Patients taking antipsychotic medications, particularly at higher dosages, are at increased risk of dying from a sudden cardiac event, though screening for heart problems and prescribing at the lowest effective dose may reduce the risk.
Patients being treated for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often do not take their medication properly, because of side effects, belief that they do not need the medication, or various other reasons.
Prescribing antipsychotic medications to children and teenagers is complicated by side effects such as weight gain (which can increase health risks later in life), sedation, and neurological problems such as stiffness or spasms.
While children with ADHD typically have difficulty staying focused and sitting still, adults with the disorder are more likely to struggle with attention and memory. As with children, medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment option for adults.
People who suffer from depression are more likely to have a sleep-related breathing problem such as apnea. Treating the sleep problem may help alleviate the depression in some people.
Patients with eating disorders who also had problems with self-esteem or interpersonal relationships responded favorably to treatment that combined cognitive behavioral therapy with counseling to address their underlying issues.
A genetic testing kit for bipolar disorder is now available to consumers, but because of the many variables involved in genetics, even if a particular gene is identified, it does not necessarily mean that person will go on to develop the disorder.
In elderly patients, symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of another medical problem, so it is important for clinicians to consider all physical problems and medications of elderly patients before making a diagnosis.
In the mental health community, there is debate about whether treatment that leads to higher self-esteem should be a goal in itself, or whether improving self-esteem should come as a result of achieving other goals in one’s life.
Researchers believe that bipolar disorder is being overdiagnosed, perhaps because clinicians find it easier to treat than disorders with similar symptoms, such as depression.