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Virginia Tech does not fully accept responsibility for the mass murders co
2007-08-30 21:20:00
Virginia Tech held a national press conference today to review the study  results of the gunman (Cho Seung-Hui) responsibility for the April massacre at Virginia Tech.  I did not hear  any apologies, genuine  mea culpa's or sincere recognition of a major breakdown in Virginia Tech's system in protecting its community, properly identifying members who needed emotional assistance or preventing dangerous students from attending the school. Cho did everything short of sending  up a 100- foot red flair to give full notice that he was suicidal, had ammunition and was severely depressed. The administration simply did not properly respond to these warnings Incredibly, Virginia Tech Administration did not accept any responsibility for having in place  the necessary infrastructure which could have saved the lives of the thirty-two  murder victims. The news conference was appalling. The report basically detailed the "remarkable actions taken" b...
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Owen Wilson's suicide attempt: he had everything, yet he had nothing; not h
2007-08-28 06:25:00
Owen Wilson  had an incredible career with  fame, fortune, fans and a fabulous lifestyle. Yet, as we dicovered today, he had nothing and decided to end his life with a serious suicide attempt:He was  rushed to a  hospital after cutting his wrists and taking a lot of pills during a suicide attempt at his Santa Monica house.The report claims that he was discovered by a family member who summoned help. Police and an ambulance responded to a 911 call from Owen's house around noon on Sunday and witnesses claims that his wrist was sutured and bandaged at the hospital. This is such a sad and shocking story. His brothers Andrew and Luke are with him. His brother Andrew Wilson  found him after the suicide attempt and called an ambulance. Both of Owen’s wrists were slashed superficially and Owen had taken an overdose of pills. Owen is an Academy Award nominated  actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the screenplay of The Roy...
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New study continues to support the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation
2007-08-23 00:20:00
Yesterday, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) today announced the results of a functional MRI (fMRI) study examining the effects of VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) Therapy(TM) for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) I thought it would be helpful for readers to further understand vagus nerve stimulation therapy for chronic, severe or resistant depression. This is a bit technical, but I will keep it short:The results show that VNS Therapy modulates areas of the brain that control mood. The researchers also identified variables, such as length of use, strength of stimulation and level of depression, to better understand the impact of VNS Therapy.The results of the study are incredibly interesting and important to  sufferers of  depression. The data provided further insight into VNS therapy's distinct mechanism of action and support its previously demonstrated long-term, sustained efficacy. The investigators were encouraged to see the unique benefit...
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Relationship between depression treatment and suicide attempts.
2007-08-21 05:46:00
I thought this was a very interesting study published in American Journal of Psychiatry. The rationale behind suicide attempts is always very controversial with a lot of blame to go around. Here's a quick summary of this important article: According to the results of a large observational study, the same pattern of suicide attempts occurs in patients who start depression treatment with initial psychotherapy or with antidepressant drugs prescribed by family physicians or by psychiatrists. The risk of making a suicide attempt is highest in the month prior to starting treatment and then declines steadily during the next 6 months.Author Gregory E. Simon, MD, MPH, at the Center for Group Health Studies in Seattle. "concluded that the risk pattern [for suicide attempts] has probably more to do with the natural process of what happens to people in their treatment, rather than anything specific about the treatment. People enter treatment when they are in a crisis. When they start...
More About: Depression , Relationship , Treatment , Suicide , Relation

Depression, side effects of antidepressants; substantial weight gain and in
2007-08-20 04:38:00
Type 2 Diabetes Overview Type 2 Diabetes is often called non-insulin dependent diabetes. This is the most common form of diabetes and it affects 90% - 95% of the 21 million people who have diabetes. Depression and Type 2 diabetes are often co-morbid diseases. One of the side effects of antidepressant is medications is unwanted and substantial weight gain. This article will talk about the symptoms and causes of Type 2 Diabetes – and also give you timely information on serious diabetes complications that can arise when blood sugar levels are not managed for a period of time. What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Unlike people with Type 1 Diabetes, a person with Type 2 Diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin the pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. This is called insulin-resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When gl...
More About: Weight , Side , Side Effects , Antidepressants

It is a disgrace that US Troops in Iraq as well as returning soldiers are
2007-08-16 23:42:00
Our brave and courageous soldiers currently  fighting in Iraq or returning from service  are in another  battle; depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety and failed marriages. The United States government is not adequately treating  the desperate mental health needs of these American heroes. According to the Christian Science Monitor:According to a recently published investigative report, US troops diagnosed as unstable are increasingly being kept in combat positions by using a combination of potent antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, but with minimal counseling or monitoring of their conditions. These pitiful practices, which have received little public scrutiny and in some cases violate the military's own policies, have helped to fuel an increase in the suicide rate among troops serving in Iraq, which reached an all-time high in 2005 when 22 soldiers killed themselves - accounting for nearly one in five of all Army non-combat deaths. Investiga...
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FDA mandates that diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos be labeled with severe w
2007-08-14 23:54:00
Type 2 diabetes and depression are often co-morbid illnesses. Depression and other mental health medications often have the side effect of unwanted and  substantial weight gain. This increases the risk of the patient developing cardiovascular disease such as Type 2 diabetes. Today the FDA issued a mandatory "black box" warning on two diabetes drugs:The diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos will be labeled with severe warnings about a risk of heart failure to some patients, health officials said Tuesday. The makers of the drugs, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., have agreed to add the "black-box" warnings, the Food and Drug Administration said. The warnings, the most severe that prescription drugs can bear, stress the medicines may cause or worsen heart failure and that patients should be closely monitored. The warnings also apply to combination drugs that include the active ingredients in Avandia, made by Glaxo, or Takeda's Actos....
More About: Drugs , Diabetes , Abel , A Man

What increases the risk of depression? What triggers a major depressive epi
2007-08-14 16:17:00
Sometimes it never hurts to state the obvious. If you suffer from depression or have had a major depressive episode, it is critical that you avoid activities that might aggravate your depression or trigger a major depressive episode. This simple piece of advice can be difficult to execute in "real life" situations. I have learned the importance of  just saying  "no". It makes life so much easier. Causes and triggers of depression What Increases Your Risk Several factors increase your risk for depression. Your risk of developing depression is up to three times greater than that of the general population if you have a father, mother, or sibling with depression. If you have had depression before, you are much more likely to have depression again. 3 Other risk factors for depression include: A history of heart problems, such as coronary artery disease. A serious, ongoing (chronic) illness, such as diabetes, cancer, or chronic pain. Problems in your...
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An Introduction to Brain Stimulation Therapies for depression; transcranial
2007-08-10 02:14:00
There is renewed interest in brain stimulation techniques as therapies for psychiatric disorders. These treatments are referred to by various names; such as, neuromodulation and somatic therapy. The methods in this type of treatment range from non-invasive therapies, such as Tran scranial  Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to invasive brain surgery (deep brain stimulation)By far the greatest amount of research has focused on whether repeated daily TMS has antidepressant effects. Over the past 2 years a series of well-conducted clinical trials have reinforced earlier literature suggesting that TMS is an antidepressant treatment with clinically meaningful results. A group of researchers found that 30% of patients achieved remission with 3 weeks of daily TMS treatment compared to 6% for a group receiving placebo therapy. This was a well-conducted single-site trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. An Australian research group published two different studies, both involv...
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Cyberonics, the medical device manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator,
2007-08-06 16:28:00
Today, medical device manufacturer ( of the  vagus nerve stimulator)  Cyberonics, Inc. made important organizational and  management changes. I think that this is a net positive in improving both patient access to this therapy and reimbursement for the procedure. Here are a few of the details:Cyberonics, Inc. announced the appointment of James A. Reinstein as Vice President, Sales & Marketing, and General Manager, International, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Reinstein will lead the sales and marketing effort in the United States and will be the general manager of Cyberonics Europe SA with responsibility for all sales and distribution outside the United States.Mr. Reinstein  has incredible medical device experience and will be a terrific asset to the organization, patients and the medical community. Mr. Reinstein credentials are most impressive: 27 years with Boston Scientific Corporation, a worldwide $6 billion medical device company Vice-Preside...
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Depression as the No. 1 obstacle preventing women from being successful in
2007-08-06 14:35:00
I thought this was an interesting story from Dayton,Ohio discussing women, depression and a success story with vagus nerve stimulation therapy.  A female Ohio resident suffered from chronic depression. She said that "I  just couldn't function anymore," I started having anxiety attacks, panic attacks and, some days, I'd stay in bed until 10 in the morning, because I physically couldn't get out of bed, get out of the house." Making matters worse, the woman  said she did not have a supportive supervisor at the time and ended up being laid off from her job in 2002 because of her illness. At age 46, she was also diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and has been on disability ever since. She's not alone. A recent study by the American Medical Women 's Association and Mental Health America, a non-profit formerly known as the National Mental Health Association, revealed depression as the No. 1 obstacle preventing women from being successful in the wo...
More About: Depression , Being , Vent , Eventing

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts officially diagnosed with e
2007-08-02 04:10:00
I was not aware that there were specific medical criteria to be diagnosed with epilepsy, a very serious and life threatening illness. Two separate seizures are required.  Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts suffered his second seizure yesterday. His first seizure was in 1993. According to the New York Times:"Because the seizure was his second — he had a similar one in 1993 — he meets the criteria for epilepsy, and he and his doctors will have to decide whether he should take medication to prevent further seizures, said neurologists not involved in his care."Despite his quick recovery from the seizure he suffered on Monday, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. faces a complex diagnosis and a difficult medical decision. Can he continue to drive? Is he at risk for epileptic seizures while serving on the highest court in the United States?  These are difficult issues. The decision will involve weighing the risk of more seizures against the risk of side ...
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Psychology, psychotherapy and the merits of self-help books: The Wall Stree
2007-07-31 16:54:00
Today's Wall Street Journal had an interesting article about the increasing number of psychotherapists recommending  something "surprising" for depressed and anxious patients: read a book. I have never been a big fan of reading "selfy-helpy' books. It just never worked for me, I didn't have the necessary concentration to read a book. The books made me feel worse. In retrospect, in no way did I ever  benefit from self-help books. I don't think they are appropriate for severely depressed patients, but they might have a home for people with very mild depression. I wanted to read about hard core, evidence-based solutions. Period. According to the article, the treatment is called "bibliotherapy" and it is gaining acceptance based upon research that some self-help books can measurably improve mental health:The journal Behaviour Research and Therapy published two studies demonstrating the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in patients with depression or ...
More About: Books , Psychology , Psychotherapy , Erap

FDA scientist says diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from market due t
2007-07-30 16:18:00
Patients who suffer from depression are at twice the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than the general public. Today a  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Panel is charged with evaluating the cardiovascular risks association with the diabetes drug Avandia . The Panel will hear presentations, deliberate and vote as to whether Avandia should be pulled from the market. At the beginning of today's Panel meeting:An FDA voting Panel member said that the diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from the market because of heart risks. Those risks, combined with no unique short-term benefits in helping diabetics control blood-sugar levels, fail to justify keeping Avandia on the market, according to a copy of a slide presentation by Food and Drug Administration scientist Dr. David Graham.The document was  distributed at the beginning  of the  daylong meeting of a joint panel of outside experts convened to consider whether the drug should be restricted to use in s...
More About: Market , Scientist , Diabetes

Maui wowee: marijuana use may increase the risk of psychosis and serious m
2007-07-28 21:42:00
Unfortunately in the 1980's   I abused Valium and alcohol and subsequently became addicted to the combination of the two drugs. I was simply self-medicating my depression. Despite my predisposition to addiction, I hated  marijuana. I only tried it a few times. In retrospect I don't think I could get a handle on the technology; bong, pipe cigarette, brownies, etc. The drug never did a thing for me. Nor did cocaine. Today's marijuana is not your father's marijuana. It is so much stronger, powerful and addictive than the weed I feebly tried to use thirty years ago. Now a formal study confirms some very alarming facts about "today's marijuana." This just in from London, England:Using marijuana seems to increase the chance of becoming psychotic, researchers report in an analysis of past research that reignites the issue of whether pot is dangerous. The new review suggests that even infrequent use could raise the small but real risk of this serious mental i...
More About: Maui , Risk , Marijuana , Ease , Mari

Albert Ellis, the 20th Century's most influential psychotherapist ( ahead
2007-07-27 21:09:00
Clinical psychologists called him the most influential, provocative  psychotherapist of the twentieth century, even putting him ahead of  Sigmund Freud ( 1856-1939), Albert Ellis , Ph.D. died yesterday in Manhattan. It is impossible to find a psychotherapist in New York City in late summer. Buy many leading clinicians were quick to credit Dr. Ellis with adapting the “talking cure,” the dominant therapy in extended Freudian sessions, to a pragmatic, stop-complaining-and-get-on-with-your-lif e form of guidance later popularized by television personalities like Dr. Phil.His basic message was that all people are born with a talent “for crooked thinking,” or distortions of perception that sabotage their innate desire for happiness. But he recognized that people also had the capacity to change themselves. The role of therapists, Dr. Ellis argued, is to intervene directly, using strategies and homework exercises to help patients first learn to accept themselves as ...
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Does Lindsay Lohan suffer from Bipolar disorder? Her impulsive behavior cou
2007-07-25 03:23:00
Given today's news about Lindsay Lohan , I wondered if she suffers from Bipolar disorder or bipolar depression? Lindsay Lohan was arrested for driving  under the influence and with a small amount of cocaine in her pants pocket, Lindsay Lohan was arrested after chasing the mother of her personal assistant in her car at 1:30 AM this morning. According to CNN:The troubled actress was charged with drunken driving, possession of a controlled substance and other offenses. It happened just five days after Lohan was booked in connection with a May drunken driving chargeThis happened just two weeks after Lohan checked out of the Promises residential treatment center. Here's the crazy story. The mother of Lohan's personal assistant called 911 early Tuesday and said she was trying to drive to the Santa Monica, California police department because someone was chasing her. The "someone" turned out to be Lindsay Lohan. She ended up in a parking lot about a block away from the p...
More About: Behavior

Major depressive is disorder is now the leading cause of disability world a
2007-07-24 01:13:00
Well, unfortunately we have a lot of company around the world. Global company. According to the World Health Organization(WHO) , Major depressive disorder (MDD) is now the fourth-leading cause of the global disease burden and the leading cause of disability worldwide. In addition:WHO expects that depression will be the second leading cause of disability after heart disease by 2020WHO also commented about anxiety disorders; "generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic, disabling disorder associated with substantial personal, societal, and economic costs." Co-existing GAD in depressed patients may worsen the outcome by increasing the rates of suicide, worsening overall symptoms, conferring a poorer response to treatment, increasing the number of medically unexplained symptoms, and increasing functional disability. The comorbidity of GAD with major depressive episode (MDE) has been of special interest because of the high level of comorbidity and the status of MDE as one of the mos...
More About: Disability , Order , Leading

The Oprah Winfrey Show: special program about women, depression and mental
2007-07-23 20:12:00
I recently watched a program on the Oprah Winfrey Show. It was a very interesting special show devoted to women, mental health and depression. It featured Dorree Lynn, PhD, a psychologist and author of Getting Sane Without Going Crazy. She had wonderful insight to the special needs of women who suffer from depression. She noted that:" women need a connection with others in their lives.  They need that sustenance. If they don't have it, they tend to get depressed." Sometimes, hormonal changes can also trigger the condition, particularly after pregnancy (postpartum) or around menopause."Dr. Lynn recommended  strategies to help the reduce risk of depression.  Lynn recommends finding a reason to get up in the morning. She says things such as work, community, love, pets, and volunteering can be good reasons. "Statistically, the healthiest adults, both in women and men, are people in significant caring relationships," says Lynn. She says adults not...
More About: Women , Mental , The Oprah Winfrey Show , Depression

"VNS Lite": FDA approves a new, smaller vagus nerve stimulator which has in
2007-07-20 23:01:00
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new model of the vagus nerve stimulator. This would be Model 103. I have the Model 102. I don't feel it and it is not visible on my chest. The new Model is 43% smaller than the Model 102. According to the manufacturer:"These products are 43% smaller in volume than the Model 102 generators and incorporate greater functionality for the benefit of patients and their physicians, including continuous projection of time to end of service, improved diagnostics, such as direct lead impedance measurement, and faster communication with a programming system"Because it is smaller, I'm calling it "VNS Lite ." The new generator also provides a platform for the introduction of additional features and functionality in the future. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been FDA approved to treat epilepsy for over ten years and has been FDA approved for major depressive disorder for over two years. I think it is amazing ab...
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Letting your family "IN" on Your Therapy: positive and negatives. I can't k
2007-07-20 18:28:00
The Wall Street Journal recently did an article titled Letting Your Family In on Your Therapy . In my opinion it is a tough decision. I was extremely private, cautious and sensitive about letting my family "IN" on my psychological  therapy sessions and "IN" on my sessions with my psychiatrist(M.D.)  I was always honest with my family, but I don't think they always believed me. Of course, when things got desperate my whole family was "thrown "IN". According to the article:Frustrated by often ineffective treatment plans that keep loved ones in the dark and blame families for problems, a growing number of therapists are turning to such methods. Family-based counselors meet regularly with the patient and family members. Certain loved ones, most often a spouse or parents, but sometimes siblings, as well, are designated as caregivers. Each member of the family, including the patient, agrees to the open nature of the treatment -- sometimes signi...
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Famed tenor Jerry Hadley dies a week after suicide attempt with a self-infl
2007-07-19 06:40:00
I hate writing posts about the most personal of all subjects; suicide. This is another sad story of fame, fortune, fans and yet failure with inner happiness. Jerry Hadley, the world-class tenor known for his agile and lyric voice, died Wednesday, a week after he shot himself in an apparent suicide attempt. His attempt proved "successful".  Jerry's attractive lyric tenor voice, all-American good looks and exceptional acting ability carried him from a humble farm upbringing in northern Illinois to the world's major opera houses, including a distinguished career with Lyric Opera of Chicago for nearly two decades. Hadley, who had been battling personal problems, shot himself with an air rifle July 10 at his home  80 miles north of New York City. State police said he was found unconscious on his bedroom floor.He had an incredible career. Mr. Hadley was a longtime favorite at Lyric Opera, where he sang an impressive 11 leading tenor roles between his debut with...
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The "Rodney Dangerfield" of illnesses; chronic fatigue syndrome is now wide
2007-07-19 00:47:00
It was like the "Rodney Dangerfield" of illnesses. It got no respect at all. But finally chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is recognized by the both the medical community and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a serious illness. CFS is also widely associated with depression.“People with C.F.S. are as sick and as functionally impaired as someone with AIDS,  with breast cancer, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” said Dr. William Reeves, the lead expert on the illness at the C.D.C., who helped expose the centers’ misuse of chronic fatigue financing.The New York Times reported yesterday that studies have shown that people with the syndrome experience abnormalities in the central and autonomic nervous systems, the immune system, cognitive functions, the stress response pathways and other major biological functions. Researchers believe the illness will ultimately prove to have multiple causes, including genetic predisposition,...
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Famous tenor Jerry Hadley taken off life support after suicide attempt with
2007-07-17 03:54:00
This is another sad story that fame, fortune and success do not bring happiness. Celebrated tenor Jerry Hadley was taken off life support Monday, nearly a week after an apparent suicide attempt left him with a severe brain injury. The 55-year-old singer shot himself with an air rifle last Tuesday at his Clinton Corners home, several miles outside Poughkeepsie, according to state police. State troopers found him unconscious on his bedroom floor. Hadley had been on life support since his arrival at the hospital. Family friend and spokeswoman Celia Novo said he was taken off the systems Monday. "The hospital is just making him comfortable at this point, so his passing could be at any time," Novo saidJerry was a very talented tenor and had a terrific career. In his 20's he  began singing in regional companies around the country. Then in 1978, he was noticed by the late Beverly Sills, the general director of the New York City Opera, and was hired. In 1982 he made ...
More About: Life , Famous , Support , Suicide

Early treatment of depression reduces risk of suicide: American Journal of
2007-07-16 03:54:00
I have always preached the importance of seeking treatment early if you think that you or a loved one may be depressed. It certainly could have saved me 30 years of chronic depression. Early assessment, diagnosis and treatment increases positive patient outcomes. The following two studies are fascinating:Two large new studies in The American Journal of Psychiatry suggest that treatment of depression, either with psychotherapy or drugs, reduces the risk of suicide attempts in all age groups, especially during the first months of treatment.There were  two new studies which were based on retrospective reviews of medical records. In the first study, researchers led by Gregory E. Simon, a psychiatrist with the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, reviewed the records of 109,356 people being treated for depression in a large prepaid health plan serving 500,000 people in Washington State and northern Idaho. They found that suicide attempts were most common in the month before treatm...
More About: Depression , Treatment , Suicide

The top twenty psychiatric hospitals in the United States: U.S. World &
2007-07-14 22:48:00
Yesterday I posted the top hospitals in the United States . U.S. News & World Report also ranks hospitals by specialty. I thought you might be interested in the top psychiatric hospitals in America. It should be noted that the vagus nerve stimulation implant surgery for depression does not require a special hospital or facility.  The ninety-minute out-patient procedure can performed by a hospital that has a vascular surgeon, ENT( Ears, Nose & Throat) or neurosurgeon that has been trained in  the implant procedure. Best Psychiatric Hospitals 2007 #1 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 36.1%#2 Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore 28.3%#3 McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass. 23.0%#4 New York-Presbyterian Univ. Hosp. of Columbia and Cornell 21.0%#5 UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Los Angeles 20.9%#6 Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, Baltimore 15.9%#7 Menninger Clinic, Houston 14.0%#8 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 13.1%#9 Yale-Ne...
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What are the best hospitals in the United States?: U.S. World & News Re
2007-07-14 02:25:00
Today, the magazine U.S. News & World Report published its list of the top hospitals in America. Here is the list: Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is the nation's top hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2007 list of America's best hospitals. The magazine considered 5,462 U.S. hospitals for their annual list of top hospitals. Only 18 hospitals made the list. Hospitals that received the same rank are listed together. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles Cleveland Clinic Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell in New York Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., and University of California, San Francisco Medical Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle Hospital of the...
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Functional overlapping syndrome( i.e. chronic fatigue syndrom, fibromyalgia
2007-07-13 02:20:00
Dr. Muhammad B. Yuan's, a rheumatologist at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, is a leading proponent of the theory that functional syndromes caused by a pain processing defect in the brain. The disorders are more common in women than men. The overlapping syndromes include: Fibromyalgia Syndrome : chronic pain in the muscles, tendons and ligaments coupled with fatigue and multiple tender points of the body Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Female urethral syndrome and interstitial cystitis( painful gaul bladder syndrome) Multiple Chemistry Syndrome Primary amenorrohea ( painful menstrual cramps) Periodic limb movements in sleep Myofacial pain syndrome Temporomandibular joint disorder Tension-type head ache Migraine Irritable Bowel Syndrome In my opinion, this further emphasizes the importance of the mind/body connection. VagusNerveStimulation.com
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Star tenor Jerry Hadley is hospitalized after failed suicide attempt with a
2007-07-12 23:42:00
This is another very sad story about a talented and successful artist who suffered from terrible depression and attempted to end his own life. Celebrated tenor Jerry Hadley was hospitalized Wednesday for a gunshot wound police said was self-inflicted. Mr. Hadley was on life support Wednesday.Hadley created the title role in composer John Harbison's "The Great Gatsby" at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as the lead in Paul McCartney's "Liverpool Oratorio." Leonard Bernstein chose him to sing the main part in a 1989 production of Bernstein's musical "Candide."On Tuesday just after 7 a.m., the 55-year-old singer shot himself with an air rifle at his Clinton Corners home, several miles outside Poughkeepsie, said Robert Rochler, a senior investigator with the New York State Police. State troopers found Hadley on the floor of his bedroom, unconscious from a self-inflicted head wound, Rochler said in a statement. An ambulance took Hadley to St. Francis Hos...
More About: Star , Suicide , Teno , Cide

The most prescribed drugs in the United States are antidepressants accordin
2007-07-11 12:35:00
According to a government study, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States . They're prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches. In its study, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants. High blood pressure drugs were the next most-common with 113 million prescriptionsThe use of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs -- those that affect brain chemistry -- has skyrocketed over the last decade. Adult use of antidepressants almost tripled between the periods 1988-1994 and 1999-2000. Between 1995 and 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the use of these drugs rose 48 percent, the CDC reported. Of 2.4 billion prescriptions in 2005, 118 million were for antidepressants. Many psychiatrists see this statistic sign that final...
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