DA Quiz: Are You Depressed?

The DA Complete Guide to Depression

Depression (also called clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or major depressive disorder) is a common mood disorder that is both serious and treatable. It is characterized by a prolonged period of low mood that impacts how you think, feel, and act on a daily basis. This article provides a complete overview of depression, including […]

What is Dissociative Amnesia?

Dissociative Amnesia is one of the Dissociative Disorders and it is characterized by the inability of the person to recall important personal memories. The impairment is greater than just due to forgetfulness.  The condition is often brought on by a traumatic event which the person blocks out of their consciousness. Dissociative Amnesia: What Does It […]

Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

Persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), formerly called complicated grief, is a condition defined by an extreme, disabling yearning for a deceased loved one for a prolonged period of time. Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder: What Does It Mean? Bereavement is a time of mourning after a loss—typically the death of a loved one. It usually involves […]

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a complex mental condition which can produce eccentric behavior and affect the daily life of sufferers in multiple ways. However, with treatment, many people can have productive and satisfactory lives. Schizotypal Personality Disorder: What Does It Mean? Schizotypal Definition Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a serious mental illness manifested over a long […]

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Brief Psychotic Disorder: What Does It Mean? Different from other psychotic disorders, Brief Psychotic Disorder is characterized by its limited duration, and periods of confusion, delusions, and hallucinations – this disorder is most often seen when patients are in their 20s and 30s, but can occur at any age. This uncommon psychiatric condition is categorized […]

Hypersomnia: Disruptive Oversleeping

There are days when we get so caught up with daily life activities that we may lose out on sleep for a few nights only to feel groggy and fatigued the rest of the day. This differs from hypersomnia, a sleep disorder in which an individual constantly feels sleepy during the daytime even with a […]

Complex PTSD: A Starting Guide

Experiencing a trauma – like a car accident, a robbery or being sexually violated – can have a devastating impact on your health and wellbeing. Those who are seriously affected by a single traumatic incident may end up with a diagnosis of simple PTSD. But what happens if you’ve experienced multiple and repeated traumas instead […]

Intellectual Disability (formerly “Mental Retardation”)

Intellectual disability can manifest itself in distinct ways and at different levels. Most people who receive this diagnosis can live full and rewarding lives when they have the support of family, friends, and professionals. Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation): What Does It Mean? Intellectual disability is a permanent neurological condition which develops before the age of […]

Expressive Language Disorder

Expressive language disorder is a childhood onset disorder, marked by a difficulty in expressing and communicating ideas clearly. Children with expressive language disorder might have a limited vocabulary, express themselves simplistically, and have difficulty making conversation. Expressive Language Disorder From the moment of birth, we’re all sponges for language, soaking up every word we hear […]