Sound Medicine -- August 30, 2003

Hosts Barbara Lewis and Dr. David Crabb talk to physicians and researchers about:

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Social Stigma of Addiction

Gum Disease

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Dissociative Identity Disorder

Recently, a woman claimed to be an Indiana family's missing daughter, who disappeared seventeen years prior. The story made national news; however, the woman was later found to be committing a hoax. It was reported that the woman has multiple personalities. Dr. Philip Coons delves into the mysteries of dissociative identity disorder, otherwise known as multiple personality disorder. Dr. Coons is professor emeritus of psychiatry at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and one of the leading authorities on dissociative identity disorder.

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by memory loss and a shift in different personality states. Researchers do not know how common the disorder is, although there is evidence that it may recur in some families. The disorder is often caused by traumatic events. Medication is generally not used as a treatment, but some patients can be helped through therapy.

The common belief that a victim becomes many different people, like the famous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is false. In reality, the victim's personality gets fragmented into various parts. Stress or anger can cause people to switch between personality segments. When a victim switches between personalities, he or she generally does not feel differently. However, the victim may notice memory loss, or missing chunks of time that cannot be accounted for.

Resources:

Learn the basics of dissociative identity disorder.

Peruse some frequently asked questions about dissociative identity disorder.

The Merck Manual discusses the possible causes, symptoms, prognosis, and treatment of DID.

Resources and support groups for DID patients.

Social Stigma of Addiction

Perhaps the hardest thing to cure about addictions is the public's perception of them. To those who work in the field of addiction treatment, and for those who suffer from addictions, it is standard language to refer to alcoholism or drug addiction as a disease. However, the general public tends to place blame and view it more as a character weakness, rather than a disorder or illness.

William C. Moyers will be speaking at a seminar entitled, “Join the Voices of Recovery, Celebrating Health,” on Thursday, September 4. More information...

William C. Moyers is a recovering addict and the public face of Hazelden, perhaps the best-known addiction treatment center. He explains what must be done to alleviate the social stigmas associated with addiction so that addicts may recover more effectively, and the general public better understands the nature of addiction.

One way to lessen the disgrace of addiction is to emphasize the biological and psychological aspects of the condition, rather than its harmful social stereotypes. Simply talking about addiction more frequently would also help, so that people grow comfortable discussing it. Finally, negative stereotypes associated with addiction would be mitigated if more successful and respected members of society publicly admitted their condition, rather than keeping it hidden.

Resources:

It is the mission of Drug-Free Marion County to promote and implement community efforts to prevent and reduce the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in Marion County. The website contains links to many local resources in the Indianapolis area.

Here are some facts about addiction and recovery.

Read an article discussing how many professionals are reluctant to seek treatment for addiction, even when their employers provide treatment.

Gum Disease

Approximately 75- 80% of adults aged thirty and above, have some degree of gum disease. Among adults aged sixty-five and older, 30% have no teeth. Besides being unsightly, gum disease has also been correlated with increased risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Dr. Bill Tellman of Castleton Family Dentistry, discusses the warning signs and treatment options for gum disease, as well as its relationship to other diseases.

Early signs of gum disease include gingivitis, bleeding, and bad breath. Some mouthwash products are good for individual symptoms, but do not fix all the problems. Gum disease can be linked to heart problems, due to the spread of bacteria. Furthermore, pregnant women with gum disease are 7 times more likely to have babies with low birth weight than women without gum disease.

Gum disease can be prevented with simple tooth-brushing and flossing. However, the bacteria that cause gum disease are different than those that causes cavities in teeth. Smoking is also a major cause of gum disease. Dr. Tellman relates how all his patients who smoke also have some sort of gum disease.

Resources:

A variety of general resources related to gum disease, including frequently asked questions, information for dental patients, and tips for prevention.

Periodontal (gum) diseases are serious infections that can lead to tooth loss if not treated. Are you at risk for gum disease? Take this quiz and find out.

Read some tips about proper tooth and gum care.

Is there a medical topic you'd like us to cover? Reach us by email: soundmed@iu.edu
or by phone:
(317) 274-4848.

Which lobe of the brain processes language?

A. Left
B. Right
C. It depends on the language being processed

Find out!

You go to a dentist with a sore jaw or a gum infection and the dentist suggests you see a cardiologist for your heart. What is the link between your mouth and your heart?

Find out!

As millions of high school and college students head back to school this month, many will sport jewelry piercing their tongue, lips and cheeks. However, this fashion puts the wearer at risk for recessed gums, loose teeth and even tooth loss.

Additional consequences of oral piercing include chipped or fractured teeth, pain, infection, and inflammation or nerve damage at the piercing site. Oral piercing also causes increased flow of saliva, swelling of the tongue and injuries of the gum tissue. If a blood vessel is in the path of the needle during the piercing, severe and difficult-to-control bleeding can result as well.

According to an article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, tongue piercing is the most common of oral piercings, accounting for 81%. Next on the list is lip piercing at 38.1%. Tongue piercing leads to damage of gum tissue behind the lower front teeth, while lip piercing can injure gum tissue in front of the lower teeth

"Wearing oral piercing ornaments, even over relatively short periods, may result in significant deformities to gingival tissue (gums) that might not respond satisfactorily to surgery and, in fact, may lead to tooth loss," writes John K. Brooks, D.D.S., of the University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore and lead author of the article.

Sources:

Read a news release from the American Dental Association.