Saturday, November 27, 2010
About The Carmen Sosa Foundation
The Carmen Sosa Foundation is a non-profit organization created to keep the public informed about the most common mental illnesses that affect our society. The Main objective is to educate and inform the public so that they can understand and recognize the drastic changes that are produced inside of our brains.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Definition of Mental Illness
Mental Illnesses are serious medical conditions that interfere with a person's thinking, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Mental Illness often results in a diminishment of one's capacity to cope with the demands of life.
Different mental Illness include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obssessive compulsive disorder(O.C.D), Panic disorder, post traumatic, stress disorder(P.T.S.D) and borderline personality disorder. Recovery is possible for people that suffer from mental illness.
Mental Illness can affect anybody regardless of their age, race, religion, or financial situation. People that suffer from mental illness are not necessarily weak people, or people of poor character. It does not matter who you are everybody is at risk of getting mental illness.
Due to all these new treatments and therapies, most people who are diagnosed with mental illness are experiencing relief from their symptoms by following up on their treatments, and participating in different activities in the community such as talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, Interpersonal therapy and peer support groups, good diet excercise and more.
According to the National Institute of mental Health, Mental illness is concentrated in a small proportion of the population. 6 percent or 1 out of every 17 Americans live with a serious mental illness. According to the report, 57.7 million Americans experience a mental health disorder in a given year. The US surgeon general reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause serious functional impairment in their lives, homes, and school.
According to the World Health Organization report, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States and other devoloped countries are mental health disorders. The report also stated that by 2020 major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability for women and children in the world. Usually mental illness strikes in the early years of an individual's life. More frequently in the early years of an individual's life. More frequently during their adolescence and young adulthood.
Without the treatments that exist, the consequences of the mental illness can be devastating, for the individual, and for the society. They lead to unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness. The cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.
Most of the treatments for mental illness that we have today are highly effective, between 70 to 90 percent of Individuals with mental inllness experience a significant reduction of symptoms, and improved quality of life that comes from a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments and support.
Different mental Illness include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obssessive compulsive disorder(O.C.D), Panic disorder, post traumatic, stress disorder(P.T.S.D) and borderline personality disorder. Recovery is possible for people that suffer from mental illness.
Mental Illness can affect anybody regardless of their age, race, religion, or financial situation. People that suffer from mental illness are not necessarily weak people, or people of poor character. It does not matter who you are everybody is at risk of getting mental illness.
Due to all these new treatments and therapies, most people who are diagnosed with mental illness are experiencing relief from their symptoms by following up on their treatments, and participating in different activities in the community such as talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, Interpersonal therapy and peer support groups, good diet excercise and more.
According to the National Institute of mental Health, Mental illness is concentrated in a small proportion of the population. 6 percent or 1 out of every 17 Americans live with a serious mental illness. According to the report, 57.7 million Americans experience a mental health disorder in a given year. The US surgeon general reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause serious functional impairment in their lives, homes, and school.
According to the World Health Organization report, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States and other devoloped countries are mental health disorders. The report also stated that by 2020 major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability for women and children in the world. Usually mental illness strikes in the early years of an individual's life. More frequently in the early years of an individual's life. More frequently during their adolescence and young adulthood.
Without the treatments that exist, the consequences of the mental illness can be devastating, for the individual, and for the society. They lead to unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, and homelessness. The cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.
Most of the treatments for mental illness that we have today are highly effective, between 70 to 90 percent of Individuals with mental inllness experience a significant reduction of symptoms, and improved quality of life that comes from a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments and support.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Definition and Causes
Schizophrenia is a bio-chemical disturbance of the brain that is genetic, causing severly maladaptive behavior and often subjective distress. Approximately 1.1% of America's population or 2.4 million Americans have schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is probably the most costly diagnosis.
Bipolar
What is Bipolar?
Bipolar disorder, also known as maniac depression, causes serious mood changes, energy changes, thinking, and behavior highs and lows. The Word bipolar means two polar. Patients with bipolar disorder may feel bad for a while and extreme excitement at the next moment. The cycles of Bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. These mood changes of Bipolar disorder can be so intense that they interfere with a person's ability to function. A person with Bipolar disorder might impusively quit a job, may shop impulsively for things they dont need. People with Bipolar disorder may feel good by sleeping two hours a day. On the other hand, during a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed.
The case of Bipolar disorder is not completely understood but it frequently runs in the family. Bipolar disorder usually starts early in the teenage years or early adulthood, the symptoms can be confusing. People with Bipolar disorder sometimes are misdiagnosed. The symptoms of Bipolar disorder can hurt your job and school performance, damage your relationships, and disrupt your daily life. Some people do not recognize the warning signs of Bipolar. Bipolar disorder is treatable, it is important to get diagnosed early, when the symptoms are less dangerous. Recognizing the problems helps to get the symptoms of bipolar disorder under control.
Bipolar disorder can affect your memory, concentration, appetite, sleep patterns, sex drive, and self esteem. Some people with Bipolar disorder may present anxiety, substance abuse problems, and other medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, migraine, and more. The symptoms of Bipolar vary between different people. Everybody is different. People with maniac Bipolar disorder have feelings of very energetic, very creative, and euphoric. They may sleep less and are very imperactive. Some people with Bipolar may feel very powerful, invincible, or destined for greatness.
There are Four types of mood episodes in Bipolar disorder:
The depressive phase of Bipolar disorder is something severe, suicide is a high risk factor. For this reason, people with Bipolar are more likely to attempt suicide than those suffering from regular depression.
The Warning signs of Suicide are:
Bipolar disorder, also known as maniac depression, causes serious mood changes, energy changes, thinking, and behavior highs and lows. The Word bipolar means two polar. Patients with bipolar disorder may feel bad for a while and extreme excitement at the next moment. The cycles of Bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. These mood changes of Bipolar disorder can be so intense that they interfere with a person's ability to function. A person with Bipolar disorder might impusively quit a job, may shop impulsively for things they dont need. People with Bipolar disorder may feel good by sleeping two hours a day. On the other hand, during a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed.
The case of Bipolar disorder is not completely understood but it frequently runs in the family. Bipolar disorder usually starts early in the teenage years or early adulthood, the symptoms can be confusing. People with Bipolar disorder sometimes are misdiagnosed. The symptoms of Bipolar disorder can hurt your job and school performance, damage your relationships, and disrupt your daily life. Some people do not recognize the warning signs of Bipolar. Bipolar disorder is treatable, it is important to get diagnosed early, when the symptoms are less dangerous. Recognizing the problems helps to get the symptoms of bipolar disorder under control.
Bipolar disorder can affect your memory, concentration, appetite, sleep patterns, sex drive, and self esteem. Some people with Bipolar disorder may present anxiety, substance abuse problems, and other medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, migraine, and more. The symptoms of Bipolar vary between different people. Everybody is different. People with maniac Bipolar disorder have feelings of very energetic, very creative, and euphoric. They may sleep less and are very imperactive. Some people with Bipolar may feel very powerful, invincible, or destined for greatness.
There are Four types of mood episodes in Bipolar disorder:
- Mania
- Hypomania
- Depression
- Mixed Episodes
- Feeling unusually "high" and optimistic or extremely irritable
- Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one's abilities or powers
- Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic
- Talking so rapidly that others cannot keep up
- Racing thoughts; Jumping quickly from one idea to the next
- Highly distractible, unable to concentrate
- Impaired judgment and impulsiveness
- Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences
- Delusions and Hallucinations
- Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty
- Irritability
- Inability to experience pleasure
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Appetite or weight changes
- Sleep problems
- Concentration and memory problems
- Feeling of worthlessness or guilt
The depressive phase of Bipolar disorder is something severe, suicide is a high risk factor. For this reason, people with Bipolar are more likely to attempt suicide than those suffering from regular depression.
The Warning signs of Suicide are:
- Talking about death, self harm, or suicide
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
- Feeling worthless or like a burden to others
- Acting recklessly or as if one has a "death wish"
- Putting affairs in order, or saying goodbye
- Seeking out weopons or pills that could be used to commit suicide
Diagnosing Schizophrenia
According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, in order for a psychiatrist to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the patient has to experience specific symptoms over a period of time. According to the information, a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be made only if a person meets the following criteria:
1) Two of the following five symptoms for about 30 days: Hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, disorganized behavior or disorganized speech.
2) Some signs and symptoms have to be present for a minimum of six months.
3) There must be no indecation of bipolar disorder, symptoms mania alternating with depression.
4) Can not be a medical or neurological cause of the symptoms.
5) The symptoms cannot be caused by the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or medication.
Types of Schizophrenia:
1) Paranoid Schizophrenia - Hallucination
2) Disorganized Schizophrenia - Very Psychotic
3) Catatomic Schizophrenia
4) Residual Schizophrenia
Type I and Type II:
Type I Schizophrenia - patients have mostly hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior. These are positive symptoms.
Type II Schizophrenia - Patients show more negative symptoms than type I patients. They include lack of initiative, motivation, their faces are unexpressive.
Schizoaffective disorder - is a condition that has symptoms of psychosis and symptoms of mania or depression. Schizoaffective disorder can be bipolar type or depressive type.
Early warning signs of schizophrenia:
Disorganized schizophrenia is most likely to appear at an earlier age than other types of schizophrenia. It starts gradually, rather than abruptly.
The Symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia
1) Two of the following five symptoms for about 30 days: Hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, disorganized behavior or disorganized speech.
2) Some signs and symptoms have to be present for a minimum of six months.
3) There must be no indecation of bipolar disorder, symptoms mania alternating with depression.
4) Can not be a medical or neurological cause of the symptoms.
5) The symptoms cannot be caused by the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or medication.
Types of Schizophrenia:
1) Paranoid Schizophrenia - Hallucination
2) Disorganized Schizophrenia - Very Psychotic
3) Catatomic Schizophrenia
4) Residual Schizophrenia
Type I and Type II:
Type I Schizophrenia - patients have mostly hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior. These are positive symptoms.
Type II Schizophrenia - Patients show more negative symptoms than type I patients. They include lack of initiative, motivation, their faces are unexpressive.
Schizoaffective disorder - is a condition that has symptoms of psychosis and symptoms of mania or depression. Schizoaffective disorder can be bipolar type or depressive type.
Early warning signs of schizophrenia:
- Social Withdrawal
- Hostility or suspiciousness
- Deterrotation of personal hygene
- Flat expressionless gaze
- Inability to cry or express joy
- Inappropriate laughter or crying
- Depression
- Oversleeping or Insomnia
- Odd or Irrational Statements
- Forgetful, unable to concentrate
- Extreme reaction to criticism
- Strange use of words way of speaking
Disorganized schizophrenia is most likely to appear at an earlier age than other types of schizophrenia. It starts gradually, rather than abruptly.
The Symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia
- Impaired communication skills
- Incomprehensible or Illogical Speech
- Emotional indifference
- Inappropriate reactions
- Infantile Behavior
- Peculiar Facial expression and mannerism
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Characteristics of Schizophrenia
Thinking - In order for a diagnosis of scizophrenia to be made, there must be a disturbance in thinking, in the Thought Content, Thought Process, Perception, Behavioral Affects, and Interpersonal Relationship.
A) Thought Content - The person has a false and fixed belief system not based on reality(delusional).
B) Thought Process - The person cannot organize thoughts in a way where one statement coherently follows the next(making no sense).
C) Perception - The person will percieve things that are not present(Hallucinations). It could be auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile.
D) Affect - The person is not able to express emotion about the current situation.
E) Behavior - Disorganized behavior, confused, or bizarre. This is usually in response to internal stimuli(Hallucination and Dilusion).
F) Interpersonal Relationship - The person may be estranged from family and friends. It could be due to paranoia and mistrust.
A) Thought Content - The person has a false and fixed belief system not based on reality(delusional).
B) Thought Process - The person cannot organize thoughts in a way where one statement coherently follows the next(making no sense).
C) Perception - The person will percieve things that are not present(Hallucinations). It could be auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile.
D) Affect - The person is not able to express emotion about the current situation.
E) Behavior - Disorganized behavior, confused, or bizarre. This is usually in response to internal stimuli(Hallucination and Dilusion).
F) Interpersonal Relationship - The person may be estranged from family and friends. It could be due to paranoia and mistrust.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Four Primary Symptom Domains in Schizophrenia
A) Positive Symptoms - Hallucination, Delusional Thinking, Thought Disorders, Motor Agitation.
Delusions: erroneous beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions with content including a variety of themes(persecutory, somatic, religious, or grandiose).
Hallucinations: can occur in any sensory modality(auditory, visual, smell, taste, and tactile).
Disorganized Thinking: irrational thought process manifested by loose association, tangential thinking and word salad.
Disorganized Behavior: can be manifested in many different ways from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation(dress in unusual manner, layers of coats on hot days, shouting in public).
B) Negative Symptoms - Social withdrawal, blunted affect, passive behavior, impoverished thinking.
Flat Affect: Face appears immobile and unresponsive, poor eye contact and reduced body language. Range of emotional expressiveness is clearly diminished most of the time.
Alogia: (poverty of speech) manifested by brief empty replies
Avolition: characterized by an inability to initiate and persist in goal directed activities. The person may sit for long periods of time and show litlle interest in participating in work or social activities.
C) Cognitive Disfunctions - Decreased attention span, impaired memory, poor executive functioning.
D) Mood Symptoms - Mood Swings, mania, depressed mood. If this is severe the person may be diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder.
Delusions: erroneous beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions with content including a variety of themes(persecutory, somatic, religious, or grandiose).
Hallucinations: can occur in any sensory modality(auditory, visual, smell, taste, and tactile).
Disorganized Thinking: irrational thought process manifested by loose association, tangential thinking and word salad.
Disorganized Behavior: can be manifested in many different ways from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation(dress in unusual manner, layers of coats on hot days, shouting in public).
B) Negative Symptoms - Social withdrawal, blunted affect, passive behavior, impoverished thinking.
Flat Affect: Face appears immobile and unresponsive, poor eye contact and reduced body language. Range of emotional expressiveness is clearly diminished most of the time.
Alogia: (poverty of speech) manifested by brief empty replies
Avolition: characterized by an inability to initiate and persist in goal directed activities. The person may sit for long periods of time and show litlle interest in participating in work or social activities.
C) Cognitive Disfunctions - Decreased attention span, impaired memory, poor executive functioning.
D) Mood Symptoms - Mood Swings, mania, depressed mood. If this is severe the person may be diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder.
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