Who walks in the classroom, cool and slow
If I'd been blogging it all along, cataloguing it day by discouraging day, I wonder if it would seem inevitable. I'm a little bit afraid, instead, that this comes out of the blue: Charlie's changing schools. After three years at the public elementary, this fall he'll go to what I self-consciously call Hippie Do As You Please School.We've known since October of his kindergarten year that he needed lots of structure and support, and I'm grateful to say that he's gotten it: the 504 plan; the occupational therapy; the physical therapy; the daily social learning; the kindness and heroic forebearance ...
Source: a little pregnant - August 15, 2013 Category: Child Development Authors: Julie Tags: Charles in charge GD MF ADHD Source Type: blogs
Who walks in the classroom, cool and slow
If I'd been blogging it all along, cataloguing it day by discouraging day, I wonder if it would seem inevitable. I'm a little bit afraid, instead, that this comes out of the blue: Charlie's changing schools. After three years at the public elementary, this fall he'll go to what I self-consciously call Hippie Do As You Please School.
We've known since October of his kindergarten year that he needed lots of structure and support, and I'm grateful to say that he's gotten it: the 504 plan; the occupational therapy; the physical therapy; the daily social learning; the kindness and heroic forebearance...
Source: a little pregnant - August 15, 2013 Category: Child Development Authors: Julie Tags: Charles in charge GD MF ADHD Source Type: blogs
Breakthroughs in Bipolar Treatment
"We should continue to repurpose treatments and to recognise the role of serendipity" (Geddes & Miklowitz, 2013).That quote was from a recent review article in The Lancet, which did not hint at any impending pharmacological breakthroughs in the treatment of bipolar disorder. In other words, the future of bipolar treatment doesn't look much different from the present (at least in the immediate term). Bipolar disorder, an illness defined by the existence of manic or hypomanic highs, alternating with depressive lows, can be especially difficult to treat. And the mood episode known as a mixed state, where irritability, ex...
Source: The Neurocritic - August 2, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: The Neurocritic Source Type: blogs
ADHD Drugs Don't Boost Grades
Studies show that drugs for ADHD, such as Ritalin and Adderall, don't improve academic performance in school. (Source: Fixin' Healthcare)
Source: Fixin' Healthcare - July 9, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Source Type: blogs
The agony & the ecstasy of EBM in symptom management
So, I decided I might blog a little again. Probably the occasional Journal Club of the Cloud-type posts. Christian and fellow bloggers, thank you for all you do in keeping Pallimed thriving and relevant.
So, Eduardo Bruera & colleagues at MD Anderson have published the results of their long-awaited follow-up trial to their 2006 double-blinded, placebo controlled trial suggesting that methylphenidate (MP) is no better than placebo for cancer-related fatigue (CRF).
Original 2006 trial here
New 2013 trial here
Journal of Clinical Oncology editorial on the 2013 trial here (hat tip to this editorial for pointin...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - July 7, 2013 Category: Palliative Carer Workers Authors: Drew Rosielle MD Source Type: blogs
Guest blogger Dr. Manuel Mota-Castillo on the overdiagnosis of ADHD
We don't shy away from controversy here at Shrink Rap, and today, child psychiatrist Dr. Mota-Castillo joins us to discuss the idea that children with bipolar disorder are being misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder and then being inappropriately treated with stimulants, which may be causing them more harm than good. I've already written about my thoughts on the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder as a catch-all category, and if you'd like to revisit that, see my article on Rethinking Bipolarity in Clinical Psychiatry News. And now for our guest blogger:
* * ...
Source: Shrink Rap - June 28, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Dinah Source Type: blogs
Evidence-Based Emergency Care
Book Review: Evidence based Emergency Care Diagnostic testing and clinical decision rules (2nd edition)
Evidence based Emergency Care (2013) is a paperback handbook providing a concise overview of evidence-based information pertaining to diagnostic tests and decision rules for emergency physicians and emergency medicine trainees
Firstly for those who forgot their Ritalin this morning or just having a 2 minute LITFL break…the conclusion: This is a good addition to both the Evidence based and Emergency medicine literature. It is recommended for those who would like a short but thorough synopsis of the major areas...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - June 19, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Mike Cadogan Tags: Book Review Education Emergency Medicine Featured Reviews decision rules diagnostic tests EBM Evidence Based Medicine Source Type: blogs
Neurofeedback Therapy an Effective, Non-Drug Treatment for ADHD
Pills are not the only way to manage your child’s inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors.
Neurofeedback therapy is a safe, non-invasive, alternative option for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. In November 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics approved biofeedback and neurofeedback as a Level 1 or “best support” treatment option for children suffering from ADHD.
For parents looking for an effective, non-drug treatment of ADHD, neurofeedback is one worth serious consideration.
It is estimated that two million children in the United States are struggling ...
Source: World of Psychology - June 10, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Kristi DeName Tags: ADHD and ADD Brain and Behavior Children and Teens Disorders General Research Technology Treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adhd Beta Waves Bi Source Type: blogs
Kerching!
Drug companies look to profit from DSM-5June 5, 2013, 8:42 a.m. EDTBinge eating and hoarding diagnoses may lead to new salesBy Jen WiecznerThe changes to the DSM-5, the updated manual of psychiatric illnesses released earlier this month, include 15 new mental disorders. Psychiatrists and consumer advocates hope that the new range of diagnoses will help more people find treatment for their suffering. But drug companies could also see a benefit: It’s likely that the changes will expand the demand for prescription medications that could treat these conditions.The DSM-5’s changes widen the treatment potential for...
Source: PharmaGossip - June 6, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Why French Kids Don't Have ADHD
In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications. In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%. How come the epidemic of ADHD—which has become firmly established in the United States—has almost completely passed over children in France?Is ADHD a biological-neurological disorder? Surprisingly, the answer to this question depends on whether you live in France or in the United States. In the United States, child psychiatrists consider ADHD to be a biological disorder with biological causes. The pre...
Source: PharmaGossip - May 18, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Which Prescription Drugs Do Americans Abuse Most?
By: Laura Sciuto
According to a 2010 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 7 million people in the United States -- or 2.7 percent of the population -- annually abuse prescription drugs. This abuse primarily occurs when people take medication not prescribed to them or take their own prescription drugs at a higher dosage than recommended by their doctor.
The most commonly abused prescription drugs fall into three categories: Opioids (pain relievers), depressants and stimulants. Below is a breakdown of each category, compiled using the latest statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
O...
Source: PharmaGossip - May 3, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Changes in How ADHD Meds are Prescribed at University & College
If you were hoping to get some medications prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while in college or at university, you might be in for a rude surprise.
Colleges and university are cutting back on their involvement with ADHD, primarily due to abuse of the psychiatric medications — stimulants like Ritalin — prescribed to treat the disorder. Students — whether they are malingering the symptoms or actually have it — are prescribed a drug to treat ADHD (sometimes from different providers in different states), then sell a few (or all the) pills on the side. Profit!
Now universit...
Source: World of Psychology - May 1, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: ADHD and ADD College Disorders General Medications Policy and Advocacy Psychiatry Students Treatment Abuse Problem Adhd Meds Adhd Treatment Alan Schwarz Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Source Type: blogs
Six ways Big Pharma manipulates consumers - Salon
This article originally appeared on AlterNet.
The blockbuster pill profit party is over for Big Pharma. Bestselling pills like Lipitor, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Singular and Concerta have gone off patent and sites which their ads sustained are withering on the vine. WebMD, for example, the voice of Pharma on the Web, with a former Pfizer exec serving as CEO, announced it would cut 250 positions in December.
But don’t worry, Wall Street. Pharma isn’t going to deliver disappointing earnings just because it has little or no new drugs coming online and has failed at the very reason for its existence. Here are six new Pharma ma...
Source: PharmaGossip - April 28, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Talking to teens about prescription drug abuse
I agree with the main recommendations of the Drugfree.org/MetLife 2012 attitude tracking study of teens and parents regarding drug use:
Do more to communicate risks of medicine misuse and abuse
Safeguard medicines at home
Properly dispose of unused medicines
Avoid modeling bad behavior by misusing or abusing drugs
The report raises quite a few interesting points, but some of the survey results raise more questions than they answer, and there are other issues not addressed.
Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem. One area the report focuses on is the abuse of stimulants such as Adderall. Here’s their take:
&...
Source: Health Business Blog - April 24, 2013 Category: Health Managers Authors: David E. Williams of the Health business blog Tags: Culture Research Source Type: blogs
