Mental Illness
 |
Conversion Disorder Conversion disorder is a condition in which a person has blindness, paralysis, or other nervous system (neurologic) symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation. Symptoms can include blindness, paralysis and other physical symtpoms. |
 |
Autism Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown, but this is a very active area of research. There are probably a combination of factors that lead to autism. |
 |
Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a mental illness caused by a chemical disorder of the brain. Once called manic depression, bipolar disorder causes dramatic symptoms. People who suffer from this disease may experience unusual mood shifts, energy shifts and difficulty with daily activities and symptoms can range from mania to depression that can result in loss of jobs, relationships and even suicide. Although there is no cure and it usually lasts a lifetime, bipolar disorder can be effectively treated |
 |
Suicide While youth suicides earn more news headlines, suicide rates in the United States actually increase with age. This powerful episode explores the devastating reality of suicide, and what you should know about helping yourself or a loved one. |
 |
Heart Disease & Depression While the physical consequences of heart disease are fairly well known, the mental ramifications are often overlooked. With a tough case and a surprise ending, Second Opinion delves into the cause and effect of heart disease and mental health, and the potentially detrimental emotional aspects of medical illnesses. |
 |
Eating Disorders Eating disorders affect some several million people at any given time, about 90 percent of whom are female. You may associate eating disorders with younger women, but they can also begin or recur later in life. In fact, some research suggests that approximately 79 percent of deaths related to anorexia occur in women over 45 years of age. In this episode, Second Opinion panelists discuss this very complex biological, psychological and cultural problem. |
 |
Depression Today, one in five Americans will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder. That adds up to 44 million adults and 4 million children. And yet, it remains under-recognized by primary care doctors. This episode of Second Opinion introduces a panel of medical experts and health care providers, along with the First Lady of New Jersey, Mary Jo Codey, who shares her personal battle with depression. Together they explore the latest trends in diagnosis and treatment of this debilitating disease. |
 |
Addiction Major advancements in neurological science are changing the way experts understand and treat addictive behavior. Learn from some of the country's leading experts what the latest medical research tells us about treating addictive behaviors in men and women. |
