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David Bransford MD More on Psychiatry Updates

February 17, 2012 By 1 Comment

Companion Pets - Such an important part of the Family

After yet another week of “Cognitive Dissonace” (H.T. to www.1boringoldman.com for refreshing my memory of the classic work by Leon Festinger and his research on Social Psychology), I return to the theme of Companion Dogs and their unique role as formal or informal Therapy Pets.

That incredible bond between a person and a pet

I have witnessed the highly trained Therapy Dogs working with people with special needs, particularly the Large Breeds with small autistic children. But the most common bonds I view are not dogs with years of special training, but a child with his/her special pet…one that accepts them unconditionally, is loyal, protective, and so devoted. A relationship far too many of these children have not consistently received from humans in their lives.

From a scientific backdrop, the research and lifelong hard work of Dr Joan Esnayrah, Ph.D has been most inspiring and warrants a complete documentary on her contribution to this field.Psychiatric Service Dogs website Jane Miller and many other therapists have written tirelessly, given TV and radio interviews about the great value of Therapy Pets for people, but Jane is my “Go To” reference. And, of course, Temple Grandin, PhD is our Gold Standard -with so many informative books, DVDs, and free YouTube videos.

Dr Joan Esnayra PhD gave personal family interview recently about her own life Joan on YouTube – without any mention of her dogs – discloses her personal history with Bipolar Disorder.

Mark Everett – inspiration of the Eels Rock Group and author of Things Grandchildren Should Know “E” and his Dog are so closely bonded.

Olive - a very special dog that is so natural, friendly, and protective of young children

Filed Under: Psychiatry - Current Trends, Training Psychiatric Service Dogs
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DavidBransfordMD 2012 Better Living through Chemistry?

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Anti-depressant-use-up-by-a-quarter-since-credit-crunch.html

Better Living Thru Chemistry?? Or - There must be a pill for that!

In viewing the London Telegraph this evening online, the common themes related to the field of Medicine are so often headlines. And, of course, it is not unique to the Telegraph..I have yet to find a major newspaper that does not carry either the same story or a similar one. BigPharma is Big News in general. But in the field of Psychiatry, the stories of increased antidepressant usage, anti-anxiety meds, and excessive medicating of our very old and very young seem far too common. Then, it seems so ironic that stories about excessive psychiatric medications are typically surrounded by paid advertisements for other psychiatric medications.
In recent months, I have found posts typically showing 1 in 5 or 1 in 4 adults are being prescribed psychiatric medications. And more people are dying from “accidental overdoses’ than motor vehicles collisions. Earlier this past week, a new form of a narcotic was approved in the States that can be crushed and is 10 times more potent than our current narcotics. Addictionologists are understandingly worried. It must be more than just BigPharma and Direct to Consumer advertisements. Our entire culture seems to have accepted the dangerous myth that there is a correct medication for distress and pursue various options as if on a mission for the Holy Grail.

In an effort for some comic relief, the hilarious Broadway Musical number “Not Dead Yet” from YouTube will be inserted. I realize the deaths from accidental overdoses are very real, very common, and so tragic…but Spamalot warrants a listen. In reality, I continue to be shocked and in disbelief at how many take pharmaceutical prescriptions excessively, with apparently no thoughts that they just may not wake up. So from the home town of Judy Garland, here is the pirated broadway song “Not Dead Yet”

Not Dead Yet – (with "yet" the most important word !

Spamalot - the Musical & Spam- the food product from Minnesota - Spamily Reunions here.

Filed Under: Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
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DavidBransford MD Seasonal Affective Disorder?

November 26, 2011 By 2 Comments

Never seem to get enough sleep this time of year !

After Thanksgiving and Black Friday – just hope to sleep for a long while" width=”448″ height=”336″ />[/caption]

Just so you know he is not all alone!

A litter of Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs - very content

After an incredible Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday and lots of attention on Black Friday, it seems that so many hope to sleep…thinking perhaps it is all the tryptophan and/or busy activities that account for all the need for more sleep.

But the past few months 'Up North" and PNW, people have been ever so sleepy!

So with all the feedback and concerns of people reporting loss of energy, excess need for sleep, loss of ambition, feelings of gloom, etc – are they suffering from Seasonal Depression, and if so, should they be on anti-depressants? Or if 1 of the 20% of the USA population on psychiatric meds, should their dosages be increased? Should they purchase a specialized light or use a Tanning Booth? I am asked these question many times a day at the clinic.
In Summary, my response is ‘NO’

Time - will it cure most ills?

As for increasing SSRIs.SNRIs-the common belief is “Of Course”! But I doubt it will lead to improvement, and may make thinks worse. More Serotonin in the CNS can lead to increased sedation (or agitation). In the USA, the Brand Name Paxil (from the Latin word ‘PAX’, meaning Peace was coined by BigPharma with the implicit intent to imply relaxataion. Seroxat is the Brand Name in Canada and Europe…to underscore increase of Serotonin, I suppose. (Read Bob Fiddaman’s Book on this – excellent) So more meds are not the answer, in my clinical years of experience.
Specialized Light Therapy – probably a scam -Besides, by the time the symptoms appear and the lamps are used, too late…would need to start no later the Labor Day at end of August with Light RX.
Fortunately our brains adapt to seasonal changes without the need for more serotonin nor melatonin nor Vitamin D. That is not to say Sunshine and exercise is not crucial. But not a Tanning Bed..far too high a risk for skin cancers. Frequent walks (get a dog!)-generating the brain to release endorphins must make a difference. As we so quickly move into the Christmas Season, people tend to get energized again-perhaps with lots of worry and anxiety, but much more active. With the Winter Solstice on Dec 21th, we start picking up more daylight once again…a few minutes longer each day, but it seems to add up so quickly. So the seasonality of mood seems to me to be not an illness, but the circle of life. Supportive friends and family (and Pets) seem to do the most in supporting people thru this season of the year.

Staying active with Winter Sports and pastime Outdoors helps so much !

So do your best to embrace the Winter Season---Groundhog Day is sooner than you think!

Disney Video with To Every Thing, There is a Season soundtrack

Filed Under: Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
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DavidBransfordMD Genes- Genius-Service Dogs

November 11, 2011 By 2 Comments
Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog Pups

An Ideal Service Dog for Some - but know the Breed

My 3 brother and I have always grown up and later maintained dogs as a major part of our families..Large Breed Dogs, in particular. My older brother maintains “it is genetic” More on that later.

Since we tend to live a cold climates, large breed dogs have prevailed for us

About 10 years ago, I began to pursue the dream of having a kennel, breeding the dogs, and hoping for Companion Dogs and Psychiatric Service Dogs for Special Need Children. The unconditional acceptance of a dog for its owners is so well know and received. I did a great deal of research before deciding on the Great Pyrenees Service Dog Breed as the ideal “nanny dog”. protector,and so well suited for my rural, wooded long winter climate. Historically, Shepherds used them and still do, as far back as 4000 yrs. They were to protect the lambs from wolves and bears – a task they still are often utilized. But raise them with children and they will fight to the death to protect their “children”

Strong Bond between Pyr and Child

McKinely Bear - still not full grown and in love with his handler

I could continue with hundreds of photos, but I do wish to emphasize that I was raising Service Dogs or Companion Dogs, not Show Dogs. Great Pyrs can be excellent Show Dogs, but it is an entirely different process. And Breeders for Show, lack the necessary knowledge of genetics in a competitive world to attempt to breed a specific trait, not understanding or ignoring the number of AKC Breeds that have been severely damaged due to lack of knowledge of genetics. Unlike brown eyes/green eyes, genetic traits come in packages. In the quest for a specific trait (White Great Dane, for example)- along comes deafness, more hip dysplasia,numerous illnesses that shorten the life of those “Pure Breeds” In an effort to X-ray hips, young dogs are exposed to far more rads than needed and perhaps that relates to the increased rate of Osteogenic Sarcoma..a cancer so aggressive that by the time it is diagnosed, it is too late. German Sheperds, in a effort to meet the AKC current standards, seem to have far more hypoplastic hips in the pure blood lines. Lassie – our American Collie – seems to have lost brain cells in the breeders attempts to develop the ideal muzzle..The designer breeds (goldendoodles, etc) may be healthy only because of opening up the genetic pool, instead of inbreeding. We apparently did not learn from the Royal Families with high rates of hemophilia, etc…as well as mental illness. In my college/med school research years, I was greatly influenced by several mentors who clearly established these facts by research – in humans and animals. (Secretariet – an great example as can be read in Dr David Lykken’s U of MN research.
Dr David Lykken PhD U of MN Genetic research DavidLykkenGeneticsofGenius’>Genetics of Genius Dr David Lykken PhD U of Minnesota

I still hold utmost respect for Dr Joan Esnayra PhD – Founder of the Psychiatric Service Dog Society…Incredible Advocate near Washington DC for Americans with Disabilities who may require Service Dogs. Originally from PNW, she has devoted her professional life to the Laws and the Science to make a huge difference in the use of Dogs

Short Video of Psychiatric Service Dogs – From Darkness into Light

Tundra - pure White Female Pyr Pup - playing with her handler

Tundra - Pure White Female Pyr Pup - Playing with her Handler

Short Video on Pyrs working as Service Dogs

Selective Breeding in dogs

Selective Breeding in Dogs – Danger!

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DavidBransfordMD Season of Changes

October 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

After a beatiful “Indian Summer” weekend this beginning of October, 2011, took many photos of the brilliant leaves changing in all their variety – often against the backdrop of our huge Pines and Spruce that will be with us all winter. But it was not an easy summer, as far as Mother Nature was concerned..Tornados, flooding, Hurricane Irene, massive fires in our Boundry Water Canoe Area, and too much of Texas and Arizona. Reports from the U.K. this weekend, suggested one of the most warm September’s on Record.
Living in Grand Rapids, Minnesota- birthplace of Judy Garland – we are often reminded of her influence – particularly in regards to the Wizard of Oz and the impact of that tornado upon Dorothy and Toto!
Along with “Gone With the Wind”, I can think of no other movie that has had such a profound impact upon this nation – year after year.

Of course, it can destroy the storyline to talk of the meaning of the Wizard of Oz, but as a clinical psychiatrist – trained in the 1970s – I will.
Dorothy was a lost soul, being raised by relatives – in the middle of Kansas..In her journeys she meets a character with no self confidence, one with no feelings, and another with no brain. They all set out to find a Wizard to restore what they feel is missing. Only by banding together and forming a therapeutic alliance, do they ultimately discover that the qualities they believed they lacked were with them all the time. They had a stage of encountering the poppy fields (Big Pharma? some would say) Had the Wizard (psychiatrist – of course – just prescribed meds, nothing would have changed. They all had to prove they could “get back” the qualities they lacked. Such is true psychotherapy, of course. But I will not continue to analyze a wonder childrens story..Should I go on to Jack and The Beanstalk and his becoming a Man – No, not tonight. The images I placed on this post were sent to my Dear Friends who lost everything material from Katrina. But, like Dorothy, they have proceeded to more than survive and doing extremely well down in that area..along with their dog that survived with them, even though their home and belongings were all washed away.

I leave you with some powerful images, not of the beautiful Fall Colors, but the overwhelming powers of nature and a final youtube link to Vienna Teng’s song from her Inland Territory Album – Kansas.

I spent the summer of 1968 in Topeka, Kansas, working at was then the Menninger Children’s Hospital Two years before, a powerful tornado had struck that city and Washburn University. In the hot, humid summer of 1968, when the sirens went off, people moved to safety. Did not think of the Wizard of Oz at those times, but can certainly reflect back on it now.

Vienna Teng Inland Territory album Kansas

Eva Cassidy Over the Rainbow

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DavidBransfordMDBlog PBS Video – Psych Meds-Kids

June 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

This PBS video tells an extremely important story of how far too many young children are prescribed
antipsychotic medications for behavioral control – not
psychosis – with severe metabolic adverse side effects.
Such practices must be closely scrutinized….long term effects may be irreversible…and far too many of these children are in foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment centers with no informed adult advocating for them.

PBS Video Overmedicating our Children with Psychiatric Drugs !!

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DavidBransfordMD – Wretches and Jabberers

March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As I listen to the soundtrack via iTunes, and then YouTube from the various famous artists involved in the soon to be released film, I have great hopes that the story will be told to help the world better understand these “conditions” we keep reading and hearing about – namely Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and Asperger’s Syndrome. Even amongst the experts, there seems to be so much variation in how it is defined, diagnosed, treated, causation, etc. Upon learning about the soon to be released movie Wretches & Jabberers, I began listening to the soundtrack, with an incredible mix of many of my musician favorites on the tracks….including Ben Harper, Judy Collins, Norah Jones, Carly Simon, and so many others. I think the soundtrack total is in the 20s with many original song & lyrics.
At first, I was most interested in the artists, but as I listen to the lyrics, the messages become more and more meaningful.
Before going to the movie trailer or the Wretches & Jabberers website, I would suggest just listening to Ben Harper’s words from the following

From the Soundtrack of Wretches and Jabberers – a film about Autism

Then another track from one of many favorite new songs for the movie

From the Soundtrack of Wretches and Jabberers – a film about Autism

Yet Another Powerful Song in the music soundtrack…

The Official Music Trailer from Wretches and Jabberers

Perhaps my very strong interest in Autism is a direct consequence of spending a lot of time with my Child Psychiatrist Father, as did my older brother John Bransford PhD. For my father, after Harvard Med School, an internship, and too many years in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific after Pearl Harbor, he entered General Practice of Medicine in a very small town outside of Springfield, Illinois. After 14 yrs of General Practice, he decided to move the Family from Illinois to Minnesota in the Fall of 1957 so he could pursure a Residency Training Program at the University of Minnesota in Adult Psychiatry. After his first 3 years in Adult, he was drawn to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In his first year as a Child Psychiatry Resident in abt 1960, the Department Chairman – Reynold Jensen, MD went on a year long sabbatical, while Leo Kanner, MD took over – on loan from Johns Hopkins. For my older brother John & I, we were often invited to join my father and his associates for lunch at the U of MN Campus Club as a very special treat. I would have been abt 12, but distinctly recall being mesmerized by Dr Kanner with his Austrian Accent, and many discussions about Infantile Autism. I certainly did not understand, but tried to comprehend what these experts were debating. Although Dr Kanner was only at the U of MN for 1 year, it seems as if I heard him talk, smoke his cigar, and discuss issues on many occasions. In the process, I was later able to spend time with many of my fathers Mentors, who would later become my mentors in Medical School & Residency. Starke Hathaway of the MMPI fame become a professional I was able to spend a great deal of time with, following his research during college, Medical School, and Residency. Dr Donald Hastings MD, Dr John Brantner PhD, and Reynold Jensen MD Head of the Child Psychiatry Department after he returned from his sabbatical.
Autistic children were a big part of our home life, just based on phone calls for my father from many of them. Phone would ring, patient would ask for my father, who was often in his home study or seeing other patients. So in the mid 1960s, the person would want to talk with me, or my brothers…particularly my youngest. For me and my 3 brothers, we did not offer advice, we just often listened, not having been told how to handle the calls. For several of the ASD verbal children, they talked very openly..not about problems, but just their typical day. So I was never shocked nor surprised by some of the unique thoughts expressed to me. It was my world of what was the normal life of a psychiatrist’ child. Although Leo Kanner’s theories were strongly rejected (blame the mom theories), he clearly was the primary pioneer in writing and researching this syndrome. Dr Asperber did likewise, but independent of Leo Kanner. So I welcome this movie, with a very special bias – based on my unique life experiences.
Dr Leo Kanner, MD – said to have been the pioneer of Infantile Autism

Deep in Thought !

You wish to talk to my father? He is still at the Hospital making rounds

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DavidBransfordMD-Medicating Children

September 1, 2010 By 2 Comments

Having finally witnessed the end of summer and having my office filled with desperate parents and students, preparing to start the new school year; I am overwhelmed with seeing what is happening to the many young children with disruptive behaviors and “hyperactivity” Over the summer months of just June, July, and August, far too many were prescribed potent antipsychotic medications by their child psychiatrists, their local family doctors, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners. No informed consent from the parents or legal guardians, no interventions other than potent medications. Little or no screening for neuropsychological disorders, developmental LDs, nor base line lab work. Just medicating children with antipsychotic medications for disruptive behaviorsd out the script and if the med doesn’t seem to be effective, up the dosage and/or add yet another medication from the same family. By summer’s end, these prepubescent children have typically experienced profound weight gain, are having hyperprolactinemia, with subsequent breast enlargement with often leakage……………the adverse effects are so alarming. No family intervention and education…just following Bigpharma’s push to prescribe the SGAs (second generation antipsychotics) and tremendous cost to the consumer, the State, the private insurance companies, etc. But the greatest cost of all is to the children, as they develop type two diabetes and numerous other metabolic changes. These practices must somehow be more closely regulated. Experienced Nurses and PCPs believe the handouts of the studies from the drug detail men and women, in spite of volumes of evidence most studies with kids are flawed, ghost written, and filled with informercial conclusions. Doctors must reclaim the role as protector of their patients and first do no harm. As of today – Sept 1st – 2010 – I have decided to no longer meet with drug reps, no “free samples” no labeled pens nor postit pads. We have followed the no free lunch or gift policy now for the past several years. A video in the NYT (Not a leading medical journal) was posted today and I hope it will load onto this blog. It describes far better than I can express, the current crisis….aside for a plug for Vyvanse ( an amphetamine tweak by Shire….really no better than generic amphetamines from > 50 years ago) the video, I believe, tells an accurate story of the crisis at hand.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/09/01/business/1248068952581/medicating-kids.html

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DavidBransfordMD Music and Madness

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Music and Madness

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DavidBransford MD TEDMED Dean Kamen

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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