Bravely enter territory that academia has largely neglected-the nebulous region between full bipolar disorder and major depression.
This article reviews the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study that examined the association between multiple childhood traumas and health outcomes in adults. These findings have significant public health implications for individuals exposed to childhood trauma, and the authors present a vision for a children's mental health care and wellness infrastructure in the United States derived from the Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health.
What are the options for treating major depressive disorder in children and adolescents? This case offers readers a chance to give their feedback and to interact with the authors, who will present teaching points based on your comments.
Suicide is a pervasive public health issue for adolescents in Hawaii. In response, a youth leadership model was initiated to empower young leaders in suicide prevention through evidence-based training, relationship building, and community awareness.
What is the association between bipolar disorder, trauma, and violence? Here: a guide to assessing violence potential in bipolar patients.
Information from studies on adolescents with psychosis and a review of the evidence about the risk of suicide and suicidal behavior in this patient population.
Here: a look at several natural products used to improve cognitive impairment or cognitive symptoms of dementia.
Congress and the Bush Administration are wrangling over how to strengthen the drug safety oversight activities at the FDA in the wake of the recent controversies over cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and pediatric antidepressants. The White House intends to create an independent Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSB) within the FDA. Several key senators like the idea but insist that the DSB be separate from the FDA to keep it from being "under the thumb" of that agency.
Psychological problems are often manifest in the skin. In fact, it is estimated that between 20% and 30% of all skin disorders have some psychological component. Many patients who have psychocutaneous disorders-which are often direct evidence of or secondary to psychological abberations-drift from one physician to another, trying to find one savvy enough to cure their “skin condition.” Furthermore, although they have sought many medical opinions already, patients afflicted with psychocutaneous disorders almost always present as “an emergency.” While pharmacological intervention may benefit such patients, traditional mental health interventions are almost always required if the aberrant behavior is to cease.
Is valproic acid dismissed out of hand? Three doctors discuss its potential as a treatment.
The authors focus on the epidemiology of postpartum psychosis, its clinical presentation, etiology, treatment, and strategies to prevent its recurrence.
Many abusers of methamphetamine in rural areas manufacture the drug for their personal use. These "mom-and-pop cooks" produce methamphetamine in and around homes where children are also living. This article provides an overview of the mental health of children whose parents abuse methamphetamine.
The authors focus on the epidemiology of postpartum psychosis, its clinical presentation, etiology, treatment, and strategies to prevent its recurrence.
When timely psychiatric care or consultation is difficult or impossible to obtain, telepsychiatry may be an acceptable, economical, and effective alternative.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been shown effective in the treatment of depression with psychosis. This efficacy appears to correlate with the SSRIs’ level of affinity at the sigma-1 receptors in the brain. What role does the sigma-1 receptor play in psychotic depression? Based on this role, are there implications for other treatments?
Here's what's known about the growing shortage of psychiatrists -- why it's happening-- and possible solutions.
Here's a case that illustrates the potential for alprazolam to create a dementia-like appearance-not to mention a premature aging of the patient.
Hostage and barricade situations occur frequently in law enforcement practice. Commonly, police deal with hostage/barricade subjects whose motivation is influenced by psychiatric illness, substance abuse or extreme emotional states. It has been argued that mentally ill people comprise 50% of all hostage/barricade subjects. How can psychiatrists assist in defusing these intense situations?
The article focuses on eating disorders in males and presents information on similarities and differences between males and females as they relate to risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment.
Agitation in older adults is frequently associated with multiple psychiatric and medical conditions and comorbidities. It commonly occurs in patients with anxiety, affective illness, psychosis, dementia, stroke, brain injury, delirium, or pain.
In our presentation at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, we suggested that child psychiatrists who come across a child with the profile of the following hypothetical case should consider whether the child may have deficits that are not currently covered by DSM-IV nosology: either a nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) or a sensory processing disorder (SPD).
A patient’s spiritual “framework” can hold the key to therapeutic breakthroughs.
Psychiatrists can play a vital role in determining whether or not a patient will be a good candidate for an organ transplant. Using a case vignette, Dr. Garton explains how she helps a transplant team make the best possible decision.
Recent reports have noted an alarming decrease in the practice of psychotherapy among psychiatrists.
The impact of terrorism reaches many aspects of health and health care: acute and chronic symptoms of anxiety and depression, changes in health-related behaviors, and long-term strain and tension.
Worsening anxiety is a common symptom that may result in psychiatric consultation or evaluation in an emergency setting. Aneurysms are rarely considered in the medical differential for anxiety disorders, and the available literature and research regarding this possible connection are very limited. Overlooking this diagnosis, however, can have disastrous consequences. Here we present 2 case reports as well as a review of the literature regarding a possible relationship between aortic and thoracic aneurysms and psychiatric symptoms.
The National Comorbidity Survey estimates that approximately 50% of the population in the United States is exposed to traumatic events and that the lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is approximately 7.8%.
What do you really know about ADHD in young adults? Take this quiz and find out.
A discussion of the evidence that the pharmaceutical industry influences how physicians evaluate drugs in ways that encourage sales of their products and that are not always in the best interests of the patient.