Mental Health True or False

  Here are some mental health statements. Are they true or false? The answers are below.

#1. OCD is an anxiety disorder.

#2. People with bipolar disorder have psychosis.

#3. Bipolar disorder in children is the same as bipolar disorder in adults.

#4. Lithium is the only true mood stabilizer.  

Answers:

#1  True! There are seven types of anxiety disorders, general anxiety disorder, social phobias, specific phobias, agoraphobia, PTSD and OCD

#2. Absolutely true.  When my partner Ivan was in the hospital for three months- he was manic and very psychotic. This is normal with a full blown bipolar I manic episode. The psychosis is treated with antipsychotics such as Abilify, Seroquel, Risperdal and Zyprexa.  I write about Ivan in my book Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder.

#3. False! The childhood bipolar disorder diagnosis is very controversial. In fact, in the last ten years the childhood bipolar disorder diagnosis has increased by 40%!   Adult onset bipolar tends to start in the teenage years and is a very specific diagnosis. There has not been a significant increase in adult diagnoses.

#4. True! All of the other ‘mood stabilizers’- Lamictal, Tegretol, and Depakote are actually anticonvulsants.

You are now ready to test your family and friends!  Julie

- (Comments are closed)



Posted on December 7th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized

5 comments to Mental Health True or False

  • Michelle
    December 8, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Hi Julie,

    You said there are seven anxiety disorders but you only listed six. What is the seventh?

    (“There are seven types of anxiety disorders, general anxiety disorder, social phobias, specific phobias, agoraphobia, PTSD and OCD”)

    Michelle 🙂

    • Julie Fast
      July 4, 2010 at 7:52 pm

      Michelle,

      You are so correct! I got out Joni Johnston’s Complete Idiot’s Guide to Controlling Anxiety and checked my list:

      She calls them the seven sisters!

      I will write them out again:

      1. Generalized anxiety disorder

      2. Social Phobia

      3. Panic Disorder

      4. Agoraphobia

      5. OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

      6. Specific Phobias such as fear of heights or claustrophobia

      7. PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

      I missed the panic disorders. 90% of people with bipolar disorder experience generalized anxiety. Wow! A good treatment plan and meds can help immensely – as can Joni’s excellent book.

      Thanks for catching the oversight.

      Julie

      PS: I notice you are with DBSA San Diego- here is the link if there are readers in your area who would like to join: dbsasandiego.org

  • Payton Butler
    June 18, 2010 at 1:52 am

    “In third world countries, mental health is never a priority.”`*

  • Johnie
    June 16, 2014 at 12:08 am

    Hey would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    • Julie Fast
      June 18, 2014 at 9:15 am

      Hi Johnie, I use Word Press- but I have to say that my webmaster Emanuel is the reason the blog works so well. He designed it to my specifications. I do all of my own updating, etc. But as for design, I need a webmaster! I use BlueHost as my host and they have been fine. Julie

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