CDC Report Finds ADHD Diagnosis, Treatment in Children and Adolescents Continue to Rise
December 4th 2013ADHD is on the rise according to a new report from the CDC, and most youngsters with the diagnosis are receiving treatment for the disorder. But the report raises a number of clinical implications . . .
Modest-But Clinically Useful-Changes for Psychotic Disorders in DSM-5
October 4th 2013This member of the DSM-5 Work Group for Psychotic Disorders describes the 8 dimensions used to define the presentation of psychosis-the biggest and most clinically important of the changes in the schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders section.
Limited Progress Made in Schizophrenia Understanding and Treatment
October 4th 2013You’ve come a long way, baby. But maybe not long enough, according to Dr Rajiv Tandon, who shared the evolution of schizophrenia diagnosis and highlighted the current status for attendees at the US Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress.
From the Streets to the Rx Pad: Do Party Drugs Have a Place in the Medical Office?
October 3rd 2013Can drugs be categorized as good (eg, medicinal), bad (eg, recreational with deleterious side effects and addiction issues), or is there a middle ground? That was the underlying theme in a lecture at PsychCongress, “Perils and Promise of Psychoactive Drugs: A Focus on Harm Reduction Psychiatry.”
Mass Murderers: Lack of Communication and Myths May Hinder Recognition
October 1st 2013Lack of communication is often a key factor in mass murder, according Phillip Resnick, MD. Although HIPAA is important, the safety of the individual and the public should outweigh privacy issues, and “risk to human life always trumps confidentiality.”
Take a Cup o’ Joe and Call Me in the Morning-Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Suicide Risk
September 13th 2013Most people look forward to their morning jolt from coffee, but could that cup of Joe be doing more than keeping us alert? According to researchers from Harvard University, java may indeed have another benefit-that of reducing suicide risk.
Parity Laws: Powerful Weapon-or Pipe Dream?
May 6th 2013Has the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity had any real impact on your ability to provide care to patients, or are you experiencing the shells and mortars of paperwork and denials? And will the average patient ever really benefit from the laws, or were they just passed to make the country feel better about the state of psychiatric care in the US?
Law Suit Filed Against Anthem for Discrimination, Violating Federal Law
April 12th 2013Plaintiffs in this lawsuit claim that CPT coding policy has resulted in decreased reimbursement for psychiatrists, who will now receive 20% less for evaluation and management services than what Anthem pays other physicians.
White House Unveils BRAIN Initiative
April 5th 2013President Barack Obama proposed a new research initiative designed to further study and better understand, treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders including Alzheimer disease, traumatic brain injury, autism, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
Discrimination and Parity Violation Claims Levied Against Anthem BCBS of Connecticut
March 19th 2013Changes will mean patients will only be covered for psychiatrists’ services that include medical evaluation and management; CPT coding will not allow for coverage of psychotherapy as a separate and equal category for payment.
From Bath Salts to Spice and Beyond-Elucidating Emerging Drugs of Abuse
November 22nd 2012Spice, Bath Salts, and Salvia are emerging drugs of abuse, with patients increasingly turning to these agents. Since their legal status varies and they can be difficult to detect on standard drug tests, their popularity may be increasing.
Placebos: Is It All in Your Spine?
November 9th 2009Researchers have found evidence that the placebo effect is not all “in your mind.” This study, recently published in Science, suggests that the spinal column-specifically, the dorsal horn-may be involved in blocking pain after placebo has been administered. Eippert and colleagues1 examined pain reactions in 13 young, healthy men (21 to 30 years old) after applying 2 types of cream on their forearms. The participants were told that one cream was a highly effective analgesic (“lidocaine”) and the other was a control cream. In reality, both creams were identical and pharmacologically inactive; the one labeled lidocaine was used to measure the placebo response.