Mental Health Expert Archive
DR. CHARLES RAISON
Dr. Charles Raison, CNNhealth's mental health expert, is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves as clinical director of the mind-body program and co-director of the Collaborative for Contemplative Studies.
Raison earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his residency at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Before joining the Emory faculty, Raison was director of emergency psychiatric services and associate director of consultation and evaluation services at UCLA.
His research focuses on how the brain and body work together, especially as related to depression in the medically ill, and on harnessing scientific understanding of the mind and body to enable more of us to enjoy happiness and health. He says that many people don't understand that the way they structure their thoughts, their relationships, and their physical conditioning will - over time - either promote well-being or contribute greatly to sickness and depression. His specific areas of study include how our immune systems play a key role in our emotional lives and using compassion meditation to prevent depression in college students by reducing stress-related inflammatory activity. He receives research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I am convinced that genuine happiness - because it makes people more peaceful, more giving, and more effective - has the power to change the world," Raison says. "True happiness depends on our ability to turn down stress and immune pathway activity in the brain and body - doing so allows us to take full advantage of the tremendous evolutionary advantage offered to species with a capacity for cooperation, compassion and altruism. So I am obsessive about studying ways to safely turn down activity in those pathways, whether it's pharmacological, psychological or spiritual."
Raison is also internationally recognized for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of interferon-alpha-induced depression and anxiety.
I don't have a question. However, I would like to make a comment. I found the antidepressant Lamictal to be a godsend. I feel like a new person since I've been taking it. I also take Neurontin, which really takes the edge off. I feel for the person who can't find the right medicine. Don't give up, keep trying new drugs.
It is known that people who have had a depressive episode have a high chance of experiencing a second depressive episode. It seems that people are more "sensitive" to stress/life events (kindling hypothesis). What options are available for people who had a depressive episode in the past, to avoid having a recurrence or at least lower the chances of a recurrence in the future?
My mom died nine months ago, and two days later, I gave birth to my daughter (she was full term, actually late, and completely healthy). I have been struggling with depression and all sorts of other medical problems since my mom passed. I cannot seem to get past crying over my mom. I cried all the time. We were very close, and losing her has been very hard. At the time, my husband was in Iraq, so I was dealing with a newborn by myself, as well as the loss of my best friend, my mom.
I have had a quite a few ups and downs in my life. I have had depression since I was 8 years old. (I am now 26 and was diagnosed as bipolar three years ago.) In my lifetime, I have suffered major emotional abuse and betrayals from a variety of people, not to mention rough circumstances (losing a job last year, and unstable conditions in my current job). I have now gotten to a point where I've become obsessive about money due to fears of once again becoming unemployed, and I find myself drifting away from friends because I don't feel safe being close to anyone any more. It's scary for me because I went through a major depressive episode from ages 14 to 18, and I had to fight just to keep myself alive (medication was not available for me at the time, either). I've fought so hard just to get to my current point in life, which was graduating from college and living independently. I'm just so terrified of losing everything that I've fought for and returning to those lows, but I feel like I have to strike it out on my own just to maintain myself. Is there any chance of me ever feeling any form of security in my life ever again?
My 11-year-old daughter got a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) about six months ago. She is not currently on any medication but has been regularly seeing a therapist.
Can a stimulant medication for ADHD make the child taking it have mood swings and violent aggression?
What can cause depression when you're 12 years old?
I am a 50-year-old male and have been experiencing a voice talking to me. I lost most of my central vision about 11 years ago from a virus and am legally blind. I was diagnosed with depression two years ago by my doctor and he put me on 20 mg of paroxetine a day. I have always been an antisocial person but even more so after losing most of my vision. For the last several months there has been a voice talking to me. It just carries on normal conversations and warns me of various things, remarks about the news, people, daily activities (don't eat that, eat this instead), stay away from this or that person because they are out to harm you, your neighbors are watching you, etc. What is happening to me? Can you give me some suggestions on how to make the voice stop? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you can give me. Thank You
I have a diagnosis of brittle bipolar disorder. Most peer-reviewed literature tells me that setting up concrete routines (daily, work, home, etc.) is a good way to help control symptoms. Is this true? Is it an important tool or just speculation? How can I work with my employer/coworkers to limit my symptoms with routines?
My friend's 20-year-old daughter has been diagnosed as bipolar. I have seen the depressive effects, but can you tell me how someone who is having a manic episode would behave? This girl yells, screams, swears, kicks the walls, uses inappropriate language to her parents and it usually happens when she is not getting her way. It looks like a temper tantrum to me.
My boyfriend and I are discussing getting engaged and having children one day. He said he's scared to have kids. His biological grandmother and his father both have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has no symptoms of it, but some of his siblings do. He is terrified that his children could inherit this disorder! My family has no history of it at all. Since neither of us have it, should we be worried?
I have a 4-month-old baby. I am going through postpartum depression with a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. I went through postpartum depression with my first baby eight years ago but at that time I didn't have anxiety and I didn't take any medication. And I started getting better after 3½ months itself. But now it's been three months that I am going through this. I have been taking medications (Paxil 20 mg, Buspar 10 mg) and getting counseling but it's not helping much. I still don't feel myself and am having unwanted thoughts. How long does postpartum depression last? Is this temporary? Will this anxiety and depression ever go away? Should I stop the medications and try it on my own? Does exercise help to get out of the depression? Will I ever be normal like I was before?
Can traumatic brain injury cause a person to develop a mental health problem or trigger an underlying problem not yet discovered, which then causes the person to create a fantasy world while in a coma, which, when they awake they are adamant is real?
Because of the complexity of this viewer question, three of CNNHealth's expert doctors are offering advice. Last week, Diet and Fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis had ideas for gaining weight in a healthy way. Yesterday, Dr. Jennifer Shu offered information about concerns for a baby born to an addicted woman. Today, Mental Health expert Dr. Charles Raison weighs in.
My daughter was treated for anxiety with Zoloft around a year ago. However, her school reported alarming, violent behavior (she never had that before), and we stopped it after only a week. I always understood this to be an "adverse effect," but a nurse today told me it was an allergy. An allergy means she should never take it again, but an adverse effect could be grown out of, and doesn't rule out similar drugs. Was the nurse just dumbing things down, or was she correct?
With the change to ADHD from ADD in the past decades (DSM-III-R, 1987 - DSM-IV-TR), why are professional sites such as CNNhealth.com's Mental Health still utilizing archaic terminology in some articles?
My husband has generalized anxiety disorder, and he always seems to bring up something he says he has seen me do or something I supposedly said when I cannot recall that ever happening. So my question is, can GAD cause a person to worry so much about something that he believes it happened?
My 5-year-old old son has recently had a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD. The nurse put him on Adderall and Risperdal, which do calm him down, help him focus and cut out some of his "behaviors." However, some of my family members think I am wrong for putting him on meds. Are there natural supplements that can give the same results as the prescribed meds? If so, can you get them from a pharmacy so that I can have his insurance pay for it? And lastly, can one ever grow out of these diseases, or will he have to take meds for the rest of his life?
My daughter suffers from borderline personality disorder that appears to be worsening, even though she is now 36 years old. Treatment centers are too expensive, and her insurance will not cover it unless it is a hospital. Why would this disorder seem to be worsening -- mainly impulse control/depression -- and should she have a CT scan or other brain imaging to see if there is an underlying problem? Her primary care doctor has given up on her, and there are no psychiatrists in this town who will treat borderline personality disorder. Any help or information could help.
My wife has suffered from depression her whole life. Her psychiatrist has performed a blood test and identified a mutated gene that produces serotonin in the brain. Antidepressant drugs provide little help. Are there any supplements that can supply the serotonin that is needed to combat the depression?
How can I calm myself down when anxiety strikes? I hate feeling nervous.
I have phase II bipolar and cannot afford the necessary drugs. I'm dealing with this alone, which as you may know is tough. Are there any tips you can give in management of my disorder?
How can I calm myself down when anxiety strikes? I hate feeling nervous.
I am in my late 20s. As I returned to school, I started to take Adderall-XR for attention deficit about a year ago.
My husband's bipolar disorder was diagnosed several years ago. He has tried several medications and the side effects have far outweighed any benefits. Now he refuses to see a doctor about it because he thinks it's hopeless. Not to mention we have moved and discovered that there are few psychiatrists in the area, and the ones who will take him have a six-month waiting list. Our primary care doctor won't treat him for the bipolar (he asked). It is terrible to see him suffer from this disease without any relief in sight. Any suggestions?
I have been reading information in your column about depression. Is it possible to become used to Lexapro or mirtazapine, resulting in a return to depression? I am taking Lamictal, Lexapro, mirtazapine and temazepam to deal with severe depression and related insomnia. I have had severe bouts of depression since I was about 12. I was suicidal about five years ago, and it has been a slow uphill grind all the way. I find myself sliding back down suddenly much more often. It is a well worn path in my mind, but the drops can be sudden and precipitous. I only see a nurse practitioner at this point, but she doesn't seem to be getting the message that things are still less than good and occasionally really bad. I went to counseling for several years, but a betrayal by one therapist and a change of schedule by another has left me hanging. Things in my life haven't really changed very much...they are still fairly dismal. I keep going because of my children. I dread starting all over with someone new. Is there a chance it's medication-related? Is there hope I can ever be actually happy?
Please help. My son has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, when he starts feeling better he won't take his medicine, which is risperidone, and it is very difficult for us to get him to take it when he is not feeling well. He is a bright young man who has lost his job many times because of this illness. Are there any new findings for this illness? Can you explain what part of the brain is affected?
Here is a question my extended family has that I'm sure many families have today: Do you have any suggestions on how to get someone to go for help with depression?
I have been depressed my whole life, mostly because of my life as a child and because I am unable to connect with people. I have had two really close friends in my life. I am socially inept, and things just blurt out of my mouth. I want to connect with people and stop being so antisocial, but when I try, people just look at me strangely or find some other reason to avoid me. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar because I had extreme moods but that has calmed down significantly as I get older. I want to break out of this but I can't figure out how. Am I doomed to spend the rest of my life as a socially inept outcast? The ironic thing is that I'm a psychology major who wants to go into counseling. Go figure.
What is the best and safest way to wean yourself off of an antidepressant drug such as Zoloft?
How can you tell if someone is suffering from Alzheimer's disease or if it is just depression?
I have heard secondhand information about a drug that was originally developed as a heart medication. However, according to my friend, the medication was recently the subject of a peer-reviewed study that showed it to be effective as a beta blocker and useful for treatment of traumatic memories (PTSD, etc). If you have any information about the drug and the study, I would very much appreciate it, as I would like to read about it.
I deployed to Iraq for 15 months (in 2007-08). Upon my redeployment, I was reassigned; not only was I separated from my 2-year-old twins, but now I had to sell a home and relocate us. I have been back for a year. My husband says I have PTSD. I say it is just stress. I did not see any "hard" combat but worked 18-plus hours a day for 15 months. I have been tense; I don't sleep or dream; I am constantly exhausted. I can't lose weight (despite exercising daily); I have no patience and find myself biting my tongue instead of saying something I will regret later. Additionally, I have no interest in sex or other hobbies that I used to enjoy. Should I seek help? If published, please do not use my name.
I'm a 22-year-old college student who suffers from anxiety disorder. Although I've come to terms with my anxiety, I've started to discover a new source of stress in my life. Last year I started to avoid checking my e-mail for a few days at a time, but what started out as simple avoidance as turned into an agonizing process for me. Lately I've avoided checking my e-mail for upwards of three weeks at a time, but when I recently tried to check my e-mail it resulted in a panic attack. Is this fear of my e-mail normal? What can I do in order to avoid feeling this anxious every time I check my e-mail?
I suffered long-term verbal abuse and bullying at school for nearly six years. Recently a friend in the mental health field suggested that some behaviors I have begun to exhibit appear to correlate strongly with PTSD. Is it possible to develop PTSD from schoolyard bullying?
I am a post-grad student, and I have been suffering from depression for more than a year. I'm shy and I have developed an inferiority complex. Many times I don't even express myself to anyone, or hardly talk to anyone. I tried taking coffee but it causes anxiety worse. Last week I tried 4.5 percent vodka. I really don't know why I'm shy. I feel like I have wasted too many years due to this shyness and inferiority complex. Sometimes I even feel offended when someone talks to me or asks a question. I really don't know what to do. Help!
Is feeling the need to physically lash out when I'm angry, normal? I am a female, and when I am angry (especially when I am angry and hurt) I feel the need to throw something or just grab the person and shake them. I haven't acted out on these feelings besides the occasional shoe thrown at the wall, but it makes me feel out of control, and I worry that it's an indication of a not-so-good side of me. Should I be taking anger management courses or something similar? Or is this normal?
I suffered a career-ending injury in the past and now have further health issues related to that incident. How do you keep from going into a deep depression when you lost your job, have undergone 12 surgical procedures and almost three years of rehab since 2002? I have battled depression, lack of self-worth and confidence.
I found out I have ADD in July. I started out on methylphenidate 5 mg but had violent nightmares and chest pain. I was then switched to bupropion SR 150 but it kept me awake most of the night. I am on Strattera 80 mg since October and I still don't feel like it is working. I can tell a difference if I don't take it but I'm still having concentration problems and forgetting things or losing things. If I try Adderall, will I have [the] same side effects as methylphenidate?
I have been treated for depression since I was 8, and I am now 30. I have tried numerous medications along with a ton of therapy. I am also a recovering alcoholic who is working the AA program. My problem lies in the fact that I am extremely sensitive to medications and of the 30+, I still have yet to find something that actually works. Lexapro seemed to work for a while, but I changed due to the sexual side effects being a problem. When I tried to restart taking it, I was overcome with anxiety. I was also taking 50mg of Serzone if that makes any difference. I am currently taking Prozac-5mg, Serzone -50mg, and Klonopin as needed (reluctantly, I might add). I am hesitant to try electroconvulsive treatment, but I am at a point where I am desperate. The depression interferes with every aspect of my life and makes it difficult to fully live. I feel as if I am merely surviving in this world. I don't know what else I can do. Do you have ANY suggestions? I have a great therapist, doctor and sponsor. My patience is wearing very thin. I just want to be content in my own skin. Please help!
I am a 38-year-old woman who was a victim of date rape when I was 16. I have battled different forms of stress disorder/generalized depressive disorder off and on since. I've been doing well for some time, but now that my teenage daughter has started dating, I'm really falling apart. I'm always obsessively worrying about everything when it comes to my daughter, not just dating issues.
My son's 21-year-old girlfriend seems to be starving herself. When we first met her a couple of years ago, she was a beautiful, athletic, vibrant young woman. She started to do some part-time modeling about a year ago and that seems to be when the obsession with weight control began. We hadn't seen her in quite some time, as they both are enrolled in an out-of-state university. She recently stayed at our home for a few days over Christmas break and her appearance is shocking! She was always trim and fit, but now she looks like a skeleton. Her hair seems to be falling out and she doesn't look at all healthy. I asked my son if he has tried to get her to seek professional help, but he said she just gets very angry whenever he raises the subject and then won't talk to him for a week or more. Her own family doesn't seem to be concerned, but my wife and I certainly are. Do you have any suggestions as to how we might be able to help?
I am in the military and I have a 3-year-old. I am now on active duty and I can see her only on the weekends for the time being. So now that I am coming and going, she is going through some kind of withdrawal. The doctor says she is on a psychological roller coaster right now because of my coming and going. So his suggestion was for me not to see her at all. I am no doctor but I would think some interaction is better than no interaction at all. Can you please help me, because if it's going to make my daughter better I will stay away until I am finished.
I suffer from major depression and panic disorder, and one of the medications that have been prescribed is Seroquel XR 50 mg. Why does it knocks the living daylights out of me all day long?
Why do people lie, in the form of storytelling? My 3½-year-old grandson is already showing signs of it. His father is a liar/storyteller. I find it hard to believe that a 3-year-old could copy that behavior. I believe it must be hereditary, and I will not accept that all 3-year-olds do this. I have two grown children and have been around a lot of children/toddlers and have never seen this type of intelligence in such a young child. My daughter and I are quite concerned because we can't believe a word he says -- he too often gives us dishonest answers or info. What part of the brain is responsible for this behavior, and how can it be corrected? Thank you.
Is it OK to take antidepressants while pregnant?
I am 29 and have been suffering from depression for more than 10 years. It started with losing my virginity in an unpleasant situation, and continues through my mother's battles with severe depression, alcoholism and drug abuse. I have also lost two grandparents to slow, declining dementia. I have tried talk therapy but didn't find it to be very useful. I walk 20 miles a week, try to eat well and maintain social relationships.
I've started having terrible anxiety over the past month and it's starting to become debilitating. What can I do to calm myself down when I feel it start to build up?
Has Cymbalta antidepressant caused any aggression problems such as those alleged for Prozac?
My 9-year-old daughter with a diagnosis of childhood absence epilepsy (currently treated with Depakote) has had two separate episodes, six months apart, where she heard voices telling her to hurt herself and run away. Each episode lasted two weeks. Would the only possible causes for hallucinations be depression/bipolar, or can you list some other possibilities?
I've been on different depression meds. They make me feel loopy. I have disscussed it with my doctor. He says that it's something that I must live with. Now I'm off all meds and feel great but I can feel the symptoms coming back. What could I do without having to go back on the meds? I just don't like the loopiness.
I have suffered from bipolar depression for five years. I am taking medication and worked with a specialist for three years. My question is, can one ever grow out of or heal from this affliction?
What is the best way to deal with a young man's depression and despair? I have a son, almost 22, who has a very high IQ, is very smart, but is extremely depressed and in despair over what he describes as a future that's "not worth it." He finished two years of college, is delaying the final two or three years and is living extremely lower than his potential. Is this the new "normal"?? I am at my wits end. He is a wonderful person, with so much potential (not just my motherly opinion). He seems lost. For his sake, I would like to see him get out of this horribly pessimistic rut. What gives?
I have been taking Zoloft for a few years now and it does not seem to work as well these days, even with a dosage increase. My question is: Can you become immune to antidepressants after a while?
Let me introduce myself. My name is Charles L. Raison, M.D., although whenever anyone calls me "Charles" instead of "Chuck" I get nervous, because as a kid I was called Charles only when I was in trouble.
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