I. The complex and adaptive brain 1. Brain architecture: gross anatomy, neurons 2. How the brain communicates 3. Adaptation and learning II. How drugs hijack the brain 1. Pleasure and the reward center: the dopamine connection 2. What (or who) controls the reward center? — Bottom-up vs. Top-down 3. Brain adaptation: the change from use […]
Introduction: What the Clinical Research Shows Recent clinical studies have explored the comparative effectiveness of ketamine and traditional antidepressants in treating depression. The quantitative differences are striking: Remission rates: Research indicates that traditional antidepressants lead to remission—defined as the complete disappearance of depressive symptoms—in approximately 30-40% of patients following one treatment cycle. In contrast, ketamine […]
Many people living with OCD spend years — even decades — before receiving a diagnosis of OCD, despite seeing multiple treatment providers. This post explains why this happens, what the research shows, and what an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment should include. Why OCD Gets Misdiagnosed as Depression Diagnosing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can take years […]
Stress and bipolar disorder (BD) interact bidirectionally. Stress, particularly in early life, appears to have lasting effects and marks for early onset of BD, although the exact mechanism is poorly understood. The relationship of stress to the onset of the disorder and its course has implications for treatment and management — and perhaps even prevention. […]
Introduction Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has shown promise in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD. Its rapid-acting therapeutic effects have made it an appealing option in clinical settings under strict supervision. However, the trend towards take-home ketamine, facilitated through prescriptions for nasal sprays and oral lozenges, raises significant safety and […]
Biofeedback is a commonly used method to teach individuals voluntary control of physiological functions. Specific biofeedback techniques include electromyography (measures muscle tension), galvanized skin response (measures sweat response), electroencephalographic (measures brain waves), skin temperature, and heart rate variability biofeedback (synchronizing heart rate and breathing). Using biofeedback, an individual receives feedback about his/her own physiological state […]
As with other drugs, cocaine affects the nerve cells of the ventral segmental area, which extends into the nucleus accumbens, one of the reward centers of the brain. Cocaine acts as a reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, whose increased presence creates the euphoria associated with cocaine. The euphoric effects of cocaine are generally shorter acting than […]
I. The complex and adaptive brain Brain architecture: gross anatomy, neurons How the brain communicates Adaptation and learning II. How drugs hijack the brain Pleasure and the reward center: the dopamine connection What (or who) controls the reward center?: bottom-up vs. Top-down Brain adaptation: the change from use to abuse Binge, withdrawal, cravings, relapse, and […]
Bipolar II Disorder is a mood disorder, characterized by shifting states between hypomania and depression. Diagnosing Bipolar II Disorder is particularly difficult, because those with this disorder often do not recognize their hypomanic episodes as being abnormal and so do not report their presence. They may also loathe to give-up these hypomanic states. Patients usually […]
by Barber, et al. A Review by Julie Myers, PsyD, MSCP There has been an increasing interest in outcome measures in therapy. Although there is a school of thought that technique is the primary predictor of outcome, some therapists believe that it is the therapeutic alliance that is the major predictor of outcome. The study […]