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• Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia  
• The essential feature is a marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur  …

Point blank refusal of treatment due to a mental illness can be a major problem.

South African law provides protection here for the affected patient including that the individual may…

If there isn’t a support group in your area, you could start your own. Here are useful guidelines to help you set up your own support group.

These antidepressants do not fit into the aforementioned groups and many of them are newer agents.

This is an older group of antidepressants, which is used less frequently today. These agents act by inhibiting an enzyme called monoamine oxidase which usually breaks down serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in the…

This is an older group of drugs, which has been in use since 1957. These drugs affect predominantly noradrenaline. Some of the drugs in this class include Tryptanol, Elavil (Amitriptyline); Tofranil, Ethipramine (Imipramine); Anafranil (Clomipramine); Emdalen…

These are among the newer antidepressants, which have been available from 1988. They act on the neurotransmitter serotonin. Some of the trade names in this class include Paxil (Paroxetine), Prozac, Lorien, Nuzak,…

It is important to inform your prescribing doctor of the following:

One in five pregnant women may suffer symptoms of depression, but few get treatment for it. That’s the finding of a University of Michigan study in the May 22 issue of the Journal…

The Post Natal Depression Support Association has the following advice:

The Post Natal Depression Support Association recommends three things in the treatment of PND: medication, psychotherapy and individual or group support.

Anti-depressant medication can help to control the symptoms. Psychotherapy is…

There is no single cause of Post Natal Depression. Contrary to what many people believe, PND is not “just hormonal”, because fathers and adoptive mothers can suffer from it too. A…

Between 10% and 40% of women develop Postnatal Depression (PND). If one takes the lowest figure of 10%, there are at least 50 000 new cases of PND per year in South Africa.

A recent…

There is no single cause. The disorder tends to run in families which suggests that there is a genetic link. In people predisposed to the disorder, the onset can be triggered by stressful…

Signs and symptoms of mania include:

During the last week before menstruating, for most of the menstrual cycles occurring during the course of a year, there have been at least five of the following symptoms which have disappeared shortly after…

An American study has shown that parents may not know their teenage children as well as they think they do. This results in depression going undiagnosed and increases the risk of suicide.

The study,…

It has been observed in most parts of the world that twice as many women as men experience depression.

This seems not to be due to diagnostic biases and may be due to hormonal…

Depression in the aged is common and is often unrecognised as such. As they tend to present more commonly with physical complaints, general practitioners may miss a diagnosis of depression.

There also tends…

Reluctance to attend school and excessive clinging to parents may be symptoms of depression.

Poor academic performance or a change in scholastic achievement as well as behavioural problems such as substance abuse, sexual promiscuity…

One cannot alter a genetic vulnerability or a history of loss but much can be done to decrease stressors (see self-help). A balanced life-style with adequate social interaction and support, and knowledge of what…

In order to diagnose a depressive disorder the health professional or family doctor would do a full evaluation including questions regarding family history, personal history of illness and recent stressors.

Other family members and…