There has been a lot of discussion recently in the scientific world and lay press about the prevalence and consequences of vitamin D deficiency. As part of that discussion, there has been a suggestion that vitamin D deficiency could contribute to depression and that vitamin D supplementation could be a viable treatment option for depression. […]

Many children and adolescents present to their primary care provider’s office with concerns about inattention, poor focus or poor concentration. Since the primary care provider’s office is typically the first stop, it is important to be comfortable further evaluating the presenting problem, identifying associated symptoms, determining the diagnosis and implementing the best treatment plan. Many […]

The prevalence of Major Depression Disorder (MDD) in adolescents is 6%, with an additional 5-10% of teens presenting with sub-syndromal symptoms of depression. There is a 2:1 female:male ratio for MDD in adolescents. Teens frequently don’t necessarily present with the typical DSM criteria for MDD. Common depressive symptoms in adolescents include: irritability (as opposed to […]

The last e-weekly discussed the opioid epidemic. This article will discuss more about assessing for opioid use disorders and appropriate treatments. A person is diagnosed as having an opioid use disorder if he develops symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal to opioids as well as at least two other symptoms in the same year. Tolerance is […]

This is an important public health concern that warrants a discussion apart from political stance. Violence from firearms accounts for almost 4,000 deaths and over 15,000 injuries in children and adolescents yearly. The rate of firearm-related deaths in children in the United States is nearly 16 times greater than the rate in 25 other industrialized […]

It used to be thought that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was fairly rare, but it is more common than originally thought. The prevalence is between 2-3% worldwide and it affects males and females equally. Symptoms usually present between late childhood and early adulthood, with 75% of patients having symptoms before the age of 18. OCD can […]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is fairly common, with a prevalence of 10-15%. PPD can occur anytime in the first year after delivery. The postpartum year is one of the highest risk periods for first-onset depression for women with approximately 50% of women who will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime experiencing their first episode of […]

As cannabis use increases, with easier access in the face of recent changes in legislation, there has been significant emerging evidence for cannabis-related risks. It is important for primary care providers to be aware of these, because the primary care office is can be a valuable opportunity for primary prevention frequently activity or may be […]

The use of e-cigarettes has increased dramatically in the last few years among teens. It is estimated that 4 million adolescents are using e-cigarettes and there was a 10-fold increase between 2011 and 2016. This is Part II of a 2 part series on e-cigarettes. There is concern that use of e-cigarettes by adolescents leads […]