Two proposed psychiatric diagnoses failed to make the last round of cuts in the laborious process of revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — an exhaustive catalog of symptoms used by doctors to diagnose psychiatric illness.

Gone from the latest revision are “attenuated psychosis syndrome,” intended to help identify individuals at risk of full-blown psychosis, and “mixed anxiety depressive disorder”, a blend of anxiety and depression symptoms. Both performed badly on field tests and in public comments gathered by the group in its march toward the May 2013 publication deadline.

Both have been tucked into Section III of the manual — the place reserved for ideas that do not yet have enough evidence to make the cut as a full-blown diagnosis.

What has survived, despite fierce public outcry, is a change in the diagnosis of autism, which eliminates the milder diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in favor of the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

But that, too, could still be altered before the final manual is published, the group says. The APA opened the final comment period for its fifth diagnostic manual known as DSM-V on May 2, and it will accumulate comments through June 15.

Dr. David Kupfer, who chairs the DSM-5 Task Force, said in a statement that the changes reflect the latest research and input from the public.

Dr. Wayne Goodman, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, said he’s glad the task force is responding to feedback from professionals and the public.

“I think they are trying to listen,” he said.

Goodman agrees with the decisions to drop both of the two disorders in the latest revision.

With the “mixed anxiety and depressive disorder,” he said there was a risk that it would capture a number of people who did not qualify under a diagnosis of depression or anxiety alone.

“It could lead to overdiagnosis,” Goodman said.

He said the “attenuated psychosis syndrome” diagnosis would have been useful for research purposes to help identify those at risk of psychosis, but there was a concern that it might label people who were just a bit different as mentally ill.

“The predictive value is not clear yet,” he said. “I think it’s reasonable not to codify it until we have better definition of its predictive value.”

Goodman, who worked on DSM-4, the last revision of the manual published in 1994, and is working on the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder section of the current revision of DSM-5, said the strength of the process is that it can offer a reliable way for psychiatrists across the country to identify patients with the same sorts of disorders.

The weakness, he said, is that it largely lacks biological evidence — blood tests, imaging tests and the like — that can validate these diagnoses.

“DSM-5 is a refinement of our diagnostic system, but it doesn’t add to our ability to understand the underlying illness,” he said.

Dr. Emil Coccaro, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago Medicine, said typically changes in the DSM occur because of new data.

Coccaro, who is contributing to the new section in the DSM-5 on Intermittent Explosive Disorder, said there is no question that many people aren’t convinced that some of the diagnoses need to be changed, or that there need to be new ones added.

“This also happened the last time when they did DSM-4,” he said, but that was nearly 20 years ago.

“You can keep waiting but at certain point you have to fish or cut bait and actually come out with a new edition. that is what is happening now,” he said.

Comments to the manual can be submitted at DSM5.org

dementia symptoms In young adults (up to 40 twelvemonths of age) who were previously of normal intelligence, it is real rare to develop dementia without other characteristics of neurological disease, or without features of disease elsewhere in the body. Most cases of progressive cognitive mental disorder in this age group are got by psychiatric illness , dementia symptoms alcoholic beverage or other drugs, or metabolic noise . notwithstanding, certain genetic disorders can cause true neurodegenerative dementedness at this age . these include familial Alzheimer's disease, SCA17 (dominant heritage) ; adrenoleukodystrophy (X linked) ; Gaucher's disease type 3, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Niemann-Pick disease type C, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, Tay-Sachs disease and Wilson's disease (all recessive allele). Wilson's disease is particularly significant since cognition can meliorate with treatment . dementia symptoms

Tags: dementia, dementia sign, symptoms of dementia

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at 10:28 pm and is filed under General. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Bipolar disorder is otherwise known as manic depressive illness. this is a mental condition that commonly happens to the Americans. With all the stressors of life, the number of sufferers from this condition increases dramatically.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness in which one faces unpredictable mood swings. These mood swings range from depressive symptoms to manic symptoms. It is not necessary to label a depressed person as someone who has a bipolar disorder where episodes of mania are insufficient.

Basically, there are two types of bipolar disorders which are known as type I and type II. Their determinants rely on the amount of manic and depressive episodes. before a person is called a full-blown mania, he should manifest signs of mania for a week and depressions for a period of two weeks.

One should show signs of mania and depression before undergoing diagnosis. The following are the symptoms of mania: self-esteem, talkative, flight of ideas, unstoppable buying sprees, and many more.

Now, it is important that we should learn the possible bipolar disorder causes. It is vital to learn the different bipolar causes as this will help us learn the possible treatments for the said condition. however, we should also keep in mind that there is not enough certainty about the bipolar disorder causes. But there is a hypothesis that patients are genetically predisposed. some of the probable bipolar disorder causes also include the theory of deficiency of other chemical transmitters and neurostructural changes.

With all the mentioned theories about the possible bipolar disorder causes, there are some effective ways to manage this kind of mental condition. The treatments available in the treatment of bipolar disorder include lithium, carbamazepine, and valproic acid. however, the use of lithium may cause possible side effects like hypothyroidism, tremor, and neutrophilia. Blood of a patient undergoing lithium medication should be well-monitored. The effects will not show up until 7 to 10 days of treatment.

there are also therapies that can help overcome bipolar disorder. some of them are cognitive behavior therapy, yoga therapy, and herbal medicines. These procedures are induced naturally without the chemical contents that can cause side effects.

Eleven percent  of pregnant women will suffer some degree of Postpartum Depression (PPD), according to the American Pregnancy Association. Statistics show that over half of new mothers experience some type of mood disorder. Typically, the baby blues, characterized by low energy, sadness or irritability, last for only short periods of time. PPD, however, lasts longer and causes more intense symptoms, even to the point of Postpartum Psychosis.

Postpartum Psychosis

Massachusett’s General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health says, “It may be useful to conceptualize these disorders as existing along a continuum, where postpartum blues is the mildest and postpartum psychosis the most severe form of postpartum psychiatric illness.”

Only 1 to 2 out of 1000 mothers will experience Post Partum Psychosis. Usually beginning within the first few days following childbirth, symptoms are severe. UNC School of Medicine says, “Often mothers who develop postpartum psychosis are having a severe episode of a mood disorder, usually bipolar (manic-depression) disorder with psychotic features.” Those experiencing Post Partum Psychosis often suffer delusions and suicidal or homicidal thoughts.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms

While not as severe, Postpartum Depression usually occurs within the first month after childbirth. Symptoms include emotional extremes, feelings of inadequacy, intense sadness, or worthlessness; a change from interest in activities to lack of interest; a change in appetite or sleeping patterns (beyond the change due to nighttime feedings); the inability to concentrate; unwarranted worry about the baby; even thoughts of suicide. Postpartum Depression is marked by a lack of energy, both physical and mental.

Postpartum Anxiety

Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms frequently accompany Postpartum Depression. Feelings of dread and doom overwhelm and dominate the emotional spectrum.  According to UNC School of Medicine, Postpartum Anxiety symptoms include “panic attacks, hyperventilation, repeated thoughts or images of frightening things happening to the baby, excessive worry and restless sleep.” there is no energy for physical activity but seemingly endless and agitated mental energy for worrying and imagining worst-case scenarios.

Postpartum Depression Treatment

Postpartum Depression Treatment includes a combination of talk therapy and medication. A physician may prescribe anti-depressants, anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic medications. Hormone therapy may be indicated. Breast-feeding mothers will want to consult with their doctor about the medications most apt to ensure the health of both the mother and the baby.

Postpartum Support

According to Katherine Stone in “Postpartum Depression by the Numbers,” more women suffer from Postpartum Depression than are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, yet fewer people know about PPD. Talking with other mothers who suffer in a PPD support group or one-on-one with a professional can reduce stress, helping the mother access ongoing support and develop coping skills.

Postpartum Exercise

Postpartum Exercise can also reduce stress. University of Michigan Health System says to exercise according to your physical shape in the days after childbirth. Any combination of exercise—walking, stretching or weight lifting, for example—for 30 minutes a day contributes not only to physical health but to mental health as well. MayoClinic.com says, “Your body will even release endorphins, natural painkillers that promote an increased sense of well-being.”