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Mental Illness, Civil Liberty, and Common Sense
Psychiatric Times By Allen Frances, MD and Mark L. Ruffalo, LCSW May 3, 2018 COMMENTARY Dr. Frances is former Chair and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Duke University. He was the Chair of the DSM-IV Task Force. Mr. Ruffalo is Affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Instructor of Social... read more
Los Angeles Times By Melissa Healy May 11, 2018 The man had been a patient for decades, retired now from a career in which firearms were a part of the job. He was enjoying his days hunting, or at the shooting range with friends. But episodes of confusion had led... read more
American Psychiatric Association News May 9, 2018 Adolescence has long been known as a time of vulnerability for the start of mental disorders and substance use, yet not enough is known about normal brain development and its variations. To fill that gap, a collaborative federal program is starting to take a... read more
National Public Radio, Inc By Anna Gorman May 4, 2018 When 47-year-old Edward Vega arrived in jail, he couldn't quiet the voices in his head. He felt paranoid, as though he was losing control. "I knew if I didn't get my medication, I was going to hurt someone," says... read more
In veterans, even a mild case of traumatic brain injury is linked to an increased risk of dementia
Los Angeles Times By Karen Kaplan May 07, 2018 Mild traumatic brain injury may sound like an oxymoron, along the lines of "jumbo shrimp" or "random order." But a new study shows that mild TBIs can have serious consequences for military veterans by raising their risk of dementia. Researchers who... read more
Psychiatric Services by Patrick W. Corrigan, Psy.D. May 02, 2018 Mental illnesses become serious when they are disabling, when symptoms and dysfunction prevent people from achieving their life goals. Although rehabilitation providers often list education as an important goal, rarely has the field done innovative work here. My 400-page textbook on psychiatric rehabilitation includes only four... read more
Los Angeles Times By Thomas Curwen April 18, 2018 When Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the Mental Health Act of 1967, the legislation signaled a new era in the treatment of mentally ill Californians. Also known as the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, the law recognized that not everyone with a mental illness needed... read more
Beyond medical costs, a trip to the hospital can mean a permanent reduction in income for many Americans, new research shows. By Margot Sanger-Katz March 21, 2018 New York Times A Hospital Visit Can Hit Your Paycheck Among people in their 50s who were hospitalized, about 10 percent never went back to work. Some others scaled... read more
Mariah Carey reveals her bipolar disorder diagnosis: 'I lived in denial and isolation'
Apr. 11, 2018 By NARDINE SAAD Los Angeles Times Mariah Carey opened up about her mental health on Wednesday and confirmed her longstanding battle with bipolar II disorder. “Until recently, I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” the 48-year-old singer told People. “It was too heavy... read more
American Psychiatric Association March 5, 2018 Counties in and adjacent to states with stronger gun laws have fewer firearm deaths than counties in and adjacent to states with weaker laws, according to findings published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study suggests that strengthening state firearm policies may prevent firearm suicide and homicide, with benefits that... read more