Updates about psychiatry and our practice.
The current projections for COVID-19 coronavirus infections in California look hopeful. We track this using the IHME model. As of mid-February 2022, it appears that infections are likely to be back to the levels seen in the fall of 2021 by mid to late March 2022. Other sources of information mirror this prediction. For example, Covid in sewage tends to …
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has issued updated guidelines for treatment of insomnia. Chronic insomnia disorder is a serious condition and requires careful diagnosis and treatment. It is often found together with mood disorders such as bipolar, major depression and anxiety, but has traditionally been treated as a less-important and temporary phenomenon. The AASM recommends that chronic insomnia …
We have several other posts on this topic which trace the evolution of our thinking about the risks of using antidepressants during pregnancy. Generally, the data continues to support our view that the risks of depression during pregnancy, both in terms of effects on the mother and effects on the child, usually outweigh the risks of antidepressant use. Another large …
Jet lag, although temporary affects both physical and mental performance. Travelling across multiple time zones disrupts your body’s circadian rhythm and a result it may cause fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms including changes in mood. We found this app that could help you recover from jet lag on a wonderful site called Sleepjunkie.org. You can use the calculator to change …
Psychotherapies — particularly cognitive-behavioral approaches used as adjunctive treatments — can play a critical role in helping people with a history of depression avoid relapse. For many people, major depression is a chronic illness. Even when they are no longer depressed, people who have had several episodes of depression have to be concerned about a significant risk of a recurrence …
We have been eagerly awaiting the results of controlled studies of psilocybin treatment of depression (used along with psychotherapy). A large multi-center study is still recruiting participants. Meanwhile a great deal of interest in this topic has been stirred up by Michael Pollan and his book How to Change Your Mind. But clinicians have had very little solid science upon …
It is our policy to provide you and other health care providers ready access to necessary medical information. Fortunately, it is easy for us to create a summary of your care that includes our initial assessment, your diagnoses, and a complete record of any medication we may have prescribed. Unfortunately, if you want a complete copy of your record, due …
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has a few limitations that should be considered when you are applying for life insurance or disability insurance. Life insurance and disability or long term care insurance companies ask you for the names of all the doctors who have treated you and your consent to get records from the doctors. The consent …
Today one of my patients had a simple request – “Doc, I don’t know if you need to write new prescriptions, but my pharmacy will ask for a refill if I do.” I said that I it is my policy to always write refills in session so that I can make sure that I and my patients understand what medications …
Dr. Forster will be presenting an update on “Telehealth and Psychiatry in an Era of COVID-19,” as part of the Seventh Annual Mood Disorders Summit webcast. Those interested in signing up for this free Continuing Medical Education event visit the Global Medical Education site. The program will include many presentations including… Program Agenda *All times listed are ET Day 1 …
