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MORNING STAR • DEC. 27, 2007 - JAN. 2, 2008
Health Mental illnesses have different degrees of severity By Anthony Policastro, M.D
A fair number of mental health diagnoses have become common. Most people know what ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) is. Many people use the term OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). I commonly hear people talk about Bipolar Disorder. Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder are often known to parents. We often talk to people about their Panic Disorder. Some people have Anxiety Disorders. Autistic Disorder has become very common. What most people do not realize is that all of these are only part of a spectrum of symptoms. There are three categories of symptoms. The mildest version is what is called a variant. The intermediate version is what is called a problem. The severe version is what is called a disorder. For example, there are some people who have obsessive-compulsive tendencies. They may double check things. They may have to do things in a certain order. They may be what we call neat
freaks. Their friends may tease them ber of times every time. They cease to about being OCD. function in a normal fashion. They have However, those may just be personal- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. ity traits. They may not interfere with The same thing is true of any of the that person’s day-to-day activities. We other disorders. Some people may alwould say that those ways be a little bit individuals have an anxious. They could obsessive-compul... just because we notice a trait have an anxiety sive variant. variant. Others may in someone, it does not mean Other people be so anxious that it might have more that there is a problem. It could concerns those obsessions or comaround them. Howjust be a variant and be normal ever, they get pulsions. It might interfere with their through the day for them. No treatment would daily life. They may fine. They have an double check things be necessary. anxiety problem. so many times that Other individuals they are always late. They may get very have so much anxiety that they cannot upset when things are not just so. get anything accomplished. They have There is some interference with their an anxiety disorder. daily function. However, it is not creatThere are three major things to realize ing major issues to get through the day. about all this. The first is related to the They have an obsessive-compulsive fact that just because we notice a trait in problem. someone, it does not mean that there is a There are other individuals who canproblem. not get through a day without major It could just be a variant and be norproblems. They may not leave the house. mal for them. No treatment would be They may recheck things a certain num- necessary. The second is that patients
Health briefs Depression support group in Laurel The Mental health Association in Delaware will be sponsoring a Depression Support Group in Laurel on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. The purpose of the Laurel Depression Support Group is to share experiences related to living and coping with depression. The group is confidential and offered at no charge. The MHA encourages anyone dealing with a depressive disorder to attend. Register in advance by calling 1-800287-6423. • Peer support groups sponsored by Mental Health Association of Delaware are not intended to replace professional mental health treatment. To maintain the privacy of our members, MHA does not publish support group locations; locations are provided with registration.
Stroke support group Nanticoke Memorial Hospital will offer free monthly Stroke Support Group meetings designed for individuals who have survived a stroke and their families and caregivers. Meetings are held the third Thursday
of each month at Nanticoke Cancer Care Center, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. The meetings will consist of guest speakers and breakaway sessions, in which caregivers and survivors will meet in two groups to discuss concerns, provide support and networking. Refreshments will be provided. Sheila Brant and Joan Burditt, occupational therapists at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, will facilitate the support group meetings. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, call 629-6611, ext. 5121.
Alzheimer's holds training The Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter is sponsoring a training program for family caregivers at LifeCare at Lofland Park in Seaford on Friday, Jan. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The program includes a medical overview; legal and financial issues; challenging symptoms, daily care issues; and information on getting the help you need. The session is free and lunch will be provided, but pre-registration is required by Jan. 11. For more information or to register, call Jamie Magee, branch office coordinator, at 854-9788.
with disorders are in need of intense treatment. The treatment might be medication. It might be counseling. That is not true for those with problems. They will need some treatment. It usually will be counseling. It may be a short course of medication. The third thing is that people may move from one to another of these depending upon the situation. Someone who has a variant can be put into a situation in which it moves to a problem. For example, someone with an anxiety variant could get a job that moves him or her to an anxiety problem. People who get treated for a disorder may move to the point where they have a problem or a variant. They will likely not get rid of the trait entirely. The bottom line here is that it is not clear-cut. Most people think that you have a disorder or nothing. That is not the case. There are lesser degrees of symptoms. They are recognizable. They may or may not need formal treatment.