At a high school track meet some years ago, one of my sons high-jumped over a bar set at 6’10” (2.08m). If I had spent my entire youth with the best high jump coach in the world I could not have come close to that. I remember telling my children that our abilities resemble Manhattan island, with some buildings reaching a great height and others much lower. (My ability in carpentry resembles a hole in the ground in that analogy.)
Posts Tagged ‘Stress History’
Empathy and the Mind-Body Problem (6)
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Empathy and the Mind-Body Problem (3)
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010How does empathy help me in understanding a patient’s stress illness? The diagnostic process in stress illness is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle when you: (more…)
Kroenke & Mangelsdorff (2)
Friday, January 8th, 2010To continue discussion of the Kroenke & Mangelsdorff research*, let’s begin by looking at what became of all 567 symptoms (in 380 patients). For 2/3 of the symptoms, doctors did diagnostic testing or referred to a specialist. In the other 1/3, no evaluation was done beyond the initial visit. Treatment was recommended for only 55% of symptoms, and this took the form of a prescription in over ¾ of cases. There was nothing to suggest that anyone searched for hidden stresses linked to the symptoms (posts tagged with “Stress History” explain how this is done).
Kroenke & Mangelsdorff (1)
Thursday, January 7th, 2010Last year marked the 20th anniversary of one of the most frequently quoted studies in the stress illness literature. The paper reports a discovery that would have shocked me if I had read it during my training years. Their finding has profound implications for primary care practice.
Stress Illness Brochure (5)
Friday, December 18th, 2009Concluding with Part 5 of the Stress Illness brochure:
IV. Stress From A Traumatic Experience
Stress Illness Brochure (4)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009Stress Illness Brochure (3)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Stress Illness Brochure (2)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Continuing with Part 2 of the Stress Illness brochure:
How Can You Find Out If Stress is Causing Your Illness?
Stress Illness Brochure (1)
Monday, December 14th, 2009My first “best-seller” was a brochure for patients titled “Is Stress Making You Ill?” Clinicians in my medical group ordered thousands every year to put in examination rooms. I found that if a patient was reading one as I entered the room, it usually turned out that stress was causing their symptoms. The brochure often triggered discussions that helped me with diagnosis.
Linking Stresses and Symptoms (3)
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009It comes as a surprise to many, that mental health conditions like Depression, the Anxiety disorders or Post-Traumatic Stress may manifest themselves predominantly as a physical illness. As a result, people suffering from these conditions may have no idea what is causing their symptoms. Many people with Depression, for example, don’t feel particularly depressed. So what are the clues that point us toward these diagnoses? I usually ask the following questions: (more…)
