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Bipolar Disorder in Youth

The assessment and diagnosis of bipolar disorder in youth is enormously controversial. Depending on whom you listen to, there is either an epidemic or it’s virtually non-existent in young people. Many diagnoses nowadays are made by primary care physicians with little expertise in psychiatry, less time with each child and intolerant of unruly behavior. And there remains no consensus on how to effectively measure symptom severity. These factors have contributed to a “diagnostic rush to judgment” mode and children are [...]

2012-10-14T15:33:11+00:00

What’s New in Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology?

I know full well that I startle some people when I state during the child and adolescent portion of my Psychopharmacology workshops that there is little to nothing new in the medication management of psychiatric disorders in this specific population. Here’s some additional supportive testimony: I haven’t seen a notice for a child and adolescent Psychopharmacology seminar cross my desk in years; there are no recent major books in this area – scholarly journal publications, yes, but not texts; and [...]

2012-10-10T16:10:52+00:00

ADHD – Why Parents Shouldn’t Buy In at First

Eight-year-old Megan’s mother called me last week. The purpose of her call was to set up a consultation whereby I would offer medication options for Megan’s “ADHD.” I wasn’t asked to assess the child for ADHD – Julie, Megan’s mother, merely wanted to discuss the range of drug options and which one(s) would be most suitable for her daughter. […]

2012-10-10T14:49:48+00:00

Observations – Installment #4

Most people are overconfident in their judgment. A just-released Wall Street Journal survey indicates that when asked if they’ve made a serious financial mistake in the last five years, over 50 percent of respondents answered: Yes. A follow-up question yielded a more stunning result – 50 percent of them reported that they were confident in their ability to make sound financial decisions. […]

2013-10-20T20:10:56+00:00

Observations – Installment #3

People who use online dating sites to find a potential mate are engaging in “sizzle” at first. They juice up their self-descriptions so as to present themselves as alluring, intriguing and of course, interesting. And why not, it all starts with the art of seduction. Sizzle fades though, and the interested parties then become focused on substance – that is, does the person have the potential to become a partner. And to gauge potential, they’ve got to meet. [...]

2013-10-20T20:02:42+00:00
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