SUBCLINICAL CONDITIONS
Dennis B. Kottler, MD
Westlake Village, CA
Appointments: 818-991-8376
Email: doc@psychiatrix.com
Please See Also: Subclinical Conditions - Examples
OVERVIEW
Subclinical Conditions have some of the symptoms of Clinical Psychiatric Disorders but the symptoms are less severe and less disabling. They do not meet the criteria of the DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) for Clinical Psychiatric Disorders. These conditions affect the quality of life, less than the ability to function. They lead to general dissatisfaction, boredom, and physical symptoms without known cause. They are the insidious causes of misery.
Subclinical Conditions are often complex and involve biological, psychological, and social issues. These are not problems that can be treated with medication and a few brief sessions with a psychiatrist. Most psychiatrists these days do assessments and medication management exclusively. While this might be helpful as partial treatment for a clinical psychiatric diagnosis, it is not appropriate when assessing and treating a Subclinical Condition.
IMPACT
Individuals affected by Subclinical Conditions often appear to be "High Functioning." However, they may experience a general feeling of dissatisfaction in their lives, low energy or nervous energy, less ambition, and derive little pleasure from everyday activities. They may wake up in a "fog," dreading each day, and questioning the point of life. They may feel at a dead-end in their careers and unfulfilled in their relationships. They may visit a psychiatrist, who unable to recognize the subclinical condition, submits the individual to a relentless onslaught of ineffective pharmacological interventions. Seeing little improvement, the psychiatrist tries increasing the doses of these medications, compounding the problem with unpleasant side effects.
TREATMENT
Treatment involves assessment of daily living and working environment, lifestyle including diet, recreation, exercise and sleep, and possible benefit of judicious use of psychotropics, often at a lower dose than in the case of a clinical psychiatric disorder. The emphasis is on techniques that improve the quality of life.
BARRIERS TO TREATMENT
Individuals avoid treatment of Subclinical Conditions for the following reasons:
Lack of insurance coverage for these conditions reflects that they are not clinical or psychiatric disorders but rather "Quality of LIfe" issues. However, on the positive side, there is confidentiality of the provider- client relationship without the intervention of third parties. Also there isn't the concern about outside entities controlling or limiting treatment.
Please See Also: Subclinical Conditions - Examples
Appointments: 818-991-8376
Email: doc@psychiatrix.com