connected to the brain, and that for patients that struggled to express themselves through conversation providing for basic human needs was one of the portals into a patient’s mind. This simple step was the first of many reforms.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Benjamin Rush, Health, Mental disorder, Mental health, Patient, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, United States

Dawn of Eugenics

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Due to the efforts of visionary doctors the field of treating mental illness grew from an ugly practice filled with quacks to a respectable science by the later part of the 18th century. For all of the advances in the field of mental health made in that era, treatment for the mentally ill would regress around the dawn of the 20th century. Just as a generation of doctors had been influenced by medical studies that stated physically dominating patients was part of the treatment in the 1700s, the doctors of the 1900s would be influenced by the concept of eugenics.

The prevailing attitude that all men were created equal went away in part due to the influence of Sir Francis Galton. Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, helped to push the notion that mentally ill people were carries of defective genetic material. Galton portrayed the mentally ill as putting a strain on society, and his writings were used as justification to deny people with a history of mental illness the rights to marry. Some states even went as far as force sterilization.

Galton used some of the concepts made famous by Darwin to form his theories. Since evolution was an ongoing process, he reasoned that the future of mankind could be shaped to produce “prize stock” similar to farmers who breed superior crops or domestic animals.

Galton made a critical assumption in his work “Hereditary Genius”. He conclude it was natural selection rather than a nurturing environment that created the best traits in humans. He based his work on tracking the familial relations among dozens of prominent English leaders. Galton’s ultimate conclusion was that humans were not equal. In 1883, he invented the world eugenics, which translates to the science of improving the genetic composition of a population. The entire world took notice of his findings, with the more dire consequence to occur generations later in Germany.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Charles Darwin, Eugenics, Francis Galton, Germany, Hereditary Genius: An Inquiry Into Its Laws and Consequences, Mental disorder, Mental health, Natural selection

Dark Ages of Psychiatric Care

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So-called Western “Civilization” might have been making strides during the dawn of the Enlightenment, but despite gains in scientific thought and philosophical reasoning the treatment of lowest members of civilization remained deplorable at best.

The insane were not considered part of society. They were treated as entertaining spectacles at best and as a public nuisance by the majority of society. Rather than worry about how to help these individuals, most governments sought ways to make the problem of housing or controlling mentally disturbed people go away. Despite the pleas of seeking cures from Benjamin Franklin, public officials in the American colony of Pennsylvania were more persuaded to dedicate funds for a hospital due to the fears of violent behavior by “mad” people.

It was determined that society had to be protected from the insane, so Pennsylvania opened a hospital that operated mostly as a prison in 1756. Society’s worst were shipped to the dank and gloomy cells and ruled over by keepers that were not afraid to use violence to keep the patients from acting up. Overseers used whips often, and when not beating patients, the staff would often chain them to floors with handcuff and iron-ankle bracelets. Part of this treatment was pure human cruelty. More powerful people have taken their anger and aggression out on the less fortunate throughout history. But regular beatings were also part of the science of the day. English physician Dr. Thomas Willis wrote the book “The Practice of Physick: Two Discourse Concerning the Soul of Brutes”. The influential book held that to cure the insane, patients had to view their doctors as tormentors. Beatings were as important as any medical treatment. A tradition was born from these observations and a generation of misunderstood people had to suffer the consequences of physical and mental torment as part of their “treatment”. In the 18th century Even as scientists advanced human thought, medicine remained in the Dark Ages.

Filed Under: Health, Mental Health, Psychiatric Consultant Tagged With: Benjamin Franklin, Dark Ages, Health, Medicine, Mental disorder, Pennsylvania, Thomas Willis, United States