SERVICES
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC AND BODY-RELATED CONDITIONS
The mind and body have long been treated as separate entities from each other. However, research is showing more and more that we need to focus on treating the person as a whole. As such, a significant number of medical conditions can cause, accompany, or worsen psychiatric symptoms of almost any type: be it mood, anxiety, psychosis or difficulties in cognitive functioning (concentration, planning, memory, etc.)
Illnesses that originate from the brain tissue or nervous system, and present with such mental illnesses, are termed Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
There are also a number of cases where extreme psychological or emotional distress can manifest in physical ways, such as through nausea, headaches and chronic pain, lapses in memory and even severe neurological symptoms such as seizures or loss of sensation/movement in limbs.
Common disorders we come across in this category include:
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
This is the term used for conditions that can cause difficulties, or differences, in the social, academic, behavioural and self-development of a person and almost always occurs in childhood or early adolescence. Although it is not guaranteed that a child will develop difficulties in mental or emotional health with these conditions, the risk tends to be higher. Common conditions in this category include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Intellectual Disability.
Neurocognitive Disorders (aka “Dementias”)
Dementia, as a condition, is one of the most difficult for a person, and their loved ones, to deal with in later life and can be caused by a number of different illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, recurrent or major strokes, and even certain nutritional deficiencies (e.g. Vitamin B12). This is often first noticed through significant difficulties in memory or recognising of the familiar (skills, people, etc.). However, symptoms of depression, confusion, poor motor skills and language are just some of the many symptoms that can manifest in this disease.
FAQ
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (or “pseudoseizures”) refer to episodes of symptoms that present like seizures (falling, shaking, muscle spasms, etc.), but do not come from a physical concern (e.g. toxins, or abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, as in the case of epilepsy). This is diagnosed by ruling out all potential physical causes of seizures, which usually includes an electroencephalogram (“EEG”) to measure a person's electrical brainwaves during a seizure. Such seizures are most often due to the result of severe ongoing psychological and emotional stress, which presents itself in physical ways. One's understanding of these episodes can vary, and some people find themselves unable to express this distress in any other way. Other people may not be aware of the underlying reasons for these symptoms at all and have no control or awareness as to why these episodes happen.
Psychogenic seizures can often be very distressing for both the person going through them and those witnessing the episodes. Therefore, education around the condition and understanding the person's experience of these symptoms are extremely important. Consistent psychological support and treating any underlying psychological or psychiatric condition make up a significant portion of the treatment process.
Other conditions that can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms as well include:
- Epilepsy
- Severe head injuries
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Neurological conditions such as Huntington’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis
- Autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder occurs when a person develops persistent, unhealthy patterns of eating that come from a distorted view of one’s body image, weight, or the food itself. Common eating patterns that can become unhealthy include binge eating, restricting the intake of food, vomiting after meals, using laxatives or diuretics, or using excessive exercise, as a way to control one’s weight.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disturbances are some of the most common complaints of most psychiatric disorders. But did you know that sleep disorders can exist by themselves? This can include more well-known disorders (such as insomnia or sleepwalking) to more rare disorders (such as “night terrors”, narcolepsy or sleep apnoea).
Other Psychiatric Disorders due to another medical condition
Many organs or systems in the body can be linked to psychiatric conditions and include the thyroid, liver, kidneys, immune system, nutritional deficiencies, and blood vessels (e.g. stroke).
TREATMENT
Thorough investigations of one’s physical health and history are crucial in discovering such types of disorders, and the treatment of such medical illnesses can often result in the improvement of the related psychiatric symptoms. Given how wide a spectrum this area covers, treatment depends largely on the conditions involved and the needs of the individual, which are best discussed according to each person’s concerns and needs.