UCSF Psycho-Educational Zoom Group for Adults with Bipolar Disorder – January 2024

adminBipolar Treatment, General, GPS, Mental Health, Self Care Leave a Comment

The Adult Psychiatry Clinic at UCSF has released the schedules of their Group Psycho-Education for Bipolar Disorder for January 2024. This activity under the Bipolar Disorder Program of the Department of Psychiatry is aimed at providing a community resource for individuals with bipolar disorder, mental health professionals and psychiatrists. Headed by Dr. Descartes Li, the program director, it is designed …

Cannabis Use Psychosis

adminGeneral, Mental Health, Other Psychiatric Disorders, Physical Conditions and Health Leave a Comment

Frequent cannabis use linked to increased risk of psychosis Studies in Europe and the USA have uncovered a clear association of frequent non-medical cannabis use, and use of high-potency (high THC) cannabis with psychotic disorders.  The American study found that: “Self-reported psychotic disorders were significantly more prevalent among participants with any nonmedical cannabis use than those without (2001–2002: 1.65% compared …

Gut Microbiome and Depression: What’s the Connection?

adminDepression, General Leave a Comment

A recent study published in the esteemed scientific journal Nature Communications has uncovered a potential connection between the complex ecosystem of gut bacteria,­ known as the gut microbiome,­ and depression.­ The study was carried out by accomplished researchers at the renowned Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam,­ Netherlands.­ Their findings revealed distinct differences in gut microbiomes between individuals suffering from …

Healthy Breathing

adminBest Practices, General, Physical Conditions and Health, Self Care Leave a Comment

Don’t neglect breath work Breathing is fundamental to life, so much so that we usually aren’t aware of doing it at all.  Yet many experts say people are breathing “wrong” – too rapidly and too shallowly – and breathing wrong may be affecting our physical and mental health in myriad ways. Healthy breathing, according to a recent article in the …

Somryst® – Currently Unavailable

adminBest Practices, General, Insomnia Treatment Leave a Comment

Somryst® the first and only FDA authorized digital treatment for chronic insomnia using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia – CBTi) will currently be unavailable. This is due to its parent company Pear Therapeutics, Inc. has filed for a Chapter 11 bancruptcy on April 7, 2023. The debtors voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bancruptcy protection in the United States Bancruptcy …

Qi Gong

adminGeneral, Mental Health, Physical Conditions and Health, Psychobiology, Self Care Leave a Comment

Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. It is said to promote health and well-being by harmonizing the flow of energy, or “qi,” throughout the body. Qi Gong is a safe and gentle practice that can be done by people of all ages and fitness levels. It is a good way to …

Dr. Peter Forster To Receive Excellence in Teaching Award for 2022

adminAbout GPS, General, GPS, GPS Update Leave a Comment

Dr. Peter Forster has been selected by UCSF’s The Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators as one of the recipients of their annual peer-nominated Excellence in Teaching Award for 2022 (Academic Year 2021-2022). “The Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educator’s (Academy or AME) core value is supporting the people who advance the education mission of UCSF by fostering …

Suicide Prevention

adminDepression, General, Major Depression, Mental Health, Self Care Leave a Comment

10 USEFUL* things you can do for suicide prevention *Spoiler: none of these things are about “fixing” a suicidal person. I’d like to apologize for missing the actual National Suicide Prevention Day, which was September 10, but, really, any day is a good day to talk about suicide prevention.  Suicide prevention is not a matter of telling your distressed friend …

Ketogenic Diet

adminBest Practices, General, Mental Health, Physical Conditions and Health, Self Care Leave a Comment

Diets and Moods Evidence for the importance of diet for mental health is slowly gathering.  People are looking into the importance of specific diets like the Mediterranean diet, which we have highlighted here before.  And the next big area of research into diet and mental health looks like being the ketogenic diet. Many people have heard of the Atkins diet, …

Get Labs Drawn at Your Home or Office

adminAbout GPS, Costs of Treatment, General, Self Care Leave a Comment

Mobile Phlebotomy ServiceSprinter Healthhttps://www.sprinterhealth.com/ Where They Draw Serving the entire Bay Area, and growing throughout California and parts of the US.During the booking process, you can see if they serve your location. Timing They will come to your home or office as early as 7 AM, with one-hour windowsThey have scheduling as convenient as next-day What They Draw LabCorp and …