hit counter

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Trichotillomania is psychiatrically classified as subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder characterized chiefly by the urge to pull out one’s own hair.  The condition, also known as “hair pulling disorder,” affects upwards of 2.5 million individuals in the United States at some point during their lives.  Onset of trichotillomania occurs most frequently between 9 and 13 …

Read more

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is regarded as a subtype of impulse control disorder characterized by impulsive, uncontrollable explosive outbursts of anger, aggression, and/or rage – sometimes accompanied by violence.  To be considered intermittent explosive disorder, the explosive outbursts of anger must be triggered in situations and/or conditions in which such anger is unjustified.  In other …

Read more

Impulse Control Disorder (ICD): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Impulse control disorder (ICD) is an overarching classificatory label given to psychiatric disorders characterized by inability to resist impulses (or urges) that yield deleterious implications.  Examples of impulse control disorders include: compulsive gambling, incessant sexual encounters, and binge shopping.  If unrecognized and/or unaddressed for an extended duration, an impulse control disorder may ruin a person’s: …

Read more

Hyperthyroidism in Cats (Felines): Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Feline hyperthyroidism is characterized by overproduction of T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) hormones via the thyroid glands in cats.  As a result of excessive T4 and T3 hormone secretion, concentrations of T4 and T3 reach supraphysiological concentrations within the body of the cat.  At supraphysiological concentrations, these hormones elicit deleterious effects upon normative physiological processes, …

Read more

Too Much Synthroid (Levothyroxine) Symptoms

Synthroid (Levothyroxine) is a synthetic form of T4 (thyroxine), a hormone secreted by the follicular cells of the thyroid gland.  Individuals with insufficient levels of thyroxine (T4) exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism such as: depression, lethargy, malaise, and sleepiness.  Regular administration of synthroid (levothyroxine) is thought to reverse symptoms of hypothyroidism and normalize all neurophysiological processes …

Read more

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Individuals that have used any potent drug, particularly for a long-term and/or at high doses are known to experience significant short-term withdrawal symptoms.  These symptoms may include things like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.  Over time, they usually lessen in severity as the nervous system and physiology adjusts to function without the presence of the …

Read more