Violence and mental illness.

Violence attracts attention in the news media, in the entertainment business, in world politics, and in countless other settings. Violence in the context of mental illness can be especially sensationalized, which only deepens the stigma that already permeates our patients' lives. Are violence and mental illness synonymous, connected, or just coincidental phenomena? This article reviews the literature available to address this fundamental question and to investigate other vital topics, including etiology, comorbidity, risk factor management, and treatment.

Pulmonary embolism as a complication of major depressive disorder with catatonic features: a case report.

Catatonia in the setting of a mood disorder, an organic process, or a psychotic disorder presents significant risk to the patient's well-being, as well as an additional barrier to treating the underlying disorder. The signs and symptoms of catatonia interfere severely with essential activities of daily living; they also at times compromise the ability of caregivers to evaluate and treat the patient's primary disorder driving the catatonia. This interference often leads to medical emergencies, such as marked dehydration and pressure ulcers.

The art of psychotherapy: selecting patients for psychodynamic psychotherapy.

A preliminary challenge in learning the art of psychotherapy is mastering how to choose appropriate patients. This skill goes far beyond performing a symptom inventory and matching up those results to a diagnosis. A psychodynamic evaluation explores various innate characteristics that predict a patient's ability to participate fully in and benefit greatly from this mode of therapy.