Clinical Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Of all the emotional responses that we have to our world, this thing we call anxiety is the most pervasive. None of us are free from the effects of anxiety upon our lives. Although anxiety symptoms can present in a wide variety of forms, all are organized around the central components of “nervousness” and/or reactions …

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Dementia

Dementia comprises multiple cognitive (thinking) deficits including the inability to retain new information and recall previously learned information. It arises not only in Alzheimer’s Disease, but in Vascular Dementia where the blood supply to the brain in interrupted or blocked. Dementia can result from the intake (intentionally or accidentally) of substances and can also be …

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Depression & Bipolar Disorders

People who are depressed often feel helpless to change their life. Just identifying and describing their problems seems overwhelming. Family and friends are often a part of those problems and can offer little assistance. Psychotherapy is not a quick fix. Many modern therapies are techniques to work around problems, not understand and solve them. Patients …

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Eating Disorders

ANOREXIA NERVOSA Anorexia Nervosa – can be separated into two types: the restricting type in which the individual dangerously limits food intake but does not binge eat or purge (self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, etc), and the binge-eating/purging type. In both cases there is a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body …

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Factitious Disorder

What is factitious disorder? First let us address what it is not: Factitious disorders are not malingering (wherein the individual is falsifying symptoms in order to receive tangible gain such as financial remuneration). Malingering is not a mental disorder, and the malingering individual is aware of, and has control over, the goals being sought. The …

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Impulse Control Disorders

Impulse Control Disorders come in several forms. Intermittent Explosive Disorder – There is often an underlying personality disorder that accompanies a disorder called Intermittent Explosive Disorder which is, itself, considered a disorder of impulse. Such individuals are prone to aggressive outbursts when under stress. They may perceive the stress as threat, frustration, insult, vulnerability or …

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Malingering

Malingering Definition: The deliberate exaggeration of psychological and/or physical complaints for purposes of tangible gain (Eg. monetary rewards, etc) is referred to as malingering. The use of the health care system and its resources are severely impacted by patients who malinger. Access to clinicians by patients with valid concerns can be obstructed as well as …

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Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders are involuntary Tourette’s Disorder is a tic disorder in which there are multiple motor and one or more vocal tics present during the course of the disorder. The motor or vocal tic need not be present concurrently. The tics often occur in bouts almost every day and for a period of greater than …

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Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Schizophrenia/Psychotic Disorders An overview: psychotic disorders are still quite often misunderstood by individuals not involved in the care of such patients or not personally exposed to patients with the disorders. Psychotic disorders are characterized by a difficulty with reality testing – differentiating what is real from what is imagined, and the disorders may be characterized …

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Sexual Disorders

A variety of organic (physical) and functional (psychological) sexual disorders may arise following injury. The boundary between what is physical and what is psychological becomes blurred. Sexual Dysfunctions are characterized by disturbance in sexual desire and the physical changes that characterize the response cycle of sexual excitation and sexual activity. They are dysfunctions when they …

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Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can be primary in which there is a defect in the sleep timing mechanism (sometimes called sleep architecture) called dyssomnias and by parasomnias which includes nightmare disorder. Sleep disorders may also arise from medical conditions, another psychological problem such as anxiety and/or depression or even induced by substance (Eg. alcohol). One sleep disorder …

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Somatic Symptom Disorders Defined

Somatic Symptom Disorders (psychological conflicts presenting with physical complaints) are common among individuals who are disabled. It may arise from fear or arise concurrent with depression, and it prolongs the recovery from illness and injury. When an individual has vague, multiple or nonresolving physical complaints in the absence (or in excess of) diagnostic findings, then …

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Substance Related Disorders

Substance Related Disorders refer to not only the chemical upon which abuse or dependence has occurred, but also the nature of the impact of the substance use has had upon the individual. This can vary from abuse to dependence and from hallucinations to delusions to delirium. Substance abuse or dependence can result in mood, anxiety, …

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