Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability with increasing prevalence in the United States. The CDC estimates 1 in 59 children have ASD and is 4 times more common in boys than girls. The changing landscape makes is difficult to know true rates of healthcare utilization, but individuals and families impacted by ASD often […]

  Many medications we prescribe for psychiatric conditions are associated with weight gain, including atypical antipsychotic medications, some mood stabilizer medications, and antidepressant medications. Some clinicians might view the risk of weight gain with antidepressant medications as a minor risk when viewing the seriousness of a patient’s depression. However, it is important to not add […]

Given the increase in prescribing of antipsychotic medication, it is more important than ever for providers to be screening for Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) and other extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) related to antipsychotic use. Partially, the increase in prescribing of antipsychotic medications is related to their use in non-psychotic disorders, like monotherapy for bipolar disorder and adjunctive […]

The primary medications used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are stimulant medications. These medications can be very helpful for children who struggle with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention so that they can be more successful in the home and school environments. Often these medications can lead to problematic side effects such as decreased appetite, […]

Last week’s eWeekly discussed the assessment of depression in older patients, and the intricate interplay between depression and cognitive impairment in older patients. This eWeekly addresses treatment of depression in older patients and how it might differ from treatment in younger adults. First it is important to identify and address any medical contributions to a […]

Depression is not an inevitable part of growing older, but there are factors that come with aging that can increase the risk of developing depression, even for a person who does not have a history of depression. These include retiring and losing one’s professional identity, increased medical problems, losing loved ones, and increased isolation. It […]

Harm Reduction is a pragmatic and strategic approach to reduce the harmful effects of substance use that has emerged in recent years that recognizes that people with substance use disorders present for care at different stages in their road to recovery and that successful intervention in substance abuse treatment can be applied even with people […]

Last week’s e-weekly reviewed what situations might warrant the use of a safety plan and what is included in one. Safety plans typically include resources, both local and possibly hotlines or websites. The goal for this e-weekly is to provide information on some useful resources that could be utilized in a person’s specific safety plan. […]

Often when a patient is in crisis, we talk about putting a “safety plan” in place. It may not be clear to all providers what a safety plan is or why it might be helpful. The goal of this e-weekly is to discuss what a safety plan is, how to develop and implement one, and […]

The United States has 57% more school threats than all other industrialized nations combined. Most experts agree that this is at least partially related to the relatively easier access to guns in the United States compared to other developed countries, but this e-weekly is not about the gun debate. It is a review of the […]