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FAQ | Common Misconceptions About Mental Illness | Service Definitions | Clinical Staff Defined
Service Definitions
Psychiatric Evaluations
Psychiatric Evaluation is conducted to collect data sufficient to establish a psychiatric diagnosis, and to develop an initial treatment plan. The treatment plan may include use of medications.
Psychological Evaluations
Psychologists at Lakeland Mental Health Center conduct evaluations addressing specific concerns. Typically, an evaluation is comprised of a personal interview along with written psychological testing. Intelligence testing and personality assessment are also done on referral.
The purpose of the group is to address power and control issues in relationships. The group focus is on these issues, which may include physical violence, emotional violence, intimidation, threatening behavior, economic abuse, male privilege and isolation.
Forensic Evaluations
Forensic evaluation services are provided to assist the court system in making an informed disposition of a case in many areas including, but not limited to:
an individual is in need of involuntary hospitalization
• Sexual abuse evaluations to help the court determine whether a perpetrator, victim or
family member could benefit from mental health treatment
• Custody evaluations when the parents are in disagreement as to who should have custody
of the child/children
• Parental capacity evaluations to assist the court and the county in determining the
parenting capability of the family members
• Probation/juvenile evaluations to assist the court in determining the need for mental
health treatment when a child has exhibited criminal behavior
• Criminal evaluations that are part of a criminal proceeding prosecuting crimes such as
sexual abuse, domestic violence, homicide, etc
Shared Care Model of Psychiatry
Shared Care is a collaboration between the primary care physician and the psychiatrist that shares the responsibilities of care according to the treatment needs of the patient throughout the course of mental health therapy. The potential benefits of Shared Care include increased skill on the part of the primary care physician in managing mental health problems, increased effectiveness on the part of psychiatrists as supports to family practice and mutual support when managing complex mental health issues.
Access to the Shared Care Psychiatrist is only available by referral from the primary care physician. Patients are referred back to the family physician for ongoing medical treatment as soon as appropriate, leaving the psychiatrist's schedule available for new patients.
Definitions for Commonly Treated Disorders
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought, perception and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life's ordinary demands and routines. There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. If these disturbances significantly impair a person's ability to cope with life's ordinary demands and routines, he/she should immediately seek proper treatment with a mental health professional. With proper care and treatment, a person can recover and resume normal activities.Depression
Depression is more than just "feeling blue" or having a bad day. And it's different from feelings of grief or sorrow that follow a major loss, such as a death in the family. It is not a personal weakness or a character flaw. Depression is a serious health problem that impacts feelings, thoughts and actions, and can appear as a physical illness. Children, teens and adults with clinical depression cannot simply "snap out of it." Fortunately, depression is treatable.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses. The three main types are: phobias, panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. People who suffer from phobias experience extreme fear or dread from a particular object or situation. Panic disorders involve sudden, intense feelings of terror for no apparent reason and symptoms similar to a heart attack. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder try to cope with anxiety by repeating words or phrases or engaging in repetitive, ritualistic behavior such as constant hand washing.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression, is an illness involving one or more episodes of serious mania and depression. The illness causes a person's mood to swing from excessively "high" and/or irritable, to sad and hopeless, with periods of normal mood in between. Bipolar disorder is treatable and recovery is possible. Individuals with this disorder have successful relationships and meaningful jobs. The combination of medications and psychotherapy helps the vast majority of people return to productive, fulfilling lives.
Substance Abuse
The specific causes of substance abuse are unclear, though they seem to be a combination of hereditary, environmental and social factors. Treatment of substance abuse is geared towards abstinence and includes a variety of therapies. Psychotherapy aids patients in understanding behavior and motivations and in developing self-esteem and coping with stress. In addition to an outpatient chemical health treatment program at LMHC, self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous may be effective in helping to establish a support network. In some cases medications may be used with some success.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an extremely debilitating condition that can occur after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents or military combat. Symptoms of repeatedly re-experiencing the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts occur. A person may also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety and irritability or outbursts of anger. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than one month. Treatments include appropriate therapy, which help the person work through the trauma.
Behavioral Disorders
Behavioral disorders are a combination of mental, neurological and psychological ailments which can include: Panic Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Alcohol and other drug disorders.
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses. People with these disorders have a preoccupation with food and an irrational fear of being fat. Anorexia is self-starvation while Bulimia involves cycles of bingeing (consuming large quantities of food) and purging (self-induced vomiting or abusing laxatives). Behavior may also include excessive exercise.
Conduct Disorders
A conduct disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in children and adolescents in which the rights of others, or basic social rules, are violated. Behavioral characteristic of conduct disorder include aggressive behavior that causes or threatens harm to other people, non-aggressive conduct that causes property loss or damage, deceitfulness or theft, or serious rule violations. Accurate assessment and appropriate, individualized treatment will assure that all children are equipped to navigate the developmental milestones of childhood and adolescence and make a successful adaptation to adulthood.
ADHD
Young people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder typically are overactive, unable to pay attention, and impulsive. They also tend to be accident prone. Children or adolescents with this disorder may not do well in school or even fail, despite normal or above-normal intelligence. This disorder is sometimes referred to as ADHD. Diagnosis is not a simple matter and evaluation components should include a physical examination, and an evaluation by a mental health professional trained in behavioral and developmental problems.
Personality Disorders
A personality disorder must fulfill several criteria. A deeply ingrained, inflexible pattern of relating, perceiving and thinking serious enough to cause distress or impaired functioning is a personality disorder. Personality disorders are usually recognizable by adolescence or earlier, continue throughout adulthood and become less obvious throughout middle age. When any of these characteristics are carried to an extreme, when they endure over time and when they interfere with healthy functioning, a diagnostic evaluation with a physician or psychologist is recommended. People can improve with proper care.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorder (or manic depression) symptoms may include mood swings such as extreme sadness or elation, sleep and eating disturbances, and changes in activity and energy levels. Suicide may be a risk with these disorders.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary, may be unresponsive or withdrawn, and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations. Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not a split personality or multiple personality. The vast major of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others. It is not caused by childhood experiences, poor parenting or lack of willpower, nor are the symptoms identical for each person.
Attachment Disorders
More and more children are failing to develop secure attachments to loving, protective caregivers. These children are left without the most important foundation for healthy development. Research has shown that up to 80% of high risk families (abuse and neglect, poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other psychological disorders in parents) create severe attachment disorders in their children. Disrupted and anxious attachments not only leads to emotional and social problems, but also results in biochemical consequences in the developing brain. The consequences of emotional neglect can leave children behaviorally disordered, depressed, apathetic, slow to learn and prone to chronic illness.