NEW ANXIETY, MOOD DISORDER CLINIC OFFERS
HELP FOR THE TROUBLED
UH Psychology Program Offers Free Assessment, Affordable Treatment
HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2004 – One in four people suffers from
an anxiety or mood disorder at least once in his or her life, and
psychologists at the University of Houston are providing help to
people who suffer from those troubles. The UH Anxiety and Mood Disorder
Clinic has recently opened and is offering free evaluations and
affordable treatment.
Substance abuse, relationship problems, and work or school difficulties
often stem from an anxiety or mood disorder, said UH assistant professors
of psychology Peter Norton and Jeremy Pettit. Early detection and
treatment can help erase these threats.
Norton and Pettit are co-directors of the UH Anxiety and Mood
Disorder Clinic. Together with other researchers, they offer comprehensive
evaluation and treatment for anyone who suffers from an anxiety
or mood disorder, including clinical depression.
The clinic applies cognitive-behavioral treatments, or the process
of reinterpreting negative thoughts and changing behavior patterns
that fuel the disorders, to reduce anxiety and mood disorder symptoms
and improve a participant’s quality of life.
“People who suffer from clinical depression experience immense
feelings of sadness, disproportionate to any external causes,”
Pettit said. “Depression presents itself in different ways,
such as ‘having the blues,’ feeling numb or empty, or
the inability to feel pleasure about anything.”
Other common symptoms of depression include hopelessness, difficulty
concentrating, fatigue, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.
Depressive disorders may range from short-term and mild to long-term
and very severe, even life threatening.
Anxiety disorders involve excessive apprehension and fear of something,
and the fears usually interfere with the person’s life, said
Norton.
“People with anxiety disorder may fear such things as specific
places, objects, or animals, disturbing thoughts, memories of past
traumatic events, embarrassment or humiliation,” he said.
“They will often try to control their anxiety by avoiding
the things they fear, or by doing things to reduce their anxiety
such as asking for reassurance, checking and re-checking, washing,
or telephoning loved ones to make sure they are safe.”
Prior to joining the clinic, individuals must go through an initial
assessment, for which there is no charge. Participants are placed
in appropriate short-term therapy groups that typically meet for
8 to 12 sessions. While the assessment is free, the cost per session
is $20.
Norton’s research interests are anxiety disorders and chronic
pain, while Pettit’s area of expertise includes mood disorders
and suicide.
The Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic is a part of the Psychology
Research and Service Center, located at 4505 Cullen Blvd. on the
UH campus. Day and evening appointments are available. For more
information about the Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic, call 713-743-8600.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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