What is a Psychologist?
What is a psychologist, and how does a psychologist differ from a psychiatrist? According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), psychologists have “a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D.) in clinical, educational, counseling or research psychology,” and are licensed by individual states to practice psychology. Psychologists may offer psychological evaluations, treat emotional/behavioral problems […]
Autism: Drugs/Medications
Medications Some medications can help reduce symptoms that cause problems for your child in school or at home. Many other medications may be prescribed off-label, meaning they have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a certain use or for certain people. Doctors may prescribe medications off-label if they have […]
Autism: Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials Many recent research studies have focused on finding the earliest signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These studies aim to help doctors diagnose children at a younger age so they can get needed interventions as quickly as possible. For example, one early sign of ASD may be increased head size or rapid head […]
Autism: Understanding It
What is autism spectrum disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by: Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts; Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities; Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (typically recognized in the first two years of life); and, Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment […]
Autism: Causes
Causes Scientists don’t know the exact causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles. Genetic factors In identical twins who share the exact same genetic code, if one has ASD, the other twin also has ASD in nearly 9 out of 10 cases. If one sibling […]
Autism: Signs & Symptoms
Signs & Symptoms Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary from one child to the next, but in general, they fall into two areas: Social impairment, including difficulties with social communication Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Children with ASD do not follow typical patterns when developing social and communication skills. Parents are usually the first to […]
Autism: Living With It
Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder After your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may feel unprepared or unable to provide your child with the necessary care and education. Know that there are many treatment options, social services and programs, and other resources that can help. Some tips that can help you and […]
Autism: Risk Factors & Diagnosis
Who Is At Risk? Studies measuring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence—the number of children affected by ASD over a given time period—have reported varying results, depending on when and where the studies were conducted and how the studies defined ASD. A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of health and school records of […]
Borderline Personality Disorder: Living With It
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder Some people with BPD experience severe symptoms and require intensive, often inpatient, care. Others may use some outpatient treatments but never need hospitalization or emergency care. Some people who develop this disorder may improve without any treatment. How can I help a friend or relative who has BPD? If you […]
What is MFT?
MFT, or marriage and family therapy, is a type of counseling that focuses on the dynamics among the various family members, including children, parents, and sometimes extended family members or closely involved family friends, if appropriate. MFT is based on the concept that a family is made up of individuals who, through their interactions and […]
Unhappy Marriage
Is an unhappy marriage driving you to thoughts of separation or divorce? Before you commit to either of these steps, consider whether you might be able to instead learn ways to create a healthier relationship with your husband or wife. A good marriage isn’t always an easy one, and if only one partner is committed […]
Recognizing Toxic Relationships
Toxic relationships are unhealthy and damaging for both people in the relationship. The relationship may be based on an unhealthy neediness, a desire to control and manipulate, or even fear of loss, but regardless of the causes or driving emotional factors, the signs of a toxic relationship are pretty clear. The challenge is, those signs […]