Like their female counterparts, male survivors of sexual assault experience the traumatic after-effects. One significant difference - men who have been raped by another man may question their own sexuality.

What are some symptoms related to sexual trauma in boys and men?

Particularly when the assailant is a woman, the impact of sexual assault upon men may be downplayed by professionals and the public. However, men who have early sexual experiences with adults report problems in various areas at a much higher rate than those who do not.

Emotional Disorders

Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted are more likely to suffer from PTSD, other anxiety disorders, and depression than those who have never been abused sexually.

Substance Abuse

Men who have been sexually assaulted have a high incidence of alcohol and drug use. For example, the probability of alcohol problems in adulthood is about 80% for men who have experienced sexual abuse, as compared to 11% for men who have never been sexually abused.

Encopresis

One study revealed that a percentage of boys who suffer from encopresis (bowel incontinence) had been sexually abused.

Risk-Taking Behavior

Exposure to sexual trauma can lead to risk-taking behavior during adolescence, such as running away and other delinquent behaviors. Having been sexually assaulted also makes boys more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV (such as having sex without using condoms).

How does male gender socialization affect the recognition of male sexual assault?

• Men who have not dealt with the symptoms of their sexual assault may experience confusion about their sexuality and role as men (their gender role). This confusion occurs for many reasons. The traditional gender role for men in our society dictates that males be strong, self-reliant, and in control. Our society often does not recognize that men and boys can also be victims of sexual assault. Boys and men may be taught that being victimized implies that they are weak and, thus, not a man.
• Furthermore, when the perpetrator of a sexual assault is a man, feelings of shame, stigmatization, and negative reactions from others may also result from the social taboos.
• When the perpetrator of a sexual assault is a woman, some people do not take the assault seriously, and men may feel as though they are unheard and unrecognized as victims.
• Parents often know very little about male sexual assault and may harm their male children who are sexually abused by downplaying or denying the experience.

Sources:

• Black, C. A., & DeBlassie, R. R. (1993). Sexual abuse in male children and adolescents: Indicators, effects, and treatments. Adolescence, 28, 123-133.
• Etherington, K. (1995). Adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 8, 233-241.
• Gordon, M. (1990). Males and females as victims of childhood sexual abuse: An examination of the gender effect. Journal of Family Violence, 5, 321-332.

People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) have a long-term, consistent preoccupation with rules, order, and control. They follow rules and procedures rigidly and exhibit perfectionist behaviors and have a need to maintain strict control over people and circumstances in their lives. (See: Famous People with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Defined

The answer to the question - "What is obsessive-compulsive personality disorder"? - is best answered by understanding what it is not. Since the names sound similar, people tend to think it's the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), when, in fact, they are quite different conditions.

The two disorders do share some symptoms and people with either condition are typically high achievers with a keen sense of urgency about their behaviors. However, people with OCD experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts. They feel compelled to perform ritualistic actions like excessive hand-washing or repeatedly checking the locks on windows and doors. Those with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder don't typically feel a need to perform repeated ritualistic actions.

Unlike those with OCD, people with OCPD believe their thoughts are correct and that their way is the only way. Individuals with OCPD have no idea that their thought patterns cause problems for themselves and others. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder treatment can help with that. Most people with OCD do not have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Effects of OCPD

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder causes interpersonal problems with family members, friends, and coworkers. For example, when you have an obsessive-compulsive personality, you may work very hard, but your preoccupation with perfectionism and rigid rule conformity makes you inefficient. You might not finish projects and likely miss important deadlines due to your perfectionism and excessive orderliness, causing others to view you as incompetent or unfit for your job responsibilities.

Obsessive-compulsive personality relationships suffer because people with the disorder have trouble expressing their feelings, even when it comes to romantic partners and children. Additionally, they have few moral gray areas. Actions and beliefs are either completely right, or totally wrong. This black and white way of thinking often causes them to act out with righteous indignation and anger in response to a "wrong" behavior or belief. This makes it difficult to form and maintain close relationships with others. The resulting social isolation can cause anxiety and depression.

Causes of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Researchers remain unclear as to the exact causes of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Since the disorder tends to run in families, most experts believe genetics play a role in its development along with a person's childhood upbringing and environment. Risk factors for OCPD:

• Family history of OCPD or OCD
• Upbringing with harsh, rigid discipline
• Being the oldest child
• Being male

People who develop OCPD grow up in an environment characterized by intimacy avoidance, restricted expression of emotion, and inflexible perfectionism. This setting, coupled with a genetic predisposition, may trigger a complex biophysical process that leads to the illness. A person who has only a genetic predisposition, or only the rigid childhood and upbringing, probably won't develop the condition.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Statistics

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder statistics from the International OCD Foundation indicate that about one in 100 people in the United States has OCPD. While it occurs in both men and women, about twice as many men have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

A psychologist or psychiatrist with experience working with people with personality disorders can diagnose OCPD. The doctor will compare the individual's symptoms and mental health history to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder DSM diagnostic criteria to make the diagnosis. Then he or she can begin to develop a treatment strategy that fits the patient's individual mental health needs.

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There are reliable tools that can be used to create a healthy relationship, many of which have not been taught in our culture. If you want to have a really healthy relationship, follow these simple guidelines.

Do not expect anyone to be responsible for your happiness. Accept yourself. Respect yourself. Love yourself first. Take good care of yourself. If you really want, you CAN always find something to do that makes you feel good about yourself right now. Love yourself, so pursue your true needs. Light up your true desires. Ask yourself why you didn't? Too often relationships fail because someone is unhappy and blames their partner for making them that way. Your life is ONLY under your control. Keep reminding yourself you are GOOD ENOUGH to have a happy life and a healthy relationship. Make yourself happy, and then share with one another.

Make and keep clear agreements. Respect the difference between yourself and your partner. Don't expect he or she agrees with you on everything. Reach mutual agreement or plan, and then commit to it. Leave the partner if you can't reach an agreement or you find he or she always makes excuses for breaking the agreement or plan. If you say you're going to meet your partner for lunch at noon, be on time, or call if you're going to be late. If you agree to have a monogamous relationship, keep that agreement and/or tell the truth about any feelings you're having about someone else before you act on them. Keeping agreements shows respect for yourself and your partner, as well as creating a sense of trust and safety.

Use communication to establish a common ground to understand different points of view and to create a mutual, collaborative agreement or plan. You can either choose to be right, or you can have a successful relationship. You can't always have both. Most people argue to be "right" about something. They say. "If you loved me, you would..." and argue to hear the other say, "Okay, you're right." If you are generally more interested in being right, this approach will not create a healthy relationship. Having a healthy relationship means that you have your experience, and your partner has his or her experience, and you learn to love and share and learn from those experiences. If you can't reach any mutual agreement, that doesn't mean either of you is wrong or bad, it only means you don't suit each other.

Approach your relationship as a learning experience. Each one has important information for you to learn. For example, do you often feel 'bossed' around in your relationship, or do you feel powerless? When a relationship is not working, there is usually a familiar way that we feel while in it. We are attracted to the partner with whom we can learn the most, and sometimes the lesson is to let go of a relationship that no longer serves us. A truly healthy relationship will consist of both partners who are interested in learning and expanding a relationship so that it continues to improve.

Tell the unarguable truth. Be truthful to yourself and your partner if you want true love. Many people are taught to lie to protect someone's feelings, either their own or those of their partner. Lies create a disconnection between you and your relationship, even if your partner never finds out about it. The unarguable truth is about your true feelings; your partner can argue about anything that happens outside of you, but he or she cannot rationally deny your feelings. Here are some examples: "I felt scared when I saw you talking to him at the party," "I feel angry when you hang up on me," and "I felt sad when you walked out during our fight and didn't want to be around me."

Do not do anything for your partner if it comes with an expectation of reciprocation. The things you do for your partner must always be done because you chose to do them and you wanted to do them. Do not hold your "good deeds" over their head at a later time. Keeping score in a relationship will never work: a person is less likely to notice and value all the contributions of their partner as much as their own.

Forgive one another. Forgiveness is a decision of letting go of the past and focusing on the present. It's about taking control of your current situation. Talk about the issue and try to reach a mutual agreement on how to handle the situation in the future and then commit to it. If you can't reach an agreement, it's a bad sign. If you learn from the past and do not repeat the same pattern, it's a good sign. It's the only way to prevent yourself from more disappointment, anger or resentment. Respect your partner, when your partner tells you to leave them alone, do give him or her the time and space.

Review your expectations. Try to be as clear as you can about any expectations - including acceptable and unacceptable behavior and attitudes, especially attitudes towards money. Make sure you don't expect your partner to fulfill every need in your life. One person cannot be everything to you. Everybody needs love, intimacy, affection, and affirmation, but your partner cannot alone give you all of that. You need to get some from your friends, from your family, but first and foremost, love yourself. Attempting to change someone else's mode of processing or personality style won't work -- and will create derailments.

Be Responsible. Here's a new definition: Responsible means that you have the ability to respond. Respond to the real problem, to your true needs. It does not mean you are to blame. There is tremendous power in claiming your creation. If you've been snippy to your partner, own up to it, and get curious about why you are jealous and how you might do it differently next time. If you are unhappy in your relationship, get curious about why this situation seems similar to others from your past, and how you might create a better relationship for yourself rather than dwell in anger or resentment or try to change your partner instead.

Appreciate yourself and your partner. In the midst of an argument, it can be difficult to find something to appreciate. Start by generating appreciation in moments of non-stress, and that way when you need to be able to do it during a stressful conversation, it will be easier. One definition of appreciation is to be sensitively aware so you don't have to be sugar-coating anything; so tell your beloved that you love him or her and that you don't want to argue but to talk and make it better.

Admit your mistakes and say sorry. Right after a misunderstanding or argument, tell your partner to give you some time to think of the wrong and right things that you and he/she did. Tell your partner to do the same thing and talk to them after 10-15 minutes. Tell your partner to give you time to talk and explain to them why you were angry, the wrong things you did, the things they did that you did not like and what you would like them to change. Ask your partner to do the same thing and give them a fair chance to talk and explain also. This will make your relationship stronger and help strengthen the communication between you and your partner.

Spend some quality time together- No matter how busy you two are, there is always an excitement when you do something together, when you share your precious time. Play a sport, eat at a restaurant, watch your favorite movies together. You will feel the magic of love and connection that you have with each other.

For those suffering from mental illness, effective online mental health self-help is available. The many self-directed online options provide a great way to reinforce the progress made with your therapist.

Online Self-Help - Accessible and Effective

Six separate studies report positive outcomes when participants used online self-help and face-to-face self-help groups to address their mental illnesses. According to Medscape contributor, Edward L. Knight, Ph.D., CPRP, “The findings on self-help groups for people with serious mental illness consistently show reduced symptoms and substance abuse over time…reductions in crises…improved social competence and social networks; and increased healthy behaviors and perceptions of well-being.”

Why Consider Online Self-Help Groups?

Living with a mental health condition can seem overwhelming at times and having access to online self-help groups with members who have experiences in common with you helps. Members share tips on coping that they and others have found useful. Online self-help groups give you a safe place to talk about your challenges and frustrations. The members will then offer comfort and encouragement. This collaboration with others who understand your plight is critical to the healing process.

Links to online self-help groups:

+supportgroups – This site has online self-help groups for just about any mental health issue or life challenge you can imagine. It’s easy to participate. Just create an account and join the support group that covers your needs.

SMART Recovery® - SMART Recovery online self-help groups focus on addiction recovery. They have groups for a range of addictions, including drugs, alcohol, sexual, gambling, and more.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Support – This site includes self-help groups for patients, family members, and friends with a commitment to learning to cope with OCD in healthy ways.

Anxiety Social Net – Anxiety Social Net is set up like a social network especially for people suffering from anxiety disorder. Within the network, they have online self-help groups that focus on many types of anxiety as well as related disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) – The DBSA organization provides a number of online self-help groups for those with depression and bipolar disorder. It’s peer-led and meetings occur in real time.

Self-Improvement Online Resources

For individual help with a challenging mental health issue, consider the many options available for self-improvement online. You can find self-improvement courses, seminars, and products that cover so many life areas, it’s truly mind-boggling (Get Free Self-Help Books, EBooks and Workbooks).

If you’re dealing with a mental illness, you probably have some days when you need a little extra guidance or encouragement to get you back on track. You can find helpful advice and useful tools for your personal self-improvement online – without leaving home (there are Self-Help for Overcoming Low Self-Esteem options, too).

Links to self-improvement online resources:

HigherAwareness.com – This site provides self-improvement courses and personalized coaching to go with each one. It requires you to register for a membership, which will cost $19 per month. For that price, you have unlimited access to their 18 self-improvement courses and coaching.

101 Online Self Improvement Resources – Popular self-improvement website, Pick the Brain, published this comprehensive list of resources for self-improvement online. It includes resources for general personal growth, personal development, mental stimulation, business and financial success, and educational areas.

Shop For and Read Self-Help Books Online

If you don’t like going to a brick and mortar bookstore, you can shop for and read your self-help books online. You can download most of these in PDF format or right onto your eReading device, such as a Kindle or Nook.

Links to self-help books online:

BookRix – This site offers pages and pages of online self-help books. You can read them online or download them for reading later.

Goodreads – Goodreads, a social network for book lovers, lists over 40,000 popular self-help books. Most, but not all, are available for purchase in both electronic and traditional formats.

Online self-help is here to stay and more resources become available every day so you can take charge of your mental health and live your best life.

What’s the best self-help when living with a mental illness? Is psychological self-help the best help? The answer is maybe. Living with a mental illness can make life difficult at times. If you’re dealing with anything more than just a mild mental illness, even the best self-help tools, when used alone, might not be enough to help you cope. Likewise, with therapy and treatment alone, you might not always feel your best. That’s where self-help can make a difference (What is Self-Help for Mental Health?).

If you have access to a computer with an Internet connection, you have an array of self-help options right at your fingertips (Online Mental Health Self-Help is Available and Effective).

Best Self-Help Digital Tools

A quick search and click take you right to some of the best self-help available for those living with mental illness:

Best Self-Help Apps

iStress for anxiety. For the iPhone, this app includes several activities designed to help you manage stress. For example, you can read encouraging quotes or record your negative thoughts and then use the “reframe thoughts” function to change them into positive affirmations.

Self-help Anxiety Management (SAM) for anxiety. For iPhone and Android, this app claims to provide a range of techniques and tools for people committed to learning how to manage their anxiety. With great graphics, the app includes user guidance, self-monitoring tools, 25 self-help options that help with a number of anxiety-related issues.

Depression CBT Guide. For Android, this app allows you to read articles about cognitive behavioral therapy or listen to audio clips that help you relax and meditate. It includes a cognitive thought diary to help you identify problematic thinking and replace it with positive thinking.

Depressioncheck for a variety of conditions. For iPhone, the depressioncheck app helps you evaluate the severity of any disturbing symptoms quickly using an easy questionnaire. You can keep track of your symptoms and it uses this data to warn if you are at risk for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. You can even share the stored information with your doctor to help him or her make a diagnosis.

T2 Mood Tracker for bipolar disorder. Designed for both iPhone and Android, T2 Mood Tracker includes the full range of mood scale or allows you to create your own. Swipe, rate your mood, and view it in an attractive graph. You can personalize the details to customize it and the report generator allows you to easily share your data with your doctor.

iCounselor OCD for obsessive-compulsive disorder. This helpful iPhone app allows you to rate your OCD as well as learn skills that help you to resist obsessions and compulsions. It also provides insight into any distorted thought patterns you may have. There are a number of iCounselor apps available for a variety of disorders including bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety, anger and more.

Best Self-Help Blogs

Self Help Daily. The Self Help Daily blog by Joi Tania Sigers seeks to teach readers to learn from their mistakes and become stronger through these challenges. Sigers then provides inspiration for readers to use their newfound strength and wisdom to make the world a better place.

Operation Beautiful. Caitlin, owner of Operation Beautiful, believes every single human is beautiful and dedicates her work to ending crippling negative self-talk in girls, women, and men. She hopes to encourage a positive body image in her readers by showing them that their beauty comes from the inside and arises out of each person’s unique qualities and talents.

The Daily Love. Mastin Kipp, owner of The Daily Love blog, imparts wisdom and shares tools for overcoming fear, jealousy, and making sense of challenging times in life. His content includes encouraging stories for those going through difficult times.

Best Self-Help Websites

Mental Health America. MHA’s self-help section offers screening tools, worksheets and articles like “31 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health”. Also check out their “Sample Letter for Starting a Conversation About Mental Health Struggles”.

Psychology Today. The Psychology Today website provides readers with articles and features on psychology and specific issues people with mental illness may be facing.

Self Help Zone. The Self Help Zone provides self-help resources and encouragement for those coping with depression, anxiety/panic, anger, as well as career, relationship, and stress issues.

As always, count on HealthyPlace.com to bring you the most up-to-date, best self-help information, tools, resources, and links available.

People with dependent personality disorder symptoms become emotionally dependent on others and take great pains to please others, even to their own detriment. People with the condition exhibit overly needy, clingy behavior and harbor an intense fear of separation and abandonment. Since most don't recognize that they have a problem, they don't seek treatment for dependent personality disorder.

Specific Dependent Personality Disorder Symptoms

Below are some common dependent personality disorder symptoms along with a simple example for clarification. People with dependent personality disorder may:

• Have difficulty making common, everyday decisions. A person with DPD may need excessive encouragement and reassurance to decide what to wear on any given day.
• Need others to take responsibility for them. People with DPD see themselves as incapable of independence and need others to take the lead in every aspect of their lives. For instance, a woman with the disorder may manipulate her husband into deciding where she will work, whom she socializes with, and what she eats.
• Expend excessive effort to get others to support and nurture them. A man with DPD may volunteer to take on mundane tasks or even submit to activities they find repulsive to get a positive response from potential caretakers. This behavior is a form of manipulation disguised as self-sacrifice.
• Be overwhelmed with fears of being abandoned and having to care for themselves. Their most powerful fear is that they will end up alone and having to take responsibility for their own care and wellbeing.
• Feel distraught and helpless when alone. When alone, they deal with intense anxiety and may fill up the alone time with people they barely know or even dislike while they wait for their significant other to return.
• Avoid disagreeing with others. They fear that if they disagree with their nurturers, the caregiver may withdraw emotional and physical support.
• Immediately replace failed relationships with new ones. When a divorce occurs, or other intimate relationship ends, the DPD person urgently seeks a replacement, typically finding one to take over the role of the previous significant other.
• Not be able to start tasks or bring them to completion on their own. They lack the self-confidence to begin and follow through on even the simplest tasks. An individual with DPD may say they don't understand how to work appliances or steps they need to take to organize their closet, for instance.

The specific way symptoms of dependent personality disorder manifest depend on the individual, but they will always have the common underlying theme of helplessness and ineptitude.

Diagnosis of Dependent Personality Disorder

Only a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can give a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder. The doctor will conduct a comprehensive medical and mental health history as well as give the client a full psychological evaluation.

The practitioner must distinguish dependent personality disorder from borderline personality disorder when assessing the psychological evaluation results. People with borderline personality disorder typically use rage to respond to fears of abandonment; whereas, those with dependent personality disorder respond to this same fear with submissiveness and neediness.

The clinician will further compare symptoms, evaluation results, and history to criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM 5) to determine whether a diagnosis of DPD is appropriate. Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor will begin developing a treatment strategy that fits the individual needs of the client.

If someone you know (or even you) exhibits characteristics and symptoms of dependent personality disorder, encourage him or her to consult with a mental health professional. The first step to a better life is admitting a need for help.

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People with dependent personality disorder (DPD) have a longstanding, persistent and inflexible pattern of relying too heavily on others to meet their emotional and physical needs. This excessive dependence leads to submissive and clingy behavior that arises out of an intense fear of separation. Individuals with this disorder do not trust their own judgment and typically defer to others when faced with making decisions. (Famous People with Dependent Personality Disorder)

Dependent Personality Disorder. "I Can't Live Without You."

What is dependent personality disorder, exactly? DPD causes those suffering from it to believe they cannot cope with life without the direct help of others. They take a passive role in both personal and work relationships and go to any lengths to gain nurturing and acceptance of others, even volunteering to do things they find unpleasant or repulsive. Individuals with dependent personality disorder are oversensitive to criticism and avoid disagreeing with others for fear they will lose support. The word obsequious describes this behavior quite well. Webster's defines obsequious as "obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. "

The dependent personality's clingy, submissive behavior is designed to elicit caring behaviors from others, but in many cases, it actually pushes them away. Often, even if the caregiver is abusive, the dependent personality will remain in the relationship. When a primary relationship does end, an individual with a dependent personality immediately and urgently seeks a replacement. This can make dependent personality disorder treatment very challenging.

The dependency needs of individuals with this disorder differ from those of children.

Children need the caring and nurturing of others. They need help when making decisions beyond the scope of their age and experience and may exhibit mild to severe separation anxiety when left with people other than their parents. These are all normal and developmentally appropriate in children.

Most kids gradually grow out of separation anxiety by adolescence and dependency on parental nurturing also diminishes during the teen years. Keep in mind, as with children, it's also normal for the elderly and handicapped to have increased dependency and a need for others to assume responsibility for their lives.

But some kids don't ever go through the normal developmental path to independence from parents and caregivers. For these individuals, dependency on others increases over time and becomes excessive to the point that it departs markedly from the social norm and has a profound negative impact on the quality of life.

Causes of Dependent Personality Disorder

As with a great number of mental illnesses, experts don't have a clear understanding of the causes of dependent personality disorder. Most researchers agree with the theory that the causes are a combination of genetic, biological, and social factors. This means you probably wouldn't develop the disorder just because you had a genetic predisposition as long as you had no biological and social risk factors in your environment. Scientists refer to this three-pronged causation system as the biopsychosocial model.

Some researchers theorize that excessively authoritative or overprotective parenting can contribute to the development of dependent personality disorder in people with a predisposition for the condition.

Dependent personality disorder statistics show that approximately 0.6 % of Americans have the disorder. It's the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder and it seems to occur more often in women, based on gender splits of diagnosed cases. That said, it might occur just as often in men, but remain undiagnosed for a variety of reasons.

To make a diagnosis, a licensed mental health professional compares reported and observed symptoms and history with the dependent personality disorder DSM criteria. Once he or she has defined the diagnosis, the client can begin a treatment plan developed specifically to meet his or her needs.

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Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that deeply affects people. Because a correct schizophrenia diagnosis can improve someone’s quality of life, it’s important that it be made as soon as possible after the symptoms of schizophrenia appear.

Currently, no tests can provide a schizophrenia diagnosis. To determine whether someone has the disorder, doctors follow established criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis.

Criteria for Schizophrenia Diagnosis in DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is the authority on mental illness. Created and published by the American Psychiatric Association, this comprehensive manual describes all known mental disorders, among them schizophrenia.

Mental health professionals use the DSM-5 when determining what someone is experiencing. Doctors use the information and analyze:

• diagnostic features and symptoms
• level of impairment
• duration of symptoms
• other conditions that share symptoms

They also look at age. While it’s not part of the diagnostic criteria, they do consider someone’s age. The typical age of schizophrenia diagnosis is between late adolescence and the mid-30s. This varies, though, with peak ages ranging from the early- to mid-20s for males and late-20s for females (Are Schizophrenia Symptoms in Males and Females Different?). Further, while it’s rare, schizophrenia can be diagnosed as early as childhood and as late as the 40s (What Are the Schizophrenia Symptoms in Children and Teens?).

Age provides a general idea of the likelihood that someone has schizophrenia. Schizophrenia won’t be the first consideration for a man in his 40s, for example. Beyond this, age isn’t a diagnostic criterion. Just what are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?

Diagnosing Schizophrenia Using Symptoms and Features

Professionals use specific diagnostic features in the DSM-5 to help determine whether someone meets the criteria for schizophrenia. The DSM-5 delineates five main criteria. Paraphrased:

A. Two or more of

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
3. Disorganized speech (such as speaking incoherently, losing track of thoughts)
4. Disorganized or catatonic behavior
5. Negative symptoms

B. Level of functioning has declined
C. The symptoms in Criterion A have persisted for at least 6 months
D. Schizoaffective disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder have been ruled out
E. Substance use/abuse has been ruled out as a cause

In order for someone to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, he must experience a group of these symptoms and features. One or two are not enough.

To receive a schizophrenia diagnosis, someone can have any of the symptoms and features, but he must have the following:

• At least two symptoms from Criteria A
• One of those two must be delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech.
• These must have been present for at least one month.

The symptoms must impair one’s life and get in the way of her ability to work (or go to/participate in school), have positive relationships (or any relationships at all), and practice self-care. The problems in these areas must be new, a decline in the previous status.

Duration of the symptoms is also important for a schizophrenia diagnosis. Someone must have been experiencing steady symptoms for at least one month. Symptoms must be present some of the time for six consecutive months.

Other Considerations in Diagnosing Schizophrenia

The DSM-5 includes other things that can help determine schizophrenia. They’re not necessary diagnostic criteria, but their presence points to this serious mental illness.

• Prodromal (early) symptoms, similar to the symptoms of schizophrenia but too mild and sporadic for a diagnosis
• Inappropriate emotions (like loud, random laughter in public)
• Dysphoria (low mood)
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Phobias
• Sleep problems
• Lack of interest in or refusing food
• Memory problems
• Language/speech problems
• Shortened attention span
• Inability to understand someone’s intentions
• Thinking insignificant things are highly, personally meaningful
• Manic behavior

In addition to these, people with schizophrenia often experience what is known as neurological soft sign, subtle abnormalities that aren’t severe enough to fit into any disorder but are problematic and indicative of a bigger problem, like schizophrenia. They can include:

• Coordination problems
• Sensory-integration problems
• Left-right confusion
• Difficulty with complex movement

To diagnose schizophrenia, professionals examine all of the symptoms and features that are present (Complete List of Schizophrenia Symptoms). They also must look at what is not present.

Schizophrenia Diagnosis: Rule out Other Conditions

A diagnosis involves what someone is experiencing as well as what he is not. Some disorders have some features or symptoms that are shared with schizophrenia; therefore, doctors check to see if something else fits better than schizophrenia. Some of the conditions that, according to criteria in the DSM-5, have some similarities with schizophrenia are

• Mood disorders (depression and/or bipolar disorder) with psychotic features
• Schizophreniform
• Brief psychotic disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• PTSD
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Communication disorders
• Substance use disorders

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder, and doctors take the diagnosis of it seriously. In addition to all of the above concerns, professionals also take into consideration the individual. Schizophrenia is unique, and each person experiences it differently. This makes perfect sense, of course, for no matter what their individualized symptoms, people with schizophrenia are above all, human.

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Child neglect is a serious problem in the United States. Over 550,000 child neglect victims were identified by Child Protective Services in fiscal year 2010. Child neglect can harm a child's self-esteem and sense of trust, delay them developmentally and put them at risk for other forms of abuse.

Definition of Child Neglect

Child neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian or other caretaker to sufficiently provide for the care of the child's basic needs. Child neglect may be:

• Physical – such as not providing food, shelter or supervision
• Medical – such as not providing medical or mental health treatment
• Educational – such as a failure to educate the child or attend to special needs
• Emotional – such as failure to provide psychological care or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs

Child neglect is a complex issue, as different cultures have different standards by which they view child neglect. For example, a religious belief may prevent a parent from obtaining medical care for their child. Poverty is also a major concern in child neglect and it may be the case that an above situation can occur due to poverty rather than child neglect.

Child neglect and abuse are often defined together in the law, but essentially, child abuse occurs due to harmful actions while child neglect occurs due to inactions.

Child Neglect Statistics

Of the approximately 1500 children that will die each year from child abuse and neglect, 30% of them will die due to child neglect alone¹. Of the children who are abused or neglected, over 78% of them will experience neglect.

Child Neglect Laws

Child neglect laws are defined alongside child abuse laws at the federal and state level. Federally the child neglect laws are defined by The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. At a minimum, child abuse and neglect is defined as ²:

• "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation
• An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm"

These laws refer to parents or caregivers and not to strangers or acquaintances. States build upon this definition and further specify child neglect and abuse laws. In general, child neglect refers to a failure to act whereas child abuse refers to an inappropriate (abusive) action; however, in many cases, neglect is simply considered a type of abuse.

Abandonment is also considered a form of child neglect in many states.

"In general, a child is considered to be abandoned when the parent's identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left alone in circumstances where the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.

Child neglect cases frequently center around physical child neglect, as emotional neglect can be hard to prove.

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Rape is a heinous act performed when one party wishes to exact complete power and control over another. The definition of rape, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network is:¹

". . . forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Penetration may be by a body part or an object."

Rape is often known as "sexual assault" or "sexual abuse," particularly in the law. However, sexual assault and sexual abuse are defined more broadly whereas the term rape specifies intercourse.

Threats of violence or weapons may be used during rape but in about 8-out-of-10 cases, nothing but physical force is used. Weapons or threats are not required for an act to be considered rape.

It is important to know that either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of rape. Additionally, both heterosexual and homosexual rapes take place both inside and outside of relationships. It's critical to understand that rape is never okay and that no matter the circumstance, rape is never the victim's fault.

Sexual Assault

It's also important to know that sexual activities short of rape performed without consent are also a crime. These crimes are generally known as "sexual assault." Sexual assault is defined as the following, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network:

". . . unwanted sexual contact that stops short of rape or attempted rape. This includes sexual touching and fondling."

Was I Raped?

Some victims of rape wonder about their specific circumstance and wonder if it constitutes rape. Chances are if you're wondering, "was I raped?" you probably were. Rape happens any time sexual intercourse takes place without your consent. Note that many circumstances can indicate your lack of consent including:

• An inability to give consent due to age
• An inability to give consent due to diminished capacity (perhaps due to a disability)
• An inability to give consent due to inebriation (typically due to ingesting drugs or alcohol)

And, of course, any time you say, "no" to intercourse and it is forced on you, that is rape. It doesn't matter if you said "no" in the middle of the act, it is still rape if the other party doesn't immediately stop and respect your wishes. You have the right to rescind consent at any time, under any circumstances.

Sometimes it is considered rape even if you do not say, "no" such as in the case where a weapon is used. Sometimes you are too concerned for your life or safety to say, "no." This is still considered rape. Threats against others may also constitute too grave a threat.

It still is considered rape even if:

• You didn't physically fight back
• You used to date or were friends with the perpetrator (read about: What is Date Rape?)
• You are married or engaged to the rapist (read about: Marital Rape)
• You do not remember the rape
• You willingly ingest drugs or alcohol

It is critical to remember that rape can happen to anyone in many situations but it is never the victim's fault – it is always the fault of the rapist.

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