Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)
are specialists in relationships. They are highly trained mental health
professionals that diagnose and treat individuals, couples and families. MFTs
generally practice short term therapy with the average approximately 12
sessions. MFTs are solution-focused with specific and attainable goals. They are
psychotherapists and healing arts practitioners licensed by the State of
California.
Marriage and Family
Therapists treat a variety of family type problems. They include:
| Couples in crisis |
Substance abuse
users |
Families of
substance abusers |
| Sexual abuse
victims |
Sexual abuse
offenders |
Juveniles with
problems with the law |
| Juveniles with
emotional disorders |
Schizophrenia |
Depression |
| Eating disorders |
Relationship
problems |
Alcoholism |
| Dementia in the
elderly |
Grief & Loss |
Divorce &
separation |
The Federal government has
designated marriage and family therapy as a core mental health
profession. Included in the mental health core are psychiatry.
Psychology, psychiatric nursing and social work. Forty eight states
regulate and support the profession by licensing or mandating
certification of marriage and family therapists.
What are the qualifications for a Marriage and Family
Therapist?
Before obtaining the MFT license, Marriage and
Family Therapists must complete a two-year masters or doctoral degree program
accredited by a regionally accepted school. They must pass a comprehensive
written and oral examination and at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
The law specifies an integrated course of study that must include "marital
and family systems approaches to treatment," "developmental issues and
life events from infancy to old age," and "a variety of approaches to
the treatment of children." MFTs earn their license through a rigorous
education and an intense training and licensing process similar to other mental
health professionals. MFTs are well trained and highly educated. A minimum of a
master's degree is required, nearly 20 percent of California's marriage and
family therapists also hold doctoral or other advanced degrees. The average
Marriage and Family Therapist has over 13 years of clinical practice in that
field.
What is a Clinical Social Worker?
A Clinical Social Worker is a professional
counselor who provides services for prevention, diagnosis, and the treatment of
behavioral, mental and emotional disorders for individuals, families and groups.
Social Workers help people function the best way they can in their environment,
deal with relationships and help them solve employment, personal and family
problems. Social Workers also help families that have serious domestic conflicts
that can involve a spouse or child.
Clinical Social Workers are highly educated and
trained. They must have a master’s or doctorate degree in social work. They
are required to undergo a supervised clinical field internship and have at least
two years of postgraduate supervised clinical social work employment. The
internship work includes clinical psycho-social diagnosis, assessment and
treatment. Other areas include client-centered advocacy, consultation,
evaluation and research. Over 35% of the time shall spent on face-to-face
individual or group psychotherapy for clinical social work services.
What is a Licensed Educational
Psychologist?
An Educational Psychologist is a professional
that studies how humans learn in educational settings. Duties include
educational evaluation and diagnosis with test interpretation to assess academic
ability and learning patterns. Educational psychology encompasses instructional
design, educational technology, curriculum development, organizational learning,
special education and overall classroom management.
Licensed Educational Psychologists must have a
minimum of a master’s degree in psychology, educational psychology, school
psychology or counseling and guidance. Most states require three years of full
time experience as a credentialed school psychologist.
Finding a Therapist
Choosing a Therapist is an important
decision. Thus, our goal is to assist you in making that decision.
You may want to begin your search in several different ways:
 |
Ask family, friends,
neighbors and/or co-workers. |
|
Contact your local Chamber of
Commerce or Better Business Bureau for reputable Therapists. |
|
Contact your city, county or
state medical agencies for names of qualified Therapists. |
|
Contact and ask for referrals
from local mental health
associations, local hospitals and/or medical centers. |
|
Contact state and national
associations such as the American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy. |
|
Contact your health insurance
company and ask them for an approved list of therapists. |
|
|
We recommend that you interview the
Therapist and ask the following:
How long have you been in practice?
Is your staff friendly and
accommodating?
What are the procedures if we need
you in the middle of the night or on a weekend?
Do you have an associate that covers for
you when you are not available?
Do you have more than one office and if
so, how is your time divided between offices?
What kind of continuing education do you
utilize?
Do you accept phone calls during office
hours?
How do you stay current on the latest
drug prescriptions available and newest treatments?
What types of insurance coverage do you
accept?
How do you handle billing? Do you
require payment at the time of visit?
Do you specialize in handling certain
types of problems. IE: Anxiety Disorders, Drug Abuse, Couples Counseling, etc.?
Discuss your family medical history and
particular problems you are concerned about.
After you have consulted a few
Therapists, you should have a good idea which one you felt most comfortable
with and who best answered your questions.
How
Mental Health Professionals Were Selected
Consumers’ Research Council of America has
compiled a list of Top Mental Health Professionals throughout the United States
by utilizing a point value system. This method uses a point value for criteria
that we deemed valuable in determining the top specialists.
The criteria that was used and
assessed a point value is as follows:
|
Experience:
|
Each year they
have been in practice
|
|
Training:
|
Education
and Continuing Education
|
|
Professional
Associations:
|
Membership
in Professional Associations and Organizations
|
|
Board
Certification:
|
Completing an approved
internship program and passing a rigid examination on that specialty
|
Simply put, mental health
professionals that have accumulated a certain amount of points qualified for
the list. This does not mean that practitioners that did not
accumulate enough points are not good psychologists/therapists, they merely
did not qualify for this list because of the points needed for qualification.
Similar studies have been done with other
professions using a survey system. This type of study would ask fellow
professionals who they would recommend; we found this method to be more of a
popularity contest. For instance, professionals who work in a large office
have much more of a chance of being mentioned, as opposed to a professional
who has a small private practice. In addition, many professionals have a
financial arrangement for back-and-forth referrals. For these reasons, we
developed the point value system.
Since this is a subjective call, there is no
study that is 100% accurate. As with any profession, there will be some degree
of variance in opinion. If you survey 100 patients from a particular
specialist on their satisfaction, you will undoubtedly hear that some are very
satisfied, some moderately satisfied and some dissatisfied. This is really
quite normal.
We feel that a point value system takes out
the personal and emotional factor and deals with factual criteria. We have
made certain assumptions. For example, we feel that more years in practice is
better than less years in practice; more education is better than less
education, etc.
The Top Mental Health Professional list that
we have compiled is current as of a certain date and other mental health
professionals may have qualified since that date. Nonetheless, we feel that
the list of Top Mental Health Professionals is a good starting point for you
to find a qualified specialist.
No fees, donations,
sponsorships or advertising are accepted from any individuals, professionals,
corporations or associations. This policy is strictly adhered to, ensuring an
unbiased selection.
Mood Disorders
Over 25% of
American adults will experience a mood disorder over the next twelve months.
Mental illness is among the most common healthcare conditions in today’s
society. There are many theories on causes of mental illness but many
researchers feel that serious mental illness is caused by complex imbalances in
the brain's chemistry. Environmental factors, stress, tragic and emotional
events can also play a part in mental illness. Two of the most
common mood disorders are Depression and Bipolar Disorder, also known as
Manic-Depressive Illness. Mood disorders can be treated with a high degree of
success.
Depression
Depression is an uncomfortable mental
state often thought of as being an extreme state of sadness. Normal sadness is
part of being human and is a typical reaction to painful and upsetting
circumstances. Depression is on a much larger scale with actual physical
symptoms. Sadness is a temporary state-of-mind that will pass. The sad person
continues to cope with life and day-to-day situations. A depressed person may
feel overwhelmed and symptoms can last for weeks, months and even years.
Almost ten percent of adults living
in America will experience depression at some point in their lives.
Depression is the most common of all mental illnesses; it affects all people
regardless of race, sex, age and income levels. It is evidenced that women are
two-to-three times more likely to suffer depression than are men. Experts are
uncertain why this is; some feel that it is more related to physical conditions
such as hormones, and others feel it is from the pressure that women experience
in our society.
A person who suffers from depressed
mood disorders will experience many of these symptoms:
Depressed mood for the majority of
the day
Fatigue, tiredness, loss of energy
Substantial weight changes, plus or
minus five percent of normal body weight
Insomnia
Hypersomnia (much more sleeping
than normal)
Little interest in pleasurable activities
Difficulty thinking and
concentrating
Indecisiveness
Feeling of worthlessness
Excessive amount of guilt
Suicidal ideation
Significant decrease in appetite
Significant increase in appetite
Easily agitated
Decreased sexual drive
Not all of these symptoms occur in
each individual that becomes depressed. For purposes of therapy, a
person is considered to have experienced a depressive episode if they have
experienced four or more of these symptoms for a period of two weeks or more.
Depression generally does not just
"go away" and needs to treated. The most common forms of treatment are
antidepressant drugs and Psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Another form
of treatment is called Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). This form of treatment
is for extreme cases of severe depression that do not respond to other forms of
treatment. It has been nicknamed the derogatory term "Shock
Treatment". Results of this treatment are impressive, resulting in dramatic
improvement in 80 to 90 percent of patients.
Herbal therapies have become popular
over the past few years. For many years in Europe they have used an herbal
supplement called "St. John’s Wort" to treat anxiety and depression.
As with many herbal products, long-term controlled trials are lacking and this
herbal remedy can not interact with certain prescription medications.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, sometimes called
Manic-Depressive Illness, is when a person's mood
swings back
and forth between Depression and Mania. Bipolar Disorder is believed to be
caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Many experts feel that this
disorder is hereditary since many people who suffer from this malady have
relatives with a similar depressive condition. The mood swings can last days,
weeks, months and even years in some cases. It is common for symptoms to start
in the late teens or early twenties.
The keys to identifying Bipolar
Disorder are the mood swings and the presence of a hypomanic or manic episode.
Listed below are some common symptoms of a manic episode:
Decreased need for sleep, Insomnia
Inflated self-esteem
Larger-than-normal ego, grandiosity
Easily distracted
Very talkative, speaking quickly
Abnormal energy
Violent behavior
Impulsive behavior
Paranoia
Disorientation, hallucinations, delusions
Heightened sexual drive
Inappropriate laughing and humor
Weight loss
Spending too much money, poor judgment
Denial that anything is wrong
A skilled therapist will conduct a
medical evaluation in order to rule out any other mental or physical disorders.
Once diagnosed, a Psychiatrist can begin to treat the ailment. Over 80% of
patients who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder can be treated
effectively with medication and psychotherapy. There are three mood stabilizers
that are commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder, which are Lithium Carbonate,
Carbamazepine and Valproate.
Mood Disorder Medications
Antidepressant drugs are one of the
most common treatments for Depression. Over seventy percent of the patients
treated respond to these antidepressant drugs. Antidepressants fall into three
major classes: Tricyclics, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, and Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors. It is common for these medications to take two to three
weeks to take effect.
Treatment with antidepressant drugs
requires a process of adjustment, which means that the patient may have to
switch to another medication. In 1988 a serotonin-inhibiting drug, Prozac, soon
became the most widely used antidepressant medication. Many patients have found
this type of medication extremely effective in lifting depression. Some patients
claim that it actually increases their self-confidence, energy level and
optimism.
Patients who are diagnosed with
Bipolar Disorder are often prescribed Lithium Carbonate. This medication is
classified as an Anti-Manic drug. Lithium is a natural mineral salt, taken
during times of normal moods to delay or possibly prevent future mood swings.
Patients who take Lithium should drink 10 to 12 glasses of water each day to
help prevent dehydration.
Eating Disorders
There are many different
types of eating disorders that involve food, eating and weight. Anorexia and
Bulimia are some of the more common disorders that we hear about frequently.
Only about 10% of people with Anorexia or Bulimia are male. Some people feel
that this reflects the way our society puts different expectations on females
than their male counterparts. Men are supposed to be big, strong and powerful
and women are supposed to be tiny, dainty and thin. Little girls grow up playing
with Barbie* dolls and think that being tall and thin is what is required to be
beautiful and attractive.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is most common among teenage
girls but can also affect teenage boys and adults of both genders. People with
anorexia believe that they are fat even when they are very, very thin. They are
simply obsessed with being thin and are terrified of gaining any weight.
Anorexia is viewed as only a problem with food and weight but goes deeper by
using those items to deal with emotional problems.
Warning signs of anorexia include:
Fear of
gaining weight
Weight is 85%
or less than it should be for age and height
Refusal to eat
Denial of
hunger
Deliberate
starvation
Constant
exercising
Menstrual
periods irregular or absent
Self
perception of being fat
Dry skin
Thinning hair
Depression
Feeling cold
all the time
|
Many people with
Anorexia believe that there is nothing wrong them, which makes treatment very
difficult. Treatment generally involves much more than just changing a person's
eating habits. A person with Anorexia often needs counseling for over a year so
they can work on changing the feeling that are causing these eating problems.
Counseling would focus on their weight, self-esteem and family problems.
Medicine is prescribed when issues of depression are evident.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is a
psychological eating disorder. Bulimia is best defined as episodes of
binge-eating followed by inappropriate purging methods of weight control. These
inappropriate purging methods include:
Vomiting
Enemas
Excessive use of laxatives
Excessive fasting
Compulsive exercising
|
People with Bulimia can look
perfectly normal, with normal weight. It is difficult to determine if someone
suffers from bulimia because the binge eating and purging are done in private.
People who suffer from Bulimia can consume huge quantities of food. Some
Bulimics will consume 15,000 to 20,000 calories of food in one sitting. The
foods most common for this type of binge-eating are smooth, sweet foods like ice
cream , cake, pastries and donuts.
*Barbie
is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc.
Anxiety Disorders
Over 19 million American adults are
affected by anxiety disorders. Anxiety is the fearful anticipation of further
danger or problems accompanied by an intense unpleasant feeling, with or without
physical symptoms. People that have this disorder are overwhelmed by anxiety and
fear. Everyone experiences some nervousness, such as when on a first date,
speaking in front of a group of people, or hundreds of other situations that can
cause anxiety. An anxiety disorder is when the apprehension is much more than
just a temporary feeling; it is chronic, relentless and can get progressively
worse if untreated.
Some common anxiety disorders are as
follows:
Panic
Disorder
Panic Disorder affects over 2.5
million Americans, with women proving to be twice as likely to suffer from this
disorder than men. People that have this disorder have feelings of terror that
strike suddenly, without any warning. Sufferers don’t know when an episode
will strike and tend to worry about the next one that will occur. Panic attacks
can even happen during sleep.
Panic Disorder is commonly
accompanied by other serious conditions such as drug use, depression and
alcoholism. It is a treatable disease that responds well to medications and
focused Psychotherapy.
Generalized
Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is
much more intense than the normal anxiety experienced in day-to-day living.
People that suffer with this illness worry continually about possible disasters,
family, work, school, health, loved ones health, financial issues and overall
safety. These stressful worries tend to be accompanied by physical symptoms,
fatigue, sweating, headaches, shaking, trembling, twitching, hot flashes,
difficulty in swallowing, lightheadedness, and overall tension.
GAD affects over
4 million people, but can be treated with medications and Psychotherapy. Women
are afflicted with this two-to-one over their male counterparts.
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
is a condition that follows a terrifying event, affecting over 5 million people.
Women develop PTSD more often than men and can materialize in people at any age,
even children. Day-to-day events can trigger "flashbacks" of a bad
experience. These flashbacks are triggered by an image, sound, smell or even
just a feeling.
PTSD is also accompanied frequently
by depression, drug use and alcoholism. People who develop this disorder usually
show symptoms within three months of the traumatic event. PTSD can be treated
with medications and well targeted Psychotherapy.
Phobias
A Phobia is a persistent, irrational
fear of an object, activity, person or situation that compels a person to avoid
it. It causes distress and inability to function as that person would normally.
Common Phobias include fear of flying, heights, being in closed and small
spaces, water, insects, snakes and injuries that involve blood.
Phobias affect over 7% of the
population. Symptoms include profuse sweating, impaired motor skills, rapid
heart rate, trembling, feeling of weakness and extreme anxiety. Phobias are very
common among children but are considered normal for that age. Phobias range
dramatically in severity, but generally can be treated with medication and
therapy.
Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) and
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Disorder is a
neurological syndrome. ADD has a subgroup which includes hyperactivity, called
ADHD. Approximately 5% of the population are affected by these disorders. Boys
with ADD tend to outnumber girls by a ratio of 3 to 1. Some of the symptoms of
ADD/ADHD sufferers are as follows:
Talks excessively
Often interrupts
Often loses or misplaces things
Is easily distracted
Has a hard time following instructions
Bounces from one activity to another
Has poor listening skills
Has difficulty in paying attention
Has difficulty remaining seated
Blurts out answers to questions
Cannot sit still; fidgets and squirms frequently
Is forgetful
Is unable to concentrate
Is impulsive
Has difficulty in organizing tasks
Makes careless mistakes
Has difficulty waiting in line or for their turn in a game
There are different theories on the
causes of ADD/ADHD, but there has not been one conclusively proven. The primary
theory seems to be that the disorder is genetic or hereditary. Experts feel that
there is the strongest correlation with this theory as evidence supports. Other
theories are that the afflicted person had experienced head trauma either
before, during or after birth. Women that had experienced labor for over 13
hours were twice as likely to have a child with ADD/ADHD. Other theories include
food allergies and neurobiological brain differences.
Recent studies and evidence appear to
indicate that ADD/ADHD is a permanent condition, although it is believed that
some children will outgrow the hyperactivity portion of ADHD. Untreated, the
potential long-term effects are staggering, as these statistics show:
Over 75% of people with ADD get divorced
Over 50% stay behind a grade
Over 46% get suspended
Over 10% get expelled
Over 2 ½ million school kids have it
There are medications that have been
used to treat ADHD. These medicines do not cure the disorder, they temporarily
control the symptoms. There are three medications in the class of drugs known as
stimulants that seem to be the most effective in both children and adults. They
are Ritalin, Dexedrine (or Dextrostat) and Cylert. Many people treated with
these see dramatic results quickly. These drugs improve the person's ability to
focus, work and learn. These medications may also increase the person's physical
coordination, with improvements noticed in handwriting and sports.
Ninety percent of children improve
with one of the three drugs mentioned. It is generally advised that if one doesn’t
work, the others should be tried. Before your physician changes the drug type,
they will try adjusting the dosage. If your child falls into the ten percent
that fail to respond to stimulants, there are other medications that can still
be effective.
Other treatments include
psychotherapy. This type of therapy gives a patient a chance to discuss
different ways to handle their emotions and self-defeating behavior patterns.
The therapy's objective is to make the patient understand how they can change,
some alternate ways to handle their emotions, and to help them gain control of
symptomatic behavior.
Addictions
Addiction is the constant repetition
of excessive behavior where a person is unable or unwilling to stop. Addictions
can be created for any activity or behavior which allows people to escape from
life and its problems. Many people automatically think of drugs and alcohol when
they hear of addictions but they encompass many other areas of our lives. Other
addictions include shopping, spending, gambling, food, weight loss, sexual
activities, pornography and sometimes other people. People who are addicted will
continue their behavioral patterns despite harmful emotional and physical
consequences. Addiction is always considered harmful.
Alcohol
It is estimated that over ten percent
of the adult drinking population in America is considered to be alcoholic, or to
have experienced drinking problems to some degree. Alcohol drinking is on the
rise in our country as it is in many other countries. For unknown reasons, more
males are affected than females. Alcoholism is on the rise for young teenagers
and women.
Alcoholism is a progressive
illness that involves the excessive and inappropriate drinking of alcoholic
beverages. It is believed that alcoholism starts from a wide range of
physiological and psychological, social and genetic factors. This illness
creates an emotional and often physical dependence on alcohol that many times
leads to mental and physical health problems, including brain damage and even
early death.
Drug Abuse
A psychological and sometimes
physical state with a compulsion to use drugs to experience its effects, drug
addiction involves physical dependence which makes it very difficult to stop.
The process of withdrawal produces many symptoms such as profuse sweating,
shaking, shivering, vomiting, increased heart rate, difficulty in breathing,
crying, yawning, anxiety and irritability. In severe cases a person withdrawing
can experience convulsions, respiratory failure and even death.
Treatment in the therapeutic
community requires a drug abuser to take full accountability and responsibility
for their problem. Whatever type of drug the user has abused, it is the goal for
the user to never use it again or substitute it for another. There are many
rehabilitation facilities available and we recommend researching to find out
which one would best suit individual needs. Some rehabilitation plans focus on
helping people that have abused certain types of drugs, while other programs are
determined by the severity of the addiction. Some rehabilitation groups meet a
few times a week, and others actually house abusers for periods ranging from six
months to one year.
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ,
commonly called "OCD", is a disorder which causes a person to have
frightening, disturbing intrusive thoughts which cause a person to do things
repeatedly. They usually perform certain rituals to guard them against danger.
OCD is an anxiety disorder which affects approximately five million people in
the United States. Some symptoms and behavior that commonly occur are as
follows:
|
Obsessively arranging things in an extremely orderly fashion |
|
Checking things repeatedly, IE: locks, doors, windows |
|
Having to do things a certain amount of times |
|
Constant counting outwardly or in one's head while performing tasks |
|
Repeating nonsensical words and phrases in one's mind |
|
Collecting and saving objects with no apparent value |
Abnormal fear
of contamination, fearing excessively over germs and
touching normal
everyday objects
|
|
Generally overwhelmed with
anxiety and suffering from depression.
|
Researchers do not know what causes
OCD but many believe that it is caused by a low level of serotonin, a chemical
in the brain. OCD is a treatable disease and responds well to proper medications
and therapy techniques.
Mental Health Problems Among the Elderly
Delirium
Delirium
is a state of mental confusion that develops quickly and usually fluctuates in
intensity. It is a state in which
the thoughts, expressions, and actions are wild, irregular, and incoherent. Delirium
involves a rapid alternation between mental states—for example, from lethargy
to anxiety and back to lethargy—with attention disruption, disorganized
thinking, disorientation, changes in sensation and perception, and other
symptoms.
These
states most often result from physical or mental illness and are usually
temporary and reversible.
Factors that are associated in a higher risk of delirium are alcohol dependence,
diabetes, cancer, sensory impairment (blindness or poor hearing), malnutrition,
and a history of delirium. Infections
such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia may trigger delirium in
individuals with pre-existing brain damage—like prior strokes and dementia.
Depression
Depression is a biologically based brain disorder
that affects one's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and physical health. It is a normal emotional experience to feel sadness, grief,
loss, or passing mood states; however, depression is extreme and persistent and
can interfere significantly with an individual's ability to function. Depression
is not a normal part of aging.
Depression
affects more than 4.5 million of the 35 million Americans who are 65 years or
older. Most older people with depression have been suffering from episodes of
the illness during much of their lives. For others, depression has a first onset
in late life, even for those in their 80s and 90s. Depression in older persons
is closely associated with dependency and disability and causes great suffering
for the individual and the family.
Elderly
people who are depressed are more likely to commit suicide. The risk of suicide
is a serious concern among elderly patients with depression. Elderly white men
are at greatest risk, with suicide rates in people ages 80 to 84 more than twice
that of the general population.
Dementia
Dementia
is not a specific disease. It is a term for a collection of symptoms that can be
caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. Some of the diseases that
can cause symptoms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia,
Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning
that interferes with normal activities and relationships. They also lose their
ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may
experience personality changes and behavioral problems, such as agitation,
delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of
dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. The
severity of dementia depends on the number and location of brain cells that are
damaged or destroyed.
The
frequency of dementia increases with rising age from less than 2 % for the
65-69-year-olds, to 5 % for the 75-79 year-olds and to more than 20 % for the
85-89 year-olds. And over 30% of people who are 90 years of old suffer from
moderate or severe dementia.
There
are many disorders that can cause dementia. Some, such as Alzheimer’s disease
or Huntington’s disease, lead to a progressive loss of mental functions. But
other types of dementia can be stopped or reversed with treatment. People with
moderate or advanced dementia typically need round-the-clock care and
supervision to prevent them from harming themselves or others. They also may
need assistance with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
All About
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a
progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in
impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of mental
decline, or dementia, in older adults. Alzheimer’s disease is more severe than
the mild memory loss that many people experience, as they grow older.
Alzheimer's disease also affects behavior, personality, the ability to think
clearly, and the ability to carry out daily activities. Close family members
usually notice symptoms first, although the person affected also may realize
that something is wrong.
Alzheimer’s disease is the
fourth leading cause of death in adults after heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease.
The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease has doubled since 1980
and will continue to grow. By 2050, the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease could reach 16 million people. Men and women are affected equally. Rate
of progression varies from person to person. The average survival time is eight
years, but could range between 3 to 20 years
There is no signal test to
identify and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A comprehensive evaluation is
needed: complete health history; physical examination; neurological & mental
status assessments; medical tests and procedures such as x-rays, EKG, CT scan,
etc. Conformation of Alzheimer’s disease requires an examination of brain
tissue during an autopsy.
Risk
Factors
Though we do not yet fully
understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, there probably is not one single
cause, but several factors that affect each person differently.
Age is the most important
known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The number of people with the
disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.
Regarding heredity,
your risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be slightly higher if an
immediate family member has had the disease.
Head injuries are another
possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Boxers, football players, or people in
general who are involved in physical activities that require a lot of
head-pounding are a lot more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
How to prevent Alzheimer’s
disease
There's
no way to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, but there are some ways to
reduce the risk of this disease. They include:
Mental
fitness
Maintaining
mental fitness may delay onset of dementia. Lifelong mental exercise and
learning may promote the growth of additional synapse—the connections between
neurons—and delay the onset of dementia.
Exercising the brain can help prevent the disease. Being involved in cognitively
stimulating activities—like crosswords puzzles—will help prevent
Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise
and Eat Right
Some
research indicates that taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health, such
as losing weight, exercising and controlling high blood pressure and
cholesterol, may also help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Some studies have also
suggested that eating a low-fat diet, as well as consuming foods rich in omega-3
fatty acid, such as fatty fish, may be helpful.
Also, eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries, help prevent the
disease.
Treatment
Cholinesterase inhibitors
increase the level of a brain chemical called acetylcholine. People with
Alzheimer's disease have decreased brain levels of this neurotransmitter.
Increasing the amount of acetylcholine appears to slow mental decline in people
with Alzheimer's disease. These medications help the brain cells work better,
but they cannot reverse the destruction of brain cells. They do not prevent the
disease from getting worse but may slow the progression of symptoms.
Memantine,
a FDA approved drug that is prescribed for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s,
protects the brain’s nerve cells against glutamate, which is released in
excess amounts by cells damaged by Alzheimer’s disease.
Glutamate over-stimulates the NMDA receptors and contributes
to neurodegenerative disorders. Memantine blocks glutamate by filling the NMDA
receptor sites.
Coping With
Loss
We all know that death is a part of
life. Death gives meaning to our existence because it reminds us how precious
life is. The loss of a loved one is life’s most stressful event and can
cause a major emotional crisis. After the death of someone you love, you
experience bereavement.
When a death takes place, you may
experience a wide range of emotions, even if the death was expected. Many
people report feeling an initial stage of numbness after first learning of a
death, however, there is no real order to the grieving process.
Some emotions that one may
experience:
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Disbelief |
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Denial |
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Confusion |
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Sadness |
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Anger |
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Humiliation |
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Despair |
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Guilt |
These
feelings are normal and common reactions to loss. Some people may not be
prepared for the intensity and duration of your emotions or how fast your
moods can change. You may even begin to doubt the stability of your mental
health. These feelings are healthy and appropriate and will help you come to
terms with your loss. It takes
time to fully absorb the impact of a major loss. You will never stop missing
your loved one, but the pain eases after time and allows you to go on with
your life.
Here
are five ways to cope with loss:
1. Talk
about your loss and express your feelings
Your
ability to openly talk about your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust
will decrease the chance of your emotions becoming bottled up and showing up
in inappropriate and potentially destructive ways. For some people, keeping a
personal journal nearby can give you an opportunity to write your thoughts and
feelings down when you are alone or if you don't feel like talking. Journaling
also allows you to monitor your progress during the recovery process.
2. Stay
connected to those who can offer their love and support
When
feeling overwhelmed by emotional pain it can be tempting to withdraw from the
people and activities that are normally a part of your life. During times of
grief, it is more important than ever to maintain contact with friends and
family. Knowing that you are not alone in your grief and receiving comfort and
support from those you are closest to can be significant sources of
encouragement during difficult times.
3. Avoid
masking the pain
In an
attempt to escape the pain of loss, many people turn to unhealthy and
potentially destructive behaviors—Drugs, alcohol, over eating, excessive
hours spent at work. These are
all common ways in which people attempt to cover up their emotional pain.
Remember, emotions that are masked or hidden never die. Dealing with your pain
up front, and in healthy ways, will likely spare you from having to face an
even greater depth of heartache down the road.
4. Take care of yourself physically
One of
the most beneficial things you can do for yourself during your time of grief
is to not neglect your physical well-being. Getting plenty of rest, eating a
healthy diet and staying physically active will help provide you with greater
emotional and psychological strength.
5. Be willing to ask for help
You may
find that the depth and duration of your pain is getting in the way of your
ability to effectively function on a day-to-day basis. When this happens it
can be very beneficial to seek help from a psychiatrist or
therapist.
Remember, with support, patience and effort, you will cope with a loss. Someday the pain will lessen, leaving
you with memories of your loved one.
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