Blog Category: Diagnosis

Delays In Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder

According to a study in PLOS One journal, there is often a substantial delay before diagnosis and treatment initiation of patients with bipolar disorder. Researchers sought to investigate factors associated with the delay before diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the …

Assessment of Global Internet Addiction

According to a meta-analysis of 31 nations across seven world regions, the global prevalence of internet addiction is estimated at 6 percent. The prevalence of Internet addiction varies among regions around the world, as shown by data from more than …

Comparison of DSM-IV Versus DSM-5 ADHD Criteria Supports Revision

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry compares ADHD diagnosed via the DSM-IV criteria and the new DSM-5 in youth.  Researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health compared the prevalence and …

David Kupfer, MD Responds to NIMH Criticism of DSM-5

David Kupfer, M.D, chair of APA’s DSM-5 Task Force responds to recent criticism of DSM-5 and its previous iterations by NIMH Director Thomas Insel, M.D. In a statement issued, Dr Kupfer emphasized that the diagnostic manual “provides clinicians with a …

National Institute on Mental Health Abandons DSM-5

Two weeks before DSM-5 goes on sale, Thomas Insel,  Director of the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) writes that the DSM lacks validity and that “patients with mental disorders deserve better”.

According to Dr Insel, “The goal of this …

New EFNS Guidelines on Other Dementias

The European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) and the European Neurological Society (ENS) have published revised guidelines on the diagnosis and management of disorders associated with dementia. These are dementias other than Alzheimer’s disease, such as vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal …

IBM’s Watson Computer Lands A Healthcare Job

Last February, IBM’s Watson computer thrilled “Jeopardy” audiences in February by defeating two human champs in a three-day match. Watson now has a new job. IBM is partnering with WellPoint, a large health insurance plan provider with around 34 million …

New Imaging Test Gives Physicians A Tool to Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease

A new diagnostic imaging technique, gives physicians the first objective test to evaluate patients for Parkinsonian syndromes, such as Parkinson’s disease. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is among the first institutions in the country to offer DaTscan™, the only FDA-approved imaging …

FDA Proposes Mobile Medical Apps Guidance

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes that the use of mobile medical apps on smartphones and tablets is revolutionizing healthcare delivery and cited a projection that by 2015, 500 million smartphone users worldwide will be using a healthcare …