Psychological problems: treatment options

A healthy spirit in a healthy body. A healthy spirit is important. On this page you can find information on the different methods to take on the following psychological problems:

  • Sleep problems (insomnia)
  • Anxiety and/or panic (anxiety disorder, social phobia)
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Schizophrenia
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Sleep problems

One of the more common psychological problems are sleeping problems. They can be dealt with by changing your behaviour (like using your bed only for sleeping) and by using sleeping pills.

Anxiety and/or panic

Everyone is anxious once in a while. However, if you experience daily feelings of anxiety or panic, it may be wise to visit a doctor or psychologist. There are two important methods to treat anxiety and panic: with drugs or with psychotherapy. The psychologist can help you to overcome your fears with for example cognitive behavioural therapy, training of social skills, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), or exposure therapy. Drugs can be effective to suppress your fears, but often have adverse effects.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD can be handled with drugs or with behaviour therapy and training of social skills. However, sometimes it may be better to first wait and see how the disorder develops without any treatment.

Schizophrenia

Both the psychoses (delusions and hallucinations) and the 'empty' feelings associated with schizophrenia can be treated with drugs and/or psychological help. In addition, you can get help to stay physically healthy, e.g. by a coach that helps you to acquire and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

People with obsessive compulsive disorder feel forced to repeat some needless acts continuously (e.g. excessively often washing hands, checking thinks and/or counting). Obsessive compulsive disorder can be treated with psychotherapy, drugs, or a combination of both.

Psychosis

Those who are suffering from psychosis have an altered perception of reality. For them, it is important to find psychological help as soon as possible. The treatment usually consists of a combination of psychotherapy and drugs.

Returning to work

After a psychological disease, returning to work can be difficult and might give some anxiety. Will you still be able to keep up? Will the disease return under work stress? How will people treat me after my time off? The decision aids below can help you in dealing with these questions.

Decision aids for psychological problems

Dealing with the mentioned psychological problems can lead to many questions: Do I want treatment? What treatment option suits my personal situation and preferences best? The decision aids that are listed below can help you to find answers to these questions. Subsequently, you can discuss these answers with your doctor, psychologist and/or psychiatrist.

 
Sleep problems (OHRI): taking sleeping pills or not EN

Anxiety and/or panic (OHRI): taking drugs or not EN

Psychological diseases information DU

Psychological diseases decision aids keuzehulpen DU

Schizophrenia: choices in different areas of life, EN

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OHRI): taking drugs or not EN

Returning to work: decision aids DE