Wellness First Psychiatric Associates

01/20/2026

We’ve decided to begin curating topics in mental health that are appearing in the media. Our page is new and will be populated over time.

The first link on the page addresses a technical development in TMS — a non-invasive therapy for depression and a number of other conditions. Advances in TMS are being made using sophisticated imaging techniques to personalize how treatment is delivered, increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes.

Visit our new Mental Health and the Media page to learn more.

Clinical reflections on mental health topics as they appear in the media, written from a psychiatrist’s perspective.

11/09/2025

We have recently updated a curated list of psychological self-assessment tools as well as a few screening tests for common conditions like depression and anxiety. Hope visitors find them interesting and useful:
https://www.wfpanc.com/self-assessment

11/04/2025

Think of alcohol as like Tylenol. It has it place in life but is a direct toxin; something that stresses the body regardless of the dose.

Study challenges evidence about drinking and dementia

10/31/2025

At Wellness First we often tell patients it's never too late to get it right. The science of longevity suggests that advances are coming that will give us plenty of time to enjoy life after we get it right.

Enjoy the read.

A gene that helped bowheads adapt to frigid Arctic waters also granted them extraordinary longevity. Could it help aging humans become more resilient?

10/14/2025

We at Wellness supplement science journal readings with surveys of the general press, a place where novel medical advances are often first visible to the general public. The promise of GLPs, Ozempic and related medicines, as sited below to facilitate the treatment of alcohol abuse and other addictions is exciting, enjoy the read.

Is a powerful addiction treatment already invented?

10/07/2025

How much do you really know about encouraging better sleep? Take the quiz and see, and while your at it, check out our blog posts on our website to learn more about mental health.

Test your knowledge with this quiz.

09/30/2025

We at Wellness feel that in the majority of cases 80 percent of change comes from the psychological side of life rather than reliance on medicines. We love it when we find powerful tools to effect change. Check out this alternative to 'counting sheep' when you are wakeful in the middle of the night.

Recently I ran across a YouTube video by a sleep expert who suggested a little exercise that might be helpful for middle-of-the-night wakers. He suggested remaining relaxed and randomly picking letters from the alphabet then doing a little word association thinking of words that begin with the chose...

09/09/2025

At Wellness we put a lot of emphasis on patients being active in pursuit of their wellness, what better example than the importance of exercise:

Decades of research have established that movement has a positive effect on mental health.

08/18/2025

It's like a gold mine has been sitting underneath us for decades. It turns out that there is a likelihood that the neuro-protective action of lithium may re**rd the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Though not ready quite yet for prime time, patients on long term use of Lithium for psychiatric reasons can feel some comfort that they may be getting biological benefit, and we may be soon hearing recommendations that the general population might benefit form low dose exposure.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38657568/

08/08/2025

One of the little ones belonging to an employee of our practice is very welcoming to patients. We're equally inspired to welcome new prescribers. Check out Pushpinder Gill who has just joined us. An experienced clinician with broad expertise and a special interest in women's health and post-partum depression:
https://www.wfpanc.com/pushpinderg

Durham-based, board-certified psychiatric care specializing in medication management, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and counseling for anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and substance use. Compassionate, evidence-based, and privately owned.

07/16/2025

One of our patients told us that 'trauma bonding' is trending on social media and we wanted to dig down and think through the issues. See our blog article to see what we came up with:
https://www.wfpanc.com/post/thoughts-on-trauma-bonding

Durham-based, board-certified psychiatric care specializing in medication management, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and counseling for anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and substance use. Compassionate, evidence-based, and privately owned.

07/01/2025

Wellness First has updated our website's self-assessment tools- these can be fun and informative simply, follow the link and in the drop down you'll see, 'self assessment.'

https://www.wfpanc.com/useful-links

Durham-based, board-certified psychiatric care specializing in medication management, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and counseling for anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and substance use. Compassionate, evidence-based, and privately owned.