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Douglas Severance

Bio

Dr. Severance, a Sharecare Editorial Advisory Board member, is a family practice physician with a private medical practice in San Ramon, California. He is board certified by both the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He has been medical director for several detoxification and rehabilitation programs, both inpatient and outpatient, since the 1980's, and has practiced family medicine since 1979.

Education:
• MD: Loma Linda University

Residency:
• Glendale Adventist Medical Center

Internship:
• Glendale Adventist Medical Center

Certification:
• American Board of Family Practice
• American Board of Addiction Medicine
• American Society of Addiction Medicine

Specialties:

  • family medicine

Location:

Activity

  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What happens if children with schizophrenia are not treated?
    Children with schizophrenia who do not receive an early diagnosis and treatment do not do as well as those that receive treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, research studies demonstrate that early treatment helps people with schizophrenia experience fewer disabling...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Who is at risk for childhood schizophrenia?
    One of the biggest risks for childhood schizophrenia is having a family history of the disease. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, childhood schizophrenia is very rare, and appears to develop in only 1% of people who have been diagnosed schizophrenia. Aside from having...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What causes schizophrenia in children?
    It is unclear why symptoms of schizophrenia start in childhood for some people. Scientists agree that schizophrenia is caused by abnormal functions in the brain. Scientists don't know exactly why some people develop schizophrenia, but it does appear to run in families. According to the Mayo...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What kinds of psychosocial therapies help children with schizophrenia?
    A child with schizophrenia can benefit from attending both individual and group therapy. When a child has schizophrenia, the best treatment options include a combination of medication and psychotherapy. In psychosocial therapy, a child may work with a psychiatrist, psychologist, caseworker,...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Do schools have programs for children with schizophrenia?
    Help is available for children with schizophrenia attending schools. Children with severe emotional disturbances who are having problems succeeding in school are often eligible for specialized instruction in schools. The law that protects children with disabilities is called IDEA (Individuals...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What medications are given to children with schizophrenia?
    The medications prescribed for children with schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications, are the same as those prescribed for adults. There are two main classes of these drugs: typical (first generation) and atypical (second generation). However, only two drugs in the atypical class have been...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What treatments are available for children with schizophrenia?
    A child diagnosed with schizophrenia can benefit from medication treatment and psychotherapy. However, if a child has severe symptoms of schizophrenia, he or she may need to be hospitalized. A psychiatrist can help the child find the antipsychotic medications to reduce distressing symptoms....  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Can children with schizophrenia live normal lives?
    Children with schizophrenia have the best chance for recovery when they are diagnosed early, treated with medications, and actively involved in social support groups. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, children who respond well to medication, stay in school, and start tr...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Are children with schizophrenia able to go to school?
    Children with schizophrenia may be able to attend school and maintain their grades. One of the best ways to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome for children with schizophrenia is to have them evaluated, diagnosed and treated early on. Parents who intervene early are offering their...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How does a doctor screen for schizophrenia in a young child?
    In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, the child must experience at least two common symptoms of schizophrenia for six months or more. These symptoms must be causing difficulty in the child's life. Common symptoms of schizophrenia include:

    • Hearing and seeing things that are not real...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Do children have different schizophrenia symptoms than adults?

    Typically, children with schizophrenia display many of the same symptoms that adults with schizophrenia experience. Children and adults with schizophrenia may experience positive and negative symptoms, both of which can be quite distressing. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hall

    ...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Do men have particular symptoms of schizophrenia?
    Schizophrenia does affect males differently than females in some ways, although the symptoms are usually similar between the sexes. One way that males are affected differently by the disease is that males with schizophrenia are more likely to commit suicide than females. However, this may...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Do women have particular symptoms of schizophrenia?
    There are some minor differences in the ways that schizophrenia affects women, such as the age at which symptoms begin. The average age for the disease to appear for women is 25. This is several years after men are usually affected, which is usually around age 18. However, women don't have symptoms...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Does schizophrenia affect women differently than men?
    The symptoms of schizophrenia seem to affect men and women in similar ways. However, one thing that is different between the sexes when it comes to schizophrenia is the age that the disease first appears. The average age for people to first experience schizophrenia is between 16 and 30. Men...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How can I help a parent who has schizophrenia?
    One of the best ways to help a parent with an illness like schizophrenia is to be supportive. Educate yourself about the different symptoms of schizophrenia and pay attention to your parent. If his or her hygiene or level of responsibility starts to slip, encourage your parent to discuss...  Full Post