State of Mind: Anxiety Disorders
Psychotherapy is particularly important in breaking the cycle of anxiety disorders, whether they take the form of panic attacks or eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Michael Strober, Director of the Eating Disorders Program at UCLA ...
Sleep Disorders
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, explains that the word "insomnia" tends to be a catch-all term that refers to any type of sleep disorder. Dr. Leuchter discusses a range of sleep problems, including sleep apnea and "restles...
State of Mind: Thought Disorder Schizophrenia, The
Impaired cognitive functioning, memory loss, or delusions may be caused by brain injuries, tumors, or the aging process as in Alzheimer's disease. One form of dementia is the thought disorder schizophrenia. The causes of schizophrenia are unknown, b...
Stroke and Depression
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about research that helps identify which patients are at highest risk for depression after a stroke. Dr. Leuchter explains that, "...It appears that strokes in the frontal portions of ...
State of Mind: Lifetime Battle Against Depression, A
The experience of depression becomes blatantly clear as Beverly relates her struggles with the disease. Outsiders tend to think depression can be cast aside if only the person afflicted has the will to do it. Dr. Andrew Leuchter explains that depres...
Schizophrenia and Medication
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about the use of anti-psychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia. He notes that such medications can help to dissolve hallucinations, as well as help to order thoughts and...
State of Mind: Psychiatric Treatment and the Future
Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute and Paul McHugh, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins University Hospital talk about the future of psychotherapy. Increased understanding of how the brain, body, an...
State of Mind: Insurance Limitations Hamper Effective Treatment of Depression
Matching patients with the appropriate anti-depressant, and getting them to stay with it long enough for it to work involves the support of psychotherapy as well as medication. Too often insurance plans severely limit coverage for conditions related...
Bipolar Disorder
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about bipolar disorder, explaining the cyclical, up and down nature of the illness. Dr. Leuchter notes that it tends to run in families, then discusses the use of mood stabilizers like...
Schizophrenia
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about schizophrenia, a mental health disorder that he states affects about one percent of the population. Dr. Leuchter explains that schizophrenia is what's called a "thought disorder....