Anxiety Disorders
Learn about anxiety disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
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Antisocial Personality Disorder: Often Overlooked and Untreated
Antisocial personality disorder may be one of the most misunderstood mental disorders. It is also often undiagnosed and untreated, according to a recent special report by Donald Black, M.D. in Psychiatric News.1 He referred to it as “psychiatry’s forgotten disorder,” noting that few clinicians diagnose or treat it.
Taking on the Public Health Threat of Loneliness and Social Isolation
Loneliness is a significant and growing problem with substantial physical health and mental health impacts. Research has found that loneliness and social isolation may be as bad for your health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day and significantly impacts mental health. (1) The restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the problem and increased public awareness of the issue.
How Do Companion Animals and Therapy Animals Support Mental Well-being?
Companion animals are increasingly being used to support mental wellbeing and to augment mental health treatment. A new book from APA Publishing, The Role of Companion Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders, reviews recent research and highlights the variety of ways mental health professionals are working with companion animals to support treatment and promote mental health.
Personal Perspectives on Bipolar Disorder, Part 1
This episode is the first of a two-part discussion about bipolar disorder led by Dr. Ken Duckworth. He leads a deep discussion that offers insights for individuals, family members and mental health professionals.
The Opioid Crisis: Impact, Challenges, and Paths to Recovery
Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, illegal drugs like heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. These substances bind to opioid receptors in the brain, producing pain relief and euphoria. Prolonged use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction, characteristic of opioid use disorder (OUD). Fentanyl, due to its potency, has played a particularly lethal role in the opioid crisis.
What to Do About Workplace Bullying
Bullying is often thought of as a kids’ problem. But it also often happens to adults in the workplace. Workplace bullying involves multiple, repeated, intentional acts of aggression, hostility, social isolation, disrespect or mistreatment of an employee by another employee(s). It can include work sabotage or behaviors perceived as threatening, intimidating, or humiliating. These acts often happen in person but also can occur through email, text messaging, and social media.
Voices for Change: Substance Use and Addiction in Minoritized/Marginalized Communities
APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., has prioritized substance use disorders and addictive behaviors. His goal is to bring together diverse constituencies to offer education, treatment, and support to patients, families, and practitioners.
The Menstrual Cycle and Mental Health
Premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of psychiatric symptoms (worsening of mental health conditions just prior to a woman’s period), is not a new term or idea. Yet PME of psychiatric symptoms such as depression, mania, and psychosis, to name a few, has been understudied compared to other illnesses related to the menstrual cycle. The work that has been done surrounding this idea has mostly asked women to report past experience of worsening psychiatric symptoms around their menstrual cycle. This is pro
Struggling with Screen Time: A Look at Internet Use Disorders
Internet use disorders are a growing concern in today’s technology-driven society, marked by excessive and compulsive use of the internet, leading to negative consequences in various aspects of an individual's life. Online activities of concern include overuse of social media sites, gaming, gambling, problematic use of online pornography, and other digital platforms. This is a global phenomenon affecting individuals of all ages
New Polling Data Shows Most Employers Offer Some Form of Mental Health Benefits, But Burnout Impacts Over 40% of Employees
A survey fielded last month by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that most working adults know how to access mental health care services through work (67%). Despite this, two-in-five employed adults worry about retaliation or being fired if they take time off for their mental health (44%) or seek mental health care (39%).
Supporting Student Mental Well-Being with Mindfulness Programs
A variety of mindfulness-based programs are increasingly being used in schools to help support and improve students’ mental, emotional and behavioral health. A new study looks at the evidence about their effectiveness.
November Is National Family Caregivers Month
Day in and day out, more than 4 million family caregivers in the U.S. provide care for adult family and friends with chronic illnesses or other needs for assistance. National Family Caregivers Month offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues; celebrate their efforts and increase support for family caregivers.