Depression

Bipolar Disorder

Robin Williams and the Mask of Humor

October 24, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on Robin Williams and the Mask of Humor

The first-hand recollections of Williams appearing all over the internet today recall not only his humor but also his cocaine and alcohol addictions, as well as his pain and depression. In many ways, Williams is the modern-day, real-life Richard Cory, a tragic reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that even humor—especially humor—can be used as a mask that shields both the wearer and those around him, from the pain underneath. […]

Bipolar Disorder

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

May 15, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

Suicidal people suffer from inner turmoil that leaves them feeling isolated and hopeless. Many people who struggle with suicidal tendencies fail to seek the help they so desperately need. The majority of suicidal people do not want to die; they just want to stop the pain. Suicide prevention starts with the sufferer recognizing the warning signs and admitting that they have a problem. Family and friends should also pay close attention to these warning signs to ensure the sufferer finds the help they need. Simply talking about suicidal thoughts and feelings can help save a life. […]

Bipolar Disorder

ECT

April 7, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on ECT

The hallmark of clinical depression is diminished capacity, so a patient often has no qualms about making self-destructive or life- altering decisions in hopes of relief. […]

Bipolar Disorder

The Rescuer Becomes the Tormentor

January 24, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on The Rescuer Becomes the Tormentor

Something was terribly wrong with me when I allowed him to practice unsafe sex with me, later finding out I had caught an STD. When I questioned him about it, he announced that “everyone has that! Don’t make a big deal about it. I got it from the ocean”. He’d get angry when I questioned further about how he really got it. […]

Bipolar Disorder

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale/Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

January 16, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale/Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to rate the severity of a patient’s anxiety. Anxiety can refer to things such as “a mental state…a drive…a response to a particular situation…a personality trait…and a psychiatric disorder.” […]

Bipolar Disorder

Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

January 16, 2014 impiou5 Comments Off on Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is the most widely used scale for patient selection and follow-up in research studies of treatments of depression. Despite extensive study of the reliability and validity of the total scale score, the psychometric characteristics of the individual items have not been well studied. In the only reliability study to report agreement on individual items using a test-retest interview method, most of the items had only fair or poor agreement. Because this is due in part to variability in the way the information is obtained to make the various rating distinctions, the Structured Interview Guide for the HDRS (SIGH-D) was developed to standardize the manner of administration of the scale. A test-retest reliability study conducted on a series of psychiatric inpatients demonstrated that the use of the SIGH-D results in a substantially improved level of agreement for most of the HDRS items. […]

Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

November 17, 2013 impiou5 Comments Off on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Some people experience a serious mood change during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This condition is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a type of depression. It usually lifts during spring and summer. […]