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Canine Mental Health: Do Human Diagnoses Make Sense?

April 20, 2011 By rathemen Leave a Comment

Article by Ron Ayalon

Maggie seems tired. Although her Lyme disease test came back negative, she is just sleepy and listless day after day. She doesn’t seem interested in food, and doesn’t even want to destroy her stuffed squirrel anymore.

Sadie seems to tremble and shake during thunderstorms, and her tail is glued between her legs when new people come to the house. When her owner tries to coax her out from under the furniture, she drools and jumps up, despite not doing this when strangers aren’t around.

Mollie paces, licks her paws repeatedly, and seems to sniff at the front door then all the shoes in the shoe rack then the front door again. If she gets interrupted, she start whines and pulls to go back to her routine.

Clinical depression, anxiety, which include separation anxiety, noise anxiety and social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder are all bona fide canine health concerns worthy of veterinary care. While it may seem odd to think of a dog as being able to suffer from these illnesses, remember that brain chemistry plays an important role in mood and behavior. Dogs’ brains are set up similarly to a human’s brain in terms of the electrical impulses and chemistry responsible for certain functions. This is why the drugs used to combat mental illness in people are often used on dogs showing similar signs of brain chemistry problems. That’s right, Prozac for your pooch!

Common Conditions:

• Depression. In the Maggie’s case, above, depression might be suspected after medical causes were ruled out. Depression in dogs presents with apathy, loss of appetite, fatigue or listlessness, loss of interest in formerly pleasant activities, and in some cases constipation.• Anxiety. General anxiety or stress overload include excessive drooling, shivering, moaning, panting, whining or acting “frozen” or unwilling to move. There are three main types of anxiety that are common in dogs: separation anxiety, in which dogs become destructive and may even soil the home or owner’s belongings when left alone. Noise anxiety impacts dogs exposed to loud noises such as thunderstorms, fire works and traffic noises. These dogs will try to escape and often panic and run in the opposite direction, bolting out of houses or away from their owners. Social anxiety shows up as anxious behavior (shivering, drooling, tail between the legs, etc) when around new people or unfamiliar situations. This typically affects dogs that were not well socialized as puppies.• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dogs who have been abused or have experienced severe trauma, such as loss of their owners, or dogs used in military combat experiences can develop PTSD, just like people.

A Multi-Step ApproachIf Maggie, Sadie or Mollie’s problems sound familiar, the time to act is now. While canine mental health problems are not typically fatal, they are serious and can worsen or become real behavioral nightmares to manage if steps are not taken to address them quickly. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment will alleviate discomfort and restore quality of life for your dog.

Step 1: enlist your vet’s help in ruling out medical problems such as thyroid issues or other diseases that can manifest with behavioral symptoms. Provide your vet with as clear a picture of Duke’s behavior as possible including when it began and how it has changed over time. Your vet may suggest running some tests, such as blood work or thyroid panels.

Step 2: Once you have a diagnosis, educate yourself. There are many resources both on the Internet and in print on all of the canine mental health concerns discussed here. Learn about the treatments options and be informed about the pros and cons of all the different treatments available.

Step 3: Consider medications carefully. Your vet may recommend medications to help Maggie maintain a positive mood or to help Sadie relax. Be sure to ask questions about side effects and voice any and all concerns you may have. Also ask you vet about any risks of not using medication – be sure to get the full picture before making any decisions.

Step 4: Explore dietary changes. Again do your research and seek input from your vet. Explore whether lower or higher protein would be helpful for Mollie’s condition, or if a trial on a specialized diet might be recommended.

Step 5: Consider hiring a trainer. A balanced approach using behavior modification along with medications and lots of loving support and patience may help your dog move through this tough spot and find his way back to being his playful, happy old self.

About the Author

Puppy City has been around for over 50 years, we pride ourselves in being the home for quality puppies for sale in Brooklyn, New York. We also have all of the supplies you will ever need, from dog food, to wee wee pads, to all the treats you will ever need in a lifetime. Visit us at http://www.PuppyCityNY.com

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Mental Health

April 20, 2011 By rathemen Leave a Comment

Article by Dr Deryck Pattron, Ph.D.

Introduction:Mental health has become a major international public health concern and the World Health Organization has placed high profile focus on the importance of mental health. Mental health is recognized by the World Health Organization and April 7, 2001 was first devoted for its observance.

It is estimated that 450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological or behavioral illnesses at any given time. Mental illnesses are common to all countries and cause immense suffering. People with these disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increasing mortality. These disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs. Mental illnesses affect and are affected by chronic conditions such as cancer, heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Untreated, they bring about unhealthy behavior, non-compliance and prescribed medical regimens, diminished immune functioning, poor prognosis and eventual loss of valuable human potential.

Definition of Mental Health:Mental health is defined as a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in fruitful activities, gratifying relationships with other people, and also includes the ability to adapt to change and to cope with diversity. Mental health is crucial to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships and contribution to community or society.

Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, personality, or behavior, which are associated with distress and/or impaired functioning. Mental illness is a term that is applied collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders.

Types of Mental Health Illnesses:The difference types of mental illnesses are enumerated in the International Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders published by the World Health Organization.* Organic mental disorders e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and delirium.* Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substances use e.g. alcohol, street drugs and medications.* Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders e.g. paranoid schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.* Mood (affective) disorders e.g. depression and manic depression.* Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders e.g. anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders.* Behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors e.g. eating disorders and non-organic sleep disorders.* Disorders of adult personality and behavior e.g. paranoid personality disorder and transsexualism.* Mental retardation e.g. learning disabilities.* Disorders of psychological development e.g. specific reading disorders such as dyslexia and childhood autism.* Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescent e.g. attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and conduct disorders.* Unspecified mental disorders.

Burden of Disability:Mental disorders generate an immense public health burden of disability. Mental disorders vary in severity and their impact on people’s lives. Mental disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression and manic-depressive or bipolar illness and obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder can be enormously disabling. This burden of disability often is profoundly under recognized in most parts of the world. In the United States, mental illness is on par with heart disease and cancer. Mental disorders occur across the lifespan, affecting persons of all racial and ethnic groups, both genders and all educational and socioeconomic groups.

Mental disorders are not only the cause of limitations of various life activities but also can be a secondary problem among people with other disabilities. Depression and anxiety, for example, are seen more frequently among people with disabilities than those without disabilities.

Socioeconomic Burden of Mental Illness:In the United States approximately 40 million people aged 18 to 74 years of the population, had a diagnosis of mental disorder alone of a co-occurring mental and addictive disorder in the past year. At least one in five children and adolescents age 9 and 17 years has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

It is estimated 25 percent of people over 65 years (8.6 million) experience specific mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and dementia that are not part of normal aging. Alzheimer’s disease strikes 8 to 15 percent of people over age 65 years, with the number of cases in the population doubling every 5 years of age after age 60 years. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be responsible for 60 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia and is one of the leading causes of nursing home placement.

The direct costs of diagnosing and treating mental disorders in the United States totaled approximately $ 69 billion in 1996. Lost productivity and premature death accounted for an additional .9 billion. The total cost of mental health disorders in England has been estimated at ₤32 billion. More than a third of this cost is attributed to lost employment and productivity related to schizophrenia, depression, stress and anxiety.

Etiology of Mental Illness:The etiology of mental illness may be as a consequence of complex neurochemical, anatomical and physiological changes in the brain. Social factors have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of mental illness. Some of the main causes of mental illness are given below:* Hereditary.* Environmental contaminants e.g. lead, copper and mercury.* Other disease such as kidney impairment may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.* Poor nutrition.* Poor sanitation.* Homelessness.* Microbiologically unsafe food.* HIV infection.* Poor physical health.* Psychological stress.* Posttraumatic stress.* Brain injury.* Metabolic disorders e.g. hypothyroidism.

Modern Treatments for Mental Illness:Treatments for mental illness take many different forms, including medication, psychotherapy, complementary therapies and self help strategies. It is worth bearing in mind that what works for one person may not work for another. Some treatments work best in combination and even the same person may prefer different treatments at different points in his or her life.* Physical therapies include maintaining the general physical health of the patient, providing psychiatric medication, such as anti-depressants, or administering electroconvulsive therapy.* Psychological treatments or talking treatments may take many different forms, including counseling and psychotherapy. Psychological therapies usually depend on the person with a mental health problem talking to somebody else, often a trained professional.* Alternative and complementary therapies offer alternatives, which replace orthodox Western medicine. The term complementary therapy is generally used to indicate therapies which differ from orthodox Western medicine and which may be used to complement, support or sometimes to replace it. Examples include aromatherapy, meditation and yoga.* Self help strategies serve to alleviate mental health problems, ranging from individual strategies for adapting to day-to-day difficulties and symptoms through to self-help group and support strategies. Examples of self help strategies include: self-management of manic depression, hearing voices strategies, self-harm strategies and self-help groups for depression.* Social support is not a treatment as such but it can have a beneficial effect at least equivalent to that of other forms of interventions. Social support involves providing practical help around the social dimensions of a patient’s mental health problems. For example by ensuring that the patient is properly housed and receives an adequate weekly income.

Recommendations on Ways to Reduce, Eliminate or Prevent Metal Illness:* Develop effective mental health policies and legislation.* Improve mental health by ensuring timely access to appropriate, quality mental health services.* Develop service delivery mechanisms for early recognition of symptoms and interventions.* Develop fundamental structural changes that require creative and flexible responses from service providers, administrators, researchers and policymakers alike.* Develop more social and behavioral research programs to explore the concept of resilience to identify strengths that may promote health and healing.* Implement strategies for translating new knowledge into critical applications.* Use community support programs and facilities for severe and persistent disorders.* Develop educational and outreach programs to reduce negative consequences of mental illness.* Develop rehabilitation programs.* Develop new drug treatments based on the best available science.* Develop alternative methods of treatment.* Develop family support groups.* Develop global action programs that focus on forging strategic partnerships to enhance countries capacity to combat and reduce the burden of mental disorders and promote mental health.* Adopt health lifestyles such as: (i) Develop emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually.(ii) Initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships.(iii) Face problems, resolve them and learn from them.(iv) Be confident and assertive.(v) Be aware of others and empathize with them.(vi) Use and enjoy solitude.(vii) Play and have fun.(viii) Laugh, both at themselves and at the world.

Future Research and Mental Illness:Research on the brain and behavior in mental illness and mental health is moving at a rapid pace. An increasing strong consumer’s movement in the mental health field is adding urgency to the tasks of translating new knowledge into clinical practices and refining service delivery systems to use new and emerging information optimally for patient/consumer needs. The elimination of stigma associated with mental disorders will in turn encourage more individuals to seek needed mental health care.

Progress in fundamental science with an emphasis on translating new knowledge such as the use of neurogenesis and stem cell research into clinical applications can strengthen opportunities for future clinical and service system innovations. Research-based treatments afford an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a major reduction in the burden of mental illness. With enhancements of clinical service and service systems, recovery is an achievable objective of mental health clinical intervention.

References: Lebowitz, B.D., Pearson, J.L., & Cohen, G.G. (1980). Clinical Geriatric Psychopharmacology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins. Murray, C.J.L., & Lopez, A.D. (1996). The Global Burden of Diseases. Cambridge. MA: Harvard University Press. Pattron, D.D. (2004). Recent Research in Public Health. New York: Scientific Publishers. Ritchie, K., & Kildea, D. (1995). Is senile dementia age-related or ageing related evidence from meta analysis of dementia prevalence in the oldest old. Lancet 34, 931-934. Robins, L.N., Locke, B.Z., & Regier, D.A. (1991). An overview of Psychiatric Disorders in America. New York: Free Press. Brain Work: The Neuroscience Newsletter. (2004). New York: The Dana Foundation. http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk http://www.who.int

About the Author

Dr Pattron is a Public Health Scientist in the Ministry of Health, Trinidad

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How to Choose a Mental Health Clinic

April 20, 2011 By rathemen Leave a Comment

Article by Christine Crotts

The process of choosing a mental health clinic begins by first identifying which kind of clinic you wish to opt for. There are various options of clinics to choose from such as – a mental health clinic that only caters to outpatients and is run by a privately owned organization or clinics which offer inpatient facility or a day patient facility, most of which are usually run by the government or the clinics run by health services or communities. Depending on what exactly are your needs, you can choose a particular kind of clinic.

The next important factor to be considered before selecting a clinic is whether the clinic accepts insurance or any other form of medical payments. Also, find out about the services being offered at the clinic, in detail. If you are not sure about the insurance coverage, then consult your insurance provider and find out about the mental health clinics covered by them or just go online to your insurance provider’s website and you can get these details. If you can, it is better to get a referral from your family doctor or the health care provider you have been visiting. Otherwise, you can speak to your friends and family members and ask for their inputs too. Since insurance policies on providers of mental health vary widely, always check your coverage details beforehand.

If a patient is quite unstable and requires hospitalization, then it is advisable to opt for a mental health clinic operated by government, as they have direct link ups with government mental hospitals, it is a better choice. However, even private clinics have their own advantages such as they may house a number of psychiatrists and therapists who work together and render their services to the patients, this way, if a patient requires the services of therapist and psychiatrist, then he can get that in a single place. Moreover, few of these clinics may have mental health practitioners who have specialization in certain kinds of clients or therapies, such as a a child psychiatrist or a couples therapist in particular, etc. Payments for services such as therapy for an individual or for groups can be very expensive, hence never forget to contact your insurance provider before you sign up for any of these activities.

Finding the best mental health clinic, requires considerable amount of effort, since not all the clinics cater to all kinds of requirements, you have to do intense research to narrow down onto the clinic that is the best for you. Especially for people who are not residing in urban areas, there might not be much choice, since there may or may not exist a mental health care center in their neighborhood. For most of these people, it is better if they can get a referral and then find out about the clinic before making any efforts of visiting the clinic.

You might not really realize the various kinds of options available in mental health clinics, until the day you start your search. Hence, keep the above mentioned factors in mind, before you begin searching.

About the Author

Christine Crotts likes to travel a lot and makes sure that her dog can travel with. Christine has written a site containing reviews on small pet carrier models, as well as a pink pet carrier.

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