Psychology

Psychology is the study of emotional and behavioural characteristics as well as the mental processes of an individual. A person’s emotional and behavioural responses may get disturbed in the case of trauma or head injury. These may result in psychological impairments such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep disturbance or a combination of these conditions.

Anxiety is a condition of nervousness, fear, worry, and response to stress. It may lead to several problems including flash-backs, phobias, panic disorder, sleeplessness, lack of concentration, and impaired thinking, which may affect daily activities.

Depression causes emotional pain, disturbs the mental status, reduces work productivity, and may have a negative economic impact. Depression disrupts the normal functioning of daily activities and people with severe depression may harm themselves or develop suicidal tendency.

Clinical psychologists are highly qualified to recognize these impairments and to judge their impact on employability, activities of daily living, household chores, and social interactions. They also make recommendations for treatment of these impairments, such treatment including medical therapy, psychotherapy, or a combination therapy. Medical treatment involves the use of medications such as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta adrenergic blockers. Psychotherapy involves analysis and counseling using various tools. Behavioural therapy is recommended for individuals with altered behavioural characteristics which will change an individual’s response to anxiety.