APA Blog

 
Category : Patients and Families

Improving Treatment for Common Phobias

Specific phobias are a type of anxiety disorder affecting between 3 and 15 percent of the population. While effective treatments are available, most people don’t seek treatment; an estimated 10 to 25 percent of people with a specific phobia seek treatment.

Humor in Therapy

Humor and laughter, in addition to being fun and enjoyable, have many health benefits. Laughter can help people cope with stress, reduce anxiety and tension and serve as a coping mechanism. Humor may allow a person to feel in control of a situation and make it seem more manageable. By helping to reduce fear, anger and stress, humor can help minimize the potential harm they can have on the body over time.

Trichotillomania: Potentially Debilitating yet Often Unnoticed

Trichotillomania, or compulsive hair-pulling disorder, involves repetitively pulling one’s hair out to the point of causing bald patches. Many people twist and play with their hair, but that is not the same as trichotillomania.

More Alcohol Screening in Primary Care Could Help Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Alcohol use continues to be a major public health issue in the U.S. One in eight adults in the U. S. reports unhealthy alcohol use.  About 6 percent of adults (about 4 percent of women and almost 8 percent of men) meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Taking Care of the Caregivers

More than 17 million individuals in the United States are family caregivers, providing care and support to an older adult because of physical, mental or cognitive challenges. Many of them care for a parent, a spouse or a friend with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.

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