Southwest Pennsylvania National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) held its annual conference at the beginning of April, and one of their afternoon breakout workshop presenters was Dr. Robert Hudak, assistant professor of psychiatry at Western Psychiatric ...

BOOK REVIEW.
[A]Musings of a Spiritual Atheist by Andrew J. Ackerman is a book about the author's journey from addiction to recovery.  Ackerman, the self-described hard-line "spiritual atheist," uses the book to offer his experience with 12-step recovery programs. As an atheist, Ackerman's point of view is unique among recovery-oriented and 12-step literature. Many people struggling with ...

The prevalence of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) greatly exceeds the prevalence of this diagnosis among the adult population. This could be, perhaps, because the disorder is more difficult to diagnose in adults. Research suggests that one to ...

A recent global review of marijuana (cannabis) suggests it has been used by one in 25 adults aged 15 to 64 years. Published in the Lancet, the report focuses on nonmedical use. Its authors, led by Professor Wayne Hall of the ...

Alcoholics go through a period of grieving when they give up drinking. For those dually-diagnosed with alcoholism and depression, the grief over not being able to drink is intensified. That's usually because once people with co-occurring disorders stop drinking, all the feelings ...

There's a saying in the recovery movement: Alcohol and drug addiction can cause mental illness but mental illness does not cause addiction. However, some mental illnesses, especially those that are not quickly diagnosed and treated, can trigger the use of alcohol and drugs. Depressive disorders ...

It’s safe to say that no mental disorder is more shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and fear than schizophrenia. “The modern-day equivalent of leprosy” is how renowned research psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., refers to schizophrenia in his excellent book, Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers. While 85 percent of Americans recognize ...

“Your daughter has schizophrenia,” I told the woman. “Oh, my God, anything but that,” she replied. “Why couldn’t she have leukemia or some other disease instead?” “But if she had leukemia she might die,” I pointed out. “Schizophrenia is a much more treatable disease.” The woman ...

When I first talk to people about couples therapy, I usually ask: "Do you drink alcohol? Does your partner?" and if so, "How much?" I also ask whether they use other mind-altering drugs and intoxicants. Please understand — I'm not opposed to having a good time. Some people can drink in moderation without ill effects. ...

BOOK REVIEW.
Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin By Norah Vincent New York: Viking, December 2008 Hardcover, 283 pages $25.95 Immersion journalism, as it’s called, can be kind of fun on a limited basis. In my days as a reporter, in pursuit of stories I volunteered to get Tasered and learned how to snowshoe. (The Tasering was ...

People with both intellectual disability and mental illness are a small population -- less than one percent of people worldwide. But it’s a small population with very big needs. In 1983, Robert Fletcher, DSW, ACSW founded an organization to serve that often-overlooked population. The result is the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD). At ...

The Al-Anon (for adults) and Alateen (for teens) program is a Twelve Step program for the relatives and friends of alcoholics or someone who is or has been a problem drinker. It is not uncommon for potential newcomers to attend Al-Anon because someone they care about is dependent on both alcohol and drugs, or other ...