|
| |
Links for Adults
 | Click here for links for web sites on a
variety of different topics as well as listing of some of the psychologists
in Maine who have particular areas of specialization. There is also a link to the
Maine Psychological Association, which provides an extensive listing of
psychologists in Maine. |
Selected Topics for Adults
Anxiety
Trauma and Posttraumatic
Stress
Traumatic events can have effects that last for months, years, or
sometimes decades. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one
response that people sometimes have following traumatic events.
It includes intrusive thoughts about the event, feelings of physical
and emotional distress when reminded of the event, numbing, and
avoidance of reminders of the trauma. There are several
excellent treatments for PTSD that, although intense, can produce
good results. Top researchers include Edna Foa, Patricia Resick,
Donald Meichenbaum, and Bessel van der Kolk, among others.
For a nice summary of treatment outcome information, check the Expert
Consensus Guidelines. For more detailed information try the National
Center for PTSD, and the International
Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. We've also included a summary of some of the
available research on what can be done to prevent
PTSD through early intervention following a traumatic experience.
-
-
Panic Disorder is characterized by discreet periods of panic that can
feel like they come out of nowhere and reach high intensity in just a
few minutes. They may include a racing pulse, dizziness,
shortness of breath, and sweating palms. Often, people who have
panic attacks fear that they will have a heart attack or lose control. Panic attacks are
sometimes accompanied by agoraphobia, which
is a fear of going places where one might have a panic attack and
where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. Examples
include crowded rooms, supermarkets, etc. David Barlow and
Michelle Craske are excellent researchers who have devised a highly
effective approach to treatment.
-
-
-
-
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related difficulty
that can include obsessive thoughts that seem to intrude time after
time, or compulsions to perform some kind of action such as repeated hand
washing or checking over and over again to see if the door is
locked. People often find OCD embarrassing and realize that
their thoughts or actions are excessive. The more researchers learn about
behavioral and physiological elements of OCD, the
more its unusual symptoms make sense. Gail Steketee is one of the foremost
treatment researchers on OCD, and her protocol for treatment has
helped innumerable people. For a nice summary of treatment
outcome information, check the Expert
Consensus Guidelines.
-
-
-
-
Social Anxiety Disorder is what it sounds like: an unusually intense fear of social
or performance situations due to concerns that one might be
scrutinized by others or do something humiliating. There is good
treatment research on social anxiety disorder, although in our opinion it is not
yet as well-developed as the research on PTSD or Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia.
-
-
-
-
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a long-standing pattern of
anxiety and worry about a number of events that is difficult to
control. It can result in restlessness, fatigue, loss of
concentration, and sleep difficulties. Outcome research on GAD
is developing, but probably would not be considered to be in the same
league as research on PTSD and panic disorder.
-
-
-
-
Specific Phobia, sometimes called "Simple Phobia," is
an excessively strong and persistent fear caused by a certain
object or situation. Common phobias are fear of flying,
heights, animals, getting an injection, or seeing blood.
Research on treating specific phobias is, by psychology's
standards, as old as the hills.
An excellent resource for more information on anxiety
disorders is provided on Dr. Borkum and Matranga's web site at Health
Psych Maine.
-
Mood
-
-
-
Depression
Depression, like anxiety, is very common. Certain
forms of psychotherapy and several types of psychotropic medication are
effective in treating depression. For mild to moderate depression, there
are some indications that psychotherapy, either by itself or in combination with
medication, may reduce the chance of relapse in the future. The forms of
psychotherapy that have been demonstrated to be particularly effective are
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Depression (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression (IPT).
Our practitioners are trained and experienced in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but not in IPT. We will post a summary of information on
depression in the future.
Bipolar
Disorder (sometimes called Manic Depressive
Disorder)
Psychiatric medication, not psychotherapy, is the treatment of choice for
bipolar disorder. While psychotherapy may play an important role in
providing support and managing the sequelae of bipolar, we encourage people to
work closely with their psychiatrists above all else. If you're looking
for good resources on bipolar, one of the top researchers in the topic, Kaye
Redfield Jamison, also has bipolar. She has authored a number of excellent
books (such as An Unquiet Mind and Touched by Fire) about her
experience, as well as some authoritative volumes for professionals. Also,
check the Expert Consensus
Guidelines for top quality information for the public and for practitioners.
Eating Disorders
Bulimia
Bulimia is a disorder that is characterized by eating binges that feel
out of control. To compensate for these binges, the person
may try to get rid of the calories by vomiting, excessive exercise,
diuretics, or laxatives. The result can be a cycle of binging,
purging, and unhappiness with one's self that can go on for a long
time. There are good treatments for bulimia. Please call us if
you'd like to learn more.
Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine
Health Psychology, sometimes also called behavioral medicine, is a branch
of psychology that focuses on helping people use psychological and
behavioral strategies for managing medical difficulties. It is
important to stress that this approach does not imply that the
medical difficulty is "all in your head." Rather, the goal
is to learn and apply strategies that, for example, can assist with managing
chronic pain, decreasing the frequency and intensity of tension or migraine
headaches, or decrease symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Drs.
Borkum, Matranga, and Holcomb at Health
Psych Maine (offices Waterville and Bangor) and Dr. Gray at Medical
Rehab Associates (in Scarborough and Lewiston) are first class resources
for information and health psychology treatment.
|
