Adequate Treatment-What it is and its importance
The Importance of Adequate Treatment of Biologically Based Mental Health Problems
From the series “I want you to know what I know.”
There is needless mental and physical pain & suffering, with unnecessarily destroyed and lost lives &minds because of lack of early diagnosis and adequate treatment of certain biologically based mental health disorders. This I believe represents unrecognized epidemic, and may be endemic in higher functioning individuals who suffer silently, who I call “the suffering well.”
A. Definition: Biologically based mental health problems are those that have a know biochemical basis for which there are biological treatments including medications.
B. Non Biological Treatments: Some of these problems can be symptomatically treated without the use of medications, however this may not be adequate treatment.
C. Necessary vs. Essential Treatment: Depending on the type of problem, its severity , duration, course of progression and complications, medication management may not only be necessary but essential for adequate treatment.
D. Adequate Treatment: Adequate treatment has at least eight interrelated factors and goals. Treatment is adequate when it , 1) is of sufficient intensity 2) and duration to treat symptoms , not just to get relief, 3) and to reduce impairment but also, 4) to the point of remission , and 5) to prevent reoccurrences of the symptom, 6) relapses of the disorder and, 7) to treat and 8) prevent complications.
E. Early Treatment: The best way to ensure symptomatic relief, reduce impairment to the return to the previous level of functioning, if not to an improved level of functioning, to prevent relapses and complications is adequate treatment at the earliest age and as early as possible in the course of the disorder.
F. Early Diagnosis: Most biologically based mental health problems have their origins and beginnings in childhood and the adolescent years, thus the importance of diagnosis and treatment at the earliest age.
G. Diagnosis in Mental Health Disorders: There is no laboratory test, or imaging tool that makes the diagnosis, and screening tests are just that, screens to point one in possible diagnostic direction. The diagnosis as in the rest of medicine is made clinically by understanding three interrelated factors , A) symptom presentation, B) history of the disorder and family history, and C) treatment response. These three factor need to expanded and explored in as much detail that is necessary, taking as much time it may take until there is a clear descriptive and biochemical diagnosis with an adequate treatment response.
H. Medication Trial a Diagnostic Tool: In complicated problems with unclear causes including possibly multiple biochemical origins a therapeutic medication trial to see the response to treatment may be necessary, to clarify the diagnosis & determine the next steps in treatment.
I. Lack of and Improper Treatment Has Serious Outcomes: Lack of, delay in and inadequate treatment leads to progression of the disorder and development of complications, that include unnecessary mental pain and suffering in self and in relationships, impairment and deterioration in functioning at home, work, school, and socially, worsening of physical disorders, new physical symptoms, destroyed and lost lives & minds from social, relationship, academic, work failure, increase of accidents, drug and alcohol abuse, serious crimes, violence to self and others, that may end in homicide and suicide.
J. Prevention: Much of this is preventable by early diagnosis and adequate medication treatment of certain biologically based mental health disorders.