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What OCD is and What it Isn’t: Demystifying Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD is a mental health diagnosis that is sometimes casually referenced in everyday conversation and, unfortunately, may be commonly misunderstood as a result. For example, you might’ve heard someone say, “I’m so OCD,” and identify themselves in this way...
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Understanding Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Pornography Viewing as Addictions
Addiction can occur in many forms. Often, it is assumed that physical dependence, characterized by withdrawal symptoms, is required for someone to be diagnosed with an addiction disorder, but the fact is that behavioral addiction can occur with all the negative consequences in a person’s life...
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Basic Research Has Had a Major Impact on Developing New Treatments for Serious Mental Illnesses
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with an estimated $2 trillion annual economic impact. The cost in terms of human suffering is, of course, incalculable. Each year about 8% of adults—nearly 20 million Americans—experience major depression; 8% of adolescents experience at...
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An Overview of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to...
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A Case for the Discerning Application of Treatment Models: Proceed with Caution
In recent decades we have witnessed a proliferation of models for the treatment of behavioral health conditions, many of which enjoy robust evidence bases that support their application in accordance with overarching principles and intended outcomes. In many respects, we inhabit a “Golden Age”...
