Schizophrenia is among the top 10 disabling conditions worldwide for young adults.1,2 In the United States, the cost of treatment and loss in productivity associated with schizophrenia are estimated to be...
Pathological Lying: Symptom or Disease?
Pathological lying (PL) is a controversial topic. There is, as yet, no consensus in the psychiatric community on its definition, although there is general agreement on its core elements....
Combining High-Yield CBT Methods and Pharmacotherapy in Brief Sessions
As psychiatric practice moves increasingly to brief treatment sessions, fewer psychiatric office visits are being devoted to providing traditional-length psychotherapy.1 Yet, there are many reasons to consider using...
Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
Although it is now widely accepted that opioids have an important place in the management of chronic noncancer pain, many physicians are still concerned about prescribing these medications for...
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: What the Future Holds
This is both an exciting and challenging time to be a child and adolescent psychiatrist. New findings from basic science, genetics, and imaging are changing our knowledge of childhood...
The Role of Family Therapy for Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric condition with a prevalence estimated at to among adolescent females aged 15 to 19 years.1 Comorbid psychological conditions are also common in patients...
One Nation Under Xanax
America is a Xanax nation according to a report just posted on . Of the more than 250 million prescriptions written for psychiatric drugs in 2009 in this country, Xanax is the by far most popular. Nearly 50 million prescriptions were written for this benzodiazepine or its generic form last year. Runners up for the top spot include Ambien, Lexapro, Zoloft, and...
The Epigenetics of Stress
Overly sensitive, aversive reactions to stress seem to run in families. The literature abounds with reports of relatives in these populations predisposed to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Some family members present...
Getting a Great Job: Preparing and “Wowing” at the Interview
Consider these 2 scenarios:Dr Get-Ahead applies for a junior faculty position at a mid-tier academic department of psychiatry. He lists 12 presentations at national conferences on his curriculum vitae. He already has...
45,000 More Psychiatrists, Anyone?
Houston, we have a problem. There is a critical shortage of psychiatrists. And the problem is not in Houston alone-- it includes the entire state of Texas, and every other state...