By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services Short answer: No study has measured complex PTSD life expectancy directly. Complex PTSD (CPTSD) only became an official diagnosis in the World Health Organization’s ICD-11, and long-term mortality research has not caught up yet. What we do have are large studies of

By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services PTSD symptoms in men follow the same diagnostic criteria as in anyone else, but they often surface as irritability, anger, heavier drinking, overwork, reckless choices, broken sleep and physical complaints rather than visible fear or sadness. That outward pattern is a big

By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services Contamination OCD is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which unwanted, intrusive fears of being dirty, infected, poisoned or “tainted” drive repetitive washing, cleaning, avoidance or reassurance seeking. The fear can attach to germs, bodily fluids, chemicals or illness, and also to

By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services Yes, online therapy for OCD works for most people, as long as it is the right kind of therapy. Exposure and response prevention (ERP), the first-line psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder, can be delivered over secure video. A 2023 meta-analysis of 22 randomized

By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services ADHD symptoms in women and teen girls come from the same condition and the same DSM-5-TR symptom list, so the core problems are shared: trouble sustaining attention, disorganization, forgetfulness, restlessness that is often internal, and big emotional reactions. What changes is the

By Katlyne Brutus, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC | Clearview Behavioral Health and Wellness Services There is no FDA-approved over-the-counter ADHD medication in the United States. Every medication proven to treat ADHD, stimulant or nonstimulant, requires a prescription. The most effective ones (methylphenidate and amphetamine products such as Ritalin and Adderall) are Schedule II controlled substances, and

Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can feel exhausting when unwanted thoughts continue to appear despite knowing they do not represent your true feelings or intentions. Many people with OCD experience intrusive thoughts that create fear, guilt, shame, or intense anxiety, followed by compulsive behaviors or mental rituals they feel unable to control. These symptoms can

Many people feel guilty after making a mistake or spend time wondering whether they did the right thing. However, for some individuals, questions about faith, morality, or personal responsibility become impossible to turn off. They may repeatedly worry about committing a sin, offending God, being a bad person, or causing harm without realizing it. These

Many people search for the difference between OCPD vs. OCD after noticing behaviors like perfectionism, repeated checking, strict routines, or a strong need for things to feel correct. The confusion is understandable because both conditions share similar words and may involve obsessive patterns, but they represent different mental health conditions. OCD involves unwanted obsessions and

Many women live with distressing thoughts, repeated doubts, or routines they feel unable to stop, but they may not realize these experiences can be signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is often associated with visible behaviors like cleaning or checking, yet many women experience symptoms that happen internally, such as mental reviewing, unwanted intrusive thoughts,