Specializations
ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) includes a pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has persisted for at least 6 months, had an onset prior to age 12, is present in at least 2 settings (e.g., home & school), and interferes with social, academic, or occupational functioning. The diagnosis requires at least 6 characteristic symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity outlined in the DSM-5-TR.
ADHD does not develop in adulthood. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder: it’s neurological and developmental. Brain abnormalities that have been linked to ADHD include lower-than-normal activity in the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and prefrontal cortex, and a smaller-than-normal size of these structures. ADHD occurs in about 7.2% of children and has a genetic component.
Some people feel disrespected or disregarded when speaking to someone with ADHD because they don’t feel heard or that their content is important. You may experience this when the person with ADHD consistently changes the topic...unless it’s something they’re interested in. For children, they usually have less friends and lower self-esteem due to problems in social adjustment.
Treatment for ADHD include central nervous stimulants. Stimulants are also effective in people without ADHD. Additionally, medication and behavioral therapy are excellent in short-term management, but there are superior outcomes in children who receive behavioral therapy only after 3 to 8 years. Additionally, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, family therapy, and school-based interventions have been found to be effective.
Depression
Depression is one of the most devasting of all psychiatric disorders, and according to the CDC, it is the leading cause of disability in the US and the world for people ages 15 - 44. Unfortunately, over 60% of people with depression never get help.
Surprisingly, 80% of clinically depressed people are impaired in their daily functioning: at work, they lose about 5.6 hours of productive work per week, which is due to absenteeism and short-term disability. People with depression are about 2.17-times more likely than others to take sick days, and when they are at work, their productivity is impaired by lack of concentration, low efficiency, and inability to organize work. Depressed people are also 7-times more likely than non-depressed people to be unemployed.
Regarding culture, depression is sometimes manifested among Latinos as complaints of “nerves” (nervioso) and headaches, while Asians often experience depression as tiredness, weakness, or an “imbalance.” Biochemically, depression is attributed to low levels of serotonin, deficiencies in norepinephrine, and/or elevated levels of cortisol.
A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) should come from a trained clinician. MDD includes an episode (or episodes) of depressed mood or sadness, and greatly lessened pleasure or interest in most activities. Other symptoms may include insomnia/hypersomnia, significant weight loss/gain, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, fatigue, impaired concentration, indecision, psychomotor retardation/agitation, and/or recurrent thoughts of suicide. These symptoms must be present nearly every day for 2 weeks and must obstruct functioning.
It is normal to feel down or depressed occasionally. Sadness is not synonymous with sickness. Life’s difficulties-divorce, job loss, financial troubles, interpersonal problems will likely cause a normal level of depression but should not always warrant a diagnosis. We cannot convert ALL emotional pain into a mental disorder, though we dilute our experience. However, a person should seek treatment for MDD. Psychological treatment for MDD includes psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. It is important to understand that not all depressive disorders are alike, and people present differently across and within disorders. A psychologist is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Anxiety
The English word “anxiety,” come from the Latin “anxietas,” which has origins in the ancient Greek “angh.” “Angh” was sometimes used by the Greeks to mean troubled or burdened, but mainly used to refer to physical sensations such as chest tightness, constriction, or discomfort. Today, the word, “angina,” is a medical condition where chest pain occur in relation to heart disease.
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, a Danish theologian and philosopher regarded anxiety as the key to human existence; a sense of dread over our freedom to choose. Kierkegaard said this began when Adam struggled between Eve’s “apple” and God, and this remains a factor in every choice that humans make. On a positive note, he believed anxiety was essential for a successful life, and people could not advance without it.
People who suffer from anxiety disorders share features of excessive fear and anxiety and behavioral disturbances. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat. Fear is more often with upwellings of autonomic arousal essential for fight or flight, thoughts of immediate danger, and escape behaviors, while anxiety is often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger and cautious or avoidant behaviors.
Psychological treatment for anxiety disorders includes psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. It is important to understand that not all anxiety disorders are alike, and people present differently across and within disorders. A psychologist is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
More Details
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