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 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 and Matranga at Health Psych Maine (offices Waterville and Bangor) are a first class resource for information and health psychology treatment.