Kendall Bache, M.D., Kanwarjeet Brar, M.D., Steven Lippmann, M.D. Catatonia has been a condition commonly associated with schizophrenia, but it exists in a number of other psychiatric disorders. Diagnostic criteria for catatonia involves at least three of these twelve findings: catalepsy, waxy flexibility, posturing, mutism, negativism, mannerism, stereotypy, grimacing, stupor, agitation, echolalia, and/or echopraxia. However, […]
Kavitha Srinivasan, M.D., Steven Lippmann, M.D. Alpha pyrrolidinopentiophenone (a-PVP) commonly known as “flakka” or “gravel” is fast emerging as a new and dangerous drug of abuse. Initially gaining prominence in Florida, it is now frequently abused throughout our country. It belongs to the class of synthetic cathinones, commonly marketed as bath salts, plant food, or […]
Manasa Enja, M.D., Suneela Cherlopalle, M.D., Melanie Lippmann, M.D., Steven Lippmann, M.D. Cocaine is a frequent drug of abuse and a common precipitant of health emergencies. Recently, cocaine has become an even more dangerous public health concern since being adulterated by the addition of levamisole. It is hard to detect levamisole when mixed with cocaine; the […]
Yulin Chu, D.N.P. Millions of years ago, walking on two legs became a key attribute to human development, which distinguished humans from other animals. Since then, we have attained many benefits from walking. Is walking also beneficial to human’s mood? Numerous evidences suggest that physical activity (PA)/walking is a protective factor against depression (Robertson, R., […]
Leo Sher, M.D. The ideal body weight is usually described as a weight that is assumed to be maximally healthful for an individual, based mostly on height but modified by factors such as gender, age, build, and degree of muscular development. Ideal body weight is a definition originally introduced by life-insurance companies to describe the […]
Leo Sher, M.D. Vitamin D, also called calciferol is a lipid soluble vitamin which exists in two major forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol, which is largely ingested) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, which is synthesized in human body). Both forms are inactive form which are converted into active form by two enzymatic hydroxylation reactions, first in liver […]
Leo Sher, M.D. Blood is a complex fluid which consists of plasma and of formed elements: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The volume of blood in an average human adult is about 5 liters. Females generally have less blood volume than males. People who live at high altitudes, where the air contains […]
Jeffrey Goltz, M.D. SSRIs are the first line pharmacological treatment for PTSD. However, the response rate with SSRIs alone is typically <60%, with between 20-40% of patients achieving full remission. Thus, many PTSD patients either have residual symptoms or are resistant to treatment with SSRIs. This article will briefly review evidence for use of antipsychotic […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A paper, “Association of coffee consumption with total and cause-specific mortality in three large prospective cohorts” has just been published in Circulation (1). The authors studied the associations of consumption of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee with risk of subsequent total and cause-specific mortality among 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study […]
Leo Sher, M.D. The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Task Force on Men’s Mental Health was founded in 2013, according to my proposal. My proposal to create this Task Force was supported by the WFSBP leadership, especially by Professor Constantin Soldatos, then the President of the WFSBP. Currently, the WFSBP Task Force […]
