Psychiatry

Borderline Personality Disorder – The difficult patient – MM1602

GPs are often the first point of contact for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and this encounter can be critical in engaging these patients with health services that can provide support and treatment.

BPD is a mental disorder and a personality disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5) and is characterised by distressing emotional states, difficulty relating to other people and self-harming behaviour. Common presentations include visits to emergency departments with self-harm, or seeing their GPs with suicidality, low mood or treatment-resistant depression.

Modern Medicine – February 2016

Cognitive Impairment Persists after Depressive Episodes – MM1507

Cognitive dysfunction is a core component of major psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD). Although it was initially thought that cognitive impairments in MDD were state-related, increasing evidence suggests that cognitive abnormalities persist beyond depressive episodes.

Modern Medicine – July 2015

Improving Positive Affect in a Practical Manner – MM1507

Over the years positive psychology has placed strong emphasis on how positive affect can improve health. This prompted Vista Clinic to develop the Happiness HELPS campaign as a means of improving positive affect in patients. The aim of the campaign is to promote mental health and to reduce the symptoms of depression. The Happiness HELPS concept consists of a set of practical actions that can be carried out on a daily basis in order to combat the negative emotional affects of depression and anxiety. The acronym “HELPS” provides an easy-to-follow guide which can be used by everyone to promote and maintain their mental health.
HELPS stands for:
• Help Others
• Exercise
• Learn
• Play
• Spiritual Growth

Modern Medicine – July 2015