December 17, 2023

Mood

In the diagnostic manual (DSM), after schizophrenia, comes Bipolar Disorder. As with everything I'm trying to tell you in my own words, we need to start with some simpler concepts to get an understanding of what Bipolar Disorder is. Today, I'll talk about mood.


December 03, 2023

Schizophrenia

If you ask a mental health professional which disorder has the most profound consequences for an individual, most would likely respond, 'Schizophrenia.' Let's try to understand why.

November 26, 2023

Delusional Disorder and Brief Psychotic Disorder

In the previous post, I introduced Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and other Psychotic Disorders. For this group, the diagnostic manual lists the following disorders:
- Delusional Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Schizophreniform Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective Disorder
Let's delve into the details of the first two.

November 19, 2023

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

After Neurodevelopmental Disorders, the diagnostic manual takes a different direction and introduces us to Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and other Psychotic Disorders. Here we encounter at least three new terms: spectrum, schizophrenia, and psychotic.

November 12, 2023

Motor Disorders

Every time we move our body or a part of it, we're performing a movement. As we grow, the movements we make become targeted (like using a fork), and some movements disappear (like rocking or putting a finger in the mouth). However, we've learned that during growth, things aren't always linear, and even with movement, we may observe behaviors that are slow to be mastered or to vanish. Let's delve into this in detail.

November 05, 2023

Learning Disabilities

Anyone involved in the school environment is likely familiar with Learning Disabilities. I will attempt to explain this disorder in simple terms.

October 29, 2023

ADHD

ADHD is the acronym for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. If you've ever dealt with children, you've almost certainly wished at some point that they would be more attentive or calm. But when is a lack of attention or excessive activity a problem? Let's explore it together.

October 22, 2023

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder, or simply autism, is one of those disorders often portrayed in movies, and for this reason, we all have an idea (whether accurate or not) of what the behavior of an individual with autism might be like.

October 15, 2023

Communication Disorders (Part 2)

In the previous post, we mentioned that in the diagnostic manual (DSM), Communication Disorders include:

  • Language Disorder
  • Speech Sound Disorder (Phonological Disorder)
  • Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)
  • Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

October 01, 2023

Communication Disorders (Part 1)

What does it mean to communicate? In simple terms, it's the ability to express concepts and understand them. So, we recognize at least two functions: sending messages and receiving messages.