Behavioral And Emotional Health

Stress: Additional Sources Of Information

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on stress: Articles on stress provided by MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health and National Library  http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html American Academy of Family Physicians: An overview of stress  http://familydoctor.org/handouts/278.html American Institute of Stress  Phone: (914) 963-1200 http://www.stress.org

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What Causes Stress?

We may think of stressful events as unpleasant ones, such as losing a job or having difficulties at home or at school. But changes for the better can also cause stress, like a new baby, a wedding, and a new house. In an ideal world, maybe we could get away from stressful situations, or change

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How Does Stress Affect The Body?

To understand what stress does to us, imagine you lived tens of thousands of years ago, at a time when humans were threatened by hungry animals such as saber-toothed tigers and wolves. Our caveman ancestors had to be able to react instantly, either by fighting the beasts or running away. So humans evolved the ability

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Schizophrenia: Putting It All Together

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. A person has difficulty telling the difference between real and imagined experiences, thinking logically, expressing feelings, or behaving appropriately. People with schizophrenia may hear internal voices and

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Schizophrenia: Glossary

Here are definitions of medical terms related to schizophrenia: Antipsychotics: Medications that block receptors in the brain of the chemical messenger dopamine, which is thought to play a role in schizophrenia; these medications have the most significant impact on the symptoms of hallucinations and delusions Delusion: False ideas about oneself or one’s life Dementia: A mental disorder characterized

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Schizophrenia: Additional Sources Of Information

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on schizophrenia: British Columbia Schizophrenia Society  http://www.mentalhealth.com Canadian references to healthcare but an excellent practical site; with clearly written information The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)  Phone: 1-800-950-NAMI (6263) http://www.nami.org National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office of Communications and Public Liaison Information

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What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The person finds it difficult to tell the difference between real and imagined experiences, to think logically, to express feelings, or to behave appropriately. People with schizophrenia may hear internal voices not heard by others or may see things that

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What Causes Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complex illness, and no single cause has been found. There are several theories about the causes, which include: Heredity. Schizophrenia runs in some families. A person can inherit a tendency to develop the illness, especially if a parent has the disorder. The risk for inheriting schizophrenia is 10 percent in those who have

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What Are The Symptoms Of Schizophrenia?

In schizophrenia, the world appears changed. Familiar things like colors, sounds, or tastes may appear altered in a strange way. The brain receives information from the senses but interprets it in an abnormal fashion. The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from one person to another, and they can appear either gradually or suddenly. At first, symptoms

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Who Gets Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia affects about one percent of all people. Schizophrenia affects individuals who span the full range of intelligence and education, from the most intelligent to the most simple minded. No cultural group is immune to schizophrenia, but the content of delusions varies in different parts of the world, according to one study. In Europe, people

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How Is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?

There are no chemical tests for schizophrenia. Doctors make the diagnosis based on the symptoms and an interview with the individual. A number of brain imaging techniques are becoming useful in determining if parts of the brain are damaged. These techniques include: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses magnets to produce cross-sectional images of the

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How Is Schizophrenia Treated?

Because the progression and symptoms of schizophrenia vary from one person to another, treatment must be an individualized decision. Schizophrenia cannot be cured, but it can be effectively managed in many people. Treatment options include: Antipsychotic medications Atypical medications Other useful medications Electroconvulsive (“shock”) therapy Psychotherapy Family support Rehabilitation Antipsychotic Medications Antipsychotic medication has been

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