Commonly referred to as DSM-5 or “psychiatry’s bible,” the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides revised criteria to be used by clinicians as they evaluate and diagnose different mental health conditions. Included in DSM-5 is a new chapter on “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.”
Depression and other mood disorders in young adults is the FOCUS of a new residential program at Rogers. With intensive psychiatric evaluations and medication management, the program builds on the strong foundation set by Rogers other residential treatment programs and strong evidence-based care.
Losing interest in activities, withdrawal from family and friends, and sadness can be part of the daily struggle when fighting severe depression or other mood disorders. Behavioral activation – a major component of treatment in a new residential program at Rogers — addresses these struggles.
Building on Rogers’s foundation of evidence-based care through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), on February 10, Rogers opens FOCUS, a residential program for young adults with depression and other mood disorders. For these patients experiencing a difficult transition to adulthood, behavioral activation is one key building block toward recovery.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, commonly referred to as DSM-5, helps clinicians diagnose mental disorders that aren’t as easily identified by symptoms like many other health conditions, e.g., a broken arm or case of pneumonia. Plus, the new manual offers greater insight into many of these disorders.
Believe it or not, the first attempt to gather information about mental health was done to collect statistical information for the 1840 census. In fact, it was these early census recordings that distinguished early categories of mental health. It was not until post-World War II that the first edition of the DSM or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published. It was then this clinical and diagnostic tool, published by the American Psychiatric Association, provided description and diagnostic categories for clinicians working with mental disorders. Today, the DSM is still considered the authoritative guide by behavioral health professionals throughout the country, providing the common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions or compulsions leading to distress, thereby interfering with overall functioning. Although a diagnosis of OCD only requires the presence of obsessions or compulsions, the majority of children usually experience both. OCD can appear any time between preschool and adulthood, but most commonly surfaces between ages 8 and 12 or between the late teens and adulthood. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 200 children and adolescents has OCD.
As parents, friends and family members, we’re consistently reminded to keep our medications out of sight and reach. For many, the assumption is that this step is meant to keep small children safe. In reality, however, young children are not the only ones in danger—adolescents and adults are also at risk, as they have access to unsupervised medicine cabinets. In fact, reports indicate that thousands of teens use a prescription drug intended for someone else every day.
Addiction and mental illness: a circular relationship where one often feeds the other. There are cravings, obsessions and addictions that initially seem to solve issues with self-esteem, body image, family or work problems. Studies show that nearly one-third of alcohol abusers and one-half of drug abusers also battle a mental illness. This makes it difficult to determine if the addiction half of the relationship occurred before, or as a consequence of, the disease.
Making the decision to send a child or teen to a residential treatment facility is often difficult for families. Programs like the Child Center’s Parent University keep a family involved in treatment, helping families ensure a successful transition back home and reinforcing treatment and recovery needs.
When a traumatic event occurs in someone’s life, it is expected for them to react with acute stress or even shock. It’s when the acute stress symptoms persist that it may be more than a healthy reaction. An acute stress reaction is a psychological response one goes through after experiencing some sort of trauma; it is the minds way of coping with feelings of intense helplessness. This becomes “Acute Stress Disorder,” if the reaction persists for over two days, but diminishes after about a month. Initially, the victim will experience confusion and a state of disorientation with an inability to comprehend what is going on around them. This is followed by either complete withdrawal from the situation or agitated, anxious responses and depression. The reaction begins within minutes of the event and typically disappears within hours to 2-3 days. If not, this is when acute stress becomes a disorder.
