Forefront Psychotherapeutics

The Trouble With P**n "Addiction"

The Trouble With P**n "Addiction" The urge may be natural. The guilt may not be.

When to Call 988, Mental Health’s New Emergency Hotline

When to Call 988, Mental Health’s New Emergency Hotline Experts say 988 is a resource for anyone dealing with mental health issues of any kind. Here’s what you can expect if you call.

Photos from Forefront Psychotherapeutics's post

Genetic Testing for Best Antidepressant Accurate, Cost-Effective

Genetic Testing for Best Antidepressant Accurate, Cost-Effective Genetic testing to determine the best antidepressant for patients with major depression and has the potential to lead to an optimal drug choice on the first try and reduce healthcare costs, new research suggests.

Meet the ‘psychobiome': the gut bacteria that may alter how you think, feel, and act

Meet the ‘psychobiome': the gut bacteria that may alter how you think, feel, and act Scientists hope to turn gut microbes or their products into new antidepressants or drugs for other brain disorders

For PRIDE month, we at Smallwood Behavioral would like to celebrate several historical LGBTQIA+ pioneers in medicine and mental health. Some of the most impactful contributions to how we practice medicine today can be attributed to members of this community, and today we highlight the life and works of Dr. Sara Josephine Baker.

Dr. Sara Josephine Baker spent most of the latter part of her life with her partner Ida Alexa Ross Wylie, identifying as a "woman orientated woman." Much of her personal life she kept intensely private, especially in this regard, however, her contributions to medicine were well known and permanently transformed our approach to healthcare.

Dr. Sara Josephine Baker was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1873 to a Quaker family. It was in her youth at just sixteen years old that her father and brother both died from typhoid fever, setting her on a course that would completely change history.

Soon after their deaths, Sara turned down a sizeable scholarship to Vassar College in New York to instead study medicine at New York Infirmary Medical College in 1894. It was in 1899 that Dr. Sara opened her own private practice and also began a career in working for the city of New York as a health inspector where she sought to focus on the exponential infant mortality rate in "Hell's kitchen."

"Hell's Kitchen" was considered the worst slum in New York with up to 1,500 children dying weekly. Dr. Sara Baker and a group of nurses began to train parents on how to take care of their children, teaching them proper hygiene and diet models to establish her penultimate belief in how she practiced medicine "preventative care."

"The way to keep people from dying from disease, it struck me suddenly, was to keep them from falling ill. Healthy people don’t die. It sounds like a completely witless remark, but at that time it was a startling idea. Preventative medicine had hardly been born yet and had no promotion in public health work."

— Sara Josephine Baker, Fighting For Life

Dr. Sara Baker went on to invent a baby formula to improve infant health as commercial milk sources were consistently discovered to have harmful contaminants. Infant blindness due to STDs transmitted at the time of birth was another significant challenge that Dr. Baker sought to treat. She went on to create single doses of silver nitrate that could be administered by a mother directly into an infant's eyes. Dr. Baker also worked diligently indirectly of her patients by improving medical communities and schools by pushing for licensure of midwives and by having formal classes taught on preventive healthcare.

By the end of her career as a physician in 1923, Dr. Sara Baker, through her inventions and training of other healthcare workers, reduced infant blindness in New York by 99% and boasted the lowest infant mortality rate in any major American city.

For further reading...

National Institutes of Health. (2015, June 3). Changing the face of Medicine | S. Josephinebaker. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_19.html

Parry, M. S. (2006, April). Sara Josephine Baker (1873–1945). American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470556/

For Pride month, we would like to speak to LGBTQIA+ mental well-being in order to lessen the stigma that comes with discussing our mental health and to promote the importance of seeking professional help.

The LGBTQIA+ community has significantly higher rates of negative mental health outcomes compared to straight-identifying populations. While only 5.6% of Americans identify within the community, this is approximately 18 million adults. Of those adults, almost one-third self-report engaging in substance abuse. Additionally, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are statistically three times more likely to experience mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Understanding when to seek therapy can be a difficult process, however, it is never the wrong time to speak to a mental health professional. People seek therapy for many reasons, from helpful advice to a helping hand, or someone to vent to, if you believe speaking to a therapist helps, you are right.

🌈 🌈

Happy Pride Month to all LGBT people! 🏳️‍🌈

Timeline photos

Cariprazine is a safe and effective for adults with major depressive disorder.

Photos from Forefront Psychotherapeutics's post

Offering more plant-based choices on menus can speed up diet change

Offering more plant-based choices on menus can speed up diet change In three different experiments, plant-based meal sales rose when there were more menu options.

FDA Okays First Sublingual Med for Agitation in Schizophrenia, BD

FDA Okays First Sublingual Med for Agitation in Schizophrenia, BD The FDA has approved dexmedetomidine (IGALMI, BioXcel Therapeutics) sublingual film for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in adults.

The Importance of Treating Insomnia in Psychiatric Illness

The Importance of Treating Insomnia in Psychiatric Illness Insomnia rates continue to rise with the pandemic, and may contribute to increasing rates of depression and anxiety.

Neuropsychiatric Disease Linked to Levels of Inflammation

Neuropsychiatric Disease Linked to Levels of Inflammation Researchers identify potential link between inflammation and the structure of specific regions of the brain offering the possibility of new treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.

THC and CBD exposure in womb linked to childhood obesity, study says

THC and CBD exposure in womb linked to childhood obesity, study says

Why What Follows S*x Is at Least as Important as the S*x

Why What Follows S*x Is at Least as Important as the S*x How partners can provide sexual aftercare.

Major Depressive Disorder in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Double Whammy | Psychiatrist.com

Major Depressive Disorder in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Double Whammy | Psychiatrist.com In this report, the author discusses the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in patients with autism spectrum disorder. Read on to find out more.

Why Being Rejected by Strangers Hurts So Much

Why Being Rejected by Strangers Hurts So Much Unhappiness driven by the expectation of future rejection.

The Devastating Effect of Parental Alienation on Children

The Devastating Effect of Parental Alienation on Children Anger, guilt, grief, disconnection, and low self-esteem.

7 Ways ADHD Can Be Seen in the Brain

7 Ways ADHD Can Be Seen in the Brain In the amygdala, the cerebellum, and elsewhere.

5 effective exercises to help you stop believing your unwanted automatic thoughts

5 effective exercises to help you stop believing your unwanted automatic thoughts Most of us live with a constant stream of internal statements, criticisms and commands running through our heads. But we have a choice: We don’t have to let them define us — or our days…

Novel Drug Significantly Reduces Tics ― Without Side Effects

Novel Drug Significantly Reduces Tics ― Without Side Effects A drug with a novel mechanism of action reduces tics and does not cause weight gain or tardive dyskinesia ― side effects that are associated with current medications for the disorder.

More Americans than ever are afraid of the dark, experts say. Here's why.

More Americans than ever are afraid of the dark, experts say. Here's why. Fears of the dark are common in kids and some adults are scared of darkness as well. Here's why. Are you afraid of the dark? How to conquer your fear.

Jury is out on universal screening for eating disorders

Jury is out on universal screening for eating disorders The USPSTF issued an "I" statement (insufficient evidence), meaning it cannot at this time recommend for or against screening for eating disorders.

How to Talk to Children About the Conflict in Ukraine

How to Talk to Children About the Conflict in Ukraine A Stanford Children's Health psychiatrist provides advice on how parents can help their kids understand the conflict in Ukraine.

The Black Physician Experience in the U.S.

The Black Physician Experience in the U.S. Physician leaders share their perspectives on diversity, representation, burnout, and equity in medicine, and what it means for themselves, their peers, and their patients.

Integrating psychogastroenterology into GI care

Integrating psychogastroenterology into GI care When talking to patients about the referral, refer to the GI psychologist as your colleague and a member of the treatment team.

Calls for Caution on Gender Reassignment in Adolescents

Calls for Caution on Gender Reassignment in Adolescents Noting a risk for overdiagnosis of gender dysphoria, the French National Academy of Medicine urges caution in the evaluation of children and adolescents.

A broader view of psychopathy

A broader view of psychopathy

“Starvation Came As Naturally To Me As Breathing”: The Reality Of Living With Anorexia As A Teenage Boy

“Starvation Came As Naturally To Me As Breathing”: The Reality Of Living With Anorexia As A Teenage Boy “From a young age, I thought that all ‘real men’ were meant to look like professional wrestlers and that resembling anything less than a Greek god was a disappointment.”

Mentorship and Resilience: The Black Physician Experience in the U.S.

Mentorship and Resilience: The Black Physician Experience in the U.S. Physician leaders share their perspectives on diversity, representation, burnout, and equity in medicine, and what it means for themselves, their peers, and their patients.

10 Ways Childhood Trauma Can Manifest in Adult Relationships

10 Ways Childhood Trauma Can Manifest in Adult Relationships 5. Settling for someone who isn't a good fit.

9 Keys to Successful Recovery from Childhood Trauma

9 Keys to Successful Recovery from Childhood Trauma 7. Learning, and re-learning, what healthy, functional relationships look like.

'Robust' Increase in Tics During the Pandemic Explained?

'Robust' Increase in Tics During the Pandemic Explained? New findings may help answer questions surrounding a robust increase in tic disorders during the pandemic.

Several studies have found that patients with mood disorders who take lithium have a lower incidence of dementia than those not prescribed lithium. Read in full https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8345730/

Why Some Women in Midlife May Develop Psychosis

Why Some Women in Midlife May Develop Psychosis Estrogen may protect a woman from psychosis, but what happens at menopause?

Timeline photos

Learn about the devastating consequences of prolonged periods of poor sleep quality. Sign up for this virtual seminar now. http://ms.spr.ly/6188wXpJn