The cost of prescription drugs will not stop rising anytime soon, but there are a number of ways to save. Here are some suggestions: The place to start is with your choice of insurance company or plan. Find out about the range of prescription benefits and whether or not the medications you’re taking are covered [...]
Q. When diagnosing depression in a client, how concerned should I be about identifying specific depression subtypes? Do specific subtypes suggest different treatment modalities? A. For years now, clinicians have attempted to categorize depressions into “subtypes.” A few examples are: typical vs. atypical, reactive vs. biological and psychotic vs. non-psychotic. There are as many as [...]
“Fat” is a bad word in our society, but omega-3 fatty acids are one of the superstars when it comes to improving nerve conduction. High levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain also reduce neuroinflammation, a factor commonly seen in people with depression. Cell membranes consist partly of omega-3s, which make it easier for [...]
On December 4, 2009, the FDA approved the use of two more antipsychotic medications — Zyprexa and Seroquel — for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in teens. Risperdal and Abilify are also specifically approved for the same use in this age group. In association with the approval of Zyprexa and Seroquel, the FDA also stated [...]
In my next few blogs, I will provide answers to the most frequently asked questions fielded from conferences, seminars, e-mail and telephone contact. So if you’ve wondered about the answers to these questions or have encountered them in your work with clients, please read on! I’m delighted to be of service in this capacity. Q. [...]
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation was approved by the FDA in October 2008 for patients with major depression who have failed one prior antidepressant trial. Stimulation of the brain is accomplished by a pulsed magnetic field that is passed through a coil of wire encased in plastic and held close to the head. This magnetic field [...]
There are two factors to consider when assessing the combined use of alcohol and antidepressants: first, the likelihood that an antidepressant’s effectiveness will be altered by alcohol (will consuming alcohol prevent or diminish the potential positive effects of the antidepressant?); and second, the chance that there will be some untoward and unintended consequences between alcohol [...]
On August 14, 2009, the FDA approved Saphris (asenapine) as a new second-generation antipsychotic for the treatment of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is available only as a sublingual tablet, meaning that it is not effective if swallowed, and it must be left under the tongue to dissolve for it to be absorbed into [...]
I am often asked by new or aspiring speakers how to overcome the fear and sometimes downright paralysis associated with speaking in public. You may have read or heard about some people that fear public speaking more than death! Although this is utterly ridiculous, there are those that wouldn’t stand before an audience and utter [...]
Atypical depressed individuals tend to sleep excessively, eat too much (particularly carbohydrates and lots of simple sugars), experience an often profound reactive dysphoria (melancholia) and tend to be very sensitive to interpersonal rejection. This depression is characterized by lethargy and often significant debilitation. Also, approximately 80 percent of atypical depressives meet diagnostic criteria for phobias [...]