Army General Raymond Odierno, commander of joint forces in Iraq, estimates that 30% of all troops suffer from PTSD. Other military officials say it’s virtually impossible for anyone to emerge unscathed in some way from combat. What is more monolithic than the murderous methods of our adversaries is the incompetent, hostile reception our injured vets…
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have reported that conventional magnetic resonance imaging or MRI machines detected 94 percent of individuals with a high-functioning form of autism. This disorder is diagnosed in one in 110 children in the U.S., afflicting four times the number of boys as girls. Earlier detection may allow earlier intervention to assist in the development…
On November 16, 2010 in Houston, Texas Dr. Covert attended a scientific presentation by Ontario, Canada based psychiatrist Dr. Michael K.S. Cheng, noted expert and lecturer who has written an article in Psychiatric Clinics of North America on the therapeutic alliance between psychiatrists and their patients. This alliance refers to their collaborative partnership, agreement on…
Cannabis use has been linked to earlier onset and poorer treatment outcomes in both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Substance abuse, especially of cannabis, is associated with earlier ages of onset in both these patient groups as well as poorer response to treatment and clinical outcomes. Cannabis users developed bipolar disorder nine years earlier than non-users.…
Recent research shows that behavioral addictions are three times more common in people with bipolar disorder than in the general population. These behavioral addictions include pathological gambling, compulsive buying and sexual and word addictions. In one study, one third of bipolar patients had at least one behavioral addiction compared to 13 per cent in the…
Some of the best medications used in general medicine and psychiatry will be cheaper in 2011. Among those losing their patents this year are Lipitor and Plavix, the top selling cholesterol and clot prevention drugs. Also coming off patent protection are the antibiotic Levaquin, Concerta for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Zyprexa, for schizophrenia and…
f you search for a Texas Workers’ Compensation psychiatrist or a Houston workers’ compensation psychiatrist, you may not connect with Dr. Covert as one of the very few board certified and experienced psychiatrists still accepting Texas Workers’ Compensation cases, Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP) Federal Workers’ Compensation cases and Defense Base Act cases. Some workers’ compensation insurance…
Recent survey finds 20% of Americans experienced mental illness in the past 12 months. In the past year, 45 million individuals developed mental disorders, but less than 40% of these received mental health services. 20% of the 45 million also had a comorbid substance disorder. This rate is about three times higher than the general…
According to an eight decade research project, the best childhood predictor of longevity is conscientiousness, a complex pattern of persistence, prudence and hard work as well as close involvement with friends and community. Persistence and the ability to navigate life’s challenges were superior predictors of longevity to higher IQs or achieving advanced degrees. Believe it…
According to a study of nearly one million children born in Denmark between 1988 and 2001, babies born with low Apgar test scores were at higher risk to develop ADHD. The Apgar is a 10-point scale used by pediatricians worldwide, measuring respiration, reflexes, skin color, pulse and heart rate during the first few minutes of…
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