Conduct DisorderChildren and adolescents with conduct disorder are budding psychopaths.They repeatedly and deliberately – and often with great joy -violate the rights of others and breach age-appropriate social norms and rules. Some of them gleefully hurt and torture people or, more frequently, animals. Others damage property. Yet others habitually deceive, lie, and steal.These behaviors inevitably…

Choosing a Therapist Step-By-StepTherapy is a collaborative process, so finding the right match is critical. After you find someone, keep in mind that therapy is work and sometimes can be painful. However, it also can be rewarding and life changing.What are the steps for choosing a therapist?

Bipolar II Disorder Bipolar II is related to Bipolar I, but it differs in one major aspect. While Bipolar I has extreme manic and depressive states, Bipolar II has the deep depression, but never goes into full-blown mania. The highs of this type of bipolar disorder aren’t quite as high, but they are high enough…

Bipolar Depression Versus Clinical Depression An estimated ten percent of all Americans suffer from some form of depression during their lives. This figure varies but is pretty much the same worldwide. There are a few areas of the world that depression seems to have missed, but not many. Depression in general affects the way we…

Aspergers SyndromeAspergers Syndrome is a milder form of autistic disorder. Both conditions are part of a larger group of neurological disorders known in the US as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD for short. The 2 most common symptoms are eccentric behavior and self-imposed social isolation. Sometimes speech is affected as well as gait and motor…

Alternative Therapies-Part 2Biofeedback: Learning to control muscle tension and “involuntary” body functioning, such as heart rate and skin temperature, can be a path to mastering one’s fears. It is used in combination with, or as an alternative to, medication to treat disorders such as anxiety, panic, and phobias. For example, a person can learn to…

Alternative Methods in Mental Health CareWhat are alternative approaches to mental health care? An alternative approach to mental health care is one that emphasizes the interrelationship between mind, body, and spirit. Although some alternative approaches have a long history, many remain controversial. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of…

Agoraphobia The fear of traveling is the common definition of agoraphobia. This can be a serious condition in which a person isn’t able to leave the home at all or it can be a mild disorder in which a person can’t travel more than a few hours away from home. When a person attempts to…

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Adult attention deficit disorder, or adult ADD, can be a very frustrating condition to have. Almost all of the initial research and focus for the attention deficit disorders was focused on children and adolescents, but adults are just as likely to have the condition as youths. The disorder normally makes itself…