Health and Psychology

I explain complex trauma to my students by telling the story of my cat Tatum.  I met Tatum through a cat rescue organization.  Tatum was described as a fragile medically ill cat.  I picked her up in my arms and she jumped out of my grasp.  The rescue group had me sign several forms and gave me her medical history.  Three foster homes in her six months of life.  Countless medical visits.  Found in a cardboard box in a McDonald's parking lot in Lancaster, Cali...

The new information on the Zika virus is that there is a confirmed case of sexual transmission of the virus in Texas.  This means that anyone, male or female, traveling to an area where the virus is epidemic, or anyone who has flu like symptoms following being bitten by a mosquito should:

1. Not donate blood.
2. Not engage in sexual activity without using a condom.
3. Be closely monitored if you or your partner become pregnant following symptom development.  An ...

For most people the Zika virus is a mild case of flu like symptoms if they notice anything at all.  For others, like pregnant women it can result in their children having abnormally small heads and brains, known as microcephally.  For others it may produce joint pain, or progressive symptoms of paralysis known as guillain barre syndrome.  Fever, rash and runny eyes are common. 

Zika virus is a viral infection of the blood carried by mosquitos.  Aedes...

Headaches are a common phenomena.  It's one of the most common problem I treat in clinical practice with exceptionally good outcomes.  The first step in treatment involves identifying the type of headache somone has.

There are multiple types of headaches.

• Muscle tension headaches-These headaches are caused by muscle strain and general muscle tension.  If they occur on an occasional basis they can be relieved by stretching, massage, ac...

Autoimmune disorders and viral infections are strongly linked together. There are more than 80 identified autoimmune diseases. Viruses, bacteria and other types of infections are recognized as major environmental triggers for the body starting to attack itself.

Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) one of a type of herpes virus that causes mild flu-like symptoms has been linked to the development of Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is the second most common au...

Dear Doctor:

You don't know me and as a result my medical history will not be believed until it is.  My tests tend to come back normal in spite of obvious symptoms of illness.  I have a number of unusual medical conditions going back to birth, literally.  Many of these are genetic and rare.  They run in my family so I'm familiar with some of them, but the presentations never seem to match text book descriptions.  So I'm not believed.  I know that.  I u...

Migraines are a type of vascular headache causing a variety of responses to inflammatory pain in and around the lining of the brain with symptoms of acute nausea, vomiting and severe pain.  They are different from tension headaches, cluster headaches, rebound headaches, post-concussive headaches, sinus headaches, headaches from hypertension, headaches based on changes in blood sugar, abdominal migraines, hormone related headaches, chronic progressive headaches, and mixed headaches in add...

Many people think their insurance covers psychological or neuropsychological testing.  Insurance will stipulate that psychological or neuropsychological testing if it meets criteria for medical necessity.  That doesn't mean that a physician or a school or a teacher thought the testing would be necessary.  It means that psychological or neuropsychological testing meets the strict criteria set forth by the insurance company.  

Medical necessity means that there is no o...

I listened carefully as psychologist Anthony Zamudio, Ph.D. spoke at the 27th annual Convention of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association about his clinical practice within a primary care clinic.  He sees 30 to 50 patients a week in 30 minute intervals.  Not what I do.  He has patients he treats for psychological factors that impact physical conditions.  I see no more than 15 people a week.  I spend 50 minutes to 2.5 hours getting a history.

Breast cancer in women has a population spike between the ages of 30 and 70.    

Percent of U.S. Women Who Develop Breast Cancer over 10-, 20-, and 30-Year Intervals According to Their Current Age, 2009–2011

Current Age 10 Years 20 Years 30 Years

30 0.44