RISK OF ADDICTION FOR PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD AND PRESCRIBED AMPHETAMINE MEDICATIONS
There is research evidence that amphetamine medications do not increase risk of addictions and might actually may be protective so that substance use disorders [SUD] are less likely to develop. However, these findings have been questioned more recently. Importantly, a meta analysis [ JAMA Psychiatry. 2013. Humphreys KL. Eng T, Lee SS] showed that the…
Read MoreWHY ANTIDEPRESSANTS MAY NEED ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC RX TO HELP IMPROVE MOOD
There is growing evidence that for people with a partial response to antidepressants, adding an atypical antipsychotic medication can rapidly improve mood [within 7-10 days] McIntyre et al.,JAMA Psychiatry 2026 with improvement being considered clinically meaningful as the clinical improvements represents a 2 point improvement [the minimal clincally importance difference] on the MADRAS compared to…
Read MoreI FEEL ASHAMED
I feel ashamed to be a male in a world that routinely abuses women in so many ways and with out seeming to recognize how wrong this is. There are the more obviously terrible examples of treating women like objects to use anyway males want…like they are not human when in reality it is the…
Read MoreIS ADHD REALLY ABOUT ATTENTION AND DOES IT MATTER?
Today I read something written by Awais Aftab about ADHD being really about “sustained engagement” and not attention. He is a “practicing” psychiatrist who is starting a series called Therapeutic Window with this piece that was published in the New York Times on September 29, 2026. Dr. Aftab refers to some of his patients describing…
Read MoreTHE USE OF LDN [LOW DOSE NALTREXONE] FOR DISSOCIATIVE SYMPTOMS
A COUPLE YEARS AGO I SAW A RESEARCH REPORT INDICATING THAT LOW DOSE NALTREXONE CAN REDUCE OR EVEN STOP DISSOCIATIVE REACTIONS THAT OCCUR WHEN AN EVENT HAPPENS OR A MEMORY IS TRIGGERED THAT RECALLS PAST TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WHERE THE PERSON HAS LEARNED TO COPE BY DISSOCIATING [IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER IT IS LIKE REMOVING…
Read MoreRESIST THINKING [WORRYING] ABOUT THE FUTURE
Not thinking about the future is very important to our happiness and one of the best ways to keep stress lower. So, how does that work? Well, virtually all the time when we think about the future we are worrying about the future and we tend to do this daily. By worrying every day we…
Read MorePRAZOSIN FOR TREATING PTSD
Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist. Prazosin crosses the blood-brain barrier [goes from the body into the brain] and is felt to reduce the fear response associated with increased adrenergic activity that is seen when PTSD symptoms are triggered. Prazosin is prescribed for hypertension [high blood pressure] and is then dispensed three times a…
Read MoreIS AI FOR US OR AGAINST US?
This week some AI firm predicted that AI would be the end of the human race in the next several years. Well there is not much evidence of that happening but it may be that the AI company wanted more people using their website[s] and therefore earning them more money. Others have noted that it…
Read MoreWHAT WENDEL BERRY TAUGHT
Wendell Berry recently died. I read a blog by Liz Prather [“Your high school creative writing teacher”] about her experience taking a class taught by Wendell Berry. She states that Mr. Berry taught her how to: pay attention, think independently, live honestly and take responsibility for her words and her life. What a wonderful comment…
Read MoreARE BENZODIAZEPINES SAFE TO PRESCRIBE?
It has become clear to me that benzodiazepines can be difficult to stop. This may be related to the fact that these medications are frequently effective at lowering anxiety and helping to initiate sleep. Also, even if other treatments including other medications are helpful they may not be experienced as being as effective as the…
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