The greatest tribute to those who perished in France may be to find better ways to put out the fires of terrorism. Mental health professionals are trained to use words to diffuse conflict. The pen is mightier than the sword, but it can also tempt the reckless to load their weapons.
A psychiatrist explains the pharmacogenetic factors that suggest a positive-or negative-response to naltrexone. He also offers some practical guidance about using this agent in clinical practice.
A brief video on the pros and cons of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.
Can we predict risk for depression? There are no genetic tests or imaging tests that can be used to predict individual risk. But a longitudinal study at Stanford University is worth watching.
The articles in this Special Report address suicidal behavior in the context of the role of sexual identity, the effects of antidepressants and lithium on suicidal behavior, and clinicians’ reactions in the aftermath of suicide.
An interesting pharmacological approach in terms of anti-suicidal strategies is the use of lithium for treatment of patients with affective disorders. Details here.
As an occupational hazard, preparing for the possibility of patient suicide will help the clinician anticipate the types of support that our colleagues or we may need to weather the event.
Ten years ago, the FDA placed a black box warning on all antidepressants because of concerns that the medications increase risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in youths. It's time for the FDA reevaluate that decision.
This article reviews what is known and unknown about LGBT suicide risk, discusses risk and protective factors for LGBT adolescents and adults, and provides recommendations for assessing and treating LGBT patients.
The Psychiatric Views on the News series for Psychiatric Times attempted to bring together societal events and psychiatry to start a conversation. Is a psychiatric view on the news important? If so, what other stories have caught your attention, and why?
"Drugging our Kids" is deserving of all of our attention, says this psychiatrist.
This article focuses on auditory hallucinations, which occur in a range of psychiatric and medical disorders as well as in individuals without mental illness.
The authors review the evidence for the use of ECT and other novel neurostimulation techniques in the treatment of schizophrenia.
When widespread fear and anxiety about the spread of an infectious disease stress our society, psychiatrists can play a variety of important roles in population health management.
Given that rates of military suicide have risen to unprecedented levels, the burden of empirical proof in support of weak military mental health confidentiality standards is squarely on the military.
Here: a look at Mobilyze and CrossCheck--2 apps currently in development that are embedded within smartphones and designed to capture objective data on patients to provide timely treatment and relapse prevention.
Because of the widespread use of selfies by young people in social media and digital communication, it is important to examine the psychology behind the selfie as well as ways mental health professionals can talk to adolescents and their parents about these issues.
The funding of mental illness services in the US is more thought-disordered than any of the thought-disordered patients it is meant to serve.
Mental disorders have become a global commodity. According to the author, "a diagnostic fad heavily promoted first in the US has now quickly spread around the world."
I had planned to make this month’s column about the best 10 advances in psychiatry during 2014. While some things changed for the better for our patients and their families-and our profession-I’ve been having a hard time with my list.
How do we catch up with other developed countries to create a compassionate, cost-effective mental health system? Psychiatric Times posed this question to some of the leading experts in the field.
For us to intervene and prevent injury, we need to ask patients probing questions about their relationships, and whether they feel safe at home.
“Distress” hardly captures the inner world of those with severe forms of psychotic illnesses. Terms like “agony,” “torment,” and “anguish” would be much closer to the mark, for many patients.
This CME article reviews the pathophysiology and epidemiology of delirium and provides strategies for assessment, prevention, and management of this syndrome.
Recently there has been considerable controversy and confusion around how the word "psychosis" should be used, if indeed it should be used at all. More in this commentary.
Given the pervasiveness of substance use disorders, the information provided here is relevant not only for addiction psychiatrists, but all mental health providers and primary care physicians.
This brief communication highlights clinically applicable information and take-home points presented at the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Annual Meeting.
What is the association between bipolar disorder, trauma, and violence? Here: a guide to assessing violence potential in bipolar patients.
Dostoevsky wrote 135 years ago, but his critique of forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology stands the test of time.
As the nation focuses on public protests regarding the deaths of black males by white officers, psychiatric groups take notice.
