Weekly Newsletters
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Expanded Services Available
We are excited to announce the expansion of patient and provider services through the SmartCare program pursuant to our revised contract with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services. Effective immediately, SmartCare will be adding the following expanded service capabilities: Telephone Consultations for Adult and Geriatric patients: While this service has previously been available for parents […]
Depression in Older Patients
Depression can occur in any patients as they age, even without a prior history of depression. Older individuals can present with mood symptoms that can seem to be part of the normal aging process, but it is important to assess for the possibility of a masked depression. Of note, there is an increased risk of […]
Treating Depression in Older Patients PART 2
In last week’s eWeekly article, we discussed the features to be aware of in evaluations of depression in older patients, including the influence of depression and/or cognitive impairment in increasing the risk of the other condition. This eWeekly addresses treatment of depression in older patients and how it might differ from treatment in younger adults. […]
Managing Cannabis Use and Its Potential Risks
As regulations around cannabis continue to loosen after the election in November, it is increasingly important for clinicians to work with patients who use it and help them minimize the potential risks. In thinking about cannabis use realistically, it is going to be hard to deter those patients who are presently using it from using […]
4 Traits That Put Kids at Risk for Addiction
The New York Times had an article in September 2016 (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/well/family/the-4-traits-that-put-kids-at-risk-for-addiction.html) that discussed the risk factors for addiction. Traditional anti-drug education in schools focuses on scare tactics and the message “Just Say No”, which has been found to be largely ineffective in children and adolescents who at the highest risk for drug abuse. Recent anti-drug […]
Non-stimulant Approaches to ADHD
There are situations that come up in a primary care setting when a pediatric patient presents with symptoms that are concerning for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) but where there are concerns about prescribing a stimulant medication. These are some of the situations when this can occur: The patient’s presentation meets the symptom checklist for […]
Choosing a Medication Treatment for ADHD
Once a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been made, a decision has to be made about treatment. Most children do well with a combination approach of medication and behavioral therapy. The most likely medication to start with is a stimulant medication. And then the provider has to make a decision from many, […]
Medication to Improve Outcomes in Alcohol Use Disorder
Medication to Improve Outcomes in Alcohol Use Disorder Some experts in the field of substance abuse are arguing for a change in the thinking of how to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Most clinicians, with the focus being on sobriety, refer patients to detoxification and substance abuse programs, which is appropriate. Many clinicians do not […]
Link Between Lead Toxicity and ADHD
When a child first presents with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it is important to assess if there is an underlying medical cause for the symptoms. Lead is a neurotoxin that has been well studied to affect children’s cognition and behavior, and the behavioral profile seen with lead toxicity can mimic ADHD. Children […]
Patients with Elevated or Irritable Mood States: Mania & Hypomania
A unique element in behavioral health care — that of assessing a patient’s abnormal mood states — may on occasion be a special concern in the primary care setting. Comfort with assessing mood states and making appropriate psycho-social and medical interventions can be important skills. This eWeekly discusses the issues of mania and hypomania, as […]