What Happens When Biology Opposes Society Are you a night person (owl) or morning person (lark)? You may not be sure. The majority of people fall in-between, sometimes called sparrows or hummingbirds. But if you’re a true night person, beware. It’s not easy working in the Lark Work World. For owls, every work day can feel like […]
Now – You Must Use Drugs
The health insurance companies know exactly how you should practice. These days, despite the admonitions of Nancy Reagen, they are pointedly telling you to use drugs – and quite peeved when you don’t. A recent postal arrival from a major insurer arrived on properly forbidding stationery. The declaration – it was incumbent that I put patient […]
Are Anti-Depressant Tests Worth the Money?
“This test will improve your choice of antidepressant by at least 50%” the salesman claims. I’m skeptical. I ask him how much it costs. Given his evasiveness, I ask five times before I get an answer: “Two thousand dollars. But don’t worry. Insurance will pay for it.” Sure. And if that do, a very big […]
Depression Screening – What Is It Worth?
The U.S. government has recommended all American adults undergo depression screening. But how will that work, and what are the most pragmatic ways to aid the public health? The Recommendations: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s US Preventive Services Task Force (someone has to come up with better names) suggested every primary care physician use on every […]
Lighting Up the Holidays
Sad Happy Holidays Tis the season to be jolly – and many are not. There’s the reality of seasonal depression li– that a quarter to half of folks in dark environments like the northern US feel down in the winter. Add on a further reality, that about thirty percent of Americans will be depressed lifetime. Perhaps ten percent are […]