Disorders

Depression:

Potentially life-threatening, depression affects up to 20% of the world’s population.

Based on studies of families, probably 40-50% of the risk for depression is genetic, but the specific genes involved have never been identified. It is probably safe to say there is no single “depression” gene.

While great strides have occurred in developing medications to treat depression, generally only 50 to 60% of patients respond to initial antidepressant therapy and thirty-to-forty percent of patients who take medication for depression never achieve symptom resolution with standard antidepressant treatment (The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update, Volume 17, No. 11).

Clearly, just taking medication is not adequate treatment for many people. MORE

Autism

EEG’s of persons with autism often show a great deal of arousal over wide areas of the brain. Considering that about 70% of the “normal” brain is involved with inhibiting the other 30% of the brain, imagine that the autistic brain is overwhelmed with sensory information by a lack of adequate gating processes; everything in the environment is demanding attention and the autistic brain can’t screen out the irrelevant distracters.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

When we talk about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) we are talking about recurring obsessions or compulsions that are so severe that they are time consuming (take more than one hour a day) or cause significant distress or impairment. OCD is not caused by drug abuse, medication, or another medical condition. Adults with OCD recognize that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable.

Many people who suffer from OCD are reluctant to share their concerns with others. They realize that their thinking or behaviors are abnormal and, although they know they "just can't help it," they are ashamed to ask for help. MORE