Bipolar I disorder is a very serious psychiatric disorder. If left untreated, it can result in disastrous consequences, tearing families apart and destroying lives in many ways. For most people who are diagnosed with it, bipolar I disorder is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing treatment. Currently, there is no cure for this complex, challenging…
Incarceration in a local jail, state prison, or federal prison is highly associated with a wide range of mental illnesses in the United States. Over half of all people incarcerated at the local or state levels have a significant mental health issue, and nearly half of all people incarcerated at the federal level have a…
Chronic pain has a profound effect on anyone’s life. If you’re saddled with chronic pain, you may not be able to work or exercise, let alone enjoy life in general. Pain causes sleep disturbances and, when chronic, often triggers symptoms of depression. In short, life with chronic pain can be miserable. It’s no surprise that…
When it comes to domestic violence, some of the bruises are on the inside. Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by an intimate partner can have a profound effect on your physical and mental well-being. The abuse can even trigger clinical depression, a serious mental health disorder. Abuse is traumatic. Living through that trauma can affect…
Research has shown that there is an increased risk of psychotic episodes when certain drugs are used. Marijuana, for instance, has been linked with an increased risk of psychosis. It is unclear, however, whether drugs consistently increase the risk of psychosis or if individuals with a history of psychosis are more likely to use drugs.…
The concern over obesity has led many schools to adopt curriculum designed to teach children how to make healthy food choices and incorporate exercise into their daily activities. For some children, the information may help them learn to make good decisions about food intake. However, a recent study by Canadian researchers shows that these healthy…
Some people accept depression as a part of aging. They believe it is not uncommon that as people age, their brain functioning slows and depression may settle in. Caregivers may not be concerned because they believe it is inevitable and normal. But Dr. Deborah Barnes of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University…
Synthetic marijuana may not be the real thing, but the damage it does to a person’s body is very real. Multiple studies have found that synthetic marijuana products can cause dangerous reactions including rapid heart rate and seizures, but a new study reveals that this fake marijuana can also cause kidney damage.
The widespread misuse of prescription painkillers has prompted the medical community to look for ways to better understand and regulate them. The doctors, pharmacists and policymakers involved in seeking to promote responsible use of prescription painkillers intend to provide solutions that prevent misuse of the drugs, but without threatening the relief that they offer to…
When lack of results toward recovery goals brings about increasing frustration, it’s all too easy to get so caught up in the emotion that you miss out on the bigger picture. Recovery isn’t a straight-line progression of one success after another. Often, the learning curve takes a number of twists and turns before flattening out…