Dr. John Dsurney, PH.D

There are a variety of treatment options for depression. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medications or a combination. There are also other treatments options including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). There may also be underlying medical conditions which may present with symptoms of depression. Therefore, a very thorough evaluation is important to determine the factors influencing your particular depression. The best treatment option for an individual will depend on a variety of factors. The type, frequency and severity of the depression, as well as any family history will be helpful in determining the best treatment. The best first step is to be evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist determine the type of depression and formulate a treatment plan that will work for you. I wish you the best.

Let me start by saying I am not an expert in children, my practice is all adult. However, anxiety in children can be caused by many different things. A very thorough examination by a child psychologist or psychiatrist would be the place to start. Based on the nature of the anxiety, they can formulate an appropriate treatment plan.

Anxiety is frequently responsive to treatment. The nature and severity of the anxiety will influence the type and course of treatment.

Panic attacks, like many mental health problems, may respond to different types of therapies. The type of therapy will depend on the nature abd severity of the panic attacks. An evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist will help determine the best treatment for you.

The most commonly used and generally effective treatment for addictive behaviour is a 12-step program and supportive psychotherapy. However, before embarking on a treatment approach I would recommend obtaining an accurate diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist to be certain that any additional or contributory disorders are addressed.

Anxiety can be treated in multiple ways depending on the nature of the anxiety. There are a variety of medications and psychotherapies that can be used, individually or in combination to treat anxiety. I would suggest an evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine the best treatment for you.

The question of "does a treatment work" is a very individualized question and should be addressed by the treating physician. However, in general, the symptoms of schizophrenia are best managed through medications. Psychotherapy, whether cognitive behavior or other type of talk therapy, may be very helpful with regard to the patient managing their feelings regarding having a chronic illness or help develop coping strategies that will improve their functioning in a variety of settings.

Addictions, whether alcohol, or other drugs, result from stimulating the pleasure centers in the brain. Chemicals for which the brain has receptors or mimic chemicals for which the brain has receptors, can stimulate other brain chemicals which are interpreted as pleasurable and the more those receptors are stimulated the more stimulation they require to produce the same sensation to the person. This is how addiction, in general, works.

Many disorders can be treated without medication, depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Mild and or situational anxiety as well as depression, responds very well to behavioral interventions.

In the technical sense, psychotherapy does not have "side effects" as when your body is adjusting to a medication. However, psychotherapy can create adverse reactions. In the event that the wrong type of therapy is provided the individual may get worse. There may be periods of time during the course of therapy that may be situational stressful. So psychotherapy is not benign, but is, when done properly quite safe.

I am very sorry, but questions regarding the use of medications to treat specific disorders, is really a question for a psychiatrist or prescribing psychologist. There are multiple types of antidepressant medication and the indication for use, or off label use, would best be answered by someone who provides pharmacological treatments.

The treatment of depression depends a great deal on the severity and the presence of recurrences. The literature has shown for a long time that psychotherapy is as effect as medication for mild depression. Once a depression becomes more severe the combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication made by most effective. In the event that the depression reoccurs or becomes more chronic over time, medication may be the most effective way to treat the depression and prevent depressive episodes. Using the information above, you should be able to make a decision about the best inital approach. If this is your first episode of depression and it is not too severe, psychotherapy may be the most effective, with the fewest side effects for your treatment.

This a question with no one answer. This is a question which has relevance to many disorders, not just schizophrenia. First, state laws regarding driving privileges would need to be addressed. States may have specific qualifications to hold a driver's license. Secondly, as with any medical condition many individual factors need to be assessed. The severity, length of time since last acute episode, as well as the individuals particular symptoms need to be considered. The impact of these factors on the complex cognitive and motor skills needed to safely operate an automobile would need to be addressed. I am sorry I can not be more specific but you may want to discuss these issues with your treating psychiatrist related to your specific case.

I psychiatrist may be able to help you with anxiety depending on the nature and severity. Some anxieties are better treated with medication and other by psychotherapy. After an evaluation of your condition the psychiatrist can discuss the treatment options with you.