Are psychiatric disorders treatable? Are they curable? How
long will I have to take medications?
These are some of the common questions clients ask me.
The answer to the first question is easy! Yes, they are treatable.
The second and third? Not so simple! Are they curable? Depends on the condition in question and what you mean by a cure.
Medications, how long? Again depends on the condition.
Let me explain the answers to second and third questions in more detail. Psychiatric disorders are of many different kinds. Many disorders such as depression, adjustment disorders, certain anxiety disorders often go away by themselves, or with relatively brief treatment. But without treatment, they may last longer and have a higher possibility of emerging again. However, more severe forms of illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia will more likely continue unabated without treatment, although there may be periods of relative freedom from symptoms. With treatment, the story can be different! For instance, up to 30% of patients with schizophrenia lead normal lives with treatment and another 30-40% experience only mild problems. If leading a normal life after treatment is what you call a cure, well then, a large proportion of patients with schizophrenia may be considered cured!
So how long do I continue treatment? For an isolated depressive episode or adjustment disorder, medications may not be needed at all!
Even if they are needed, few months at best should suffice. However, if we are looking at schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the situation gets trickier. Longer the illness (or more the number of episodes), lengthier the treatment.
So if treatment is sought early, the duration of treatment is shorter and outcome better; a double benefit! So in the first instance or episode, close to an year of treatment may suffice.
But if treatment is sought late, or medications are not taken regularly, it results in poor outcome as well as longer duration of treatment; a double whammy!
Therefore, for the best case scenario, consult early, take treatment regularly and get cured quickly!
Hope this helps!
STAY HAPPY!
If you need to contact me, feel free to write in at stayhappy.prakash@gmail.com
You might also want to check out my you tube channel Stay Happy!
Dr. Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Behavioural Sciences Expert
These are some of the common questions clients ask me.
The answer to the first question is easy! Yes, they are treatable.
The second and third? Not so simple! Are they curable? Depends on the condition in question and what you mean by a cure.
Medications, how long? Again depends on the condition.
Let me explain the answers to second and third questions in more detail. Psychiatric disorders are of many different kinds. Many disorders such as depression, adjustment disorders, certain anxiety disorders often go away by themselves, or with relatively brief treatment. But without treatment, they may last longer and have a higher possibility of emerging again. However, more severe forms of illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia will more likely continue unabated without treatment, although there may be periods of relative freedom from symptoms. With treatment, the story can be different! For instance, up to 30% of patients with schizophrenia lead normal lives with treatment and another 30-40% experience only mild problems. If leading a normal life after treatment is what you call a cure, well then, a large proportion of patients with schizophrenia may be considered cured!
So how long do I continue treatment? For an isolated depressive episode or adjustment disorder, medications may not be needed at all!
Even if they are needed, few months at best should suffice. However, if we are looking at schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the situation gets trickier. Longer the illness (or more the number of episodes), lengthier the treatment.
So if treatment is sought early, the duration of treatment is shorter and outcome better; a double benefit! So in the first instance or episode, close to an year of treatment may suffice.
But if treatment is sought late, or medications are not taken regularly, it results in poor outcome as well as longer duration of treatment; a double whammy!
Therefore, for the best case scenario, consult early, take treatment regularly and get cured quickly!
Hope this helps!
STAY HAPPY!
If you need to contact me, feel free to write in at stayhappy.prakash@gmail.com
You might also want to check out my you tube channel Stay Happy!
Dr. Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Behavioural Sciences Expert
lybrate.com/dr.sathyaprakash
Important topic to address...
ReplyDeleteRacing thoughts which I can't control is a bipolar disorder??
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing in Robert!
DeleteRacing thoughts can be a symptom of bipolar disorder. But first it is important to distinguish 'racing thoughts' from repetitive thoughts. Repetitive, irrational thoughts may be seen in obsessive compulsive disorder; repetitive thoughts with content related to multiple worries may be seen in many a anxiety disorders. 'Racing thoughts' usually refers to rapidly changing thoughts often related to new interests, multiple plans, big plans and may often border on being unrealistic or be completely unrealistic. It is usually seen in manic, hypomanic and mixed phases of bipolar disorder. Some people can have racing thoughts associated with milder variants of bipolar disorder, so called soft bipolar disorders. Occasionally, they may also be seen in those with borderline personality disorder. The final diagnosis would rest on the overall clinical picture rather than just one symptom. Hope that helps!