Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling mental disorder characterized by recurring unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors. A person with OCD realizes the obsessive thoughts are irrational, but he cannot stop them. The...
Antipsychotic medications, also known as neuroleptics, are commonly prescribed for disorders such as schizophrenia. However, it becomes important that patients learn about the group of potential side effects known as extrapyramidal effects. The...
Tyrosine is an amino acid that is necessary for your body to make various proteins such as neurotransmitters, chemicals that your nerve cells use to transmit messages. Your body uses another amino acid called L-phenylalanine from food to make...
Psychosis is a condition in which the patient loses touch with reality with delusions about circumstances, or hallucinations, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Patients infected with HIV may develop psychosis; patients with more...
If you have a condition, such as diabetes, that raises the risk of high blood sugar, you need to take steps to keep your blood glucose levels in check. A high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) can lead to serious complications. It is important...
Schizophrenia is a mental illness involving severe distortions of perception, resulting in bizarre behavior. Symptoms fall into two categories that include negative and positive symptoms. To date, no alternative treatments have been approved for...
Saliva keeps the mouth and lips moist, which prevents cracking, infection and ulceration of these modified skin surfaces. Salivary moisture also keeps the mouth clean and aids in the sense of taste by bathing the taste buds. Paired salivary glands...
People suffering from an anxiety disorder have a wide variety of medications available that may help. Benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and other medications are...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that at the end of 2006, more than 1.1 million people in the United States had HIV. As HIV progresses into AIDS, patients can develop neuropsychological conditions, such as delirium;...
Manic depressive disorder is a component of bipolar disorder that describes a form of depression that can sometimes cause distorted thinking, hallucinations or delusions. These symptoms are generally referred to as psychosis, or psychotic...
People with a seizure disorder, also known as epilepsy, experience an interruption in the electrical activity in the brain. When this occurs, various types of seizures take place. Many abnormalities of the nervous system can result in seizure...
Seizures and epilepsy--two conditions, two definitions, one connection. It is possible to have one seizure episode and not be diagnosed with epilepsy. To be diagnosed with epilepsy, you must have recurring seizure episodes. And, while the why is...
There are currently two categories of psychiatric medications available to treat symptoms of psychosis. Older, or typical antipsychotics, include chlorpromazine, also called Thorazine, and other major tranquilizers. Newer, or atypical...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression are frequently comorbid, meaning they often occur together. Antidepressants with strong serotonergic properties are typically most effective at treating both OCD and depressive symptoms. Because...
The milk thistle herb, which consists of the seeds harvested from the plant of the same name, is valuable for its potential role in keeping the liver healthy. Niacin, or vitamin B-3, assists in liver health, too, as well as in many other functions...
Seroquel, generically named quetiapine, is a prescription medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Like other drugs, Seroquel can cause unwanted side effects in some users. Weight gain is common among Seroquel users and may...
Seroquel, or quetiapine fumarate, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These mental illnesses are caused by severe chemical imbalances in the brain. Schizophrenia symptoms include disabling interference...
Abilify is the brand name of the generic prescription medication aripiprazole and belongs to the group of drugs known as antipsychotics. Specifically, it is primarily used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and pediatric autism as well as...
Abilify (aripiprazole) is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia, stabilization and maintenance therapy...
Bipolar disorder occurs when symptoms of mania or hypomania manifest in an individual. These can include racing thoughts, elevated mood, aggressiveness, delusions and paranoia. Bipolar disorder can also be complicated by comorbid diseases such as...
