Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sometimes called ADHD, is a chronic condition and the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It occurs in about one in twenty children in this country. Boys are diagnosed with ADHD four times more frequently than girls. ADHD can affect children, teenagers and adults.

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder struggle with self-control, and tend to be accident-prone. Although their memory problems may interfere with their ability to perform in school or work, most individuals with ADHD have normal or above average intelligence.

There are three different types of ADHD. Individuals diagnosed with the inattentive type primarily exhibit impaired attention spans, increased vulnerability to distractions, sometimes appear as if they are not listening, are disorganized and have trouble finishing tasks. Those with the hyperactive-impulsive type may restless and fidgety, be unable to stay seated, appear as if they are “always on the go”, have difficulty sharing and taking turns, and seem to frequently interrupt. The most common type is combined attention-deficit/hyperactivity type, which, is a combination of the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive types.

A diagnosis of one of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders is usually made when symptoms last at least six months and the above symptoms were first noticeable before five years of age. Generally, symptoms should have been observed in at least two different settings, such as home and school or home and work, before a diagnosis is made. Checklists, completed by teachers, co-workers or family members may be requested by your clinician as part of the evaluation process.

Children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are at risk for other behavioral health problems including oppositional disorder, anxiety disorder and learning disabilities. As teens or adults, these individuals can be more likely to develop personality or substance use problems.

Many causes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have been studied, but no single explanation seems to apply to all cases of the disorder. Viruses, harmful chemicals in the environment, genetics, problems during pregnancy or delivery, or anything that impairs brain development can play a role in causing the disorder.

Many types of medications have been used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The most widely used drugs are stimulants, but antidepressants may also be used to treat ADHD.

Behavior therapy, which involves using strategies to modify the behavior of children with the disorder is often helpful. This approach may include specialized reward systems to reinforce positive and discourage negative behaviors.

Although it is generally believed that a two-pronged treatment approach combining stimulants and behavior therapy is most helpful, it is not clear how long the benefits from treatment will last. Ongoing research efforts are aimed at identifying new medicines and psychological treatments.

When it comes to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, parents and caregivers should be careful not to jump to conclusions about the diagnosis. A high energy level in a child, without other symptoms or consequences, does not automatically mean mean that the child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Also, attentional problems can sometimes be due to other psychological problems. The diagnosis depends on whether the child or adolescent can focus well enough to complete tasks that are developmentally appropriate for his or her age and intelligence. This ability is almost always best assessed in the classroom setting.

ADHD requires careful initial assessment and possibly long-term treatment. A professional evaluation is required to make the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Most of us know what it feels like to get anxious now and then.  The sensation of a racing heart or butterflies in the stomach are normal responses to stress.  These feelings of anxiety can be motivating or distressing.  Anxiety helps us deal with tension at the office, prepare for a final exam or stay focused on delivering an important speech.  But, when these feelings become excessive and cause irrational fears of everyday situations, they can develop into disabling anxiety disorders.

The anxiety disorders described in this guide include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Phobias
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Agoraphobia
• Specific Phobia (Simple Phobia)

Although each disorder has distinct features, they are all bound together by the common theme of excessive, irrational fear and dread.  These disorders tend to disrupt individual lives and also tend to run in families.

Anxiety disorders tend to be caused by a combination of environmental, personality and genetic factors.   Treatments for all of these disorders are similar and are discussed within the context of each specific section that follows.  Psychotherapy and medication can help most sufferers of anxiety to lead richer, more fulfilling lives.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is much more than the anxiety experienced by the average individual on a daily basis. It is a chronic condition, plaguing the sufferer with worry, dread, and the persistent anticipation of disaster. At times, the real source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. Physical symptoms are often experienced. Such symptoms typically include fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, sweating, frequent urination, lightheadedness, or nausea.

Other symptoms of GAD involve an excessive tendency to startle, difficulty relaxing, concentration problems, and insomnia. Unlike some of the other anxiety disorders, GAD does not typically involve an avoidance response as a result of their disorder. The symptoms can be mild or severe, sometimes making it difficult to carry out the most basic daily routines.

About five percent of Americans are diagnosed with this disorder. GAD affects twice as many women as men, and the risk is highest between childhood and middle age. GAD is thought to be at least moderately influenced by heredity. GAD may occur in conjunction with another anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse, and these other problems will need to be considered as part of the overall treatment plan.

Generally, treatment includes both psychotherapy and medication. The psychotherapy typically occurs in individual treatment sessions focusing on dysfunctional cognitions and behaviors related to GAD. Medications most commonly prescribed for the symptoms of GAD may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers. Meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques may help teach self-soothing techniques and can enhance the effects of therapy. There is also evidence that aerobic exercise may be of value. It is well-known that caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of GAD.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly referred to as OCD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted, repetitive thoughts called obsessions and excessive, uncontrolled, ritualistic behaviors described as compulsions. The sufferer derives no pleasure from engaging in these behaviors. Although there may be momentary relief from engaging in the behavior, increasing anxiety results when the sufferer cannot engage in these behaviors.

Many otherwise mentally healthy people identify with the symptoms of OCD. For example, many of us check the stove several times prior to leaving the house. But for sufferers of OCD, these activities are distressing, take up at least one hour of time per day, and interfere with many other activities of daily living. These behaviors become necessary to neutralize the sufferer’s feelings of anxiety.

Although the individual with OCD realizes that the thoughts and behaviors are senseless, they feel completely essentially powerless to thwart the impulses.

OCD occurs in about 2 percent of Americans. The disease occurs in children, teenagers, adults, and seniors, although sometimes the individual does not realize that the behavior being exhibited is maladaptive until others point it out. If the symptoms become sufficiently severe, the person may be unable to attend school or work, and functioning may become significantly impaired.

OCD generally responds well to a combination of psychotherapy and medication. The psychotherapy is often cognitive-behavioral, with an attempt to focus on both the dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors. Medications most commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders may include SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), tricyclics, benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers.

Individuals diagnosed with panic disorder suffer from recurrent panic attacks and the fear that these attacks will recur. Panic attacks include physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.

Physical symptoms of panic include shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, sweating, dizziness, numbness, tingling, gastrointestinal upset,t and the sensation of feeling smothered. Emotional and cognitive symptoms include feelings of terror that strike without warning, a sense of impending doom or fear that one is on the verge of death. The attacks can occur anytime, anywhere, but generally last no more than ten minutes.

Panic disorder can be accompanied by symptoms of depression or drug or alcohol abuse and generally leads to a pattern of avoidance of places where attacks may have occurred. Often, the individual feels as if they are “going crazy”.

Panic disorder is diagnosed twice as frequently in women as in men. It is important to note that many individuals without panic disorder can experience symptoms of panic, but only about three percent of Americans have the disorder. In about one-third of the sufferers, symptoms are so debilitating that the individual becomes too terrified to leave the house, thus developing what is known as agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is described in detail in another section of this website.

Panic disorder is one of the most treatable of the anxiety disorders, responding in most cases to psychiatric medications and carefully targeted behavioral psychotherapy. Medications most commonly prescribed may include SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers. Meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques may help the sufferer develop self-soothing techniques, which may enhance the effects of therapy. Avoidance of caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can help keep panic symptoms at a minimum.

Phobias are defined as irrational fears that can occur in several different forms. In this section, three phobic disorders, which include social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific (simple) phobia, and agoraphobia, are discussed.

Agoraphobia

The term agoraphobia has been widely misunderstood. It is defined as a fear of “open spaces”. Agoraphobics, however, are not necessarily afraid of open spaces. Instead, these individuals are terrified of experiencing panic attacks, wherever these attacks may occur. Sometimes, panic symptoms occur at home, in houses of worship, or in crowded stores, places that are not typically considered “open”. Agoraphobia occurs when sufferers begin to avoid spaces or situations associated with these attacks.

Typical “phobic situations” might include driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings, social gatherings, or other situations. Because of fear, the agoraphobic avoids the place or situation, endures it with distress, or requires someone else to accompany them.

Agoraphobia is both an internal anxiety condition and a faulty thinking process that causes the sufferer to fear going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings have occurred before. They are particularly vulnerable in those situations from which it might be difficult to escape should they have a panic attack. In agoraphobia, these fears become so debilitating that the person is unable to leave what is perceived as the safety of their home.

Once panic attacks have started, the actual attacks themselves become the ongoing stress, and significant emotional energy gets expended trying to avoid the feared situation. This vicious cycle increases the frequency of panic attacks and general discomfort.

Treatment for agoraphobia often includes both psychotherapy and medication. Treatment may involve psychiatric medications and carefully targeted cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Most commonly prescribed medications include SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Meditation, yoga, and other self-soothing techniques may help the individual cope more effectively with their symptoms.

Specific (Simple) Phobias

Specific (or simple) phobias are intense, irrational fears of a particular object or situation that poses little or no danger. Some of the more common specific phobias involve heights, closed-in places, highway driving, dogs, and injuries involving blood. Sometimes thinking of the phobia can elicit a panic attack.

Over six million Americans are affected by a specific phobia. Twice as many women are diagnosed with specific phobias. In general, the exact causes of phobias are not well-understood, but phobias seem to run in families. Specific phobic symptoms usually first occur in childhood or adolescence.

When the source of the phobia is easy to avoid, individuals do not experience a need to seek treatment. Sometimes, however, these fears may influence important life decisions. Most phobias may be effectively treated with carefully targeted psychotherapy. Sometimes, psychiatric medications are used to augment psychotherapy.

Medications most commonly prescribed may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers. Meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques may help to learn calming exercises that may enhance the effects of therapy. Avoidance of caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can help keep symptoms at a minimum.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also referred to as PTSD, initially develop in response to a terrifying event. Sufferers report persistent and frightening thoughts and memories of their trauma. They often report a feeling of numbness, particularly with people with whom they were previously close. Traumas associated with the development of PTSD may include combat, violent attacks such as mugging, rape or torture, being held captive, child abuse, serious accidents, and natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes. The triggering trauma can be either witnessed or experienced.

Symptoms often include sleep problems, including nightmares, an exaggerated startle response, flashbacks, irritability, and aggressiveness. Sometimes the aggressiveness associated with PTSD results in violence.

The disorder can occur in any age group, including children, and tends to run in families. Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. The intensity of the symptoms may lead to depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders.

Ordinary life events can remind PTSD sufferers of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. The flashbacks can be terribly realistic, sometimes leading to a loss of touch with reality and the sensation that the traumatic event is happening all over again.

The course of treatment can be difficult, but the symptoms can be controlled. Generally, treatment is recommended to be comprehensive and is thought to include both psychotherapy and medication. The psychotherapy is often cognitive-behavioral and may occur individually and/or in the context of a group. Medications most commonly prescribed for the symptoms of PTSD may include SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers.

Information from reliable sources can usually help in decreasing the anxiety related to PTSD. Meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques help to learn calming exercises that may enhance the effects of therapy. There is also evidence that aerobic exercise may be of value, and it is known that caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of an anxiety disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is also referred to as a social phobia. The main features of the disorder are overwhelming anxiety and extreme self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Individuals with SAD have a chronic and intense fear of judgment or humiliation by others. These fears may cause the sufferer to develop avoidance behaviors and may interfere with functioning at school or work. The SAD or social phobia can be specific (e.g., eating in front of others), or generalized. When the symptoms are generalized, the individual experiences symptoms almost anytime they are with others. Not surprisingly, sufferers of SAD have difficulty establishing relationships.

Individuals with SAD know that their thoughts and feelings are irrational. Sometimes, even when they manage to confront fear, physical symptoms such as blushing, profuse sweating, gastrointestinal upset, and trembling occur. Not surprisingly, these physical problems just worsen the anxiety.

SAD affects over five million adult Americans, and women and men are equally likely to develop the disorder. There is some evidence that genetics is involved. SAD can also occur with other disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder or depression. A tendency to “self-medicate” with drugs or alcohol may develop in an attempt to combat the sufferer’s anxiety.

Treatment of SAD may involve psychiatric medications or carefully targeted behavioral psychotherapy. Medications most commonly prescribed may include SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), tricyclic antidepressants, and beta-blockers. Meditation, yoga, and other wellness interventions may help to learn self-soothing exercises, which may decrease social anxiety.

Bipolar Disorder, previously referred to as a manic-depression, is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to function.  Bipolar illness is different than the typical ups and downs most people experience.  The symptoms are severe and can impair work and school performance, relationships and cause serious consequences.

Bipolar illness is seen in about 1 percent of adults age 18 and older.  The symptoms usually surface in early adulthood, but some patients have their initial symptoms during childhood.  Sometimes, the symptoms are missed early in the disease.

The symptoms include dramatic mood swings from high moods and irritability to very low moods which include hopelessness.  The periods of highs and lows are referred to as “episodes” of mania and depression.  Symptoms of mania may include increased energy and restlessness, racing thoughts, little need for sleep, poor judgment, spending sprees, decreased need for sleep, increased sex drive, use of drugs and provocative, aggressive behaviors.  A depressive episode includes feelings of hopelessness and emptiness, sadness and guilt, loss of interest in pleasurable activities , difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, changes in appetite and sleep habits, pre-occupation with various physical problems and even thoughts of suicide.  When symptoms are severe, the individual may experience hallucinations, paranoia or other psychotic symptoms.

Bipolar disorder is thought to result from a variety of causes.  Although genetics seem to play a part in determining an individual’s vulnerability to the illness, most scientists agree that there is no single cause for the disorder.  Many factors seem to act together to make an individual vulnerable to bipolar disorder.

With effective treatment, bipolar disorder can be treated and many individuals diagnosed with the disorder can lead full, productive lives.  Most behavioral health professionals agree that a combination approach which includes psychotherapy and medication is optimal for treating the disorder.  Medications may include mood stabilizers, anticonvulsant medications with mood-stabilizing properties, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants.  In general, treatment works best if it is ongoing rather than sporadic.  Charting mood symptoms, sleep patterns and stressful events may help patients and their families better understand this disorder.

Drug and alcohol abuse affects more than twenty two million individuals in the United States.  Although sometimes mistakenly considered deficits in “willpower”, addictions are medical illnesses.  Denial of the consequences of the abuse is often the major problem in obtaining adequate assessment and treatment. When the individual with the substance use problem is faced with treatment, the referral is often from another individual such as a spouse or co-worker who has seen firsthand the consequences of the drug or alcohol abuse.

The theories about what causes chemical abuse are many and varied.  We now know that a genetic vulnerability to develop these problems may be inherited.  But, we also know that individuals who associate with others who abuse chemicals are more likely to develop problems with drugs and alcohol.  Thus, these problems are caused by both internal and external factors.

Drug and alcohol problems can strike an individual of any age group, including children.  It is important to remember that there are warning signs exist and when noticed, these signs should be attended to.  These signs may include:  problems at school or work, a need to take in more and more of the substance to get the same effect, more interest in drugs and/or alcohol than other important parts of life, getting annoyed when others mention the problem, legal problems such as driving under the influence or health problems that arise or worsen directly as a result of the abuse.  Mood swings, changes in friends, lying and sneaky behaviors may be warning signs of drug or alcohol in adolescents.

If you think that you could have a problem with drugs or alcohol, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
• Have others annoyed you by asking about your use?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about drug or alcohol use?
• Have you ever used drugs or alcohol first thing in the morning as an eye-opener or to steady your nerves?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, it is likely that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol and would suggest that you might benefit from an assessment.  Even if you answered no to all of these questions but are having problems in the areas described above, you may also benefit from a chemical dependency assessment.

Symptoms of depression can affect an individual’s body, mood, thoughts and behaviors.  An individual suffering from depression often has changes in eating and sleeping habits, self-concept and the way s/he things about the world.  Depression is not the same as sadness or a blue mood, nor it is a sign of personal weakness.  Without adequate treatment, depressive symptoms can last for months, even years.  The good news is that help is available.

There are three main types of depression.  Major depression involves by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy pleasurable activities.

A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, is characterized by chronic symptoms that are not necessarily debilitating but keep the individual from functioning at their typical level. Many people with dysthymia experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness.  Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).  Bipolar Disorder is discussed in more detail in another section of this website.

Symptoms of depression may include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Pessimism and guilt
• Lowered self-esteem
• Loss of interest or pleasure in things that were previously experienced as pleasurable
• Feelings of lethargy and fatigue
• Impaired concentration and memory
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Anxiety and irritability
• Continued physical complaints that do not respond to standard medical treatment

Depression is a medical illness that can be triggered by negative life events or it can occur without warning.  Generally, scientists believe that an interaction of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to depression.  Women experience depression about twice as often as men, probably due to hormonal factors and additional stressors.  Individual’s may experience one episode or recurrent episodes of depression.

Depression can also occur with physical illness.  Being ill can cause anyone to feel sadness.  However, if the feelings do not lift, depression may be present.  It is thought that such depressions occur in about 40 percent of patients who are diagnosed with other medical conditions.  Strokes, heart attacks, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and hormone disorders are among the medical problems known to contribute to depression.  Depression and medical illnesses can occur together because medical disorders can lead to chemical imbalances that cause depression.  Relatedly, incapacitated patients or those in chronic pain can react to their distress by becoming depressed.  Depressive symptoms can occur as side effects of medications being used to treat medical illness.  When patients learn how to better manage their chronic pain or deal with needed life adjustments, the likelihood of recovery from depression is also increased.

Treatment approaches that incorporate psychiatric medication along with psychotherapy seem to be most effective.  Some people with milder forms of depressions do well with psychotherapy alone.  Medications which are sometimes used in the treatment of depression include (but are not limited to):  SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), tricyclics and  MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).  Generally, your psychiatrist will choose a medication based on your symptom presentation, other medical problems, other medications which you take and your tolerance for specific side effects.  Although patients may see some improvement in the first few weeks of treatment, most antidepressants must be taken regularly for three to four weeks before the full therapeutic effect is taken.  Different forms of psychotherapy for depression may involve insight-oriented therapy, which attempts to help patients identify paths to problem resolution, behavioral techniques which help patients learn how to obtain more satisfaction through their own actions, interpersonal therapy which focuses on problematic relationships that can cause or worsen depression and cognitive therapy in which therapists attempt to change negative thinking patterns which contribute to depression.

Good treatment is available but the patient will need support from family and friends.  In addition, information about the illness often speeds the recovery process. 

Eating disorders occur primarily in women and in societies where there is excessive emphasis on thinness and body image.

Anorexia Nervosa most commonly begins in younger women with an average age of 17. The symptoms include a refusal to maintain a normal body weight, cessation or delay of menstruation, and phobias of fatness or weight gain, despite being underweight. Anorexics usually severely restrict their food intake and see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. The process of eating becomes an obsession. Unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating these in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food may develop. However, when anorexics lost control, they may exhibit binge-eating and purging behaviors, most often seen in individuals with bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa is usually diagnosed in the early 20’s and involves alternating between (typically high carbohydrate) binge-eating episodes and maladaptive methods of weight control. These methods, often referred to as compensatory behaviors, most often involve purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or enema abuse or diuretic misuse. However, bulimics may also resort to excessive fasting (such as is typically seen in anorexia nervosa) and use of diet pills. Bulimics tend to be within the normal weight range.  Individuals suffering from bulimia often perform the behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet report feeling a sense of relief once they purge.

Individuals with binge-eating disorder tend to be overweight and sometimes morbidly obese. In the past, binge-eaters were characterized as “compulsive overeaters.” People with binge-eating disorder engage in frequent episodes of out-of-control eating, often with similar binge-eating symptoms as those with bulimia nervosa. The main difference is that individuals with binge-eating disorder do not engage in compensatory behaviors to purge their bodies of excess calories. Thus, they are frequently overweight. Feelings of self-disgust and shame associated with these behaviors increase the frequency of the binging episodes, thereby creating a vicious cycle.

Eating disorders can lead to serious physical illness and depression. Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. Sadly,  psychiatric symptoms resulting from these disorders symptoms are often a trigger for the maladaptive eating or purging behaviors. In addition, people who suffer from eating disorders can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death. Recognition of eating disorders as real and treatable diseases, therefore, is critically important.

There are effective treatments for all three eating disorders. The initial phase of treatment should involve a thorough medical work-up to verify that there is no medical reason underlying the symptoms or any acute medical complication requiring immediate medical care. Following this, treatment is usually a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Medications prescribed usually involve antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Psychotherapy may be conducted individually or in a family or group setting. If the individual is medically ill, stabilization in hospitalization may be required. The best outcome is achieved with an interdisciplinary team approach that involves physicians, therapists, nutritionists and the patient’s family or support system.

Schizophrenia is a serious chemical imbalance in the brain considered to be the most chronic and disabling of all mental illnesses. People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying hallucinations such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or thought disorders such as believing that other people are controlling their thoughts, or plotting against them.
Symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, unusual speech or behavior, and social withdrawal.  Significant problems with judgment and reasoning abilities are also evident.   Schizophrenia is considered to be a progressive illness in that over time, many diagnosed individuals show a decline in basic living skills and routine functioning that most people take for granted. These symptoms almost always interfere with personal and occupational functioning.

Initial signs of the disorder are usually in the late teens or twenties. Although rare, schizophrenia can also appear in childhood.

Many individuals with this disease alternate between periods of acute decompensation and more stable periods of functioning. About one percent of the general population and more than two million Americans suffer from schizophrenia in any given year.  The disease is diagnosed equally in men and women, but symptoms tend to occur earlier in males.

Available treatments can relieve symptoms, but schizophrenia is a chronic disorder requiring long-term care. Supportive psychotherapy focused on the development and maintenance of independent living skills along with teaching compliance with medications are essential components of treatment.

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is correlated with the seasons of the year. Also referred to as “winter blues”, most individuals with SAD exhibit symptoms during fall and winter. Although rate, it can occur during  late spring and summer. SAD is most common in young adult women, and is thought to affect as many as 6 of every 100 people. About ten percent of the general population experience mild, seasonal mood swings which do not seem to meet the criteria for SAD. Roughly 10-20% of the general population experience mild seasonal mood changes, but these symptoms do not affect the sufferers life in the way that SAD does.

The symptoms of SAD tend to recur about the same time every year. Winter SAD can involve most of the symptoms of Major Depression, sleeping more than usual, a craving for sugar, starchy foods, or alcohol and related weight gain, interpersonal conflicts and a sense of heaviness in their arms and legs. Symptoms of SAD in the summer are somewhat different than the winter SAD and often include difficulties sleeping, weight loss and agitation. Many sufferers show a preference for bright lights and tend to use artificial lighting when natural lighting is not available.

Treatment may include physician recommendations to spend increased time in the sun, bright light therapy or antidepressants. Your psychiatrist will be the one to evaluate which type of treatment would be best and pose the least risk for you. S/he will also want to evaluate whether you are taking medications or dietary supplements that increase your light sensitivity. If you are, these will impact your reaction to light and the type of treatment which is selected to treat SAD. Coping skills, such as those taught in brief psychotherapy may also be helpful in treating the associated negative thinking and behavior patterns.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is correlated with the seasons of the year. Also referred to as “winter blues”, most individuals with SAD exhibit symptoms during fall and winter. Although rate, it can occur during  late spring and summer. SAD is most common in young adult women,and is thought to affect as many as 6 of every 100 people. About ten percent of the general population experience mild, seasonal mood swings which do not seem to meet the criteria for SAD. Roughly 10-20% of the general population experience mild seasonal mood changes, but these symptoms do not affect the sufferers life in the way that SAD does.

The symptoms of SAD tend to recur about the same time every year. Winter SAD can involve most of the symptoms of Major Depression, sleeping more than usual, a craving for sugar, starchy foods, or alcohol and related weight gain, interpersonal conflicts and a sense of heaviness in their arms and legs. Symptoms of SAD in the summer are somewhat different than the winter SAD and often include difficulties sleeping, weight loss and agitation. Many sufferers show a preference for bright lights and tend to use artificial lighting when natural lighting is not available.

Treatment may include physician recommendations to spend increased time in the sun, bright light therapy or antidepressants. Your psychiatrist will be the one to evaluate which type of treatment would be best and pose the least risk for you. S/he will also want to evaluate whether you are taking medications or dietary supplements that increase your light sensitivity. If you are, these will impact your reaction to light and the type of treatment which is selected to treat SAD. Coping skills, such as those taught in brief psychotherapy may also be helpful in treating the associated negative thinking and behavior patterns.