Dr. Archana R Verma

There are a number of mental disorders and conditions that may affect the psyche of a person, due to various reasons including hormonal changes, environmental factors and even genetic conditions. Paranoid Personality Disorder is one such condition that gives rise to eccentric behavioral patterns. This may make the individual seem odd or even strange to others. Here are the signs, causes and various forms of treatment available for this condition.

Symptoms and Signs: Most of the individuals suffering from this disorder will be completely convinced that there is nothing wrong with their behavior and everyone around them are conniving against them with ulterior motives of bringing them down. This will make them highly suspicious individuals with intense trust issues. They also become angry and violent very soon and usually do not have a justified reason for such temper tantrums. These individuals will also be detached and isolated socially, with hardly any friends and relationships. They will also have trouble seeing their own problems and flaws, which can keep them from having meaningful relationships.

Causes: The causes of this disorder are not known as yet. There is much ongoing research in this field. It is widely believed that this disorder is born due to a combination of biological factors and other environmental factors that may have conditioned the brain in a negative manner. Chemical and hormonal imbalances are known to be at the core of many such disorders. Also, it may be seen in people who come from a family of Schizophrenic individuals. Trauma experienced during one's childhood can also lead to the onset of this disorder.

Treatment: One of the most effective forms of treatment for this disorder includes therapy. Talk therapy or CBT which is also known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a form of discussion based therapy that can help the individual in talking about his or her feelings. These are then analysed in a clinical setting with the intervention of a trained psychiatrist or psychologist who will help the individual in pointing out abnormal behavior. This kind of therapy also helps in reaching the root cause of the issue that may have caused this condition in the first place. By doing so, there is a better chance of treating this cause and thus changing the attitude of the patient. This will help in steering the individual towards more normal behavior in the long run. This kind of therapy will have to take place over a long period of time before the results begin to show up in the day to day living and functioning of the individual. Anti-depressants and antipsychotics may also be prescribed. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is sometimes referred to as trichomonas or trichomoniasis, or shortened to TV. The term trichomonas is used here. 

If you are suffering from trichomonas vaginalis, it is important for you to know about protecting yourself against this condition. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by an organism known as trichomonas vaginalis. This disease is more common in women than in men. Men too can get infected and pass on the infection to their sexual partners.

Signs & Symptoms-

Up to half of infected men and women will not have any signs or symptoms at all. Signs and symptoms usually show up within a month of coming into contact with trichomonas. You might notice:

Women

1. Soreness, inflammation and itching in and around the vagina. This can cause discomfort when having sex.
2. A change in vaginal discharge – there may be a small amount or a lot, and it may be thick or thin, or frothy and yellow. You may also notice a strong smell that may be unpleasant.
3. Pain when passing urine.

Men

1. A discharge from the penis, which may be thin and whitish.
2. Pain, or a burning sensation, when passing urine.
3. Inflammation of the foreskin (this is uncommon).

Diagnosis
A physical examination and certain laboratory tests are carried out for the diagnosis of trichomonas’s. Tests are carried out on a sample of the vaginal fluid to find out disease-causing parasites. It is harder to detect the parasite in men, than in women.

Treatment
Commonly, a certain oral antibiotic is prescribed for treating trichomonas’s. It is the only medicine used for this purpose, but should be avoided by pregnant women. If you are infected, your partner should also be treated at the same time for the prevention of reinfection and further spreading. If you are undergoing treatment for trichomonas’s, it is advised that you avoid having sex until the treatment gets over and all symptoms get eliminated. You should take your medicine even if you improve and after the symptoms are gone. A retest should be carried out after three months to know about the infection’s status.

Prevention
You can prevent or protect yourself from trichomonas’s vaginalis by taking the following steps:

• Have protected sex by using condoms every time.
• Sexual abstinence or limiting your sexual contact to one partner is recommended.
• Avoid sexual contact if you think you are affected.

You should consult a doctor on experiencing any genital symptoms such as burning urination, discharge, and the development of sores or rashes. Also, you must stop having sex with anyone after experiencing these symptoms. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Be sure that each meal includes a healthy portion of carbohydrates. Gaining weight is easy if you start incorporating carbs into your diet on a regular basis.