November 27, 2015 Ketamine: A miracle antidepressant? More data is now available—this time from the Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, Texas—suggesting that the “club drug” ketamine can rapidly relieve symptoms of major depression
November 27, 2015 Not guilty by reason of insanity On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley, Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan. Hinckley was obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and was suffering with a psychotic mental illness. He was found to be not criminally responsible for his actions due to that illness and confined to a psychiatric hospital. Testimony is now underway in the federal hearing that will establish whether Hinckley should be allowed extended visits to his mother’s home to pave the way for his release to the community
November 27, 2015 iPhone's Siri: Psychological Poison? From my perspective as a psychiatrist, Siri, the iPhone’s virtual assistant, could prove more toxic psychologically than violent video games or some street drugs
November 27, 2015 Sex Offenders at School and Next Door The taped phone conversation between the wife of Syracuse assistant head basketball coach Bernie Fine and Bobby Davis, Fine’s alleged sexual assault victim, should be required listening for every mental health professional in America—and probably, every parent
November 27, 2015 Why Caylee Anthony's Death Was Five Generations in the Making Whether you believe Casey Anthony killed her daughter Caylee or not, her bizarre behavior after Caylee went missing can only be understood by journeying back five generations
November 27, 2015 Inside the Mind of Jerry Sandusky If Jerry Sandusky is a pedophile and rapist, as the charges against him allege, Bob Costas’ interview with him last night provided the lens through which to see him for what he is
November 27, 2015 What Joe Paterno Could Have Prevented Joe Paterno has stated that he is devastated by these recent events and wishes he had done more to prevent them. I wonder, however, whether he has a real understanding of exactly what injuries—from a psychological standpoint—he could have prevented
November 27, 2015 Low Levels of Vitamin D Linked to Teen Delusions, Hallucinations Researchers have shown before that low vitamin D levels are linked with psychiatric disorders like major depression
November 27, 2015 Why Denying Death Means Denying Life The desire to deny the reality of death, the theory goes, makes us want to find a way to “live on,” whether through our children, or by attaching ourselves to causes that will not be buried along with us
November 27, 2015 Monthly Injection Fights Addiction Too few of those who struggle with addictions to alcohol and opiates—like heroin and oxycodone pills—are aware that a monthly injection is available to significantly reduce their cravings. The injection is extended-release naltrexone, marketed as Vivitrol