SERVICES & MORE ABOUT US!
We specialize in treating patients with mood and/or anxiety disorders, OCD, along with sleep disorders, and PTSD.
Depression and Dysthymia
The cardinal symptoms of depression often are: feelings of helplessness and hopelessness about the future; constant negative thinking; failure to enjoy things or activities that used to be enjoyable, and often suicidal ideation. Major Depressive Disorder can be a single episode or recurrent, and can range from mild to severe in nature.
We can also help if you suffer from "Treatment Resistant Depression"; in other words a severe depression that has not responded well to traditional treatments in the past. Depression, usually mild to moderate in nature, that "never seems to go away" is referred to as "dysthymia". There are numerous ways to "augment" antidepressants that have not worked, and we generally can help most patients achieve good results.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
1. Bipolar Disorder, Type I - when the person has normal moods, with or without periods of depression, and periods of full blown mania. Full blown mania often includes racing thoughts, flight of ideas, grandiosity, impulsivity, and poor judgement making. Depression isn't always a part of Bipolar Type I, but periods of full blown mania are.
2. Bipolar Disorder, Mixed Type - normal moods, then periods of depression and mania mixed together; which usually includes lots of energy, along with irritability and anger.
3. Bipolar Disorder, Type II - normal moods, with long periods of depression, then rarer periods of hypomania (less intense form of mania, which includes milder racing thoughts/flight of ideas, energy).
Anxiety Disorders and OCD
Frequently referred to as "the common cold" of mental illness, anxiety disorders can become bothersome when they become chronic and begin to interfere with a person's social and occupational responsibilities.
OCD is much more common that most people realize. The need to repeat something, perhaps a repetitive thought in a person's mind, or a ritualistic physical activity (hand washing, checking locked doors, etc...), can be devastating, and requires skilled medication management, which we offer.
MORE ABOUT US!
River City Clinic was founded by Dr. Chris Heather, APRN-BC, who has over 30 years experience in every facet of psychiatry, including hospital, psychiatric emergency, military medicine, community mental health, chemical dependency, psychiatric education and research, and tele-psych.
Dr. Heather is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he earned his N.D., or Doctor of Nursing Degree. Dr. Heather is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve (Medical Corps). He has long ties to both Ohio and Kentucky.
Dr. Heather was on the crew at the second McDonald's Restaurant in Northern Kentucky (Dream Street in Florence, KY), when it opened in 1975, and brags that he once worked 24 hours in a row, without a break, at that store! Dr. Heather is also a graduate of Colerain High School, where he participated in basketball and track, and where he serves on the Northwest Board of Education, having been elected four times.