Mental Health

Here's what the evidence says about what works (and what doesn't). St. John's wort "promotes a positive mood." Valerian root reduces "levels of anxiety and stress." Lavender oil is "calming for body and mind." If you are among the tens of millions of people in the United States who suffer from depression or anxiety, it is easy to be captivated by the promise of mood-boosting supplements. Take these pills daily, their marketing suggests, and soon you'll be happily bouncing through verdant, sun-soaked fields, no prescription required. But, while experts say that some mood-lifting supplements are better studied than others, the wider evidence on their effectiveness is shaky at best. "I'm not saying that there's evidence that these things aren't useful," said Dr. Gerard Sanacora, a professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and the director of the Yale Depression Research Program. It's more that "the q

Bipolar disorders are mental health conditions characterized by significant shifts in mood, from elated and energized to depressed and indifferent. There are three bipolar disorders. The mildest one is known as cyclothymic disorder or cyclothymia. Distinguishing among the different types of bipolar disorders helps people know what to expect and helps doctors identify the best treatment options. An accurate diagnosis of cyclothymia can help you access treatment that may prevent your condition from progressing to a more severe type of bipolar disorder. The more you understand the nature of these mood disorders, the more confident you'll feel in dealing with your own mental health symptoms and the more empathetic you'll be in dealing with someone you know who has these symptoms. Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depression, is a condition in which moods shift dramatically and unpredictably. These mood changes are more intense than typical day-to-day mood fluctuations

SUN Behavioral Kentucky, based in Erlanger, KY, has recently published a blog post explaining the different types of depression. These are: persistent depressive disorder (PDD), bipolar depression disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), psychotic depression, peripartum (postpartum) depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), situational depression, prolonged grief disorder, atypical depression, and treatment-resistant depression. Depression is a common but severe mental health condition involving persistent feelings of hopelessness and sadness that may even lead to suicide. Which is why people with depression need to get treated. PDD can be mild, moderate, or severe and can persist for at least two years. While there may be periods where the symptoms lessen, they will eventually return. Symptoms of PDD include: anger or irritability, feelings of guilt, trouble falling or staying asleep, feeling sad, loss of interest and pleasure in activities, feelings of hopelessness, a

Heather and Randy Bacchus hold a photograph of their late son, Randy Michael Bacchus III, in their home in Mahtomedi. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT Heather and Randy Bacchus have been grieving since their 21-year-old son, Randy Michael Bacchus III, took his own life one year ago in Colorado while suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis. But the parishioners of St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake, parents also of three daughters, are determined to share their story to help others understand the dangerous impact of high-potency marijuana that is replacing the less potent "weed" of the 1970s and beyond. All this even as a bill before the Minnesota Legislature, passed by the House last year and moribund in the Senate this year, would make recreational marijuana legal and set up a framework to grow, package and sell the drug. "We didn't realize at the time what the weed really was," said Randy Bacchus, 53, of their son's marijuana use, which be

Learning how to live with a mental health diagnosis can be like beginning an entirely new life. Now that you know you have bipolar disorder 2, you can: learn what to expect from this condition plan how you'll respond to changes in your health discover systems of support practice habits to help you create a greater sense of balance fine-tune your treatment plan so it works for you Here's a good starting place: a quick primer on this condition and science-backed strategies for a healthier life. Having bipolar 2 disorder means you experience periods of hypomania, during which you have a temporary surge in emotions, energy levels, self-esteem, and drive. These bursts of feeling, motivation, and activity are followed by periods of deep depression, when your feelings may be overwhelmingly dark — if you have any feelings at all. During an episode of depression, it can be tough just to get on your feet in the morning. Though your highs may not be as extreme as those with bipolar disord

BIPOLAR UPDATE The last column discussed how to improve precision in the diagnosis of mania and hypomania and how to identify likely prebipolar depressions that may evolve into a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) following the onset of a subsequent manic or hypomanic episode. It is important to identify comorbid disorders that add to the symptoms of BD, so that these symptoms can be targeted appropriately. Some prescribers tend to target symptoms (eg, anxiety, insomnia, and irritability) with medications while leaving the underlying disorder(s) unrecognized and/or untreated. 1 Taking Time for Diagnosis When there is a comorbidity, one should first delineate the various DSM-5 diagnoses that are present ( Table ). The evaluation may require several meetings to reach the initial diagnostic impression, and it can take 90 minutes to evaluate a complex new patient, including reviewing the previous record and writing the assessment. 2 Clinicians who are employed may not be allowed this much

Schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia are mental health disorders that share some common symptoms and treatments. While some people consider them to be two distinct disorders, others believe that schizoaffective disorder is a type of schizophrenia. The main factor distinguishing schizoaffective disorder from schizophrenia is the presence of a mood component to schizoaffective disorder. This mood component can be manic or depressive. Some researchers believe schizoaffective disorder is a more severe variant of schizophrenia. Although a person with schizoaffective disorder also has a mood disorder that needs to be evaluated and addressed, the treatments are the same for both conditions. Estimates indicate that around 0.3% of the U.S. population is living with schizoaffective disorder, and anywhere from 0.25% to 0.64% of the population is living with schizophrenia. Although both disorders share some similar features and treatments, having a complete diagnosis can help improve a pe

Parenting with bipolar disorder has unique challenges. Your family can thrive with personal health management and open communication. Becoming a parent often comes with fears and unknowns. If you live with bipolar disorder, you may have concerns about stigma, caring for your children, and experiencing mood episodes. Many people with bipolar disorder have healthy, loving relationships and stable family environments. Stability is often achieved through bipolar disorder management and educating loved ones, including children, about the condition. Parenting can be tough for anyone, but living with bipolar disorder can introduce nuances. People with bipolar disorder often have to manage their treatment — including medication and talk therapy — while also caring for a child. Living with bipolar disorder may also mean managing triggers and buffering mood episodes with therapy and a sound routine. A 2017 meta-analysis of studies found people with bipolar disorder have more stressful life event

Rapid cycling may be a temporary experience for someone with bipolar disorder. Talk therapy and medication can help with management. Rapid cycling is a feature of bipolar disorder in which episodes of mania, hypomania, or depression are more frequent. These episodes may appear unexpectedly and are mostly temporary. About 5.7 million people in the United States live with bipolar disorder. It's estimated that in a single year 5% to 33% of people with bipolar disorder are experiencing rapid cycling, and 26% to 43% experience it at some point in their lives. Although researchers are just beginning to learn what might cause this condition, there are promising treatments on the horizon. Rapid cycling can happen with any kind of bipolar disorder. Someone has rapid cycling bipolar disorder when they experience at least four distinct mood episodes over a 12-month period. Rapid cycling is a feature of bipolar disorder and not a stand-alone diagnosis. According to the Diagnostic and Statist