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...
Rehabilitating the Schizophrenic
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, explains that treating schizophrenia involves more than just medication. He talks about the importance of rehabilitation and re-integration into society, the family and normal relationships ...
Staying On Medication
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that it's very difficult to convince patients to continue with their medications, particularly given the side effects some experience. "I certainly went on and off my medications," Dr....
Untreated Manic-Depressive Illness
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison says that, when the illness goes untreated, there is a tendency over time for manic-depressive episodes to get more frequent, more extreme and more difficult to treat.
Early Therapy
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison talks about her early therapy experiences and discusses the impact of medications she was taking. "I was in and out of being very psychotic," Dr. Jamison recalls. "I think I was desperate to fe...
Psychotherapy Options
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about the range of psychotherapies that are available, including traditional psychoanalysis, as well as briefer, structured psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and in...
Helping Those In Need
Professor of psychiatry and author Kay Redfield Jamison explains that getting someone with a psychiatric disorder into treatment is very hard, and keeping them there can be even harder. A related challenge, Dr. Jamison notes, is convincing patients ...
Diagnosis: Cancer: Lifestyle Choices that Reduce the Cancer Risk
Cancer is a disease that is influenced by lifestyle choices. Some researchers contend that eating right, staying physically active, watching your weight, and not smoking or exposing yourself to too much sun could reduce your risk of cancer by 60 to ...
Depression: Available Treatments
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about treatments available to treat depression. In general, Dr. Leuchter explains, there is a two-pronged approach used, consisting of psychotherapy, coupled with medication.
Final Chapter: Preparation for Death: Hilary's Story
Hilary, a patient terminally ill with A.I.D.S., is ready to die. We hear her story and the reactions of caregivers whose professional training and emotional focus toward healing the sick are being challenged.