Addictions come in many forms. But those suffering with develop an uncontrollable urge to revisit a substance, activity or behavior in order to satisfy a need or desire. An addiction may fill a void in one’s life, or act as a salve for a festering emotional wound.

Those at the mercy of their addictive behaviors often experience gradually increasing levels of emotional pain and deteriorating mental or physical health. Another byproduct of serious addiction is the tendency to eschew responsibilities and neglect important aspects within one’s life, such as friends, family, school and career. Many suffering with addictions are also prone to struggles with depression.

Treating Addictive Disorders

Addictive personality disorder is a condition where an individual carries traits making them more susceptible to addictive behaviors. However, anyone at any stage or walk of life can develop an addiction.

People can become addicted to eating, gambling, smoking, exercise and countless other activities that offer comfort or what they determine to be an “escape.” But the most pervasive and widely-publicized addiction in our society involves alcohol and drugs.

Alcoholism and drug addiction are serious health problems in the U.S. and around the world. Those who become dependent on alcohol and drugs subject themselves to a life full of difficulties ranging from relationship and legal problems to homelessness and destitution.

Addiction recovery is often a long-term and sometimes arduous process. But with proper medical care and support from friends and family, addiction treatment can be successful.

Inpatient addiction centers such as Cincinnati, Ohio’s Lindner Center of Hope and Sibcy House are examples of facilities providing environments conducive to success in treating addictive disorders. Using a team of experienced mental health specialists and an intensive, cutting-edge treatment plan focusing on detoxification and stabilization, Lindner Center of Hope sets the standard for addiction treatment. Its reputation for helping those with addictive disorders go on to live fulfilling, productive lives continues to grow.

 

Diagnosing specific mental health problems and disorders is not always easy. The human mind is very complex. Even highly-trained and vastly experienced mental health professionals may occasionally experience some difficulties in pinning down a definitive diagnosis.

This is especially true in regard to co-occurring disorders. Also referred to as “dual disorders” or a “dual diagnosis,” a co-occurring disorder exists when a mental health condition is accompanied by at least one other disorder.

Co-occurring disorders are relatively common. It is often the case where the symptoms of one condition will present themselves while other conditions lie beneath the surface. This is the challenge for psychiatric professionals; to determine whether there are underlying issues that may be affecting or exacerbating what appears to be a particular mental illness.

For example, it is not uncommon for ADHD to be accompanied by anxiety or mood disorders; or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to coexist with depression. The symptoms of these illnesses can play into each other, overlap or display themselves as a result of the other.

Such is the case with addictive disorders that are well-known for existing with other conditions. Many who struggle with depression or mood and anxiety disorders turn to substance abuse to relieve their symptoms.

Treating Co-occurring Disorders

To effectively treat co-occurring disorders, each condition must be isolated and addressed. Every patient has their own unique background and set of circumstances. Therefore a treatment plan must be tailored to meet the needs of each individual.

After initial evaluation and assessment, an “integrated” approach to counseling and psychotherapy is usually preferred when treating co-occurring disorders. This is where substance abuse counselors, psychotherapists and anyone else involved in the treatment process will coordinate efforts and share information regarding the patient’s condition, care and progress.

An integrated program for those with co-occurring disorders is usually administered in stages. Various avenues of treatment are incorporated into a comprehensive strategy that includes helping the patient understand their condition, establishing goals and guiding the patient toward the development of healthier behavior patterns. Group therapy and aftercare can also play an important role in an overall plan to help a co-occurring disorder sufferer heal.

On February 29, 2012, Leap Day, High Hopes, fundraising auxiliary for Lindner Center of HOPE, premier mental health hospital located in Mason, held its 4th annual fundraiser, Leap for HOPE. The day was filled with silent auctions, boutique shopping, a gourmet lunch, and a message from keynote speaker, Julie Hyman, MD. The event raised more than $70,000 for the treatment of mental illness at Lindner Center of HOPE in support of the Helping Hands Fund.  Helping Hands dollars are designated to support the care of patients, seeking help at Lindner Center of HOPE, who are in need of financial assistance. The event, which drew 180 people, was co-chaired by Diana Cole and Nancy Rogers and held at Kenwood Country Club.

The money raised surpassed an ambitious goal of $60,000, making the event a tremendous success. Major sponsors included The Chemed Foundation, Frances and Craig Lindner, Ruth Artzt and Wood & Lamping, LLP.

“A staggering 1 in 4 people will experience mental illness this year,” said Nancy Rogers, PhD and co-chair of the event. “It may shock some, but in fact mental illness is the second greatest disease burden in the United States,” Dr. Rogers said. “The Auxiliary recognizes the importance of raising awareness and access to treatment and focuses its efforts towards achieving this.”

Because of the foresight of Frances Lindner and her sister Nancy Nyhart, collaboration brought friends and colleagues together to form High Hopes Auxiliary. Each shared a passion to raise money for and increase awareness of the benefits of treatment for those suffering with mental illness. Their motivation helps support Lindner Center of HOPE’s efforts to provide innovative and scientifically-based, mental health services.

High Hope’s is a group of dedicated volunteers motivated to raise money for the treatment of mental illness.  Through a variety of community events, such as the 2009 Derby Party, Bridge to Hope-2011, Boutique Sales and a Brick Campaign, the Auxiliary is able to procure funding which directly benefits people here in our community.  To learn more about High Hope’s or to become a member please visit http://www.lindnercenterofhope.org/highhopes.aspx

 

About Lindner Center of HOPE:

Lindner Center of HOPE provides patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, free-standing mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, research and voluntary, residential services. The Center’s clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally.

Ranking Places Four Doctors at the Top Locally

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October, 24, 2013, Mason, OH – The Frances and Craig Lindner Center of HOPE is pleased to announce the following doctors were ranked among the best doctors in the nation and among the top specialists in the Tri-State as indicated by The Best Doctors in America 2012-2013 database:

Paul E. Keck, Jr., MDPaul E. Keck, Jr., MD, CEO., President-CEO, Lindner Center of HOPE, is a nationally renowned psychiatrist and researcher in Bipolar Disorder and psychopharmacology. He authored over 700 scientific papers in leading journals and was the 7th most cited scientist in the world published in the fields of psychiatry and psychology over the last decade.

 

Michael A. Keys, MDMichael A. Keys, MD., Dr. Keys is a regionally known and respected expert in Geriatric Psychiatry with more than 25 years of experience. He currently serves as Director of Senior Adult Psychiatry at the Lindner Center of HOPE. He is also a member of several national and international psychiatric associations and editorial boards.

 

Susan L. McElroy, MDSusan L. McElroy, MD., A nationally recognized researcher and educator, Dr. McElroy is internationally known for her research in bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obesity, impulse control disorders and pharmacology. As Chief Research Officer for the Lindner Center of HOPE, she currently oversees multiple ongoing studies in bipolar disorder, major depression, binge eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

 

Anne Marie O'Melia, MS, MDAnne Marie O’Melia, MS, MD., Dr. O’Melia specializes in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders and serves as Medical Director of The Harold C. Schott Foundation Eating Disorders Program at Lindner Center of HOPE. Board certified in pediatrics and psychiatry, she has additional subspecialty board certifications in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine.

 

 

This is the third consecutive year these doctors were included in this database. All four physicians hold faculty appointments with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and are part of UC Physicians.


Lindner Center of HOPE provides excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults, intensive outpatient program for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Pierson
Lindner Center of HOPE
(513) 536 -0316
[email protected]

 Mental health problems are the leading cause of disability in the U.S., costing our society countless hours of productivity each year.

The types of mental illnesses are wide-ranging and are classified according to symptoms and characteristics.  It is not always easy to pinpoint a specific mental disorder. This is in part due to similarities between some of the symptoms of various illnesses. Although many established treatment methods have proven to be effective, approaches to treatment are continuously evolving and depend upon circumstances and contributing factors that are unique to each individual.

The Most Prevalent Types of Mental Disorders

Nearly nine percent of Americans suffer from some form of depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Depression falls into the “mood disorders” category and can range from relatively mild depression to potentially debilitating “major depression.”

Other mood disorders include manias and manic disorders — which are indicated by abnormally elevated moods and elation — and bipolar disorders, which carry symptoms such as fluctuations between mania and depression or “mood swings.”

Personality disorders are another common category of mental illness. These are indicated by unstable and socially abnormal behavior patterns and include disorders such as schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Mental illnesses such as OCD and various phobias are often also categorized as anxiety disorders.

The statistics on mental illness in our society are sobering. But the good news is that expertise in the areas of OCD treatment, depression treatment and overall mental health treatment continues to advance. Innovations in research, medications, psychotherapy, behavior modification techniques and the advent of technology such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS treatment) are resulting in increasingly positive results in the treatment of a wide spectrum of mental disorders.

Paul E. Keck, Jr., MD Susan L. McElroy, MDMason, OH – Internationally renowned for their research in Bipolar Disorders, Lindner Center of HOPE leaders, Paul E. Keck, Jr., MD, President and CEO, and Susan L. McElroy, MD, Chief Research Officer, will attend the 5th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders in Istanbul, Turkey, March 14-17, 2012.

The conference will bring together the world’s leading experts in the research and treatment of bipolar disorders. Doctors Keck and McElroy will represent Lindner Center of HOPE, a leader in the treatment of mood disorders, at this international forum.

Click here to read more about the conference.