470 Results
Is CMS Expanding Telemedicine Service Reimbursement?
On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare @ Medicaid Services published the proposed 2019 revisions to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. CMS limits telemedicine payment based on service, provider, technology and patient location. Now, CMS is considering reducing some of these restrictions.
APA and ATA Release New Telemental Health Guide
The APA, in conjunction with the American Telemedicine Association, has just released “Best Practices in Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health,” a guide for mental health providers who want to begin doing telemental health, including telepsychiatry.
Complicated Grief: When Time Doesn’t Ease the Pain of Loss
Everyone will experience loss of loved ones in their lives and grief is a natural response. It is also a very individual process. Anniversaries, holidays, and other milestones are often particularly difficult. As painful as the process of grief can be, with support of family and friends, most people go through it without needing the help of a mental health professional. However, some experience severe, prolonged and disabling grief symptoms, referred to as complicated grief.
ADHD Increasing Among Adults
New research published earlier this month finds the number of adults with ADHD has been increasing. The study in JAMA Open Network found the rate of ADHD has been increasing among adults of all races/ethnicities. However, there were substantially lower rates of detection among minority racial/ethnic subgroups. Rates of ADHD and rates remained highest for whites throughout the 10-year study period.
More Evidence of the Benefits of Trees in Urban Areas
Previous research has tied people’s exposure to natural environments, such as urban green spaces, to better health and mental health. A new study looks at whether a specific type of green space— trees, grass or low-lying vegetation— provides benefits.
Team Sports May Help Build Resilience After Trauma
Traumatic and other negative experiences in childhood can have lasting effects, including increased chances of physical health issues and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. A new study finds that among people who had adverse childhood experiences, participation in sports during adolescence is associated with better adult mental health
Advanced Care Planning – It’s Not Just for Your Grandparents
Many people have heard of the term “advanced care planning.” Advanced care planning is the process of making and documenting decisions about the medical care you want to receive if you ever become unable to make medical decisions for yourself. However, it is a common misbelief that advanced care planning is meant only for people who are nearing the end of their life. Medical crises happen every day, leaving people either temporarily or permanently unable to make their own medical decisions. The
Mental Health Education for Youth: Focus on Mental Wellness
Despite frequent media coverage, public understanding of health and mental health issues is still lacking, according to recent study in the Journal of Mental Health. Overall, they concluded that people are “equally and relatively poorly informed” about relatively common mental and physical health conditions. A new study finds that education efforts for teens that specifically focus on mental health and well-being, rather than mental illness, can help.
When Your Child Becomes a Transitional-Aged Youth: Advice for Families
For parents for teens and young adults with chronic mental illness, the period of transitioning into adulthood can be particularly emotional. Caregivers may experience fears and frustrations in trying to keep their loved one stable and safe, yet understand that they must slowly relinquish control as their loved one transitions into adulthood.
100 Day Step Challenge for Mental Health
Many employers offer wellness programs for their employees. A team of researchers in Australia wanted to explore the potential mental health benefits of a short-term workplace wellness program. Their study involved nearly 2,000 participants in a 100-day, 10,000-step challenge program. They found a small, but consistent effect on several measures of mental health over the term of the program. The positive mental health effect appeared regardless of whether a person reached the 10,000-step goal
FDA Approves Novel Depression Treatment
Last month, esketamine nasal spray became the first treatment for depression with a new mechanism of action approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) was approved in the late 1980s. Esketamine (sold as Spravato) has the potential to be extremely useful for people who have not responded to other treatments. Used in combination with an oral anti-depressant, it can take effect much faster than many common antidepressant medications. However, it comes
Helping Children Through Play
Play is natural and fun for children and an important part of learning and development. Play therapy is a therapy used by licensed mental health professionals to help children to better express their thoughts and emotions and to address a variety of problems. When children are unable to put into words their feelings or concerns, play can help them express themselves and learn ways to cope.