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Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription pain medicines and illegal drugs such as heroin. Opioid misuse whether legal or illegal can lead to addiction. Addiction occurs when dependence interferes with daily functioning. Warning signs include difficulty breathing, slurred speech, and difficulty with overall motor functioning.
Opioid use is largely unrecognized in minority communities....

Medications are helpful for reducing symptoms of depression in some people, particularly when their depression is severe. Some health care professionals treating depression may favor using a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Given the side effects, any use of medication requires close monitoring.
Psychotherapy is often recommended as a first line of treatment for children and adolescents,...

There are several approaches to psychotherapy— including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and other kinds of talk therapy—that help individuals recover from depression. Psychotherapy helps people identify the factors that contribute to their depression and deal effectively with the psychological, behavioral, interpersonal and situational contributors. Skilled health and mental health...

Living with a depressed person can be very difficult and stressful on family members and friends. The pain of watching a loved one suffer from depression can bring about feelings of helplessness and loss.
Family or couples therapy may be beneficial in bringing together all the individuals affected by depression and helping them learn effective ways to cope together. This type of psychotherapy...

Many research studies have demonstrated that psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is effective for treating depression and relieving symptoms experienced by individuals who suffer from depression. Psychological treatments may prevent a person with milder depression from becoming more severely depressed.
Everyone experiences sadness from time to time. But depression lasts longer, interferes with...

A combination of genetic, chemical, biological, psychological, social and environmental factors likely contributes to the disorder. Depression is often a signal that certain mental, emotional and physical aspects of a person’s life are out of balance. Chronic and serious illness such as heart disease or cancer may be accompanied by depression.
Significant transitions and major life stressors...

Absolutely. Depression is highly treatable when an individual receives competent care. Licensed psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals with years of experience studying depression and helping patients recover from it.
There is still some stigma or reluctance associated with seeking help for emotional and mental health problems, including depression. Unfortunately, feelings...

While everyone occasionally feels sad or “blue,” these feelings tend to pass rather quickly.
By contrast, someone with depression experiences extreme sadness or despair that lasts for at least two weeks or longer. Depressed individuals tend to feel helpless and hopeless and to blame themselves for having these feelings. Depression interferes with activities of daily living—such...

Licensed psychologists are highly trained and qualified to diagnose and treat people with anxiety disorders using techniques based on best available research. Psychologists’ extensive training includes understanding and using a variety of psychotherapies, including CBT.
Psychologists sometimes use other approaches to effective treatment in addition to individual psychotherapy. Group psychotherapy,...

The large majority of people who suffer from an anxiety disorder are able to reduce or eliminate their anxiety symptoms and return to normal functioning after several months of appropriate psychotherapy. Indeed, many people notice improvement in symptoms and functioning within a few treatment sessions.
The patient should be comfortable from the outset with the psychotherapist. Together the...

If left untreated, anxiety disorders can have severe consequences. For example, some people who suffer from recurring panic attacks avoid any situation that they fear may trigger an attack. Such avoidance behavior may create problems by conflicting with job requirements, family obligations or other basic activities of daily living.
People who suffer from an untreated anxiety disorder often...

Absolutely. Most cases of anxiety disorder can be treated successfully by appropriately trained mental health professionals such as licensed psychologists. Research has demonstrated that a form of psychotherapy known as “cognitive-behavioral therapy” (CBT) can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. Psychologists use CBT to help people identify and learn to manage the factors...

People with generalized anxiety disorder have recurring fears or worries, such as about health or finances, and they often have a persistent sense that something bad is just about to happen. The reason for the intense feelings of anxiety may be difficult to identify. But the fears and worries are very real and often keep individuals from concentrating on daily tasks.
Panic disorder involves...