Whole Psychiatry

Shrink Rap Radio Interviews Dr. Hedaya about Nutrition & Mental Health

drmorris — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:55:28 +0000

Dave Van Nuys, Ph.D, the podcast host of Shrink Rap Radio interviewed Dr. Hedaya about the effects of nutrition on mental health. You can hear this podcast, as well as many other fascinating interviews on ShrinkRapRadio.com

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Top 5 Things to Know about Teenage Depression

drmorris — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:37:36 +0000

1) Depression is a syndrome, not a disease. While we in the western world are trained to think of depression as a disease, in fact, it is just a collection of signs and symptoms whose causes vary widely. Just like all pneumonia is not caused by one thing (i.e., pneumonia may be due to HIV, tuberculosis, fungi, or bacteria; all are treated quite differently.) so all depression is not ‘one thing’. Therefore, it is important to look ‘under the hood’ of your child’s depression, so that you can uncover root causes and personalize the treatments accordingly.

2) Depression is a NOT a ‘Prozac deficiency’. Depression is most often the result of a varying combination of diet, social stresses (e.g., isolation, tensions with family members and/or peers), hormonal problems, immune system problems, drug use, and psychological vulnerabilities interacting with genetic and epigenetic vulnerabilities. While medications have a role in treating depression—particularly in severe cases (e.g., with suicidal ideation, or psychosis, school failure)—it is rare for depression to be only the result of a so-called “chemical imbalance”.

3) It is NOT normal for children, teens or young adults to be depressed. There is no “normal amount of teenage depression”. When depression is defined as a cluster made up of disturbances in mood, sleep patterns, appetite, motivation, and social activity, which last for several days or more, it becomes clear that the normal teenage ‘angst’ can be present without these symptoms. The developing brain, especially in the teen years, is constantly re-wiring itself, depending on the environmental inputs: who and what your child is exposed to, translates to whom and what identity your child will form. A childhood or adolescence of depression will shape identity, and life choices.

4) Medications for depression have not been tested for long-term safety in the developing child. The medications used for depression have been tested for safety, but ONLY in short-term trials (weeks, or a small number of months). There are no human studies on the effect of long-term use of medications on the developing brain of a child. This is particularly disturbing because we have absolutely no idea what effect anti-depressants have in the long-term. Do they skew development for the better, for the worse, both, or neither? In my opinion, we have embarked on an ill-conceived experiment: treating America’s next generation with medications without knowing the long-term consequences. In severe situations medication use is reasonable, but medications are relied on in excess.

5) All therapy is not created equal, when it comes to depression. At last count there were literally hundreds of types of talk therapy. Two types of therapy have been proven to be effective with depression: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Interpersonal Therapy. Social Rhythm therapy has shown promise as well. Sometimes, when peer problems are part of the etiology of depression, a group therapy of some type (standard group therapy, outward bound, etc.) can be most effective. A good therapist-client fit facilitates healing, regardless of the psychotherapeutic approach used. Your child’s progress over time is your best indicator of the effectiveness of the therapy.

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Health Perils of Sitting for Extended Periods

drmorris — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:15:48 +0000

Steelcase Walkstation Treadmill Desk

What we do all day with our bodies has consequences. Many of us sit during our working hours and leisure time and that directly affects our body chemistry. The New York Times article, Taking a Stand for Office Ergonomics, details some of the changes: “scientists have determined that after an hour or more of sittin, the production of enzymes that burn fat in the body declines as much as 90 percent. Extended sitting, they add, slows the body’s metabolism of glucose and lowers the level of good (HDL) cholesterol in the blood. Those are risk factors toward developing heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.”

For every problem, there are solutions. Numerous firms offer treadmill desks and adjustable height desks. The website how-to-geek.com offers do it yourself options for working while standing.

Working out regularly does not make one immune to the perils of extended sitting. Change how you work and enjoy the novelty and health benefits it brings.

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Useful News in Endocrinology: Things that Are Harmful to Your Thyroid Gland

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:10:07 +0000

Things that Are Harmful to Your Thyroid Gland

CT Scans and Contrast Die

First, a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (1) reveals that imaging studies which use Iodide as a contrast agent in CT scans and cardiac catheterizations increase the risk of over active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) by two to 2.5 times. The risk of severe low thyroid states (severe hypothyroidism) in increased 3-fold. Doctors and patients should take these risks into consideration when ordering these tests, as these tests use anywhere between 90 to several hundred-thousand times the recommended daily dose of iodine (150 micrograms).

What to do if you need a CT scan?

Commentaries on the article suggested that if you need a CT scan or cardiac catheterization, by all means do it; however, if the tests might not be necessary, the risks and benefits should be carefully weighed taking this new information into account, as well as your risks of developing thyroid dysfunction (e.g., family history, thyroid nodules, goiter). You should be more educated about symptoms of hyper and hypothyroidism and be more observant for the emergence of the problems, and be sure you can tolerate the treatment of either disorder (hyper or hypothyroidsm) should it develop.

BPA in Canned Foods and Drinks +

The FDA recently denied a request to ban a substance -BPA- which is used extensively in food and beverage containers (e.g., canned foods and drinks). This is despite growing evidence that BPA (bisphenol A) disrupts many hormonal systems. A recent study in rats published in the well- respected journal Endocrinology (2) showed that that BPA inhibits certain estrogen assisted memory storage functions and growth of neurons, two functions which are usually enhanced by certain estrogens. The doses used in the study were below the supposedly safe daily limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency. While this study is done on rats, and such studies do not necessarily transfer to people, there is enough reason to be wary of BPA.

How can you avoid BPA?

Limit your intake of canned foods and drinks as much as possible. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
Read the labels. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles, and baby bottles and cups.
Ask questions. They may also be used in toys and other consumer goods. Epoxy resins can be used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, baby formula cans, bottle tops and water supply lines.
Ask your dentist. Some dental sealants and composites also may contain BPA.
Avoid taking thermal receipts such as those at gas stations. Certain thermal paper products, such as cash register receipts, may contain BPA. If you must take handle such paper products, wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, touching your lips, or another person.

(1) Rhee CM, Ban I, et al.: Association between iodinated contrast media exposure and incident hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Arch Intern Med. 2012; 172(2): 153-159  (2) Inagaki T., Frankfurt M., et al.: Estrogen-induced memory enhancements are blocked by bisphenol A in adult female rats: Role of dendritic spines. Endocrinology, doi:10.1210/en.2012.1121.

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Should ‘Mother’s Day’ Be Replaced by ‘Women’s Day’?

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:31:41 +0000

Today women have more opportunities than at any prior time but still are expected to fill an almost comically large number of roles”, writes psychiatrist Anna Fels, author of the book “Necessary Dreams: ambition in women’s changing lives”.

Fels notes that:

• Women view ambition as selfishness, self-aggrandizement, egotism, or manipulation of others for one’s own ends

• Women who deplored ambition in reference to their own lives freely admitted to admiring it in men

• Today’s women of accomplishment in the public eye often repeat the same self-abnegating stance of women of earlier times • Women’s source of identity and affirmation is heavily drawn from private relationships rather than talent, skill, or hard work

• Lack of a romantic heterosexual relationship de-sexes a woman since the existence and quality of her attachments define her femininity

• Women speak less than their male counterparts in conversations, classes, business gatherings, or conferences when men are present

• Decades of studies suggest that women’s deferential behavior in regards to recognition is not “natural” but is socially conditioned.

While Fels’ does not in any way diminish the role of motherhood, given the points she makes, should we celebrate ‘Women’s Day’ to expand on our appreciation and affirmation of women for the many roles they fulfill, not only the role of mother? I’d like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

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Whole Psychiatrists’ Stalk Physical Causes of Mental Problems

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:52:36 +0000

The year was 1983. “A woman came to me with a panic disorder,” recalls Robert J. Hedaya, MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School in Washington. “She was 55, had one child about to go off to college. Her situation seemed pretty straightforward — probably separation anxiety…

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Whole Psychiatry : Treat mind and body, doctor says

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:25 +0000

Dr. Hedaya is quoted in a LittleAbout.com article regarding the concept of Whole Psychiatry.

Whole Psychiatry – Treat Mind and Body, Doctor Says

Vogue: Bitter Pills

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:46:52 +0000

With an increasing number of Americans popping multiple meds to treat depression, Ginny Graves wonders: Could food be a natural alternative…

Whole Psychiatry – Vogue – Bitter Pills

Download the Article, featuring Dr. Hedaya »

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Expanding Your Psychiatric Practice Through the Use of Functional Medicine Dr. Mark Hyman & Dr. Robert Hedaya

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:39:44 +0000

Interview with the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Dr. Hyman on Functional Medicine.

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Dr. Hedaya quoted in a WebMD interview with Actress/Author Julianne Moore

Whole Psychiatry Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:38:41 +0000

“WebMD columnist Gina Shaw interviews Actress/Author Julianne Moore in “Save the Children: Julianne Moore on U.S. Poverty, Being 50, and Losing Her Mom” – available online and at newsstands.

Save the Children: Julianne Moore on U.S. Poverty, Being 50, and Losing Her Mom

Read the interview at WebMD, featuring Dr. Hedaya »

Download the Article, featuring Dr. Hedaya »

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