Graham J. McDougall Jr, Ph.D., R.N. Yoga is a popular mind body exercise phenomenon used to reduce anxiety, stress, and chronic illness. This study was novel because the participants not only received memory training, but also received yoga training. Each class began with seated stretching, in conjunction with focused breathing. “Asana” or postures were modified […]
Leo Sher, M.D. In July 2009, our research article, “Effect of acute alcohol use on the lethality of suicide attempts in patients with mood disorders” was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research (1). We hypothesized that acute alcohol intoxication is associated with more lethal suicide attempts. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A research report, “Global dataset shows geography and life form predict modern plant extinction and rediscovery” has been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution online ahead of print (1). The authors of this work state that extinction of biodiversity is a key part of our planet’s past, present and future. They performed […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A research report, “Parents’ perceptions of internalizing and externalizing features in childhood OCD” has been published in Child Psychiatry & Human Development online ahead of print (1). The authors of the study sought to show that parents perceive both internalizing and externalizing behaviors in childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by examining the factor […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A research paper, “Geographic proximity is associated with transmission of suicidal behavior among siblings” has been published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica online ahead of print (1). The authors examined the role of “contagion”, or social transmission, in the risk of suicidal behavior among siblings. They employed Swedish national registry data to empirically […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A research report, “Effect of altitude on veteran suicide rates” has been published in High Altitude Medicine & Biology online ahead of print (1). Researchers from Salt Lake City, Utah, examined the relationship between veteran state-level suicide rates and altitude, including firearm-related and nonfirearm-related suicides. The authors extracted data related to state […]
Leo Sher, M.D. Ten years ago, our research paper, “Treatment of depressed bipolar patients with alcohol use disorders: plenty of room for improvement” was published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders (1). We explored the adequacy of antidepressant treatment and compliance with treatment in bipolar patients with and without alcohol […]
Jacob M. Appel, M.D., J.D. The past thirty years have witnessed an “apology revolution” in medical practice. Prior to the 1980s, the prevailing approach to medical errors in clinical care favored concealment: If patients or their survivors did not discover medical mistakes on their own through legal discovery and litigation processes, self-interest discouraged physicians from […]
Leo Sher, M.D. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new cranial electrotherapy stimulator (CES) device for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and insomnia (1). The Cervella Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulator delivers a low-level, constant current to the individual’s cranium via a pair of conductive electrodes incorporated into ear pads of the […]
Leo Sher, M.D. A research paper, “Divalproex and its effect on suicide risk in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of multinational observational studies” has recently been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders (1). In general, studies on the effect of divalproex on suicide risk in patients with bipolar disorder have produced conflicting […]
