SPOTLIGHT -
The War on Psychiatric Diagnosis
A recent report that argues against descriptive diagnosis in medicine is historically ill-informed and medically naive, in the opinion of this psychiatrist.
Don’t Give Up on the Difficult Patient
We all become much better therapists if we have confidence in our healing gifts and focus on enhancing our relationships with patients.
ICD-10 and the Diagnosis of Racism
Should racism be considered a psychiatric disorder?
Reflections on Cultural Psychiatry and Society
A blog on the cultural components of minority groups, mental illness, and stigma.
A Woman Left Behind
Years ago I read somewhere that dying is easy-the hard part is being left behind. But I recently met an older woman who taught me otherwise.
Optimizing Care in a Team Setting: A Program for People With Schizophrenia
A look at a multidisciplinary team -- and its focus on meaningful recovery -- for patients with schizophrenia.
Harnessing Social Media and Mobile Apps for Mental Health
What if we were able to harness the immense power of our digital connections to create tools that can potentially make our lives happier and healthier?
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Stroke: Issues and Implications for Clinicians
This review focuses on post-stroke depression, apathy, anxiety, and PTSD, because these disorders occur and have been studied most frequently.
Moving Beyond “Hand Waving”: Why Do People Sleep a Lot After a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Your patient is recovering from a traumatic brain injury. He asks you, “Doc, why do I need so much extra sleep?”
Predicting, Assessing, and Treating Self-Harm in Adolescents
The authors differentiate between 3 types of deliberate self-harm: nonsuicidal self-injury, culturally sanctioned body modifications (tattooing or body piercing), and unintentional or accidental injury.
A Call to Arms to Understand and Treat Aggressive Behavior
Dr Thompson introduces a Special Report meant to provoke thoughtful contemplation on various topics related to aggressive behavior.
Dementia, Agitation, and Aggression: The Role of Electroconvulsive Therapy
What role might electroconvulsive therapy play for short-term treatment of agitation and aggression in patients with dementia?
Gun Violence, Stigma, and Mental Illness: Clinical Implications
This review critically addresses 4 central assumptions that underlie many US political and popular associations between gun violence and mental illness.
Psychobiological Aspects of Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, and Violence
The key focus is on understanding violent offending (eg, reactive, proactive, firearm violence) tied to antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy using a psychobiological lens.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Here: a close up look at impulsive aggression.
If It Were Physical Pain, It Would Be Called Torture: A Story of Two Young Men
When did human rights become negotiable in the US? A commentary on dismantling and closure of federal and state mental hospitals.
American Sniper
Neither facile liberal censure nor rabid applause from the right speak to Eastwood’s purposes in this superbly crafted picture.
Does Ketamine Hold Promise in Mitigating Suicide Risk?
The authors review mechanisms of suicide and the effectiveness of current treatments, and zero in on ketamine--a potential novel, rapidly acting treatment for suicidality.
Clinical Issues and Strategies Associated With Smoking Cessation
Here: assessment approaches, treatment options, and potential risks inherent in treating tobacco dependence in individuals with major mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Improving the Mental Health System by Addressing Core Problems
What psychiatry needs is a new approach to “psychiatric theory.” Here are a few practical suggestions.
5 Things Every Mental Health Practice Should Know about the ICD-10 Transition
Remember That Drive-by Shooting?
Here's how a single question I don't normally ask changed the course of one patient's life. The story highlights how widespread the effects of violence are.
ABIM Finally Gets It Right
The ABIM is not sure whether the MOC program accomplishes a critical goal of ensuring maintenance of physician competency and has suspended the Practice Assessment, Patient Voice and Patient Safety requirements of MOC for at least 2 years.
Bilingual Kids and . . . Dogs?
Consider Nico-he is a bilingual dog-he understands and responds to both Russian and English because both languages are spoken at home.
Sleeping Daughter
The Big Bad Wolf and Wicked Witch liked to creak the stairs by her bedroom door and wake her from dreams calling, “Daddy!”
New Research in the Genetics of Autism
An expert discusses the clinical, biological, and genetic components of de novo mutations and autism spectrum disorders.
On the Loss of a Dear Friend
Dr Wayne Katon (1950-2015) revolutionized care for patients around the world.
Psychodynamic Psychiatrists to Meet in Toronto Alongside the APA
The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry meeting will include a series of symposia and workshops that focus on new approaches to psychotherapy.
The American Sniper’s Psychiatrist
In most movies, psychiatrists are depicted in a negative light, which most certainly affects our public image. Was the psychiatrist in American Sniper portrayed positively or negatively?
The Lasting Effects of Marijuana Use
There is increasing evidence that individuals who try marijuana during their early teenage years are affected neurologically for a decade or more at least until one's 20s and perhaps even longer. More in this video.