joe | Pharmatherapist

About joe

Joseph Wegmann, R.Ph., LCSW is a licensed clinical pharmacist and a clinical social worker with more than thirty years of experience in the field of psychopharmacology. His diverse professional background in psychopharmacology and counseling affords him a unique perspective on medication management issues. In addition to consulting with numerous psychiatric facilities, he has presented psychopharmacology seminars to thousands of clinicians in 46 states.

Helping Clients Overcome Resistance to Psychotropic Medication: Strategy # 3

The third reason fostering client resistance to psychotropic medication is ambivalence. Here I address that issue, and how you can help. 3. Ambivalence. Practitioners at all levels of experience know that getting clients to overcome their resistance toward psychotropic medication is not necessarily easy. Many clients assess the odds associated with considering medication options for some time before making the commitment to following through with pharmacotherapy as part of the treatment process. A client's decision therefore may be long and [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:56:25+00:00

Helping Clients Overcome Resistance to Psychotropic Medication: Strategy # 2

Last week, I discussed the "shame factor" as a reason for psychotropic medication resistance and/or refusal, and addressed some ways for helping your clients overcome shame issues. This week's post focuses on family interference and how you can help. 2. Family Interference. Face it clinicians, family members are our de-facto healthcare specialists. They have likely witnessed the unpredictability and even the anguish associated with the mental health struggles of their ill family member -- your client. In this sense, they [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:56:13+00:00

Helping Clients Overcome Resistance to Psychotropic Medication: Strategy # 1

Why are some clients so resistant to the use of psychotropic medication? After all, it is a treatment strategy that has garnered rather widespread acceptance as an option for treating a vast array of mental health maladies isn't it? Over my next four blog entries, I'll address four common reasons why clients refuse or even downright resist medication, together with strategies you can utilize to assist them to better comprehend why medication just might be a viable alternative for their [...]

joe2017-01-27T16:28:47+00:00

Latest News about ADD/ADHD

- ADD/ADHD is not being over-diagnosed. In fact, 50 percent of children that would meet diagnostic criteria for the disorder are NEVER diagnosed and will struggle with distractibility and inattention throughout their entire lives. - The most important telltale sign that a child may benefit from medication is when the child no longer feels accepted by peers, at school, or even at home. Social and academic impairment are important markers to take into consideration. In fact the American Academy of [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:55:48+00:00

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) for Mild Depression

SAMe is considered by many to be one of the best natural antidepressants in the treatment of mild depression. This made SAMe headline news when it first hit the U.S. market in 1999. SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) is a substance found in the body that helps in the production of neurotransmitters and hormones aided by the amino acid methionine. Ordinarily, the brain manufactures all the SAMe it needs, but in depression, methionine synthesis is impaired. SAMe has been the subject of more [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:55:37+00:00

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Risk Factors for Developing Depression

What are some of the biggest risk factors for developing depression? The three biggest risk factors for developing depression are: (1) Genetic predisposition. Many individuals that meet criteria for major depressive disorder have a significant family history for depression. Treating clinicians should always thoroughly examine the depressed client’s “family tree” for depression. (2) Environmental events. Individuals that have recently experienced situational factors such as the death of a loved one or close friend, a recent divorce or job loss are [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:55:25+00:00

What to do when your Partner is depressed

It is important that the non-depressed partner realize that depression can be selfish and manipulative. Depressed partners build a safety net around themselves. They will grant their non-depressed partner access to their cocoon-like existence when they're up to it, but will often inappropriately rebuff the partner at other times. The important issue here is for the non-depressed partner to choose to not take the inappropriate behavior personally. Inappropriateness comes with the territory in depression. The non-depressed partner should set clear [...]

joe2020-04-16T20:26:10+00:00

Non-Pharmacological Options for Managing Depression: What the Pharmaceutical Companies Will Never Tell You

- Bright light exposure represents a proven strategy for managing depression. Light receptors in the retina connect to circuits in the brain that regulate circadian rhythm. Sunlight is the prime stimulator of the eyes’ photoreceptors: it triggers a cascade of neurochemical reactions that aid in keeping the "body clock" in synch. Regular bright light exposure – either via sunlight or specially designed light boxes – can restore healthy circadian function to the brain and improve mood. - Bright light exposure [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:54:57+00:00

Low Sex Drive in Men

A reporter for a major national Men’s magazine recently contacted me and asked if I would comment on some of the surprising and common causes of low sex drive in men. Here are my responses: - A frequent, and I would say surprising cause of low male libido is anger toward their wives or significant others. Anger sucks the energy out of a man’s desire for sex. When men make a statement in therapy such as, "I just don't want [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:54:45+00:00

Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

According to the National Mental Health Information Center, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental, emotional and behavioral problems to occur during childhood and adolescence. About 13 out of every 100 children and adolescents ages 9 to 17 experience some kind of anxiety disorder; girls are affected more than boys. If left untreated, these disorders can lead to the inability to finish school, impaired social relations, low self-esteem, and eventually, anxiety disorders in adulthood. The onset of childhood anxiety [...]

joe2017-01-27T16:32:12+00:00

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