Tag Archives: mood disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder: Causes and Treatment

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most common of the personality disorders, affecting approximately 15% of the population. Sufferers typically indulge in intense but stormy relationships, have difficulty exerting control over their emotions, display marked impulsivity in their behaviors, fear abandonment and may indulge in self-harming behaviors and suicidal thoughts. Sufferers of borderline personality disorder often have associated mood disturbances with up to 70% also experiencing major depression. Eating disorders are also common: up to 25% of bulimics have a co-diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Well over 50% of substance abuse sufferers also show signs of borderline personality disorder. … Continue reading →

Postpartum psychosis: What is it?

Postpartum psychosis is the most severe of the three postnatal conditions as outlined in Postpartum depression: What are the symptoms? It affects roughly one in 500 new mothers and generally manifests within the first fortnight after giving birth. The two predominant symptoms of postpartum psychosis are major depression and manic episodes. Severe manic or depressive episodes, often involving psychosis where the individual loses contact with reality, are a feature of the illness. It should not be confused with the milder depression symptoms experienced with postnatal depression. The symptoms typically begin 2 to 3 days after delivery but may occur as … Continue reading →

Snail Venom

A new study from the University of Utah may have found some big benefits in a little package. The venom from an ocean snail found in the Philippines may have medical benefits for people with depression, Parkinson’s disease, and certain addictions. Take smoking, for example. Smoking releases a chemical in the brain called dopamine; dopamine is used as a reward signal in your brain. If you wanted to quit smoking, this particular snail venom (or a synthetic version) helps fit into receptors in the brain that receive dopamine. You wouldn’t need the nicotine to release the dopamine if the receptors … Continue reading →

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder (previously known as manic-depression) has been described as “the roller coaster ride from heaven to hell and back”. Sufferers of this condition experience profound depressive episodes which alternate with periods of extreme mania and elation. To understand this distressing disorder better, let’s examine the case of John. People who know John only vaguely could be forgiven for thinking he was two different persons—depending on what mood state he was in at the time. John could be a very quiet, thoughtful, and softly-spoken guy, who was caring and respectful of others, and seemed to suffer from both low self-esteem … Continue reading →