When a patient comes to a medical doctor with acute chest pain, the clinician usually administers a battery of tests that yield both a precise diagnosis and the assurance that appropriate treatment will be given for that specific diagnosis. However, when someone has a psychotic episode the
Read more →New research shows that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent the onset of schizophrenia in those at risk of the disease. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like fish and walnuts, have been found to improve heart health, arthritis, depression, and inflammatory diseases. The researchers hypothesized that brain
Read more →A new study from researchers at Texas A&M revealed some interesting findings on alcoholism and the brain. A part of the brain known as the dorsomedial striatum is lined with protruding neurons and a dopamine receptor known as D1. When large amounts of alcohol are consumed, the
Read more →Roughly 10 years ago Mark Feinberg created a short series of classes known as Family Foundations in order to teach first-time parents how to support each other through the tumultuous transition into parenthood. The program was shown to increase parental support as well as decrease stress, depression
Read more →Although the practice of mindfulness dates back thousands of years, there has been a large recent focus on it in the Western scientific community. Researchers’ interest in mindfulness practice has steadily increased as studies continue to reveal its beneficial effects. Current research looks at how the brain
Read more →Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude. We are grateful for our family, friends, colleagues, clients, and community. Happy Thanksgiving from the office of Dr. Ermshar!
Read more →A new study out of Stanford found that girls with autism exhibit less repetitive and restricted behavior than boys. Of the three core features of autism, repetitive and restricted behavior is most widely recognized and it can appear in children as a preoccupation with a certain interest,
Read more →Most of us get our depiction of a sociopath from the media, through embodiments such as Hannibal and Dexter. However, these depictions are more of a psychopath and, believe it or not, sociopaths operate more undetected and could even be your friend or family member. Psychologist Martha
Read more →Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States—however, it is becoming less and less illicit. Since 1996, twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for medicinal uses. Recently, states such as Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. have permitted recreational use of the drug
Read more →Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that is often misunderstood and wrongly diagnosed. Although it affects roughly 5.9% of all American adults (roughly 14 million people), public discussion and awareness of BPD remains relatively scarce. A recent article colloquially discusses the process of identifying BPD,
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