Blog, Videos, Mental Health News

A fascinating article on the impact of treated vs untreated ADHD and social outcomes for young adults. Basically, NOT getting ADHD treated showed a much higher increase in unemployment, education, and overall satisfaction with life. Click here to access the PDF article that just came out in a prestigious psychiatric journal this month.

A recent CVS Health® survey found that young adults and physicians continue to see the country struggling with mental health, but most Americans aren't seeking care. But 85% agree digital health services like telehealth -- offered here! -- has made mental health more accessible. Six in 10 (60%) respondents aged 18-32 say they are concerned about their mental health, and two thirds (67%) say they know a lot of people in their community that are struggling with mental health issues. Most physicians (56%) also report declining mental health among their patients. However, only 1 in 10 (12%) Americans regularly see a mental health professional like a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or well-being therapist. About six in 10 (58%) respondents aged 18-32 report that social media has negatively impacted their mental health, compared to just 22% of respondents age 57+.

This link shows all the drug-company producers of ADHD meds, which doses are having supply problems, but most importantly, when the supply is expected to increase. The supply seems to be improving. Not sure how frequently this page is updated, but looks to be the most accurate source of information since it's coming from the FDA.

Written by Marc Siegel, MD, a clinical professor of medicine and medical director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Health and a TV medical analyst: "The COVID pandemic has created a perfect storm for this problem, by sequestering and isolating our kids to the point where they increasingly seek outlets on social media and become trapped inside a world they think they can orchestrate even as they feel less in control in the real world. Multiple studies have now shown that close to 20% of our teens are depressed, and TikTok may be one way to seek out freedom, even if it embroils you unwittingly in an addictive trap. One recent Center for Countering Digital Hate study found that when researchers posed as 13-year-old users and searched and liked mental-health videos, they received potentially harmful content (including about eating disorders and self-harm) from TikTok every few minutes or more. A Canadian Journal of Psychiatry analysis of highly sought TikTok videos about ADHD found that more than half were misleading."

The past 12 months have been the worst I've ever seen in terms of the supply of generic ADHD medications for my patients. I've never seen things this sparse in my 15 years or so. The problem is highlighted in this article, and presented further in the physician-led video.

(Click on the Headline above) This is a very good op-ed article describing the importance of a doctor being able to set boundaries for their patients, help them, but not cater to specific requests. Many doctors fear being rated poorly on review sites or facing complaints from patients, but most every doctor is trying to do the right thing. Psychiatry, more than any other field, is an art. The art of medicine.

I created a comprehensive video of almost everything I know about ADHD, and how I go about choosing the right medication for a patient. This videos covers all children, teenagers, and adults. I discuss the following: 1) the clinical definition of ADHD (as documented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-version 5), 2) the different types of ADHD medications on the market, and 3) how I go about helping patients choose the best medication. Hopefully, you will come away with a greater understanding of this complex diagnosis, and you will be armed with a great deal of knowledge if/when you speak to your provider or others about ADHD. The target audience is anyone, really: patients, caregivers, advocates, students, colleagues. Knowledge is power! Feel free to make an appointment with me if you live in Virginia or North Carolina and are interested in beginning ADHD treatment. Just go to the Appointment Request Form at the top of the page, fill out some basic information, and our office will be in touch.

High use of telemental health services by patients with serious mental illness (SMI) who live in nonmetropolitan U.S. counties is associated with improvements in key outcomes, including greater posthospitalization follow-up, new research suggests.