Archive for February, 2006

Listed by most recent articles first.

• Risk Factors for Depression
  Depression can affect anyone at anytime. While certain risk factors are associated with increased risk for depression, people suffering from depression may suffer from different types of depression and even display different signs and symptoms ...
• Treatment of Depression With rTMS
  A procedure referred to as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, was developed in 1985 to test brain function in healthy individuals, and in those with various types of medical conditions. Recent studies, however, suggest ...
• How Can I Help a Loved One With Depression?
  Confronting depression in a family member or dear friend may feel like a terrifying and overwhelming task. It can be frustrating and difficult to help someone who may not understand he needs help, particularly if ...
• Types of Depression Unique to Women
  In addition to the major types of depression that affect men and women, women also suffer from unique types of depression due to their special physiology and hormones. Estrogen, the "female sex hormone," affects more ...
• Frequently Asked Questions about Depression
  I think I’m depressed, where do I start? Talk to your primary or family physician. He or she will be able to review the signs and symptoms of depression with you, as well as rule out ...
• An Overview of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
  Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for clinical depression (or major depression), as well as in some forms of recurrent or chronic clinical depression with one big caveat -- nearly everyone who receives this ...
• Depression in Children and Adolescents
  Depression in children and adolescents is a major health problem in the United States. Unfortunately, it is often ignored or misdiagnosed. It is not uncommon for parents to attribute moodiness to hormones or other factors ...
• Teens and Bipolar Disorder
  Teenagers with bipolar disorder have an ongoing combination of extremely high (manic) and low (depressed) moods. Highs may alternate with lows, or the person may feel both extremes at close to the same time. Bipolar ...
• Frequently Asked Questions about Bipolar Disorder
  Table of Contents: An Introduction to the Bipolar Series Who Gets Bipolar Disorder? Causes of Bipolar Disorder Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Frequently Asked Questions Further Information People often have common questions about the ...
• Depression in Cancer Patients
  Living with cancer involves much more than coping with the physical wear and tear of a prolonged illness. Multiple operations, chemotherapy and radiation can dramatically affect the mind as well as the body. According to the ...
• Depression and the Elderly
  As we age, deteriorating health and the loss of life partners and independence can significantly impact our emotional well being. It may be too embarrassing to admit feeling depressed, even when directly asked, to children, ...
• Alcohol and Depression
  Alcoholism is a disorder that produces many similar signs and symptoms required for diagnosis of Major Depression. Although alcohol often initially causes a "good mood," alcohol is a depression-causing drug. While no studies have shown that ...
• Coping With Bipolar Disorder
  If you have bipolar disorder, one of the best things you can do to help manage your illness is learn all you can about the disorder. You can do this by reading books, going to ...
• Combination Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
  When a single drug does not work, experts recommend trying other mood stabilizers. If several medications are tried with no improvement, trying a combination of mood stabilizers is the next step. This approach is called ...
• Antidepressants for Bipolar Disorder
  To treat depression in persons with bipolar disorder, psychiatrists may prescribe antidepressants. Generally, the use of antidepressants is limited to treatment during depressive episodes. Once the depressive episode has lifted, the antidepressant gradually is decreased. One ...
• Treating Bipolar Disorder
  Treatment can help most people with bipolar disorder. Almost all people with bipolar disorder—even those with severe forms—can stabilize their mood swings through the use of medication. Treatment for bipolar disorder falls into three categories: Acute treatment ...
• How Do I Know If I Have Bipolar Disorder?
  In everyday life, people have a variety of moods and feelings. These feelings include frustration, joy and anger. Usually these moods last one day rather than several days. For people with bipolar disorder, however, moods ...
• What Is Bipolar Disorder?
  Bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness that involves long-term, drastic changes in mood. A person with bipolar disorder experiences alternating highs (mania) and lows (depression). A manic period can be brief, lasting from three to ...
• When a Loved One Has Bipolar Disorder
  If you care about someone with bipolar disorder, you may wonder what you can do to help. The best thing you can do is to become informed about your friend's or loved one's illness. Whenever possible ...
• Holiday Stress: A Resourceful Survivor’s Guide
  Here's your chance to enjoy a serene Christmas—or Ramadan or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah The holidays are supposed to be joyous occasions marked by meaningful traditions, family connections, spiritual rejuvenation and just plain fun. Instead, for many ...
• Dealing with the Depths of Depression
  "I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be ...
• Cubicle Love Connection
  What to keep in mind when things heat up at the watercooler. One of my best friends is a social worker at a community mental health center. She took the position immediately out of college, viewing ...
• 10 Tips for Parents of Risk-taking Teenagers
  1. All teenagers take risks as a normal part of growing up. It's a tool they use to define and develop their identity. Healthy risk-taking is a valuable experience. 2. Healthy risk-taking includes sports, developing artistic ...
• The Sex Lives of Teenagers
  Revealing the secret world of adolescent boys and girls. Rory's parents had discovered that Rory was sexually active and wanted to know how to handle his request to have Jen (his girlfriend) "sleep over" when they ...
• The Ghosts of Holidays Past
  An adult daughter searches for the joy in the season, despite memories of distressing family scenes. I love the holidays. I really do. Give me cold weather outdoors, a crackling fire indoors, tantalizing smells from the ...