Rakesh Jain, M.D., gives its history, how it works, why it is so different and its enticing future, the roles of glutamate and GABA, nasal versus intravenous forms, the value of concurrent psychotherapy, etc. Succinct and thorough. November 2022

Larry Bush, M.D., infectious disease specialist, details the history of this virus, its characteristics, hosts and vectors, the already existing treatments and unique aspects of the monkeypox vaccine, the relationship to smallpox, how to approach such an infection, the reappearance of polio and measles, and a true overview and insightful look at the three real and desired endpoints of vaccine development and use.

For Doctor’s Day, 2022, at the West Palm Beach VA Hospital, psychiatrist Abbey Strauss spoke that physicians must accept they are also regular people with the full inventory of emotional problems, how to deal with compassion and other fatigues, the high physician suicide rate, to not be alone, how to get and use help, and the decisive value of keeping themselves healthy, honest, and not embarrassed or scared. These themes actually apply to everyone.

*Climate Change Questions That Psychiatrists Need To Ask Both Themselves and Their Patients - Psychiatrists Beth Hasse and David Pollack pose such questions, including those about eco-anxiety and when to - or not to - bring these issues into the treatment activity. Very timely given the current worldwide heat waves. Much talk of how vital and evolving diagnostic and treatment strategies are developing to proportion treatments to all existent domains of life, which now include climate matters.

Carl Fisher, M.D, psychiatrist at Columbia University, argues that ‘disease’ is the wrong concept as he outlines the urge leading to addictive behaviors, that it oversimplifies, what is the place of free will, the three broad reasons fostering addictions, various social mitigators, long term outcomes, and his own recovery from alcoholism. Posted also with the Palm Beach Medical Society Opiate Task Force.

Maria, using only her first name, candidly shares her feelings and life being the parent of the adult mentally ill. She discusses the process of learning and accepting this reality, the parental pain, the differences between she, whose children are still alive, and those whose children died by suicide or otherwise, the importance of helping others and getting support groups, to find the right questions to ask, of when one must let go for a period, of one’s personal life, etc. She is a...

Former US Drug Czar Robert DuPont, M.D., in 1997, outlines the theories of all addictions, what it does to the brain, the roles of pleasure, honesty, character, family and background, risk-taking aversion or comfort, preventions and treatments, the importance of AA and NA, the relative risks of some becoming addicted or not, nicotine and alcohol use, etc. He wrote “The Selfish Brain.” This interview contains so much wisdom about the same problems that continue to exist after 25 years. ...

Priti Kothari, child psychiatrist, outlines how the different age groups suffered differently during the pandemic, the educational and social pressures and delays, the need perhaps of a gap year to catch up, disruptive behaviors with the reasoning fundamental to treatment approaches, etc. Thoughtful concerns about what happened and how to offset any setbacks.

Tara Gomes, epidemiologist in Ontario, Canada, speaks to enlightening research that larger quantities of take home Buprenorphine and methadone, and as such are multi-day dose packets, can be safe and productive in stabilized patients. The project was partially in response to covid caused travel restrictions. Some of the results was that this strategy reduced barriers, the fears of increased overdoses were unfounded, and it maintained treatment. This is like the U.S. methadone maintenance...

A forensic psychologist gives insight into many cases in which he examined people who committed deadly violence. This includes young teenager offenders as well. His data and opinions come from a mixture of hard experience with these defendants. Recorded in 2008, much still true today. From our archives.

Bill Durston, MD, emergency room physician and former US Marine marksman, gives a necessary overview of gun violence statistics and his thoughts on how to reduce the suffering.

Steve Keen, M.D., gives a very detailed discussion of his real-time, on-going emergency room program, with specifics on how to rapidly stabilize, start medication assisted treatment, give psychosocial interventions and follow up referrals, deal with shame or patient’s hesitancy, the challenging omnipresence of fentanyl and related new drugs, etc. Done with the Palm Beach County Medical Society Opiate Task Force.

Journalist, and former opiate abuser Maia Szalavitz, defines harm reduction as keeping people from getting hurt rather than stopping them from getting high, that needle exchange encourages treatment, of needing good coping skills before giving up the substance, what changed her life, her work to promote harm reduction, etc. An honest and energetic discussion. Done with the Palm Beach County Medical Society Opiate Task Force,.

Elizabeth Evans, PhD, associate professor at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, reports that giving Suboxone to jailed opiate using prisoners significantly reduced legal recidivism and other post release relapse and morbidity. Listen to the encouraging details of her the study, and to her current and related future work. Done in collaboration the Palm Beach County Medical Society Opiate Task Force.

Roz Malmaud, PhD, and Andy Rosen, PhD, note that patients are now focusing more on the pre-Covid, usual problems. Both discuss, however, issues with telemedicine’s legal and insurance matters, being unable to give patients questionnaires to complete or handouts for them to use, to see how they interact in the waiting rooms, the real paradigm shifts away from traditional therapy arrangements and schedules, and of how patients must learn how to tolerate social uncertainty, etc. The need for...

Roger Ekirch, PhD, a professor of history at Virginia Tech, on our different sleep patterns that were normal before the industrial revolution. A fascinating look at sleep patterns, the first and second sleeps, and the social and biological drives and basis of how we sleep.

Lynn Webster, M.D., discusses issues of over and under use of pain medications, his research on dosing and response issues, the critical psychological components in pain management, the correct use of non-opioid medications and non-medicinal pain treatments, changing attitudes towards pain management, etc. An articulate and experienced based discussion. Done in collaboration with the Palm Beach County Medical Society

Lori Ann Post, Ph.D., describes the dramatic recent increase in overdose deaths in this group, gender and other demographics, causes, interventions, and the on-going studies to better define and reduce this horrible social and emotional affliction. Done with the Palm Beach County Medical Society. February 2022.

Luke Elms, M.D., straightforwardly addresses ERAS’s (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) beneficial medical and psychological strategies for compassionate pain control, of faster recovery with fewer complications, to help patients emotionally prepare for surgery and how this may reduce post-surgery pain leading to subsequent improper pain medication use, surgery and pain control in patients with opiate use problems, etc. Done with the Palm Beach Medical Society Opiate Task Force

Larry Bush, M.D., from Florida, explains mutations, monoclonal antibodies, vaccine history and use, boosters, B cells and T cells, and the safe use of the potentially game-changing arrivals of the Pfizer and Merck medications.

Steve Chambers, M.D, will hire these physicians to help them return to a fuller and productive life. He talks of the joy, pitfalls, rules, approaches, and real gifts evolving from these opportunities. Part of the Physician’s Wellness Project of the Palm Beach County Medical Society.

Darci McNally, M.S.W., Director of Support at the Lynn Cancer Institute in Florida, speaks of how they address patients with cancer, the emotional needs, the psychological fatigue, different interventions, community supports, etc. This is a heartfelt, valuable, and seasoned guide for patient’s and their families during the cancer experience

Ludmila de Faria, psychiatrist, conveys her approach to explaining and treating this disorder, its historical and biological origins, the diagnostic nuances, and the necessary interaction of the medical and psychological domains. She also comments on what happens when marijuana is added to this condition.

Lynn Kohan, M.D., an anesthesiologist, speaks to the attitudes towards, and the effectiveness and strategies of, using buprenorphine to obtain pain and psychological relief in both treated and untreated opioid using surgical patients. She discusses the MOUD - a acronym for the Medication treatment of Opioid Use Disorder - in regards to both the critical medical, surgical, and psychological clinical treatment concerns and protocols, discharge planning, etc. Produced in collaboration with the...

Andrew Herring, M.D., and Arianna Campbell, P.A., outline, give history, and reflect on opioid using people presenting to an ER, of how this technique better engages patients and gives more rapid symptom relief, when and how to use these dosing strategies, of the areas that are still unknown and need study, of the rising opioid overdose deaths and addiction, and, most critically, to the definite psychological benefits this approach gives to all involved. Produced in collaboration with the...