What Is the Glymphatic System? The glymphatic system is a proposed brain-wide fluid transport and waste-clearance network that connects cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), interstitial fluid, astrocytes, and perivascular spaces to the lymphatic drainage system of the body. Conceptually, it is the brain’s lymphatic-like housekeeping system: CSF enters along spaces surrounding arteries, exchanges with fluid surrounding brain […]
How is AI in Mental Health being used? Artificial intelligence in mental health care is viewed as revolutionary by some and threatening by others, yet it is undeniably reshaping access to therapy, clinical diagnosis, and the personalization of treatment. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), AI now provides 24/7 access through chatbots, improves diagnostic […]
In a landscape where ketamine clinics are rapidly proliferating, evidence-based clinical decision-making matters even more. A new recently published large review study by Ferraro et al. in the Cochrane database casts serious doubt on the effectiveness of ketamine for treating chronic non-cancer pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). […]
Learn how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) works, its role in treating depression and other psychiatric disorders, and how it compares to rTMS as a noninvasive neuromodulation option. What Is tDCS? A Brief Overview Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers a weak, low-intensity electrical current to the brain through […]
A clinical case study on how integrated ketamine therapy and psychiatric care at Point Loma Clinic enabled early detection of a shift from depression to bipolar disorder. Patient Background: Treatment-Resistant Depression and a History of Mood Instability Joe is in his mid-fifties, an accomplished attorney who has been suffering from recurrent depression since his early […]
Explore geroscience, health span vs. life span, biological age, and promising treatments like metformin, rapamycin, and senolytics in this blog entry. Life Span vs. Health Span: Why the Distinction Matters Scientists are starting to study aging itself as if it were a “root cause” of many health problems. This new field is called geroscience. Instead […]
The benzodiazepine debate continues in psychiatry. Learn about the risks, benefits, and clinical guidance on benzodiazepine use for anxiety in this blog entry. New Type of Media Coverage: Moving Beyond Fear and Stigma The debate over benzodiazepines is an enduring controversy in psychiatry — one recently covered in The Psychiatric Times, presented as a struggle […]
Prescription-strength nutritional supplements are increasingly discussed in psychiatric practice. Some patients ask about prescription products based on vitamins or nutraceuticals. Two that sometimes come up in psychiatry are Deplin and EnLyte, which are prescription-strength forms of B-vitamins, and two others, Vascepa and Lovaza, which are prescription omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s what you should know: Deplin […]
People outside the mainstream medical establishment continue to show interest in the phenomenon of brain zaps, while academia remains unconcerned. Brain Zaps Remain Underappreciated by the Psychaitrc Profession Brain zaps and antidepressant discontinuation syndrome remain poorly understood — and largely ignored by mainstream psychiatry. People experiencing these unsettling electrical-like sensations during SSRI or SNRI tapering […]
New research has identified a surprising connection between lithium and Alzheimer’s disease, with potentially far-reaching implications for both early detection and disease-modifying therapy. Lithium of a Different Color: A Surprising New Link to Alzheimer’s Disease A surprising link between lithium and Alzheimer’s Disease has been discovered by scientists. Lithium—a mineral familiar to many of our […]