Anxiety & Stress Disorders

The COVID-19 pandemic has gained its place on the dark side of world history for a variety of reasons: sudden onset, speed of global transmission, mistakes in recognition and management, politically inspired neglect or minimizations.

How can psychiatrists advise patients to manage their stress and to remain calm?

In 2009 I attended the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Conference. The general thought at the time was that it was the last best opportunity to keep the world from warming over 2 degrees centigrade.

What can psychiatrists do to help their patients cope with self-quarantine and isolation practices? More in this podcast.

What do we tell patients regarding the pandemic both in terms of office policies and preparations for self-isolation and quarantine as well as dealing with uncertainty?

These are hard times, but they get a little easier when we make the decision to unite and go through them together.

Psychiatrists are uniquely situated to help both their patients and the greater community understand the potential impact of the virus and help patients, families, and society deal with this latest threat.

When parents take steps to end their marriages, the default arrangement for children should be shared parenting. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, and judges can help parents avoid irreparable harm.

The World Health Organization has officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the first precipitated by the coronavirus.

Can outbreaks such as COVID-19 affect existing illnesses and precipitate new-onset psychiatric symptoms in children and adults?

OCD symptoms can be quite difficult to recognize. Not understanding what is happening, patients tend to be ashamed and suffer in silence, often resulting in a period of 8 to 10 years of untreated illness and long-term negative outcomes.

What can psychiatrists in the US do to better prepare themselves and their patients for potential natural disasters? A research psychiatrist answers that question and more in this Psychiatric Times exclusive.

Emerging infectious disease outbreaks cause significant fear and uncertainty. Psychiatrists can play an important role in supporting the well-being of patients and families, health care personnel, and the general public.

Despite heterogeneity in symptoms, there is growing realization that common neurobiological processes may contribute to OCD vulnerability and its persistence.

We often hear about seasonal affective disorder, but we don’t talk much about “winter woes.” Amaryllis offers something for everyone, for it encourages celebrations on many occasions, over as many months.

Key points regarding intimate partner violence.

New research discovered mid-pregnancy insomnia may be a marker for both concurrent and postpartum anxiety.

The herbal supplement kratom may be less addictive and more effective for the management of pain than opioids, according to new research, but caution is needed.

Like it or not, social media has become a constant in our lives, and it is getting harder to unplug. But, is social media actually causing harm?

Data suggest that it is important for mental health professionals to screen for interpersonal violence and provide relevant treatment referrals. A selection of widely available and validated interpersonal violence screening measures are described in this slideshow.

Psychiatrists are likely to encounter patients with depression, anxiety, and paranoia related to communicable diseases and pandemics. Following is a summary of memorable epidemics/pandemics.

Problems with any one of these domains can disrupt an individual’s capacity to sustain work capacity.

Medicine and psychology have integrated the basic principles of mindfulness into many diverse treatment modalities. Seven are listed here.

Men face many obstacles in disclosing sexual abuse and assault histories to their clinicians and the public at large. More in this video.

Infectious outbreaks have shaped the psyche of humanity for times immemorial.

Tinnitus affects 50 million people in the US and can require urgent medical assistance. It can also cause considerable anxiety and even hallucinations. Reducing symptom intensity is key.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe and debilitating illness with one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder. The illness course is often long, recovery is slow, and the rates of full recovery are low.

The association between psychiatric disorders, most notably depression and anxiety, and pain is well established. However, mental health professionals, and especially psychiatrists, are still often excluded from treating patients with pain.

Cannabis is a widely used drug of abuse in adolescents. With legalization of marijuana, adolescent cannabis use may increase substantially.

New research shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful in treating OCD symptoms in children and considers cognitive development and the heterogeneous presentation of hoarding symptoms.