170 Results
Kleptomania
Most people are familiar with the term kleptomania, a real, but rare, mental health condition. The key feature of kleptomania is the repeatedly acting on impulses to steal items even though the items are not needed. A person with kleptomania does not usually preplan the theft and does not work with others. The stolen objects typically have little value and the person often gives or throws them away. Kleptomania is different from ordinary theft or shoplifting.
Putting a Care Plan in Place Before a Mental Health Crisis
A Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) can be useful tool to help people with serious mental illness plan ahead and have more control over their treatment during a time of crisis. A PAD (sometimes called a mental health advanced directive) is a legal document that includes a list of instructions and preferences that the individual wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis.
Family Involvement in Treatment Can Improve Outcomes
A recent column in APA’s journal Psychiatric Services recommends that patients and caregivers be involved in the decision making regarding the patients’ care. Authors Johannes Harmann, M.D., and Stephan Heres, M.D., concluded that “caregiver involvement might improve clinical decision making and health outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
The Economic Cost of Depression is Increasing; Direct Costs are Only a Small Part
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and can cause tremendous challenge and burden for individuals and families. It also carries a large economic cost. The economic burden of major depressive disorder among U.S. adults was an estimated $236 billion in 2018, an increase of more than 35% since 2010 (year 2020 values), according to research published in early May in the journal Pharmacoeconomics.
PsychNews Special Report: February 2025 The Complexities of Medication Management in Psychiatry
This episode of Psych News Special Report delves into the complexities of prescribing psychotropic medications for medically ill patients. Dr. Adrian Preda and Dr. Jim Levinson discuss the challenges faced by psychiatrists, including pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and the importance of collaboration with other healthcare providers. They emphasize the need for careful medication management, especially in patients with complex medical histories, and highlight the risks of not addressing psyc
Mental Health Pathfinders: Dr. Mary H. Roessel on the Mental Health of Indigenous Peoples
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, Dr. Mary Hasbah Roessel joins us to discuss her experiences and insights into the mental health care needs of Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on the Navajo culture.
American Psychiatric Association Publishes Updated Practice Guideline on the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today published an updated Practice Guideline for Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. The guideline provides recommendations on evidence-based assessment, treatment planning, and psychosocial interventions and pharmacotherapy treatments.
Positive Psychiatry: Promoting Well-Being
Positive psychiatry focuses on the positive aspects of mental health. It is defined as the “science and practice of psychiatry that focuses on the study and promotion of mental health and well-being through enhancement of positive psychosocial factors,” in a recent special report in Psychiatric News by former APA President Dilip V. Jeste, M.D. As Dr. Jeste notes, while about 20% of people are affected by mental disorders, “100% of people have mental health including some positive traits. Positiv
The Collaborative Care Model to Optimize Patient Outcomes in Mental Health Care
In our second episode, our invited panelists Dr. Maga Jackson-Triche, Madhuri Jha and Kristin Kroeger continue their conversation from the online webinar on the collaborative care model to discuss the reasons for the emergence of the model and its increasing adoption in primary care settings, the economic impact of mental health inequities on health care costs, the true meaning of equity and more.
Climate Change-Driven Mental Health Inequities
In the inaugural episode, our expert panelists touch on the difference between resilience and resistance, learning from ancestral indigenous knowledge and observation, tolerating uncertainty and eco-anxiety as clinicians, consumerism, centering equity into the climate crisis and more. Join us as we gain important insight from Dr. Robin Cooper, Dr. Carissa Caban-Aleman, Dr. Joe Neidhardt, and Dr. Jessica Isom.
Quitting Smoking Saves Lives, But Medications to Help Are Under Prescribed
On Nov. 17, 2022, the country will mark the Great American Smoke-Out, an event organized by the American Cancer Society to encourage people to quit smoking. Despite overall drops in tobacco usage over the past few decades, smoking still kills nearly an estimated 480,000 people a year.
PsychNews Special Report: Nutrition's Role in Mental Health
In the inaugural episode of PsychNews Special Report, Dr. Adrian Preda interviews Dr. Marta Mudd, author of the Special Report featured in the January 2025 issue of Psychiatric News, discussing the intersection of nutrition and mental health.