“Oh, I didn’t know you’re a writer,” my neighbor said as I handed her a complimentary copy of my recently published book. “Not really,” I replied. “I’m just a physician who likes to write.” The conv…
Category: Psychiatry
From mental illness to maximum sentence
An excerpt from Mars Hospital: A Doctor’s Novel. “Patient’s ready. This one will be interesting,” Sally said with a smirk. “Mom brought her nineteen-year-old son in, and she says he’s the devil.” I rolled my ey…
The fine line between childhood illnesses and Munchausen syndrome by proxy
“Fine lines” in medicine often refer to situations where decisions are not clear-cut and require careful judgment. Perhaps the most tenuous of lines is the one between “real” childhood illnesses and those caused by Munchausen sy…
Adolescent exposure to alcohol may predispose to addiction
Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to be in pain? Or why someone can receive a prescription for a minor procedure and immediately feel drawn to drug use? Scientists may have recently figured out one of the reasons for these behaviors, a…
Meditation: the ancient practice with science-backed benefits
Meditation is a hot topic with deep roots, but sometimes it feels like it’s being pushed as a modern-day version of snake oil for what ails the spirit. Often touted as an antidote to burnout, many of us know that a meditation app won’t solv…
The significance of Mental Health First Aid in communities: a comprehensive exploration
In recent years, there has been an exponential growth in global awareness surrounding the subject of mental health. As it becomes increasingly evident that mental well-being is just as crucial as physical health, community interventions such as Mental …
Confirmation bias can lead to wrong conclusions
I met Dr. David Zylneck through a mutual friend when he was in the final year of his pediatrics residency. Even as a trainee, he was heavily involved in international relief work and had made several trips to Southern Africa. Over time, Dr. Zylneck and…
Understanding and addressing intimate partner violence in health care
October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people in the United States are physically abused by an intimate partner per minute. It is importa…
The physician of the future may not be a clinician
In a recent essay, I marveled at the qualities that will set apart tomorrow’s physicians from previous generations. And while everything I wrote I believed to be true, I suppose I neglected a major concern, a big blind spot as it were. In order t…
Legacy of a #1 party school: college alcohol abuse today
In 2009, the famed NPR radio series This American Life aired an episode that would forever change how we looked at college life. “#1 Party School” featured Penn State University and shed light on the rampant alcohol abuse in higher educatio…
