Adult Services
NV Mental Health is experienced in working with adults patients.
Mood Disorders:
Bipolar I: For a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder, a person must have at least one manic episode. Mania is sometimes referred to as the other extreme to depression. Mania is an intense high where the person feels euphoric, almost indestructible in areas such as personal finances, business dealings, or relationships. They may have an elevated self-esteem, be more talkative than usual, have flight of ideas, a reduced need for sleep, and be easily distracted. The high, although it may sound appealing, will often lead to severe difficulties in these areas, such as spending much more money than intended, making extremely rash business and personal decisions, involvement in dangerous sexual behavior, and/or the use of drugs or alcohol.
Bipolar II: Similar to Bipolar I Disorder, there are periods of highs as described above and often followed by periods of depression. Bipolar II Disorder, however is different in that the highs are hypo manic, rather than manic.
Depression:
Symptoms of depression include the following:
- depressed mood (such as feelings of sadness or emptiness)
- reduced interest in activities that used to be enjoyed, sleep disturbances (either not being able to sleep well or sleeping to much)
- loss of energy or a significant reduction in energy level
- difficulty concentrating, holding a conversation, paying attention, or making decisions that used to be made fairly easily
- Suicidal thoughts or intentions.
Anxiety Disorder:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
As its name implies, GAD is evidenced by general feelings of anxiety such as mild heart palpitations, dizziness, and excessive worry. The symptoms are difficult to control for the individual and are not related to a specific event (such as in PTSD) and are not as severe as those found with Panic Disorder.
Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia:
Agoraphobia, like other phobias, is made up of extreme anxiety and fear. Different from other phobias, however, is the generalization which occurs. Agoraphobia is the anxiety about being in places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing or in which help may not be available should a panic attack develop. It can be sub diagnosed as either ‘with’ or ‘without’ panic disorder (see above). Typically situations that invoke anxiety are avoided and in extreme cases, the person may never or rarely leave their home.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Symptoms include re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and flashbacks (feeling as if you are actually in the traumatic situation again). There is an avoidance component as well, where the individual avoids situations, people, and/or objects which remind him or her about the traumatic event (e.g., a person experiencing PTSD after a serious car accident might avoid driving or being a passenger in a car). Finally, there is increased anxiety in general, possibly with a heightened startle response (e.g., very jumpy, startle easy by noises).
Psychotic Disorders:
Schizophrenia:
Symptoms of Schizophrenia typically begin between adolescence and early adulthood for males and a few years later for females, and usually as a result of a stressful period (such as beginning college or starting a first full time job). Initial symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations, disorganized behavior and/or speech. As the disorder progresses symptoms such as flattening or inappropriate affect may develop.
Schizoaffective Disorder:
The term schizoaffective implies a combination of schizophrenia and an affective (or mood) disorder, which is actually quite accurate. Symptoms include those for schizophrenia (see above) as well as a Major Depressive, manic, or mixed episode. The psychotic (or schizophrenic like symptoms) must be present without any disturbance in mood for minimum of two weeks.
