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Anger

What Does Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) Have To Do with Bipolar?

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a childhood condition characterized by ongoing irritability and frequent temper outbursts (verbal or behavioral) that are inappropriate for the given situation and excessive to whatever provoked the outburst. This is a relatively new diagnosis introduced in the latest (fifth) edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which was published in 2013.

Prior to the DMDD diagnosis, many children with these symptoms (ongoing irritability...

ADHD

Clarifying Your Diagnosis

Although people who live with bipolar, depression, or other psychiatric illnesses often are relieved to receive an explanation for why they are feeling the way they feel, they rarely, if ever, appreciate being "labeled." In fact, we go out of our way not to...

Anxiety

Marijuana and Bipolar Disorder

As cannabis has become legal for medical and recreational purposes in many states, discussing risks and benefits of cannabis in relationship to health and illness has become part of routine medical care. Physicians are fielding questions about marijuana prescriptions for many different illnesses. Products containing the cannabidiol (CBD) component of cannabis, have exploded onto commercial platforms as over-the-counter products with claims of health benefits for every type of symptom. Our job as physicians is to try to present treatment options and balance the risks and benefits. Unfortunately, for now, too little information is available about the effectiveness of "medical" marijuana for me to offer an opinion informed by any scientific evidence in these areas.


General

KIOS Bipolar Mood Navigator

In Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, I point out that a key self-help strategy for living well with bipolar disorder is to monitor your moods, and I provide a Mood/Sleep Chart to facilitate the process. I also point out that those who prefer to track...

Anxiety

Tune Out the Bad News

I was recently interviewed by Meredith Carroll for her article in Redbook, "My 6-Year-Old Is Obsessed with National Tragedies — and I Doubt She's Alone," which is based on the author's experience that "it's practically impossible to go outside, online, open a newspaper, or turn on the TV and not have to pick your jaw up off the floor over an international crisis, natural disaster, or a national tragedy." The article specifically discusses how to talk to young children about tragedy or disaster...

Anxiety

Beating the Homework Blues

Is your child, tween, or teen struggling with homework in addition to other challenges, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, or ADHD? If so, then maybe it's time to say, "Enough is enough." In my practice, I often see frazzled children and their frazzled...