Other Common Psychiatric Conditions

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder causes you to obsess about your weight and what you consume. Abnormal eating habits can negatively affect your physical or mental health. There are several known eating disorders, including:

• Binge eating disorder - where a person eats a large amount in a short period of time
• Anorexia nervosa - where a person eats very little, thereby maintaining a low body weight
• Bulimia nervosa - where a person eats a lot and then purges themselves of the food

Treatments for an eating disorder can include lifestyle changes, talk therapy, nutritional and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Personality Disorders

People with personality disorders suffer from long-term patterns of unhealthy and inflexible thoughts and behaviors. As such, they often have trouble dealing with everyday problems and have difficult relationships with other people. In fact, people with personality disorders may not realize they have a disorder, blaming others instead for their problems.

Personality disorders are often caused by genetics and childhood experiences. Symptoms range from mild to severe and are usually treated with talk therapy and sometimes with medication.

Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorder (aka Situational Depression) is an abnormal and excessive reaction to a particular stressor – such as a single event (a natural disaster, marriage, divorce), multiple events (marital problems or business problems), or recurring or continuous events (financial difficulties, spousal abuse, financial troubles) – that can significantly affect one’s social, occupational, or academic functioning.

Symptoms of adjustment disorder include sadness, a sense of hopelessness, frequent crying, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, an inability to concentrate, withdrawal from social support, avoiding important tasks, and suicidal thoughts or behavior. Usually, these symptoms start within three months of the stressful event and last no longer than six months after the end of the event. Persistent or chronic adjustment disorder, however, can last longer if the stressor is ongoing.

Each person has their own unique thoughts and feelings, as such, an individual evaluation is important for the best treatment outcome. If you or a loved one are dealing with a mood disorder, call Neuro Behavioral Center at (508) 660-1666 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.