Post Traumatic stress disorder has stirred up a rather frothy debate over the last few years, especially around the definition of the traumatic event that precipitates the symptoms. It is by no means controversial that extremely traumatic events (combat veterans experiencing the perils of war, physical abuse, sexual abuse, natural disasters) should qualify as criterion, [...]
The issue of drug “holidays” – a short-term, deliberate discontinuation of ADHD medication – is also known as a structured treatment intervention. These so-called “holidays” can take place over a weekend, a full week or an extended school vacation. There is no definitive conclusion as to the benefits or drawbacks to drug holidays. Some prescribers [...]
Both medical and non medical clinicians will likely be seeing more elderly patients as the oldest of the “baby boomers” are on the cusp of retirement. In the United States, people aged 65 and over make up just 13 percent of the total population, but account for 30 percent of all prescriptions written. Changes in [...]
One of the most significant challenges I face as a pharmatherapist is getting my bipolar clients to continue taking their medications as prescribed. More often than not, the culprit driving inconsistent usage patterns is the thrilling and invigorating manic “high.” The manic phase of bipolar disorder carries a peculiar treatment challenge that most other mental [...]
1. First and foremost, you should know that depression is a real illness, not a character flaw or a weakness. In this regard, it is no different from diabetes or hypertension, and it is highly responsive to appropriate treatment, which may include more than just medication alone. 2. You should know what to expect from [...]
I remember all too well years ago the advertisements in psychiatric journals stating that antidepressants will “restore the person within the patient,” and although these medications have indeed made a dramatic difference in the outcome of depressive illness, they are by no means the miracle drugs that some thought them to be. In fact, a [...]
Sixth-graders are ordering prescription medications over the Internet — illegally. And their parents haven’t a clue. That’s one of the shocking facts in “You’ve Got Drugs!” an annual report on Internet access to controlled substances from Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. The report, released late last year, also points out that [...]
There’s little doubt that the diagnosis of childhood-onset bipolar disorder is on the rise. Office visits by children diagnosed with bipolar disorder multiplied 40-fold from 1994-2003. Disagreements abound as to what this means. Some researchers view the trend as a sign of progress: A disorder that has long gone undiagnosed in children is now being [...]