Medications

Approaching Neverland: A Memoir of Epic Tragedy & Happily Ever After
In the 1960s, when author Peggy Kennedy grew up, mental illness was a family secret. It was whispered about, handed off to hospitals, restrained, subjected to electroshock therapy and slews of sedatives and sent back home, when appropriate. Peggy Kennedy knows this all too well because her mother suffered from schizophrenia (her diagnosis was later [...]
An Overview of Depression and Money Issues
Being in debt, broke, and unemployed can lead to depression but the converse is also true: Depression can precipitate financial meltdown. There is the issue of lost wages. People who are depressed take off more time from work. In fact, according to a 2008 study reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry mental illness costs America [...]
Side Effects of ADHD Medications
Side effects resulting from drugs taken for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are unfortunately quite common. As with any condition, these unwanted effects can be severe enough to cause ADHD patients to discontinue their treatment. It is important for physicians to be aware of side effects from real world experience as well as information supplied by [...]
Depression and Alcoholism: Five Tips for Recovery
Alcoholics go through a period of grieving when they give up drinking. For those dually-diagnosed with alcoholism and depression, the grief over not being able to drink is intensified. That’s usually because once people with co-occurring disorders stop drinking, all the feelings that have been medicated over the years by alcohol start to surface. This [...]
Depression and Teenage Identity Building
One day of high school, I distinctly remember realizing that I had more friends who were taking some form of psychiatric medication than friends who were not. The vast majority of them were on antidepressants. As more and more teenagers are prescribed pills for depression, nearly every student in high school and college [...]
Depression Myths and Facts Demystified
Almost 15 million Americans suffer from clinical depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression is also the leading cause of disability among 15- to 44-year-olds. Still, even though depression is so common, there are many misconceptions about its symptoms, causes and treatment. The problem is that misinformation gives rise to stigma and [...]
Three Faces of Depression
Is depression a single thing? It seems to me that depression has many faces. One of the fascinating segments of my job as a private tutor is my role as home school teacher. I take on referrals of students who can’t attend school. Sometimes the causes are physical (for example, a student with cancer undergoing radiation [...]
The Genetics of ADHD
A great deal of research has been carried out on the genetic factors that may play a role in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Over 1,800 studies have been published on the subject to date. These studies, including family studies as well as those centered on specific genes or genome-wide screening, have produced strong evidence that [...]
Treating Depression and Physical Illness
People with physical illness are at an increased risk of depression, which is linked with a worse prognosis and reduced adherence to treatment. Unfortunately, data on the use of antidepressants in physically ill patients is lacking. Extra care must be taken in prescribing antidepressants to this group because of side effects, possible impact on the [...]
ADHD and Marijuana
Recent research shows that marijuana may relieve some of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The debate rages on, but many people, both kids and adults, are reporting the alleviation of their symptoms with marijuana usage. It helps slow down the progression of rapidly firing thoughts—something that plagues those with ADHD and makes [...]
Appreciating Our ADHD Students
I’ve been sitting at a dining room table for almost two hours now, observing my son, Matt, as he works with a student. Matt’s a professional tutor and so am I. I’ve enlisted Matt’s help with this particular girl, because history’s not my forte and it’s one of Matt’s specialties. This student (I’ll call her Eva) [...]
Depression Treatment in Tough Economic Times
One of the most difficult things about depression treatment is the cost. It isn’t any more expensive than medical treatment, but it usually isn’t automatically covered by insurance, you have to wait a period to get reimbursed, and it is generally not a quick fix. It makes it more important than ever to [...]
The ADHD Marriage
Myrna has been married to Jon for 35 years. Up until eight years ago, they were constantly bickering. As much as they loved each other and their kids, they couldn’t seem to get through a day without arguments and recriminations. She felt constantly let down. He felt constantly nagged. Then he got a diagnosis that [...]
It May Not Be ADHD
It’s hard for Tony to stay focused. He is easily distracted and has difficulty getting and staying organized. Often his choices look impulsive. Restlessness is his middle name. Nonetheless, he’s a highly successful attorney. He just figures he’s a classic Type A personality who always has to be working very hard and disciplining himself [...]
Exercise and Depression in Pregnancy and Beyond
Research suggests that exercise can have a moderating influence on the risk of depression in pregnancy as well as in the postpartum period. A lack of exercise during pregnancy has been associated with a higher rate of depression symptoms. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not [...]