There are a number of effective treatment approaches to help treat dysthymic disorder (also known as dysthymia). Often times a person with dysthymia will seek out treatment because of increased stress or personal difficulties ...

A common question asked goes something like, "I went to see my family doctor and he prescribed me an antidepressant after I talked to him about feeling down for the past few weeks and unable to ...

As a patient in psychotherapy, do you wonder whether the work you and your therapist are doing will succeed and produce lasting results? You may like, even admire, your psychotherapist, but how do you know ...

A top scientific adviser to the U.K. government is advising depressed people to forget drugs and take up lifestyle changes such as smiling and eating seaweed. Jane A. Plant is a professor of geochemistry at Imperial ...

The most recent medications typically prescribed for schizophrenia include a class of drugs called "atypical antipsychotics." Atypical means they work in a manner that is significantly different than the previous class of antipsychotic medications. ...

The most recent medications typically prescribed for bipolar disorder include a class of drugs called "atypical antipsychotics." Atypical means they work in a manner that is significantly different than the previous class of antipsychotic ...

In today's communications landscape — where Internet access is readily available and advertising for prescription medication — it is no surprise that many patients are using online pharmacies. There are many benefits to this type ...

Most people who have heard of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder assume it’s strictly a diagnosis for excessively rowdy kids. But although symptoms begin to appear in childhood, they don’t automatically disappear at age 18. In fact, ...

It is a sad fact of life that disparities in insurance coverage and stigma collaborate to keep access to mental health care lagging behind physical health care for everyone. Overall, only one third of Americans ...

Over fifteen years of experience with reasonably safe drug treatments for depression has given the mental health world a new understanding of the disorder, a more accurate sense of its true course and a new ...

Serotonin is a common neurotransmitter found in our brains. Neurotransmitters are special chemicals in our brain that help relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Although serotonin is manufactured in the brain, ...

Serotonin syndrome is the name for a condition when the body has too much serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates many functions, including mood, appetite, and sensory perception. Serotonin syndrome typically occurs when you've taken ...

Sleep disturbances and depression are anything but strange bedfellows. Nearly all depressed individuals experience sleep problems. At least 80% complain of insomnia — difficulty falling or staying asleep. Indeed, early-morning awakening is a hallmark of ...

Depression is the most common mental disorder diagnosed. Two treatments are usually recommended for most people who are experiencing depression: psychotherapy and medication. Medication helps some of the symptoms of depression, while psychotherapy helps ...

STAR*D is one of the largest, independent and most robust studies ever undertaken by the National Institute of Mental Health to examine the effectiveness of a variety of medications in the treatment of depression. ...