Education
Anxiety disorders comprise the most common group of psychiatric disturbances. Although the feeling of anxiety is normal and often serves an adaptive function, anxiety can become severely disabling. Clinical anxiety can range from chronic worry and apprehension to immobilizing panic attacks accompanied by fear of dying, “going crazy” and/or losing control. Another major component of many anxiety disorders is the avoidance of places, objects, or people. Fears and avoidance may range from one or two specific situations such as heights or enclosed spaces (specific phobia) to being completely housebound (agoraphobia).
We all feel down or “blue” from time to time. However, for some people this mood can become more severe and can develop into a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Negative thoughts, a sense of helplessness or hopelessness, and always feeling sad, are symptoms of depression. It can seriously affect sleep patterns, appetite, energy levels and physical well-being.
Coming soon:
- The one day START CLINIC INSTITUTE in Toronto
“…Treatment Resistant Mood and Anxiety Disorders (with a focus on depression) in relation to hypo-prefrontal activity and comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)…” - Upcoming Conference START CLINIC INSTITUTES
Furtado M, Canzonieri A, Armata RS, Mohamed M, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Cardiovascular illness versus Beck Depression Inventory scores as a predictive risk factor for major depressive disorder. To be presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America annual conference. March 31-April 3, 2016. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Armata RS, Furtado M, Canzonieri A, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Cook S, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Anxiety impact on the dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes towards sleep and the average amount of sleep. To be presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America annual conference. March 31-April 3, 2016. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sternat T, Mohamed M, Furtado M, Canzonieri A, Armata RS, Epstein I, Cameron C, Katzman MA. SSRI treatment response may predict undetected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in depressed patients. To be presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America annual conference. March 31-April 3, 2016. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Furtado M, Anand L, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Katzman MA. Concussions as a predictive factor of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Canadian Psychiatric Association. October 1-3, 2015. Vancouver, Canada.
Furtado M, Armata RS, Anand L, Mohamed M, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Katzman MA. Asthma in relation to Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Canadian Psychiatric Association. October 1-3, 2015. Vancouver, Canada.
Anand L, Furtado M, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Katzman MA. Help seeking behaviors: Investigating predictors of help seeking in patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Canadian Psychiatric Association. October 1-3, 2015. Vancouver, Canada.
Sternat T, Furtado M, Anand L, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Katzman MA. Treatment resistance in mood and anxiety patients: Residual symptoms or premorbid condition? Canadian Psychiatric Association. October 1-3, 2015. Vancouver, Canada.
Iorio C, Mazmanian D, Katzman MA, Tzalazidis R. Reducing fear of pain in a sample of chronic pain patients. Canadian Psychological Association. June 4-6, 2015, Ottawa, Canada.
Sternat T, Mohamed M, Anand L, Furtado M, Epstein I, Cameron C, Szpindel I, Katzman MA. Does the presence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder predict treatment failure in patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder prescribed SSRIs? The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. June 20-25 2015, Miami, Florida.
Iorio C, Mazmanian D, Katzman MA, Maranzan A. Item analysis, validity, and normative data for the Beck Anxiety Inventory in chronic pain patients. Canadian Psychological Association. June 4-6, 2015, Ottawa, Canada.
Furtado M, Anand L, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Predicting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with a Concussion History. American Psychiatric Association. May 16-20, 2015, Toronto, Canada
Shivji S, Anand L, Furtado M, Tzalazidis R, Epstein I, Cameron C, Szpindel I, Vermani M, Lodzinski A, Katzman M.A. Intolerance of Uncertainty in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Comorbid with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. American Psychiatric Association. May 16-20, 2015, Toronto, Canada.
Furtado M, Armata RS, Anand L, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Examining Asthma and Its Relation to Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. American Psychiatric Association. May 16-20, 2015, Toronto, Canada.
Anand L, Furtado M, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Examining predictors of help seeking behaviours in patients with mood and anxiety symptoms. American Psychiatric Association. May 16-20, 2015, Toronto, Canada.
Furtado M, Anand L, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Concussions as a predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. April 9-12, 2015, Miami, FL.
Furtado M, Armata RS, Anand L, Mohamed M, Esptein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Asthma as a predictor of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, social anxiety, and agoraphobia. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. April 9-12, 2015, Miami, FL.
Anand L, Furtado M, Armata RS, Epstein I, Szpindel I, Cameron C, Sternat T, Katzman MA. Examining predictors of help seeking behaviours in patients with mood and anxiety symptoms. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. April 9-12, 2015, Miami, FL.
Brown T, Katzman MA, Klassen LJ. Impact of Unrecognized Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Treatment of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders. American Psychiatric Association. May 16-20, 2015, Toronto, Canada
Katzman MA, Epstein I, Sternat T. Trait versus State Anhedonia: The Link Between Depression and Comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. To be presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America annual conference. March 31-April 3, 2016. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Katzman MA, Epstein I, Sternat T. Trait versus state anhedonia: A predictor of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in subtype mood and anxiety disorders. Canadian Psychiatric Association. October 1-3, 2015. Vancouver, Canada.
Katzman MA, Epstein I, Klassen LJ, Fallu A. Managing Complicated Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Comorbid Depressive and Anxiety Disorders. The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. June 20-25 2015, Miami, Florida.
Katzman MA, Epstein I. Detection and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Ontario Psychiatric Association. April 24-25, 2015. Toronto, Canada.
Katzman MA, Epstein I, Klassen L. Assessing predictive risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. April 9-12, 2015, Miami, FL.
Sternat T, Katzman MA. Low Hedonic Tone: A New Way to Separate Subtypes of Mood and Anxiety Disorders? Accepted Anxiety Disorders of America Association, Annual Conference. April 9-12, 2015, Miami, FL.
The Mood and Anxiety Disorders assessed and treated in our clinic include:
Panic Disorder (PD)
Those with panic disorder experience reoccurring panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning, without any obvious reason and has a distinct beginning and end point. The fear is accompanied by physical symptoms such as pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing.
Agoraphobia
An inability to go beyond known and safe surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety. Agoraphobia often occurs in people who experience Panic Disorder.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears the he or she will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
People with this disorder have experienced a serious traumatic event and have ensuing symptoms such as reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and images.
Trichotillomania
Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. An increasing sense of tension is present immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior and pleasure, gratification, or relief occurs when pulling out the hair.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder includes both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive or unwanted thoughts, images or impulses. Whereas, compulsions are behaviors or thoughts that one feels compelled to do in response to an obsession.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities. Those with this disorder have difficulty controlling the worry.
Specific Phobia
Fear of a specific object or situation (e.g. heights, snakes, etc.) that interferes with one's ability to function.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
People with MDD experience depressed or irritable mood and a significant loss of interest or pleasure. People may also have accompanying symptoms such as weight loss or weight gain, difficulty concentrating and problems with sleeping.
Attention Deficit Disorder - With or without Hyperactivity (ADHD)
ADHD is a brain-based disorder that makes it difficult for people to control their behavior and/or focus, concentrate or pay attention. It ‘s onset is in childhood and as a result, it is usually diagnosed in childhood but in 70% of cases it continues into adulthood. In children one often assumes one will see symptoms of hyperactivity that is not always how children with ADHD look. The three primary characteristics of ADD/ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The signs and symptoms that children with attention deficit disorder have, depends upon which characteristics predominate. In fact, it is important to note that children who only have inattentive symptoms of ADHD are often overlooked, since they’re not disruptive, and yet the inattentive symptoms can affect a child’s performance in a variety of ways.
In Adults, ADHD may look quite different then what is seen in kids, hyperactivity in its childhood form is not generally there, but may be seen in another forms including difficulties with standing in lines, road rage, and with cutting off other people in conversation and finishing others sentences. More prominent ways ADHD presents in adults may include difficulties with lack of focus (or being very distractable) or with hyperfocus (being so engrossed with what they are doing that they become completely unaware of what is going on around them, resulting in being late and often in relationship misunderstandings. Other manifestations may include problems with chronic disorganization, tardiness, forgetfulness, impulsivity, moodiness and low frustration tolerance, difficulties with motivation energy and procrastination as well as chronic sadness (low hedonic tone), anxiety and poor self esteem. This can result in depression and anxiety disorders as well as substance abuse, marital discord, parenting challenges and frequent losses of job.