Author: admin

Behavioral disorders have adverse short-term or long-term impacts on your life if left untreated. The best way to treat behavioral disorders is to seek knowledge about the conditions to help you recognize the disorders early for you to seek the necessary treatment to prevent the worsening of the conditions. Behavioral disorders in adults mainly have emotional and physical symptoms such as fever, headaches, and rash.

Visit Elevate Psychiatry if you notice any signs of behavioral problems. We have licensed psychiatrists who offer patients high-quality services, ensure they are comfortable, and help bring their life to order without stigmatization. We also offer various treatment methods, including telepsychiatry, that allow us to provide you with the best mental health services.

Behavioral Disorder Basics

Behavioral disorders involve patterns of disruptive behaviors that can last up to six months and might harm those around you. In most cases, children diagnosed with behavioral disorders early can be treated. However, if the condition is left untreated, it progresses to adulthood, making it difficult for you to keep regular jobs, relationships, and other adult responsibilities. 

Some behavioral disorders are linked to traumatic events, substance abuse, low self-esteem, defiant behaviors, and involvement in criminal activities. Elevate Psychiatry has the best psychiatrists in Miami that diagnose, manage, and treat behavioral disorders. Some of the common behavioral disorders we help with include:

Conduct Disorders

Conduct disorders in adults begin at around sixteen when they start defying rules, displaying antisocial habits, and lacking empathy for those around them. The major causes of conduct disorders are child abuse, family conflicts, poverty, and drug and substance abuse. Some of the typical signs of conduct disorders include:

1. Stealing
2. Bullying and threatening others
3. Destroying and breaking into private property
4. Starting and frequently engaging in physical fights
5. Truancy
6. Aggressiveness
7. Running away from home

Oppositional Defiant Disorders (ODD)

Children naturally throw tantrums when acting out in defiance. However, when the habit holds even in adulthood, it is called an oppositional defiant disorder. ODD major signs in children include chronic disobedience, excessive arguing, and frequent questioning of authority. When untreated in childhood, ODD presents itself later in adulthood with the following symptoms:

1. Getting angered or irritated easily
2. Low frustration threshold 
3. Vindictive behaviors such as revenge
4. Frequent arguments, tempers, and tantrums
5. Low self-esteem
6. Engaging in behaviors deliberately to hurt others.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)

ADHD is a condition that impairs adults’ ability to concentrate and regulate impulsive behaviors. ADHD is a common behavioral disorder among children, adolescents, and adults that makes them overactive. ADHD is more common among males than in females. It is mainly associated with depression, mood, conduct disorders, and drug abuse. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders signs include:

• Mood swings 
• Trouble coping with stress and frustrations
• Poor time management skills
• Inability to pay attention
• Impulsivity 
• Restlessness

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

OCD is a mental health condition where adults mainly get recurring sensations, unwanted thoughts, and repetitive behaviors that can lead to obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions in OCD are persistent and time-consuming; hence adults are compelled to behave a certain way to control their obsessive thoughts. Some of the common obsessive and compulsive signs associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders include:

• Aggressiveness 
• Unwanted sexual thoughts
• Lots of doubts and uncertainties about yourself, others, and things
• The need for things to be done or kept in an orderly way
• Constantly seeking approval and reassurance
• Excessive cleaning
• Engaging in the counting ritual where you count things such as steps
• Many ideas on losing control and harming others 

Behavioral Addiction

Behavioral addiction occurs when you engage in a habit repeatedly due to the pleasure you draw from the habit. The brain activates the rewards mechanism making you hooked to the habit. Addiction is not only associated with drug abuse but also with other things and activities such as:

• Internet 
• Sex
• Gambling
• Excessive eating
• Shopping
• Engaging in any risky practices

You need help when you notice behavior addiction disorders as they can make you emotionally unstable and neglect work and family responsibilities. In addition, some behavioral addictions threaten your overall health and cause financial and relationship problems if untreated.

Behavioral Health Therapy & Treatment in Miami

It is important to note that most adult behavior disorders present themselves in men than women. Luckily, all these disorders are treatable in Miami through behavioral health therapies and treatments. You must get help for any behavioral disorder you might be living with.

Our psychiatrists at Elevate psychiatry can restore normalcy in your life by managing and treating your symptoms through a comprehensive list of treatment options depending on your condition’s severity. Contact us for any inquiries or information.

Social anxiety disorder is marked by extreme feelings of fear in social situations. This can manifest as concern about inadvertently offending someone, self-consciousness about being judged by others, or a fear of humiliation or embarrassment. In any case, the feelings of anxiety are disproportionate to the situation. High-stress, crowded work environments may exacerbate symptoms and lead to increased absences and decreased work performance. Finding jobs for social anxiety in South Florida can be a challenge, but good jobs are available.

FINDING THE RIGHT JOB WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY

Generally speaking, the best starter job for someone with social anxiety is flexible, providing opportunities to work when and where you want to. Look for a job that allows you to take off time when you need to for coping with your symptoms and jobs that provide the option to work remotely from your South Florida home, the beach, or wherever you feel the calmest and most productive. Keep in mind that many telecommuting jobs require you to spend at least some time in the office. The best tip is to look for one that allows you to spend most of the time at home and is willing to accommodate you for times that you need to come in.

Otherwise, what you look for when you search for jobs for social anxiety depends greatly on your individual triggers. For example, just because you have social anxiety doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t like being around people at all. You may benefit from occasional or limited social interaction with others, so look for jobs that provide opportunities like these. Maybe what triggers you is high-stress situations, so look for a job that doesn’t impose hard deadlines and allows you to work at your own pace.

If you aren’t quite sure what to look for, here are some specific examples of good jobs for people with social anxiety.

Best Entry-Level Jobs for People With Social Anxiety

An entry-level job is one that doesn’t require a lot of education or prior experience to qualify you to perform it. They usually require a high school diploma or GED at most, though some may require you to complete training programs to receive the necessary certification.

An entry-level job is a good way to gain experience if you aspire to further schooling and more advanced opportunities later on. It may also offer career advancement opportunities of its own. Not all entry-level positions are good jobs for social anxiety, as some can be high-stress and require more interaction than you may be comfortable with. However, there are many that allow you to earn a living in a work environment in which you feel comfortable.

1. Landscaper or Gardener: These jobs allow you to plant and maintain landscapes outdoors and require very little social interaction.
2. Library Page: A page performs routine tasks, relieving some of the burdens from the librarians and freeing them to focus on other duties. A library is a quiet work environment, and the need for interaction with patrons is limited.
3. Veterinary Technician: If you feel more comfortable with animals than with people, you might enjoy soothing pets and assist during examinations as a veterinary technician. This requires you to complete a certification program.
4. Writer: Becoming a copywriter or a technical writer allows you to gain experience and build a portfolio. It requires a basic understanding of grammar and technique. Becoming a freelance writer allows you to work from home and set your own schedule, but making a living at it may take time.

Other entry-level jobs for people with social anxiety include lab technician, janitor, and data entry clerk.

More Advanced Jobs for People With Social Anxiety

The following jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, perhaps postgraduate work.

1. Accountant: Becoming an accountant requires at least a bachelor’s degree, plus attention to detail and a love of numbers. There are opportunities in accounting that do not involve tax preparation, so you have some say in how much interaction you have with the public.
2. Archivist: An archivist preserves and organizes maps, photographs, and other historical documents. It requires at least a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree may allow you to broaden your job search.
3. Counselor: As a counselor, you typically work one-on-one with clients. The personal challenges you have faced can give you insight into their problems and help you to empathize. A counselor has to have at least a master’s degree.

FINDING YOUR IDEAL JOB ENVIRONMENT AS A SOCIAL ANXIETY SUFFERER

Finding the right job for you involves knowing yourself and what kind of environment you can thrive in. Elevate Psychiatry is a highly regarded South Florida clinic staffed by caring providers who can help you identify your needs and provide guidance. Contact us for more information.

With approximately 34.2 million adults smoking tobacco in the United States and a subsequent 480,000 deaths each year, smoking is easily one of the primary causes of preventable disease and death.

While the percentage of Americans who smoke has decreased significantly, nicotine dependence is still prevalent as more than 16 million people are currently living with a smoking-related disease, including heart disease, lung cancer, and throat cancer.

There are several methods out there that aid insmoking cessation, but clinical studies are now showing that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may be the answer to kicking the habit for good.

Keep reading to learn more about TMS and smoking cessation.

Nicotine Dependence: Kicking the Habit

Nicotine dependence is characterized by the intense craving, compulsive use, or inability to stop using tobacco products – despite its dangerous consequences.

Much like with alcohol or drug addiction, nicotine affects the areas of the brain typically involved in decision-making and behavioral control by triggering certain neurotransmitters to release. As the nicotine tolerance is built up over time, it takes more to achieve that same neurotransmitter release, which is precisely what causes the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation.

There are plenty of reasons why people take up smoking, but it’s often linked to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and so on. Having a mental health disorder in addition to nicotine dependence can make it that much more challenging for individuals to quit.

When nicotine dependence is more severe, tobacco users tend to turn to prescription medications such as Chantix and even nicotine replacement therapy such as the nicotine patch or gum.

Nicotine therapy replacement works by delivering small doses of nicotine to the user to take the edge off of their cravings without the additional nasty chemicals in tobacco products. It’s said to ease the normal withdrawal symptoms and has proven to help many people kick the habit. However, it doesn’t help with the psychological aspect of why an individual uses tobacco in the first place.

With medication like Chantix, smoking becomes much less gratifying to the user. This is because the medication works by blocking the brain’s nicotine receptors, which in turn blocks the “reward cycle” that’s triggered by smoking in the first place.

Chantix also helps to ease cravings by releasing small doses of dopamine. However, like most prescription medications, it comes with a list of unwanted side effects.

TMS and Smoking Cessation

TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for mental health disorders such as depression, OCD, and anxiety, and recently, smoking cessation.

In recent clinical trials, TMS was used to treat 115 adults that were heavy smokers who after several tries, couldn’t quit. The trial had the adults divided into three groups—Those who would receive high-frequency treatments, low-frequency treatments, and a placebo group.

Additionally, some participants were shown a photo of a lit cigarette while others were not, as a means to ensure that the focus was on nicotine cravings and not some other type of craving.

Over the course of three weeks, 13 TMS treatments were given. The group that was administered the highest frequency and shown the visual had the highest success rate – at 44% – in terms of quitting smoking.

The group that received the lower frequency who were not given the visual cue saw a success rate of 28%.

Clinical researchers and scientists believe that TMS may be the future of smoking cessation as it’s a safe and non-invasive way to rewire the brain for more positive behavioral outcomes. As of right now, it’s believed that TMS combined with nicotine replacement therapy may be the best way for those with a nicotine dependence to kick their habit for good.

Visit our site to learn more about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and the other mental health services we offer.

It is estimated that at least 3.6% of America’s adult population suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That means one in every 11 adults and some adolescents will be diagnosed with this mental health disorder in their lifetime.

PTSD to this day is still heavily associated with war veterans, as it was initially used as a diagnosis among soldiers returning from World Wars I and II. Today, the mental health community is aware that anyone can develop PTSD.

While most people suffering from PTSD are typically put on a regimen of antidepressants and talk therapy, these methods are known to fail almost as much as they’re known to bring relief.

Now mental health professionals are turning to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a more promising form of treatment when all other options fail.

To learn more about PTSD and TMS as a potential treatment, keep reading.

PTSD: What Makes it Different?

When someone lives through a traumatic event, such as active combat, assault, an open-shooter situation, or even a natural disaster, they’ll likely exhibit the symptoms and signs associated with anxiety afterward.

Event-related anxiety symptoms tend to subside as time passes. However, when it comes to PTSD, these symptoms actually worsen over time.

What separates PTSD from other stress disorders, like anxiety, is the fact that it affects each area of the brain in a way that causes it to become overly sensitive and therefore easily triggered.

The result is that the area of the brain responsible for thinking and memory – the frontal lobe – stops functioning properly. When this happens, it becomes harder to separate the safety of the events happening in the now from the traumatic events that occurred in the past.

Therefore, PTSD is typically characterized by the following:

• Intrusive thoughts that are persistent and distressing, such as hyperrealistic memories, flashbacks, and even nightmares
• Avoidance behaviors, where the individual will purposefully avoid places and situations that can trigger intrusive thoughts
• Negative thought patterns, which constantly plague the individual with emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, or shame—often causing distrust in family and friends
• Heightened arousal, which often leads to irritability and angry outbursts. When severe, it can lead to reduced concentration, self-destructive behaviors, and substance abuse

All of the above can get to the point where the individual begins to detach from their loved ones and even reality.

While antidepressants often benefit individuals suffering from PTSD, with a response rate of 60%, only between 20% and 30% achieve full remission.

TMS and PTSD

When it comes to treatment-resistant mental health disorders, TMS is becoming the next best option in the eyes of mental health professionals.

TMS is non-invasive, safe, and painless, and it works by stimulating certain areas of the brain as a means to “rewire” them – or, alter the brain’s patterns to return them to normal in terms of thoughts and behaviors.

This rewiring has proven effective at alleviating the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression and is currently approved by the FDA for the two mood disorders.

Recent studies have found that TMS proved to be effective at improving the symptoms of PTSD in study participants who exhibited both major depressive disorder (MDD) and PTSD.

While TMS as a treatment for PTSD has not yet been FDA-approved, there are indications that it’s well on its way as a secondary approach for treatment-resistant PTSD and other mental health disorders.

Visit our site to learn more about TMS as a treatment or to view the other services we offer for mental health and wellness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder affecting 2.2. million adults in the United States. The condition is characterized by anxiety-inducing thoughts and behavior, which are often disruptive to the individual’s daily life.

While OCD is considered treatable, there’s still a large number of patients that don’t respond to its usual treatment methods. Even for the patients that do respond to the treatment methods, it’s rare that ongoing remission of their symptoms is maintained.

Fortunately, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been showing positive results in clinical trials for OCD treatment. Read on to learn more about OCD and how TMS may just be the better alternative.

OCD and its Usual Treatment Methods

When severe, OCD causes significant stress directly to the individual experiencing it and indirectly to the individual’s family, friends, and even co-workers.

It can also become incredibly time-consuming as the condition is based on compulsive acts meant to soothe the obsessive thoughts, i.e., the compulsive act of washing your hands every time you touch a highly-trafficked surface due to the obsessive thoughts regarding germs and fear of contamination.

Over time, the cycle of obsessions and their subsequent compulsions further induce anxiety rather than suppress it, creating an exhaustive pattern.

Additionally, those who struggle with OCD commonly struggle with other mental health conditions, usually anxiety and depression.

To treat OCD, the most common methods include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A form of psychotherapy that focuses on thoughts, feelings, behavioral patterns, and physical reactions associated with OCD to help patients feel less anxious and reactive to their triggers over time.
• Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP): Another form of psychotherapy (and subtype of CBT) that involves gradually exposing the patient to the source of his or her anxiety under the supervision of a mental health professional – who encourages the patients to refrain from reacting to their triggers.
• Psychopharmacology: Prescription medication such as antidepressants are given to patients to treat their anxiety or depression to help offset their responses to these triggers

TMS As a Safe and Effective Treatment For OCD

TMS is a safe and painless treatment that’s often used in addition to – or as a replacement – for psychotherapy and medication once they’ve proven to be ineffective. TMS isn’t a complicated concept or process as it involves the use of magnetic waves to stimulate certain areas of the brain to positively change behavior.

In recent clinical trials, this FDA-approved treatment showed positive results for patients suffering from severe OCD.

During this clinical trial, daily TMS treatments were given over six weeks, resulting in a 30% reduction in symptom severity. The results were said to be “on par” with responses seen in antidepressant treatment, however, the TMS treatment worked about two to four weeks faster.

Additionally, the response rate of the TMS treatment showed a positive increase by the 10-week follow-up where the patients were no longer receiving the treatment.

Not only is TMS treatment effective at relieving the severity of the symptoms of OCD, but it also comes with less risky side effects compared to the antidepressants commonly prescribed today.

If you or someone you care for is suffering from OCD, our team is here to provide you with affordable and accessible psychiatric services, including TMS. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get on the path to living a mentally healthier life.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is well-known as one of the forms of depression that remains mostly treatment-resistant. As a result, many mental healthcare professionals are recommending Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to treat the mood disorder for the long-term.

In this article, we’re going to discuss how Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation compares to traditional treatments (such as medication management) as well as its potential side effects.

Read on to learn more.

TMS vs. Medication Management

With depression, psychopharmacology is typically part of the conversation as it has been long considered the go-to treatment associated with depression in all its forms.

Mental health professionals often prescribe antidepressants to relieve the symptoms of depression and other associated mood disorders such as anxiety. The goal is to correct the chemical imbalances of the brain’s neurotransmitters causing these negative mood states.

With more severe forms of depression, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), it often takes a period of trial-and-error involving a regimen of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. This also requires ongoing medication management, and sometimes invasive treatment including ketamine, esketamine, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

So, what makes TMS the better option compared to medication management?

Its side effects (or, lack thereof) and effectiveness in long-term treatment.

The Side Effects

Mood disorders in the realm of MDD are often treatment-resistant to multiple medications. That’s why medication management is required in the first place, as each new regimen requires consistent patient monitoring.

Not to mention, antidepressants alone come with some pretty severe side effects, especially when taken over a longer duration. Those side effects vary but often include insomnia, anxiety, agitation, nausea, bladder issues, sexual dysfunction, higher cardiovascular risks, dizziness, weight gain, fatigue, and much more.

TMS, on the other hand, produces relatively mild side effects—which mainly include minor headaches, scalp discomfort, lightheadedness, and tingling post-procedure. These side effects are typically short-lived, which a 2007 study confirms.

The Effectiveness

Older clinical studies and trials found TMS to be effective but slightly lacking on its own. For a long time, it was believed to be more effective when combined with an antidepressant regimen for patients with treatment-resistant MDD.

However, more recent clinical studies involving the newer FDA-approved TMS procedure referred to as SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) have seen remarkable results.

This new protocol for TMS showed that 90% of the subjects with severe depression experienced remission by the end of the study, as in they were no longer clinically depressed or having suicidal thoughts.

Conversely, the research on anti-depressants shows that they’re only effective for up to 40% of patients due to a variety of different factors. Additionally, up to 75% of patients that undergo medication management experience a depression relapse after achieving a positive response to their regimen.

If you or someone you care for suffers from MDD or another severe mood disorder, reach out to us today to learn more about TMS and the other psychiatric services we provide.

They’ll make me gain weight

They’ll dull my personality

They don’t actually work

Everyone will judge me

These are just some of the common myths regarding antidepressants.

Antidepressants are arguably the most understood medications of all time. Many people who struggle with depression are reluctant to even talk to their doctor about starting a regimen.

That’s why we’re going to take the time to discuss antidepressants and the myths that follow them everywhere they go.

Read on to learn more.

Antidepressants 101

So, what exactly are antidepressants?

Simply put, antidepressants are prescription medications that work by balancing out the chemicals in your brain—aka, the neurotransmitters—which directly affect your moods and emotions.

In medical and scientific communities, antidepressant medications are referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). Some more common examples include Zoloft, Lexapro, Bupropion, and the famous Prozac. Other categories include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-Is).

In addition to correcting your moods and emotions, antidepressants can also help you sleep better as well as help to regulate your appetite and improve your cognitive function—three other things that are also affected by depression.

Moreover, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that depression is associated with physical brain changes. For example, there’s a loss of volume in the hippocampus, which affects memory. Additionally, the stress hormones that depression produces in the body can negatively affect the brain’s ability to generate new neurons.

By taking antidepressants—as prescribed by a doctor—the brain’s structure and proper functions can be restored over time. This means eventually, the individual taking them can slowly stop taking them when the time is right and continue to live a healthy and happy life.

Antidepressant Myths Vs Facts

Now let’s bust the most common antidepressant myths wide open:

Myth 1: Antidepressants will are addictive

Antidepressants are neither physiologically nor psychologically addictive. However, they can cause something called discontinuation syndrome, which is what happens when an individual abruptly stops taking their medication. Symptoms typically include vertigo, anxiety, insomnia, and odd sensations like tingling in the skin.

Myth 2: Antidepressants will change my personality

Trust us, we wish there were medications out there that could fix certain peoples’ personalities! However, antidepressants work to alter your mood—not who you are.

Moreover, antidepressants aren’t “happy pills” that supply you with artificial happiness. They work with your brain chemistry to reduce the symptoms that are weighing you down to allow your neurotransmitters to function as they should. That way, you can live a normal life.

Myth 3: Antidepressants Don’t Work

Antidepressants have been around for quite a while, and rightfully so. Studies show that they’re up to 60% effective at relieving symptoms of depression.

Unfortunately, many patients who start taking antidepressants as part of their treatment stop taking them because they don’t experience an improvement in their moods. However, this is because antidepressants need time to work.

They also need to be taken for as long as prescribed in order to work to their fullest potential. It’s very common for individuals to stop taking them once they notice a slight difference—which is not advisable.

Additionally, for some patients, there’s a trial and error process involving dosage and medication type. We understand that this trial and error process isn’t fun, and it gives antidepressants a bad rap, but it’s a necessary process to ensure that the individuals struggling with depression receive the right medication that will better their lives in the long run.

The truth is, there are many different forms of depression and there are many more myths regarding antidepressants. We’re here to dispel any myths and quell your concerns. Contact us today to learn more about effective treatments for depression and other mood disorders.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is categorized as a specific type of brain stimulation therapy. It is sometimes referred to as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or deep transcranial magenetic stimulation (dTMS).

One of the most important things to understand about TMS is that it’s a non-invasive treatment. TMS therapy is conducted using electromagnetic pulses meant to stimulate nerve cells, which is believed to improve the various symptoms of neurological and mental health disorders.

As of right now, TMS is primarily used to treat depression. It has proven successful in helping individuals who don’t respond to psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. However, there is burgeoning evidence that TMS helps with other disorders, including OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, smoking cessation, schizophrenia, and even Parkinson’s disease.

How Does it Work?

As mentioned above, TMS therapy utilizes electromagnetic pulses to stimulate the nerve cells. The therapy itself is done by a TMS technician or physician, and it’s an outpatient procedure, which means there are no overnight hospital stays involved.

Before the procedure, the patient will be advised to remove any jewelry and other items that may be sensitive to magnets. Earplugs will also be provided to reduce the “clicking” noises generated by the magnetic impulses.

The procedure is conducted while the patient is awake, seated upright in a comfortable chair. The technician will take measurements of the patient’s head to determine the appropriate location to place the magnetic coil and another measurement to customize the settings on the TMS device.

The technician will then position a magnetic coil above the front area of the patient’s brain. Once the treatment starts, magnetic impulses are released, which generates that aforementioned clicking noise. The patient may also feel a slight tapping sensation beneath the coil.

The entire procedure can be as brief as a few pulses to 20 minutes long. Once it’s finished, the patient can drive himself or herself home and get back to their everyday activities.

TMS therapy is usually repeated for five days each week for up to six weeks. Of course, the exact length varies based upon each individual’s condition and response to the treatment.

What Are the Benefits?

While clinical studies are ongoing, TMS has proven to have a high success rate when it comes to treating several disorders, especially conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD), where roughly 30 percent of patients don’t respond to medications or psychotherapy.

The one thing that mood disorders, compulsive disorders, and other neurological disorders have in common is the connectivity and activity that exists in the prefrontal cortex.

According to one recent study, individuals who suffer from OCD typically have increased activity happening between the prefrontal cortex and striatum. Other studies show that individuals with anxiety and PTSD also show increased nerve cell activity in the same area, while other disorders such as depression show decreased nerve cell activity.

While it’s important to remember that TMS therapy has mostly been studied and used as a treatment for depression, its long-term success rates have fallen between 30 and 64 percent.

If you or someone you love is currently suffering from a mood disorder and in need of more advanced treatment, we’re here for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation so you can get the care that you deserve.

The therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs, specifically lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) began in the 1950s. Today there’s an entire range of psychedelic drugs that are recognized as conscious-altering being used in both clinical and non-clinical settings as research for psychiatric practices.

For centuries, Indigenous communities throughout the country have used psychedelics, such as peyote and ayahuasca, for both therapeutic and religious purposes. With the increased legalization of certain psychedelic substances, the rest of the Western world is finally beginning to catch up.

Want to learn more about the role psychedelics play in psychiatry? Then keep reading.

What Exactly Is Psychedelic Therapy?

Psychedelic therapy, also sometimes referred to as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is a psychiatric technique that involves using psychedelic substances to aid patients in their therapeutic processes.

These processes are typically combined with talk therapy, and the substances most commonly used include MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

Despite the experimental use of psychedelic drugs blossoming during the 1950s and 1960s, these substances were still made federally illegal here in the United States. However, over the last few decades, the belief that psychedelic substances had the potential to treat a range of conditions including depression, major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and PTSD, has fueled tons of clinical trials—with permission, of course.

Generally speaking, psychedelics are incredibly powerful in terms of producing profound mind-altering effects. It is believed that they work by mitigating the neural circuits within our brains that produce the neurotransmitter serotonin.

The benefits of using these substances in certain doses include:

• feelings of tranquility and relaxation
• an improved sense of self and well-being
• increased feelings of connectedness both socially and environmentally
• more introspection
• spiritual experiences

Of course, it’s important to understand that while there are plenty of positive benefits that come from using psychedelics, there are other common effects such as an altered sense of time, a distortion of reality and perception, intense emotions, paranoia, and sensing things that aren’t there or actually happening.

The Effects of Psychedelic Therapy

As mentioned earlier, psychedelic therapy has shown a great deal of promise when it comes to treating a variety of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Clinical studies have shown that for mood disorders, such anxiety and depression, psilocybin-assisted therapy has been associated with an increased quality of life. That would include an increase in optimism, reduced anxiety, and a lower mortality rate. Additionally, roughly 80% of all participants continued to shower improvement for up to six months later.

Another study surveying the real-world effects of LSD and psilocybin on music festival goers reported that the participants recreationally ingesting the psychedelic substances reported to feel more socially connected and better in terms of mood. It was also reported that these effects continued long after the effects had worn off.

Lastly, several clinical trials using psychedelic substances—specifically MDMA—to treat PTSD noted that 54% of the participants “no longer met the criteria for the PTSD diagnosis following the treatment.”

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that while psychedelic therapy is considered to be safe, there are still potential risks to consider. There are also certain types of people that do not meet the criteria for this type of treatment, particularly those with more severe forms of PTSD and addictive personality types.

If you’d like to learn more about the various psychiatric treatments available for mood disorders or PTSD, reach out to us today.

If you feel that your mental health is declining, you’re not alone. One in five Americans is diagnosed with a mental health disorder, and more than half don’t receive proper treatment. The shortage of quality care and access to care across the country is to blame. There’s also the fear of social stigma that keeps people from seeking out treatment.

The mental health community is beginning to realize that they need to redefine health care to successfully address the mental health issue on a national level.

Enter: telemedicine.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is simply defined as remote health care. It’s divided into three categories:

• Interactive and synchronous which allows physicians and their patients to communicate in real time while maintaining HIPAA compliance
• “Store and forward” which allows providers to share patient information with a practitioner in a different location
• Remote patient monitoring (RPM) which allows remote caregivers to monitor their patient at home by using mobile medical devices that monitor vitals, etc.

Telemedicine isn’t a complete virtual clinic solution, however, as it’s still in its early stages. As of right now, telemedicine in its least complex form requires secured HIPAA compliance software and video call capabilities.

The Role of Telemedicine in Mental Health

According to a 2016 survey conducted by the PwC Health Research Institute, 72% of patients from 18 to 44 years of age responded with a yes to receiving their mental health care virtually as opposed to in-office visits.

Mental health treatment relies on conversation, emotional connection, and validation, making telemedicine a game changer in the field. There are a few fundamental ways in which telemedicine, or telepsychiatry, is revolutionizing mental health care:

• It alleviates the shortage of mental health care professionals
• With telepsychiatry on the rise, mental health care professionals can now virtually treat patients that live hundreds of miles away, closing the gap between location disadvantages and available treatment
• Accessibility encompasses more than just a person’s geographic location. Telemedicine opens the door to treatment for those who are mobile-challenged, lack transportation options, and are recovering at home. As long as the patient has internet access, they’ll have access to treatment.

It Helps Destigmatize Mental Health Treatment

While mental health treatment has become normalized, there’s still a heavy stigma attached to it. Mental health treatment isn’t directly destigmatized by telepsychiatry, but it contributes to the comfortability of seeking help because it allows for patients to get treatment from the privacy of their own homes, as opposed to going to an office where someone might feel uncomfortable.

It’s Revolutionizing Addiction Treatment

Opioid addiction is at an all time high, especially in rural areas with little to no access to mental health treatment. This is something that calls for greater addiction treatment reform, which has been implemented in the form of telemedicine as a means to provide the necessary resources to the areas with the greatest need.

Telemedicine is elevating mental health treatment into something that’s not only 100% accessible, but also destigmatized.

Your mental health is essential to your well being. At Elevate Psychiatry we offer accessible and cutting edge care. Our virtual therapists are ready and waiting to help you achieve the mental health that you deserve. Contact us to learn more about our services or to book your first virtual appointment.