Behavioral Medicine Solutions

I recently attended a weekend seminar in the  Louhelen Baha’i Retreat  in Davison, Michigan.  This conference was so personally refreshing that I felt like the content had applicability to everyone’s psycho-spiritual health.  The main speaker was a 92-year-old gentleman who had spent his life in service to humanity in different parts of the world.  His beloved wife of 65 [...]

A patient I had not seen for a while recently came to my office for a follow-up visit.  She appeared to have a completely different outlook on life than any of her previous visits. When I inquired about the radiance, joy, and serenity that she seemed to exude, she related the following account: “Doctor, after our last visit, I developed a serious medical condition that necessitated a CT scan [...]

Two 1970′s music pop icons died recently of complications of cancer at a relatively young age (Robin Gibb; Donna Summer). They defined playfulness, youth, and sentimentality for a generation. Coincidentally, many anxiety-ridden baby boomers have come forth for help during this same time period. The discomfort and worry they report revolves around the usual stuff of life such as family, finances, and relationships.  Although [...]

There was another report in the news this week about the widespread use of the antidepressants in modern American society. We can analyze this trend from many perspectives including medical, philosophical and sociological angles.  My purpose today is to raise awareness of a subtle question: Are we hardwired to experience dread, anxiety and dissatisfaction to motivate us to transform our lives from [...]

It is been a long, cold,  gray winter in Cleveland.  There are some early signs of renewal in nature despite the persistence of the gray skies.  Interestingly,  many religious holidays this year are coinciding.  My purpose is not to elaborate or discuss the history and or the religious significance of these events.  As a psychiatrist I [...]

People have an easier time talking about their brain’s prefrontal cortex than about love!  Lately, concrete metaphors for human experience seem to be replacing  more timeless, abstract expressions.  Pop-culture and the advertising industry use the word “love” as a replacement for obsession or fascination with someone or something. Throughout the ages however the wise have noticed that [...]

Those of you who have been in my office know that I am a fan of the Golden Rule. The main theme of the rule, of course, is to treat others the way one wants to be treated.  I have copies of a poster in my office that has versions of this fundamental principle of human behavior repeated in various [...]

This is 100th post since I started this blog!  I am attaching a foundational quote from a letter that was written on behalf a very special leader, author, and thinker:  Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.  The beloved Guardian selflessly guided and elaborated on the establishment of peace and unity in the world. [...]

I recently evaluated a young man who was suffering from a depressive disorder.  After performing the appropriate diagnostic workup and ruling out underlying medical issues, I recommended a course of action that included psychotherapy, education about the condition, and antidepressant medications.  He came back a month later reporting lessening of his symptoms in response to the medication and the cognitive- [...]

I recently participated in a workshop sponsored by the local Baha’i community (www.bahai.org) titled ‘Animator Training for Junior Youth’.  I was expecting  a religious-based program with a narrow focus on the spiritual development of  adolescents.  I showed up to the program, and took my seat with the worries of a full day of psychiatric practice still running through my head. [...]