In a previous e-weekly, we discussed assessment and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is well known that OCD is a chronic waxing and waning disorder. The hidden nature of symptoms and the reinforcement provided by the reduction in anxiety after performing a compulsion contribute to sustained illness. Once the diagnosis of OCD is made, […]

Both mental health disorders and chronic diseases are common and disabling. These conditions can affect anyone, regardless of age, culture, race/ethnicity, gender, or income. The cause is not entirely clear, but it is believed to be a combination of changes in the brain and other neurobiochemical reactions, lack of functionality, and medication related side effects. […]

More than 5 million older adults in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Although dementia is viewed as a memory loss disorder, neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common features. NPS can include aggression, agitation, wandering, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and paranoia. Nearly all patients with dementia will develop at least one […]

As the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are being better recognized and identified, both in early childhood and even in later childhood and adolescence, this is leading to better awareness of the impact of autism on some of our adult patients. As we know, ASD is a lifetime condition. Patients with ASD are at higher risk […]

With the increased use of technology in our everyday lives, it is not surprising that children and adolescents are using screens at higher rates than ever before. Parents estimate that children ages 2-8 spend about 2 hours per day on digital devices, children ages 8-12 spend about 4.5 hours per day on screens and teenagers […]

Families often present to their primary care providers when their children are refusing to go to school. School refusal can happen for a variety of reasons. Some school refusal may be time-limited, but most children who are refusing to go to school on an extended basis have an underlying psychiatric concern such as major depression, […]

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used psychotropic medications to treat depression and anxiety. It is important to be aware of common drug interactions between them and other medications, especially because some SSRIs are competitive inhibitors of a variety of cytochrome P450 liver enzymes. Therefore, they can dramatically increase the blood levels of medications […]

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in adolescents, in the United States, surpassing homicide and second only behind unintentional injuries (motor vehicle accidents, accidental overdose). This switch occurred because of both a reduction in deaths from homicide and a modest increase in deaths from suicide. Deaths from suicide had been decreasing from […]

With improved and consistent early screening, increasing awareness and broader definitions of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), it is becoming increasingly common for the question of ASD to come up in the primary care setting. Sometimes parents present with their own concerns or concerns brought up by school or daycare providers about their children. Other times, […]