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Svengoolie Show Movie: “Tarantula”
I watched the Svengoolie show movie “Tarantula” last night, although I fell asleep for what turns out to have been about 20 minutes or so during the second half hour of this 1955 film about radioactive nutrient producing a giant tarantula. I had to catch up on what I missed on the Internet Archive. Don’t…
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Thoughts on Long Covid
I read Dr. Ron Pies, MD’s essay today, “What Long COVID Can Teach Psychiatry—and Its Critics.” As usual, he made thought- provoking points about the disease concept in psychiatry. What I also found interesting was the connection he made with Long Covid, a debilitating illness. He cited someone else I know who was involved with…
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Reasons to Be Proud and Hopeful for the Future
As the month of May Mental Health Awareness draws to a close, I reflect a little on the Make It OK calendar items that are salient for me: 3 things I’ve done that I’m most proud of and 3 reasons I’m hopeful for the future. I’ll keep it short. One thing I’m most proud of…
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Writing is Dope
I learned a new slang word from Houston White, the guy who makes that specialty coffee in Minneapolis I blogged about yesterday: Brown Sugar Banana (I’m not a fan, but I admire him just the same). The word is “dope.” That used to be an insult or an illicit drug when I was growing up.…
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Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Advances in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer”
This episode of Rounding@Iowa is about important medical advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. As you listen to Dr. Clancy interview Dr. Joseph Cullen about what’s new, you’ll hear a lot about high-dose intravenous Vitamin C. This can enhance treatment and improve response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Dr. Cullen’s most recent study about…
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More on the Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Psychiatry
This post just provides further information (in addition to what was in yesterday’s post) on the evolution of the Focused Practice Designation (FPD) for consultation-liaison psychiatrists who might be interested in certifying to work in emergency departments. I use the word “certifying” because it seems clear that the FPD pathway has been intended to follow…
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New Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Behavioral Certification in Emergency Rooms
I just found out about the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) announcement of a new addition to the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry subspecialty: Focused Practice Designation. It looks like it’s going to be administered by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), possibly in collaboration with the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN). I’m unsure…
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FDA Announces Clozapine REMS Program Eliminated
As of February 24, 2025, the FDA has eliminated the Clozapine Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. See the FDA link for details. Below is the announcement. “Latest Update February 24, 2025 – Beginning today, FDA does not expect prescribers, pharmacies, and patients to participate in the risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) program for…
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Addiction Not the Same as Neuroadaptation
It’s common to read or hear people say they’re “addicted” to all sorts of things, like chocolate, but there’s a difference between addiction and adaptation. Adaptation can also be called “dependence” or the fancier “neuroadaptation.” This can foster a discussion about whether you can be addicted to antidepressants, which by extension, could mean it’s difficult…
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Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Challenges in Transitioning Seriously Ill Patients from Pediatric to Adult Systems of Care”
I listened to the Rounding@Iowa podcast of February 11, 2025, “Challenges in Transitioning Seriously Ill Patients from Pediatric to Adult Systems of Care.” This was a very interesting presentation about the challenges of helping persons with life-limiting conditions (for example, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and more) transition from pediatric to adult systems of…
