Munchausen Syndrome.

Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder that is difficult to diagnose and treat. This article clarifies points for clinical recognition and management of patients with this condition. Patients with this condition often are dramatic and provide false and/or exaggerated symptoms or information.

Anxiety Disorders in Older Patients.

Anxiety complaints are common among older people. Specific phobia is characterized by exaggerated fear to a specific object or situation. Fear of falling is one example and occurs in about 50% of older persons who have fallen recently.

Is Electroconvulsive Therapy a Treatment for Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be caused by blunt or penetrating injury to the head. The pathophysiological evolution of TBI involves complex biochemical and genetic changes. Common sequelae of TBI include seizures and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.

E-Cigarette Toxicity?

Tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. In just a few short years, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular, especially for younger individuals. Many people believe that e-cigarettes are safe.

Electroconvulsive Therapy During Pregnancy.

Women often experience worsening mood disorder symptoms during pregnancy. Women with mood disorders have an increased risk for suboptimal prenatal care, inadequate weight gain, and more substance abuse during pregnancy. It is often difficult to balance pharmacotherapy risks to a developing fetus versus not medicinally treating maternal mental health conditions.

Benefits of Dexmedetomidine in Management of Post-ECT Agitation.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an intervention for patients with a variety of psychiatric conditions. Occasionally, people exhibit dangerous degrees of agitation after this treatment, and some do not respond well to conventional pharmacotherapies. Dexmedetomidine is a central α-2 agonist that can induce significantly calmative effects in persons with post-ECT agitation.

Risk of future offense among probationers with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

The criminal justice system is the primary service delivery system for many adults with drug and alcohol dependence, mental health, and other health service needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between risk of future offense, mental health status and co-occurring disorders in a large substance abuse diversion probationer population. A purposive sample of 2,077 probationers completed an assessment to screen for mental health disorders, substance use disorders, risk of future crime and violence, and several demographic characteristics.