Mental Health

Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Advertisement Sign up for Scientific American ’s free newsletters. " data-newsletterpromo_article-image="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4641809D-B8F1-41A3-9E5A87C21ADB2FD8_source.png" data-newsletterpromo_article-button-text="Sign Up" data-newsletterpromo_article-button-link="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/newsletter-sign-up/?origincode=2018_sciam_ArticlePromo_NewsletterSignUp" name="articleBody" itemprop="articleBody"> Many people with bipolar disorder have a strong attraction to marijuana. A 2019 review of 53 studies found that almost a quarter of a combined sample of 51,756 individuals with the condition used cannabis or had a problematic pattern of consumption (cannabis use disorder), compared with 2 to 7 percent in the general population—and an earlier study placed usage estimates still higher. Cannabis and bipolar disorder ...

Doctors prescribe Wellbutrin to treat depression and to help quit smoking. However, mixing Wellbutrin with alcohol can increase a person's risk of side effects, including seizures. Drinking alcohol may also reduce the effectiveness of Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin contains an active ingredient called bupropion and belongs to a drug class known as aminoketone. While experts do not fully understand why Wellbutrin treats depression, they believe it inhibits the reuptake of the chemical messengers dopamine and norepinephrine. Wellbutrin is available under other brand names, such as Zyban, Aplenzin, and Forfivo XL. Doctors recommend Wellbutrin as people generally tolerate it well, and it has fewer side effects. This article explores the risks of mixing Wellbutrin and alcohol, including other side effects. It also includes managing substance misuse and other treatments for depression. It is not safe to mix Wellbutrin and alcohol. The National Institute of Health (NIH) notes that alcohol, on i...

Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Advertisement Sign up for Scientific American ’s free newsletters. " data-newsletterpromo_article-image="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4641809D-B8F1-41A3-9E5A87C21ADB2FD8_source.png" data-newsletterpromo_article-button-text="Sign Up" data-newsletterpromo_article-button-link="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/newsletter-sign-up/?origincode=2018_sciam_ArticlePromo_NewsletterSignUp" name="articleBody" itemprop="articleBody"> Many people with bipolar disorder have a strong attraction to marijuana. A 2019 review of 53 studies found that almost a quarter of a combined sample of 51,756 individuals with the condition used cannabis or had a problematic pattern of consumption (cannabis use disorder), compared with 2 to 7 percent in the general population—and an earlier study placed usage estimates still higher. Cannabis and bipolar disorder ...

Schizophrenia is most well-known condition that involves psychosis, but psychosis can arise in other mental health conditions, too. While the word "psychotic" is often used in a stigmatizing context, there is no the term "psychosis" actually comes from the Greek word "psyche," a word that describes the mind or soul. You might experience an episode of psychosis for various reasons, including as part of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or dementia. Psychosis is not the same as psychopathy. Psychosis is a symptom of mental health conditions like schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) as a psychotic disorder. Psychotic disorders are conditions that involve symptoms like: delusions hallucinations disorganized thinking and speech disorganized motor behavior negative symptoms (e.g., limited emotional expression) Schizophrenia is one of the most common ...

At first glance, you might not think obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia have much in common at all. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia can occasionally overlap. And when they do, telling them apart can become confusing. Symptoms of OCD include often include obsessions and unwanted or intrusive thoughts, as well as compulsions, or urges to act out specific — and often repetitive — behaviors. Meanwhile, schizophrenia typically looks like: hallucinations: seeing or hearing things that don't line up with reality delusion: beliefs that don't match up with reality speech patterns that can be difficult to understand atypical behaviors catatonia, or a state or unresponsiveness negative symptoms, such as lack of expression or interests Knowing which condition you or a loved one is experiencing might start with identifying your symptoms as well as figuring out how you relate to those symptoms. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Ment...

I am under slept and overwhelmed. I'm in a London hotel room, at the beginning of a four-day trip that was too cheap to pass up. I am 25. There are assignments to complete for my graduate courses and tests to grade for my middle-school teaching job. I have brought work with me, and there are short stacks of papers everywhere. Despite having airplane seats that turned into beds, sleep eluded me on the overnight trip from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. I'm worried about this lack of sleep. Will it make me manic? For people like me, with bipolar disorder, traveling can lead to mania, and the only antidote is sleep. To sleep, I need medication. I don't have any. I stopped taking it a few months ago because it made me gain weight. I've been here a couple of hours and should be napping when I hear a knock on my door and open it. "Be ready in 20. We are hitting a pub." My travel companion glances into the room. "What are all these papers?...

$chizophrenia: Researchers estimated the economic burden of schizophrenia in the United States. RESEARCH UPDATE CASE VIGNETTE "Mr Jobs" is a 50-year-old Caucasian male with a history of chronic schizophrenia as well as HIV. The local University Emergency Department (ED) is his essentially his only source of medical care. He is nonadherent with any medications and follow-up. In the past year, he has presented to the ED over 100 times, often for physical complaints, but also for worsening psychosis and suicidal ideation. He sometimes leaves the ED prior to being seen by a physician, and often states, "I just want to stay inside for a little while," particularly when it gets cold. When seen by the ED psychiatry team, he has repeatedly been given information on local resources, including indigent medical/mental health care and homeless shelters, which he declines. He is frequently observed on the sidewalks outside the ED walking and smoking. The manager of a restaurant ...

Paranoia is the distressing feeling an individual might experience when they believe, without evidence (or very little evidence), that someone wishes to do them harm. Fueled by anxiety and fear, an episode of paranoia causes individuals to believe there are very real threats to their well-being, even when there is evidence to the contrary. While anyone may experience a moment of paranoid thinking, when episodes are severe and persistent, they may signal a serious mental health condition such as schizophrenia or paranoid personality disorder, says Elaina DellaCava, M.D., a psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York. "Paranoia has a range of severity. For some people, low-level paranoia can occur when under stress, when sleep deprived or after a traumatic event," says Dr. DellaCava. "It can occur in individuals living with dementia or who have had brain injuries, and can also occur in individuals who abuse recreational drugs o...

Broadcast Date :  December 6, 2022 Time:  8:00 am PT, 11:00 am ET, 17:00 CET Resins with protein A ligands have been the workhorse of monoclonal antibody capture, as their application typically results in >95% purity. In addition, protein A media effectively reduces most host cell protein and DNA. However, it is increasingly recognized in the industry that resin-based chromatography matrices are associated with drawbacks, such as value-added pricing of protein A media due to limited supplier options, lower productivity (around 10-20 g/L/h in single column batch mode), which additionally leads to higher cost, ineffective lifetime utilization (particularly pre-commercial), and higher risk. An alternative approach is to intensify this step by employing membrane-based rapid cycling chromatography (RCC), which relies on an open pore matrix and convective mass transfer to reduce cycle times significantly. Innovative solutions such as R...

While the holidays are a time of celebration for many, they can trigger stress and overstimulation for people with bipolar disorder , a mental health condition that causes extreme mood episodes of mania (abnormal happiness or irritability) and depression (deep sadness) lasting days to weeks at a time. As many as 64 percent of people with a mental health condition like bipolar disorder feel their symptoms worsen during the holidays, according to a small survey conducted by experts at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) . What is it about the holidays that ramps up stress and symptoms for people with bipolar disorder? A few potential causes are: Disrupted routines "We know it's very important for people with bipolar disorder to have structure, routine, and some groundedness. But with the holiday season, a lot of times, there are disruptions to your schedule, and routines get thrown out the window, says Thea Gallagher, PsyD , a clinical assistant professor in the dep...

Science suggests people with high functioning schizophrenia can develop coping skills to thrive at work, school, and in their communities. Current science spotlights the positive coping tools, attitudes, and stories of people with schizophrenia, a chronic and serious mental health condition. Of particular interest are those who engage meaningfully with their work, studies, and communities. People with schizophrenia who socialize and work while managing their symptoms are sometimes referred to as having "high functioning schizophrenia." While specific strengths may prepare people with high functioning schizophrenia for success, their clinical diagnosis remains the same as others with schizophrenia. People with high functioning schizophrenia often report that symptoms like distorted thinking and hallucinations never entirely disappear. Still, those with high functioning schizophrenia can lead successful lives. If you are among the estimated 24 million people worldwide living w...