Do Our Illnesses Define Us?
I am not my illness. I see this phrase all over social media with selfies taken of those who make this statement. While I love seeing these and respect the statement that is made, I think of what it means for me.
I am not my illness. My name is Risa, not depression. In describing myself I would never use depression in my description. I would say loving, smart, sarcastic, funny, etc. While depression has been a part of me for the past year and a half, it isn't all there is to me and it certainly does not define me, even at my inner core.
While I do not feel that others see only my illness instead of me, I am stuck in a s...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - March 16, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Street Drug 'Special K' May Offer New Hope For People With Treatment-Resistant Depression
A hallucinogenic drug known on the street as "Special K" offers new hope to those suffering from severe, treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine, which is derived from phencyclidine (PCP), already has a well-established medical use as a sedative or pain killer. But since 2000, small but high-quality studies have demonstrated its uses as a powerful and fast-acting treatment for major depression.
The growing body of evidence has emboldened doctors to begin prescribing Ketamine for depression, despite the fact that the drug has not been approved for such a use and the long-term effects are still unknown. To address those...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - December 12, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
ECT Effective for Treatment - Resistant Depression
Third - line electroconvulsive therapy also cost - effective in base case, and in a range of sensitivity analyses (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Psychiatry)
Source: The Doctors Lounge - Psychiatry - November 11, 2014 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Psychiatry, Journal, Source Type: news
Each Day I Like It Better: Autism, ECT & the Treatment of Our Most Impaired Children
Say “shock therapy” to most people and what comes to mind?
For many, it is some version of Jack Nicholson’s experience in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: a patient writhing on the table as a crazed doctor sends waves of electricity through his brain, all with disastrous consequences.
Even during my psychiatry clerkship as a medical student, I had some trepidation when my attending doctor recommended that I observe the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) my severely depressed patient was receiving. I went down to the PACU and waited nervously as the patient was wheeled into the room and helped onto the gurne...
Source: Psych Central - October 31, 2014 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Megan Riddle Tags: Autism / Asperger's Book Reviews Children and Teens Disorders ECT General Personal Stories School Issues amy lutz Amy SF Lutz Each Day I Like It Better impaired children treatment Source Type: news
Experiences With ECT - Electroconvulsive Therapy
Has your doctor prescribed treatment with ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) for manic depression? Are you considering it? Read what others have to say about their experiences with ECT. Page 2 (Source: About.com Bipolar Disorder)
Source: About.com Bipolar Disorder - October 21, 2014 Category: Psychiatry Authors: bipolar.guide at about.com Tags: health Source Type: news
Adjunctive ECT Effective for Drug-Resistant SchizophreniaAdjunctive ECT Effective for Drug-Resistant Schizophrenia
Augmenting clozapine-resistant schizophrenia with electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment option. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - September 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Psychiatry News Source Type: news
Electroconvulsive therapy and aerobic exercise training increased BDNF and ameliorated depressive symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder - Salehi I, Hosseini SM, Haghighi M, Jahangard L, Bajoghli H, Gerber M, Pühse U, Kirov R, Holsboer-Trachsler E, Brand S.
BACKGROUND: To treat patients suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TR-MDD), research has focused on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and aerobic exercise training (AET). Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems to be key in MD... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - August 3, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Program and Other Evaluations, Effectiveness Studies Source Type: news
Low strength brain stimulation may be effective for depression
(Elsevier) Brain stimulation treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation, are often effective for the treatment of depression. Like antidepressant medications, however, they typically have a delayed onset. For example, a patient may receive several weeks of regular electroconvulsive therapy treatments before a full response is achieved. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 22, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
A Cold Splash–Hydrotherapy for Depression and Anxiety
Can hot and cold water help mood? Ancient wisdom and some modern research suggest it may. read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - July 6, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc Tags: Anxiety Depression Integrative Medicine Psychiatry alternative medicine cold shower Cymbalta duloxetine electroconvulsive Therapy hippocrates hydrotherapy mood naturopathic medicine naturopathy polar bear club SNRI ssri ant Source Type: news
A Cold Splash - Hydrotherapy for Depression and Anxiety
Can hot and cold water help mood? Ancient wisdom and some modern research suggest it may. read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - July 6, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc Tags: Anxiety Depression Integrative Medicine Psychiatry alternative medicine cold shower Cymbalta duloxetine electroconvulsive Therapy hippocrates hydrotherapy mood naturopathic medicine naturopathy polar bear club SNRI ssri ant Source Type: news
ECT a Potential Lifesaver in Comorbid PTSD, Major DepressionECT a Potential Lifesaver in Comorbid PTSD, Major Depression
Electroconvulsive therapy in individuals with PTSD and major depression may significantly reduce the mortality risk in this challenging patient population. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Psychiatry Headlines)
Source: Medscape Psychiatry Headlines - June 4, 2014 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Psychiatry News Source Type: news
Christine Moutier on Mental Health
In order for mental health treatment to be front and center in our ongoing conversation about health, we need to engage those who are living with and through these conditions. While many people can maintain a quality life with treatment and support, living with a mental illness can be a painful experience and often a lonely one. The general lack of knowledge about mental illness stigmatizes the individual and deters many people from seeking treatment. We need to continue educating the public about mental disorders as illnesses requiring the same level of medical treatment, proactive patient involvement and compassionate ...
Source: PHRMA - May 16, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Julie Source Type: news
Ketamine is a promising last resort treatment for severe depression
IV infusions of ketamine could offer an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant patients, UK study findsRelated items from OnMedicaMagic mushrooms mooted as treatment for depressionLithium cuts suicide risk in people with mood disordersGP collaborative treatment improves depressionCare for kids with depression needs to be improved Long-term users of ketamine warned of serious health risks (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - April 3, 2014 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
Ketamine tested as severe depression treatment
Conclusion
This small open label trial aimed to further investigate the safety and possible effectiveness of giving repeated ketamine infusions over a three week period to a small group of people with depression that had not responded to previous treatments. Almost a third responded to treatment. The treatment also had no detrimental effect on participants in terms of memory, though there were some side effects and seven people withdrew from the study. Two because of side effects during the infusion; and five because they were getting no benefit and were becoming more anxious.
This was an early stage study and not a ran...
Source: NHS News Feed - April 3, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Mental health Source Type: news
Ketamine is a promising last resort treatment for severe depression, UK study finds
IV infusions of ketamine could offer an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant patientsRelated items from OnMedicaMagic mushrooms mooted as treatment for depressionLithium cuts suicide risk in people with mood disordersGP collaborative treatment improves depressionCare for kids with depression needs to be improved Long-term users of ketamine warned of serious health risks (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - April 3, 2014 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
