National Institute Of Mental Health

Bipolar Thought Process

Bipolar disorder, also considered a manic-depressive illness, is characterized by massive mood swings from extreme "highs" to an overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Causes & Risks of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which individuals experience mania and extremely high euphoric mood, which may alternate with bouts of depression. The definitive cause of the disorder is unknown; however, risk factors include inherited...

How to Test for Childhood ADD

Parents of children with ADD, also referred to as ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, report their kids lack focus, often forgetting things, moving quickly from one activity to the next, daydreaming and failing to follow...

Commonly Prescribed Medications for Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by extremes in your mood. You may be depressed one day and manic the next. During manic episodes, you may participate in such risky behavior as sexual promiscuity or extravagant shopping...

How to Live With a Depressed Parent

It's not easy to live with a parent who suffers from depression. Depression is a serious mental illness that affects almost every area of a person's life, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Physical symptoms such as sleep...

Antidepressant Treatment Options

Several different types of antidepressants work differently to address symptoms of depression. As described by the National Institute of Mental Health, antidepressants help to maintain the proper balance of chemicals, or neurotransmitters, in the...

Causes of Bipolar in Children

Bipolar disorder is a mood disturbance in which an individual experiences episodes of mania, though he may also experience symptoms of depression as well. The presentation of bipolar disorder in children is somewhat different from that of adults....

How to Deal With ADD Without Medication

Attention-deficit disorder, commonly referred to as ADD, is a mental health condition that can cause a severe impact on your daily functioning and overall quality of life. ADD is typically compounded by the presence of hyperactivity, in which case...

How to Treat Depression in Children & Adolescents

Although the stressors may be different, children and adolescents experience the same emotions as adults. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, 14.8 million adults are affected by depression each year. A study by Harvard University...

How to Fight Mind Depression

Everyone encounters depression at some point in their lives. For many, it is a fleeting experience that does not interfere with their lives. However, for some, depression is a severe condition that makes performing day-to-day activities next to...

How to Treat Depression Holistically

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in four adults suffer from a mental illness each year. Additionally, 14.8 million American adults suffer from some form of depression. Chronic or severe depression is typically...

How to Deal With a Depressed Wife

Depression is a relatively common mental health disorder that affects millions of Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women have an increased risk for depression, which may be due to certain risk factors, such as...

Anxiety Relief

There are various types of anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder may include excessive worry that interferes with a person's daily functioning. Social anxiety may include a fear of being judged by others and may cause a person to avoid social...

Pharmacological Treatments of Affective Disorders

Affective disorders are mental conditions in which there is extreme or dramatic change in mood, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. These include major depression, bipolar depression and schizoaffective disorder. Moods may be elevated, as in...

What Kind of Doctor Treats ADHD?

The National Institute of Mental Health recommends those suffering from ADHD be treated by a psychiatrist, psychologist, family doctor or neurologist.

Common Bipolar Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is a type of psychosis also known as manic depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder symptoms typically manifest when a person is in his late teens or early twenties. It may take some time...

ADHD Medications Safe for Young Children

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are often first treated with medication. The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants, which come in two types, amphetamines and methylphenidates. ADHD medications help to alleviate...

How to Comfort a Depressed Friend

If you have a friend who is suffering from depression, you know what a debilitating and serious illness it can be. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, most people with depression do not seek treatment for their symptoms. If this...

Bipolar Medications for Children

Children with bipolar disorder are often treated with medication to control their symptoms. According to Robert Weis in "Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology," medication is the first step in treatment and a way to minimize mania in...

Autism Medication Side Effects

Autism is a disorder diagnosed in childhood. Children with autism often demonstrate difficulties with social interaction, communication and repetitive behavior. The treatment of autism varies for each individual child, but behavioral therapy is...

Antipsychotic Side Effects

Patients with schizophrenia, a mental health disorder that affects perception of reality, take a type of medication called antipsychotics. The Better Health Channel, a service of the State Government of Victoria, explains that two types of...

List of the Symptoms of ADD

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, attention deficit disorder (ADD) is the most common mental disorder that develops in children. Its symptoms can often can be difficult to distinguish from that of normal childhood behavior and...

ADHD & Schizophrenia

In the United States, 1.1 percent of adults have schizophrenia and 4.1 percent of adults have ADHD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Patients with these disorders may have difficulty functioning. For example, the hyperactivity...

Depression & Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal is one of the hallmarks of major depression, with symptoms ranging from subtle to extreme. According to the National Institute of Mental Health statistics, major depressive disorder, or MDD, disables people between the ages of 15 and 44...

Affective Disorder and Anxiety

Affective disorders are mental illnesses characterized by disturbances of emotion, thought and behavior. According to the International Society for Affective Disorders, affective disorders include anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety...

How to Control Anxiety Naturally

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 40 million American adults struggle with anxiety problems every year. Symptoms can include excessive worry, problems sleeping, a lightheaded feeling, breathlessness, muscle tension and...

How to Get Immediate Help for Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that mood disorders such as depression affect more than 20 million American adults each year. Most people who seek treatment recover from an episode of depression, according to the Clinical...

Atypical Antipsychotics for Depression

A serious mood disorder, depression causes patients to feel hopeless, helpless and worthless. The disorder causes a low mood and changes in behavior, such as altered sleep and eating patterns. The National Institute of Mental Health points out the...

Overcoming ADHD & Bipolar Bias

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 in 4 U.S. adults experiences a diagnosable mental disorder each year. Yet, psychological problems still carry a stigma in society. MayoClinic.com states that societal stigmas...