Psychiatric Disorders

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.

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.

Is an FDA alert harming patients?

Eric Schuman, MPAS, PA-C May 13, 2009

An FDA alert intended to halt life-threatening combination use of triptans and antidepressants could prevent effective migraine therapy.

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.

Hypochondriasis: Meeting the management challenge

J. Glenn Forister, MPAS, PA-C; Billy James, PhD July 01, 2007

Patients who remain convinced they are ill despite all medical evidence to the contrary are among the most difficult to care for in all of medicine.

The patient with borderline personality disorder

Elinor LaForge, MPAS, PA-C April 01, 2007

Caring for borderline patients is demanding, complex, and time consuming. A few simple strategies can improve outcomes and even strengthen your relationship with the patient.

Distinguishing ADHD from juvenile bipolar disorder: A guide for primary care PAs

Kara Compton, MSPAS, PA-C, OTR, Lloyd Taylor, PhD; Noelle Carlozzi, MA; Beverly Fortson, MA December 01, 2006

Pediatric clinicians should know how to distinguish juvenile-onset bipolar disorder from ADHD, since arriving at the right diagnosis is essential to providing the most effective treatment.