Ever seen anyone who occasionally behaves and dresses in a very strange fashion, but is completely normal otherwise? It may be a case of Brief Psychotic Disorder (BPD), a short term mental condition, which the person is possibly suffering from. Read and find out more about the causes, symptoms, treatment options and prognosis of this condition.

Brief Psychotic Disorder Definition

It is a temporary psychological condition that gives rise to one or more common symptoms of Psychosis, such as delusions, strange bodily movements, hallucinations and peculiar speech pattern. At least 1 of the principal psychosis symptoms must be present in a BDP patient for less than a month.

Are you lately finding a dear friend appearing aloof and avoiding social activities without any apparent reason? Chances are that he or she is suffering Schizoid Personality Disorder. Read and find all about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Schizoid Personality Disorder Definition

Commonly known as SPD, this is a psychiatric condition characterized by social isolation and prolonged indifference of a person towards others around him/her. The symptoms are often life-long.

Ophidiophobia is a fear of snakes that affects around 10% of the global population. Read and explore the various causes, symptoms, modes of treatment and more of this common phobia.

What is Ophidiophobia?

It is a specific type of phobia (anxiety disorder resulting in abnormal fear of any object or situation) where a person has morbid fear of snakes. It is also known as Ophiophobia. This kind of snake phobia can be a part of Herpetophobia, which is a fear of reptiles like lizards and amphibians. People suffering from Ophiophobia may develop secondary fear towards the other reptiles in the course of time.

Picture 1 – Ophidiophobia

Although the fear was earlier considered to be an innate reaction, recent medical research has revealed that it is a very critical medical condition.

The condition is also often referred to as “Snakeophobia”.

Shift work sleep disorder is a unique condition that, according to a recent study, affects the sleep of about 10% of all rotating and night shift workers.  Read and learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of this circadian rhythm sleep condition.

Shift work sleep disorder Definition

Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a very common sleep disorder which generally affects the shift workers. A shift worker is someone who works at a certain shift which is completely opposite to a normal work shift i.e. 9am to 5 pm job. These shifts can be either rotational or fixed. In most cases the workers have to work at night or in the late evening. Due to such abrupt shifts the natural circadian rhythm (a 24 hour cycle in all living beings which is maintained internally by the body) of the body gets disturbed and invites a family of other sleep disorders. Insomnia and immoderate sleepiness are believed to be very common symptoms of this particular disorder. The shift workers always find it difficult to adjust such irregular sleep and wake schedule and are prone to daytime sleepiness.

Dermatillomania is a unique disorder that involves picking at the skin. Read and learn all about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Dermatillomania Definition

It is a peculiar disease in which apparently normal people pick at their own skin, driven by an overwhelming urge. The condition is known by many other names, such as:

• Compulsive skin picking (CSP)
• Neurotic excoriation
• Pathologic skin picking (PSP)
• Psychogenic excoriation

Along with Onychophagia (nail-biting) and Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), Dermatillomania is classified under the category of impulse control disorders referred to as “Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors”.