Whether ‘full’ recovery from psychosis, including schizophrenia, is possible, depends on the definition of the latter. A biological predisposition for schizophrenia is thought to exist in many patients with schizophrenia, which cannot be cured. Mutations in certain genes can make it more likely that an individual will suffer from schizophrenia during his or her lifetime. …
Genuine Recovery from Psychosis and Schizophrenia Read More »
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behaviour, feelings, and sense of well-being. In its extreme form, depression leads to a state where one no longer feels one’s emotions, which is ultimately meant by the term ‘depression’, an overall decrease in feeling one’s emotions, including …
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where patients either have repeated intrusive thoughts, perform compulsive behaviours (rituals), or both. The attempt to suppress these thoughts or behaviours leads to heightened anxiety and tension. While patients notice that the thoughts or behaviours do not make sense, they often find it impossible to stop them. …
A combination of psychotherapy and medication has good empirical support for its effectiveness in the therapy of panic attacks. In more severe cases of panic attacks, when it is no longer possible to leave the house, medication may be needed to make psychotherapy possible. Among the various psychotherapeutic approaches, CBT targets maladaptive thought processes and …
Connectedness Christian Jonathan Haverkampf, M.D. Connecting with others and others in a meaningful way is a requirement for happiness and success in life. Many mental health issues are the result of disconnectedness. Connectedness requires engaging with oneself and the world and being open to meaningful messages from others. In this sense, connectedness serves as a …
A drug holiday is when a patient suspends taking a medication for a length of time, from days to even years. One reason for drug holidays is to permit a drug, such as a stimulant used in ADHD, to regain effectiveness after a period of continuous use, and to reduce the tolerance effect that may …
St John’s Wort is a medicinal herb with antidepressant activity and potent anti-inflammatory properties. In several countries it is used as an antidepressant for mild (to moderate) depressions. There are a large number of molecules in extracts of St. John’s Wort that are potentially active in the nervous system. St John’s Wort is known to …
Work first with the individual on their negative self-talk and possibly low self-confidence and anxieties. Emphasize that there are a number of ways to feel well again, and that medication is merely one of these. Communicate that mental health conditions are not unlike other health conditions that they can affect anyone and that they are …
How to help someone overcome resistance to psychotropic medication Read More »
Psychotherapy and various therapeutic or self-help groups, including AA, are first-line treatment. Medication can be helpful as a support, but does not work for all. Certain medications have been shown to effectively help people stop or reduce their drinking and avoid relapse. They either reduce the urge to drink alcohol or trigger adverse reactions if …
Mood stabilisers help stabilise pronounced and prolonged mood shifts, which include hypomanic or manic phases, such as in bipolar disorder I and II. They can also help to a varying degree against depressive episodes as part of a bipolar disorder. Lithium The precise mechanism of action of lithium is unknown, and it is suspected that …
