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Doctor insights on: What Is The Function Of An Anticholinergic For Mental Illness

Several: Anticholinergics first were used in psychiatry for treating parkinson's disorder, although other, more effective medicines have largely replaced them. They are perhaps most commonly used to treat side effects of other medications, especially antipsychotics, which can cause parkinsonsian-like symptoms. They also sometimes are used as calming agents in acute situations. ...Read more

Psychosis too: I agree with my colleague about munchausen's as one possibility. But i've also known people who were very psychotic (such as schizophrenic or schizoaffective) who self-amputated functional body parts. Wanting to remove body parts is not enough to make a diagnosis, so psychiatric consultation is wise in such cases. ...Read more

It depends: This isn't exactly a medical question, it's more of a legal or moral one. But laws in the us generally hold that if a person cannot tell right from wrong due to a mental illness, then they are "not guilty by reason of insanity" (or similar language depending on the state). Most mental illness is not severe enough to meet this standard, and the "insanity defense" is actually used fairly rarely. ...Read more

"Pop" misconception: One of the cruelest things that you can do is tell someone with real mental illness to "snap out of it." things that are easy for most of us are very difficult for people who have brain anatomy or chemistry disturbances or whose life experience has forced them to learn behaviors and attitudes unlike yours. You have little insight when you dream; don't expect others to self-cure. Urge compliance. ...Read more

Be more specific...: "mental illness" is a very vague label. It can be as minor as having a phobia of fish to severe psychosis (a disconnect from reality). None of us are totally "normal". The question is do your symptoms significantly interfere with your life? Please be more specific. If unsure, consult a mental health professional. ...Read more

Genetics & Experienc: A person can be born with a propensity to have various types of mental illness. Life experiences can bring about various symptoms of mental illness. Sometimes there is a combination of both situations. When you are worried about this question, it is probably a good idea to talk with a mental health professional ...Read more

No: It would be considered a fetish. Not a disorder. Sexual disorders may be associated like sexual addiction, especially where the sexual behavior affects performance and functioning in other areas outside of relationships. But there are practicioners of bdsm that engage in those behaviors safely and compartmentalize the sexual behaviors to the appropriate setting. ...Read more

Evaluation needed: And number of symptoms may indicate a mental illness, but can also be symptoms of a physical illness such as diabetes. Problems with emotions, focus, sleep, impulsivity, eating habits, anxiety, depression, relationships, or not being in touch with reality can be indicators of a medical or mental illness or stress. Evaluations by a psychologist or md should give you clear answers. ...Read more

Brain dysfunction: As with most conditions, multiple genes interact resulting in some degree of vulnerability or resistance, interacting with environmental stress which can have different effects based upon when in life or how many/often they occur. ...Read more

Please repost: Sorry, but your post isn't even a complete sentence. There really isn't any question that can be answered. What ABOUT "the unique needs of people with mental illness"? Please clarify, bearing in mind that many of those needs are social, not medical, issues, & that we're doctors, not political scientists; so if those are the "needs" you refer to, this may not be an appropriate venue. ...Read more