Telepsychiatry During the Corona Virus

 

The Convenience Of Sessions From Your Home Or Office Via Computer

Telepsychiatry is a convenient and effective way to work with your psychiatrist and therapist. For busy professionals and parents, routine office visits, while necessary for quality medical care, are disruptive and time consuming. Additional time is used in travel and dealing with traffic, parking, or train schedules. Early or late hours, often more conducive to your schedules, are often unavailable or already booked. Telemedicine offers an ideal solution. 

We are a convenient and stress free solution during this Corona Virus Outbreak. 

Telepsychiatry uses inexpensive video conferencing technology. Several studies show that telepsychiatry is at least of equal efficacy as traditional in-person visits and has a high degree of patient satisfaction. Additionally, telepsychiatry provides access for underserved areas or for locations where transportation may be difficult.

How does telepsychiatry work?

Telepsychiatry at Hudson Psychiatric uses high definition video cameras over high speed internet connections to communicate with patients. Both verbal and non-verbal communication between doctor and patient allows for reliable diagnosis and treatment.

What is needed for a telepsychiatry session?

A computer with a web camera, ideally high definition, and a stable and secure broadband connection such as from cable or fiber optic. Please ensure your location is private and cannot be overheard by others to ensure confidentiality

How would a telepsychiatry treatment proceed?

Initially, a traditional face-to-face evaluation is needed to determine if telepsychiatry is appropriate. Follow up sessions would occur using video conferencing at regularly scheduled intervals.

How much are telepsychiatry sessions?

Hudson Psychiatric Associates maintains the same fee structure for in person consultations. However, not having to travel and be away from work, these medical visits effectively ‘cost’ less by saving you time.

What can’t be done over telepsychiatry sessions that are typically done in traditional visits?

While you can’t shake your doctor’s hand, there is very little that can’t be accomplished using telepsychiatry. Even blood pressure and weights can be reliably and readily measured by using a good electronic blood pressure monitoring cuff and a bathroom scale.

How are medications handled?

If you are on medicine, then most can be e-scribed or called into your local pharmacy. Controlled substances may require prescriptions to be mailed to your home.

If you would like to contact our Doctors, please call the main office at 201-222-8808.

Learning to Focus…

Learning to Focus…

PROBLEMS WITH CONCENTRATION

Problems with concentration can be a symptom of a wide variety of disorders. Read this article to learn more.

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Post Partum Depression

You are not alone. Help your baby by helping yourself.

Depression and anxiety, either during or after pregnancy can have an immense impact on parent and baby. Perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety affect at least a half-million women in the United States every year. Symptoms of postpartum depression often begin in the first days or weeks after delivery, and can include mood swings, anxiety or irritability, and tearfulness interspersed with periods of apparent well being. Often, mothers may postpone treatment because of low energy due to illness or concern over what others may think. Similarly, they may feel guilty about being depressed when it is socially expected that they feel happy. Family members and health care providers may incorrectly identify symptoms as normal reactions to the stresses of childcare.

Prompt evaluation and treatment are important because research indicates parental mental health affects long term child development. Depressed mothers, for example, often have impaired interactions with their infants which can lead to developmental delays, insecure attachments, and difficulties in the realm of emotion, cognition, and behavior. Treatment assists mothers in making a healthy transition to motherhood and, by improving their sense of well being, allows them to both enjoy their new role and enhance their ability to care for their family. Fathers too are at risk for depression when their wife has experienced postpartum depression. Successful treatment of perinatal or postpartum depression therefore benefits not only the suffering individual but the family as a whole.

If you would like to contact our Doctors, please call the main office at 201-222-8808.

Anxiety and Depression

Recognizing and Proactively Treating Anxiety and Depression

Depression and anxiety affect at least 25% of the population at any point in time. Symptoms of depression may include feelings of worthlessness, poor concentration, lack of energy, sadness and an inability to experience pleasure or joy in life, changes in sleep and appetite, and sometimes a loss of hope for the future and suicidal thoughts. Clinically significant anxiety may or may not coexist with depressive symptoms. Typical anxiety symptoms often include persistent worry, irritability, a feeling of being “on edge” or “keyed up”, and difficulties with insomnia. In addition to generalized anxiety, some people may also experience panic attacks, specific phobias, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. When screening for depressive and anxiety disorders, it is also essential to rule out the presence of bipolar symptoms which may be characterized by intense mood swings, unnatural euphoria or irritability, markedly increased energy with less of a need to sleep at night, and at times impulsive behaviors reflecting impaired judgment. Whether a person suffers from depression, anxiety, or a bipolar spectrum disorder, untreated mood symptoms can have a profound effect on a person’s subjective quality of life, interpersonal relationships, and functioning at work. Treatment involves individual psychotherapy and, when necessary, medication, as well as education regarding the recognition and prevention of future mood episodes.

If you would like to contact our Doctors, please call the main office at 201-222-8808.

Relationship Distress

Understanding and Working through Relationship Distress

One may infer the prevalence of relationship distress when one considers the fact that the divorce rate in the United States has been about 50% over the past 30 years, and for those couples who remain married, approximately half report a high level of relationship satisfaction. Relationship conflict leading to relationship dissatisfaction can occur when couples are negotiating major life transitions, e.g. marriage, parenthood, geographic relocation, or job change, or when confronted with acute crises such as discovery of an infidelity, major illness, or pressing financial concerns. Untreated relationship issues negatively impact emotional and sexual intimacy, and by extension the growth and maturation of the individuals involved. Many couples find themselves trapped in recurring conflicts and destructive patterns of communication, which tends to lead to further polarization and estrangement. Similarly, negative consequences of parental discord may adversely affect children’s feeling of security and stability at home, and manifest in a variety of acting out behaviors, poor school performance, or impaired peer relationships. Couples therapy seeks to enhance relationship satisfaction by enlisting two individuals in an exploration of their relationship history, communication patterns, and interpersonal dynamics. A successful couple’s therapy leaves both partners feeling more confident they can manage relationship discord and promote both emotional safety and greater intimacy in their relationship.

If you would like to contact our Doctors, please call the main office at 201-222-8808.