February 2011

More on So-called Bipolar Disorder

February 24, 2011

A few days ago, I received the following email: Hi Phil, I would like to hear from you how we can survive the bipolar disorder, as I understand bipolar is a very serious disease. Regards, [Name] The question seems important enough to warrant a more public response, though I have omitted the writer’s name to [...]

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Grand Rounds at The Covert Rationing Blog

February 22, 2011

DrRich has Grand Rounds up at The Covert Rationing Blog.  He has obviously put a lot of work into hosting this week’s rounds, with explanatory paragraphs concerning each entry.  The reader is easily able to discern what is covered in each submitted post, so stop by to have a look, and read further.

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More On Disability

February 16, 2011

In his book Anatomy of an Epidemic, Robert Whitaker drew attention to the increasing numbers on the Social Security disability rolls due to so-called mental illness.  Robert raises the possibility that the drugs routinely used to “treat” depression may be contributing to the problem.  In a recent post, he discusses this matter further. I think [...]

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Grand Rounds at Gruntdoc

February 15, 2011

Grand Rounds is up at Gruntdoc.  As usual, Dr. Roberts presents a very user-friendly rounds, simple to follow, easy to use.   Close to thirty posts, with a wide range of subjects.    Stop by and have a look.

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Business As Usual

February 12, 2011

Christopher Lane, author of Shyness has written an interesting post.  The gist of the matter is as follows. There’s a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines (benzos for short) that are promoted by Pharma and prescribed by psychiatrists to “treat” anxiety.  (As if anxiety were an illness!)  See my post on the So-called Anxiety Disorders. Benzos [...]

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Grand Rounds at Suture for a Living

February 8, 2011

Grand Rounds is up at Suture for a Living.   Plastic surgeon Dr. Ramona Bates has included posts that cover many different subjects, some light, some serious.  Stop by and have a look.

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Overeating Is Not An Illness

February 7, 2011

DSM lists two principal “illnesses” under the heading Eating Disorders:  anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Anorexia Nervosa means chronic and pernicious fasting even though food is readily available.  “Anorexia” is Greek for lack of appetite.  “Nervosa” is Greek for nervous. Bulimia means recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or other methods of purging.  [...]

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