One of the qualities a psychiatrist is supposed to have is not getting too emotional when talking with a patient. We are supposed to try to be objective in our work. With that in mind, I will apologize in advance for not being as objective when it comes to talking about the current situation with the Big 12 Conference. I readily admit to being a lifelong Kansas Jayhawk fan. When I was hospitalized at age 5, I somehow managed to get special permission to listen to a KU basketball game after the usual allowed time. It was a thrill to see in person KU sports icons like Gale Sayers, JoJo White, and Jim Ryun, attending what was then the Big 8 Basketball Tournament and Indoor Track and Field Championships in Kansas City. They were highlights of the year. That interest in KU has withstood the test of time beyond my own graduation from med school at KU as well as my younger son's graduation from KU. [Read More]

The recent death of renowned basketball coach John Wooden at age 99 stirred up plenty of memories. As a kid growing up in Kansas City, I had the privilege of seeing Wooden's UCLA Bruins win their first NCAA basketball championship in person in 1964. Little did I know that this undefeated squad led by the bespectacled coach with the rolled-up program in hand would not only beat favored Duke to win the title, but would go on to win 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games and 10 of the next 12 championships. For much of my youth, the only thing that seemed as certain as death and taxes was UCLA winning the NCAA tournament. [Read More]

This week, we have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon. I remember how everyone was caught up in the so-called "space race" to see who would be the first to the moon. At times, it seemed there was less appreciation for the technical feat and personal courage of those space pioneers than there was for the fact that the United States "won" the race to the moon over the Soviet Union. [Read More]

When patients come into the office for a session, the conversation often turns at some point to how things are at work. Sure, we go over compliance with the treatment plan, whether it relates to cognitive approaches or medication, but to me that's simply not enough. I have always believed that every meeting with a patient is a therapy session in its own way, even if the patient is there ostensibly for medication management. [Read More]

The entertainment world and the general public have been reeling over the deaths of three iconic figures in the past week. It has been rather remarkable to notice the recent press coverage related to the deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. At a time when patient after patient seems to come into my office with a tale of woe related to the current economic climate, the topics that really affect our financial and emotional well-being get put to the side. [Read More]