What People are Talking About in Mental Health?

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Everybody is talking about CBD and CBD oil but what is it? Cannabidiol is an active ingredient in the Cannabis plant.  This is different from THC (which is also an ingredient in the Cannabis plant that causes psychoactive effects.)  CBD does not cause a “high” and is being recommended for everything from chronic pain, anxiety and sleeplessness to a host of other conditions. While the THC in marijuana may increase the risk of psychotic disorders, CBD is thought to have neuro-protective properties.  CBD can be extracted from HEMP which is a variety of the Cannabis plant with a low concentration of THC.  Marijuana is a variety of Cannabis that contains a higher concentration of THC but also contains CBD.

Since there haven’t yet been many research-backed studies and the regulations around CBD are still evolving, it is suggested that patients consult with Dr. Wendy before purchasing, so that she can recommend a reputable brand and proper dosage.

Mental Illness as a Systemic Disease

Imagine that! We have finally accepted that mental illness is not all in your head. As with inflammation, we are thinking about mental illness as a systemic disease—like heart disease, cancer or diabetes—and not something that just affects the brain. This has allowed us to understand the necessity of treating the whole body as well as to consider different treatment methods from different disciplines.

Ketamine treatment centers are popping up all over the place. Ketamine was originally developed for initiating anesthesia, but it was found to have RAPID antidepressant effects and an excellent safety profile. Psychiatrists have started using it to treat depression, but so far it has only been available as an infusion. , and many other products are in development. This will make ketamine easier to dose, more affordable and more readily available as a widespread treatment option.

Genetic testing

Just a simple cheek swab test to identify what type of medication is going to help you the most? ALMOST! The medical community is now using genetic testing to help identify which medications individual patients have a higher likelihood of responding to, and to discover which ones may have a higher risk of side effects. This is a great tool for any doctor’s toolbox and can help supplement a thorough psychiatric history and assessment!

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This is really exciting field that is growing fast. Psychogenomics!!!!