In this timely installment of Mental Health Monthly, mental health expert Lexi Eliades shares useful tips for identifying burnout and mental health decline as well as ways to maintain mental wellness amidst adversity and significant stress. We at Emergency Medical Minute know many of our listeners are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We…
Read MoreContributor: Dave Rosenberg, MD Educational Pearls: White noise is all the surrounding sound frequencies mixed together that your brain tunes down so you don’t get distracted while you’re sleeping Pink noise, or deep soothing noises, is the accentuated bass sounds like falling rain or waves crashing your brain keys into while sleeping. Brain electrical waves…
Read MoreNon Epileptic Seizures (NES) is perhaps one of the most misunderstood and overlooked disorders that emergency medicine professionals encounter. Dr. Randi Libbon & Dr. Laura Strom, both experts on NES, explain the ongoing research surrounding the topic as well as how to best manage patients with NES in the emergency setting. To learn more about…
Read MoreIn the first episode of this new series, the complexities of decision making capacity are discussed. References and Further Reading: [1] Appelbaum, P. S. (2007). Assessment of patients’ competence to consent to treatment. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(18), 1834-1840. [2] Etchells, E., Darzins, P., Silberfeld, M., Singer, P. A., McKenny, J., Naglie, G., ……
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Patients with psychiatric complaints are often complicated to disposition from the main ED, and many will require inpatient psychiatric stays Some health systems have dedicated psychiatric ED’s that are specialized in taking care of these patients For example, in Oakland, CA, EMS are permitted to “clear” a patient for…
Read MoreAuthor: Chris Holmes, MD Educational Pearls: Hallucinogenic drugs have been in use since ancient times for both medical and recreational purposes Ayahausca is an ancient psychedelic with origins in Bolivia that causes intense vomiting followed by a psychedelic experience This and other hallucinogens are gaining gaining interest for their use in depression with some startling…
Read MoreAuthor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Recent study showed efficacy 5mg IM midazolam > 10mg IM olanzapine > 10mg IM haloperidol for quickly sedating an agitated patient If you have access, ketamine intravenous is the fastest Olanzapine should be used with caution in elderly patients because of its anticholinergic properties Ketamine can transiently worsen psychosis…
Read MoreAuthor: Gretchen Hinson, M.D. Educational Pearls: PNES vs. epilepsy: postictal state is diagnostic of an epileptic seizure (sonorous respirations and/or confusion, lasting typically 20-30 minutes); Epileptiform seizures show decrease in convulsion frequency, but increase in convulsion amplitude while PNES convulsions demonstrate episodic convulsion amplitudes; and epileptiform seizures usually do not pause. PNES is a form…
Read MoreAuthor: Dylan Luyten, MD Educational Pearls Johannes Hoffer coined term Nostalgia in 1688 in his medical dissertation. Nostalgia was a formal medical diagnosis, and one that dates back to 17th century when soldiers had longing for home and melancholy with a constellation of symptoms including lethargy, sadness, disturbed sleep, heart palpitations, GI complaints, and/or…
Read MorePodcast #221: Walking Corpse Syndrome Author: Erik Verzemnieks, M.D. Educational Pearls Walking Corpse Syndrome (aka Cotard Delusion) is a very rare psychiatric disorder that leads to the belief that one is a “walking corpse”. Often co-presents with depression, schizophrenia, and starvation. Responds to ECT. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotard_delusion
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