Mental Health

Animal-assisted therapy: Do patients experience a medical benefit?

Leona Hamrick, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA August 01, 2011

Statistically significant changes are not often seen in studies, but patients report feeling better after interaction with an animal and that alone should justify the use of animal-assisted therapy.

Stress management: Helping patients to find effective coping strategies

Denise Rizzolo, PA-C, PhD, Mona Sedrak, PA-C, PhD September 01, 2010

The impact of stress on physical and mental health illustrates the need for a variety of effective coping techniques.

Piecing together confusing symptoms

Kay Christian, MS, PC-C December 08, 2009

The author reflects on the pain and confusion her family experienced watching her sister struggle with frontotemporal dementia.

Major depression: Screening and treatment

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA November 06, 2009

Depression is under-diagnosed in primary care and other settings, but screening is as simple as asking the patient two brief questions.

Referral to a dietitian uncovers why this woman cannot lose weight

Louise Lee, MHA, PA-C October 12, 2009

This eating disorder is probably often missed in primary care because the condition is so difficult for providers to recognize.

CME Posttest: Hypertension treatment; Posttraumatic stress disorder

September 03, 2009

September 2009

PTSD: How to recognize the many faces of this hidden disorder

James E. Meyer, MD, FACP September 02, 2009

A broad view of the etiology of PTSD can help clinicians take a more effective approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Making connections: Good for PAs, and for patients

Sarah Zarbock, PA-C August 10, 2009

PAs can help patients recognize the importance of their relationships by evaluating their own connections.

QRS: Alzheimer's disease; Myasthenia gravis

Dawn Colomb-Lippa, MHS, PA-C, Amy M. Klingler, MS, PA-C, Margaret King-Schumacher, PA-C,MJ July 21, 2009

Features, signs and symptoms, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and myasthenia gravis are reviewed. Questions and answers that highlight important facts about these diseases are also included.

How biological abnormalities separate CFS from depression

Katherine M. Erdman, MPAS, PA-C March 01, 2008

Chronic fatigue syndrome and depression share symptoms and may coexistbut thanks to new efforts spearheaded by the CDC, skilled clinicians can more easily tell them apart.