Problems with Piecemeal Prescribing As a practicing psychiatrist, I see many patients. Many have psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, depressed mood, low energy, and irritability. My first task is to address the symptoms that trouble my patient the most in the safest, most practical way possible. Unfortunately, many are increasingly presenting with a list…
As a practicing clinician, I am regularly told by patients about what they have read on the internet. My clinical colleagues have referred to the internet as “Dr. Google.” Why do people give more weight and authority to something they have read on the internet than what we have discussed in the office? I suspect…
Brian looks like he has the perfect life. He has a well-paying job, nice house, great wife, and two amazing kids. But his anxiety was like a dark cloud that threatened to ruin everything. He struggled with anxiety and debilitating panic attacks for years. He often isolated at home and work, spending a lot of…
As a practicing psychiatrist, I am often asked this question both by patients as well as family members. The answer is: it depends. It depends on several important factors that patients need to be aware of, especially when they agree to trying a medication for the first time. So, what are these factors? It depends…
Are you or a loved one struggling with tobacco use? Do you want to quit smoking and don’t know how to start? Have you tried to quit before and been unsuccessful? Worried that vaping is not a great alternative? Nicotine has been proven to be a highly addictive substance. According to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual…
E-cigarettes Through the Eyes of a Loudoun County Teen Walk into any high school or middle school bathroom. Do you smell something fruity? Something minty? That’s not air freshener. Our school bathrooms have turned into Juul Rooms. The administrators sometimes even lock the bathrooms because so many kids are vaping in there. Those sleek black…
For an eight year old movie, the issues that Limitless raise remain as contemporary as ever: What are the actual indications for stimulant pills? What does it say about those living in modern, western culture that they seem simply unable to function without them in modern workplace culture? If so, does that also mean that the…
In 2016, in the United States: 51,969 persons died from an opioid overdose 1 million people suffered from an Opioid Use disorder Yet only about 20% of these individuals received treatment for this chronic brain disease In 2017, Virginia saw: 1,534 fatal drug overdoses, most of which were related to opioids 1,227 opioid overdoses were…
The answer to this question is most a resounding yes for most patients, families, and, insurance companies. But for the millions of practicing therapists, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists, we may not get such enthusiastic agreement on this answer. Why is that? The answer may lie in how psychiatric diagnoses are made, and what our expectations…
Do any of these sound like you during the winter months? Have a depressed mood more days than not Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed Increase in appetite, especially for carbohydrates Increased sleep Loss of energy or increased fatigue despite extra sleep Increase in restlessness or slowed movements Feeling worthless or…