Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD Postpartum Depression in Men? Realty TV star Leroy Garrett (a competitor on “The Challenge”) recently opened up about his experience with “postpartum depression” as a man. Mr. Garrett pointed out that despite being the father of two wonderful children (whom he loves dearly and he is clear that being a dad is one of the best things that ever happened to him), he suffered from a great deal of emotional difficulty during the postpartum period (The first 3-6 months after the birth of his children). Click here for his story on Good Morning America. P ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD NAVIGATING ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are the most prevalent of substance use disorders worldwide (Pubmed). These disorders are characterized by difficulty controlling or stopping alcohol use, by individuals whom alcohol has caused adverse social, occupational and/or health consequences. Although individuals may choose to drink, Alcohol Use Disorders are considered a disease, as genetics and family history play a significant role in these disorders. For example, heritability seems to ac ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD MATTHEW PERRY’S PASSING, COMMENTS BY OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR Matthew Perry’s passing, is an incredibly unfortunate event. He is an example of an individual who struggled throughout life with various substance use disorders, and he dedicated his life to helping those with similar difficulties. In only the last few years, we’ve come a long way in this country, with speaking openly about mental illness, and showing compassion for those who suffer. He was a man before his time – judged by the public, for struggling with addiction, and none-the-less wor ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD SHOULD I SEE A PSYCHIATRIST OR A PSYCHOLOGIST? Psychotherapists can be incredibly helpful for patients struggling with their mood, anxiety, life circumstances and stressors. Patients typically meet with therapists weekly or biweekly, and regular appointments in this fashion can help to create a positive rapport, where individuals are more likely to open up about sensitive topics and struggles. If someone has a history of trauma, is engaging in self-destructive behaviors, or has very dark thoughts, their openness to discuss with a mental health ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD EATING DISORDERS & THE HOLIDAYS: INFORMATION & TIPS FOR PARENTS. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Eating disorders are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating behavior, which impairs health and/or psychosocial function. Eating disorders have a lifetime prevalence of approximately 8 percent in women and 2 percent in men. Eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, PICA and others. Unhealthy preoccupations with food and weight a ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A GOOD DEAL & TIPS FOR BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY t’s all about Dopamine, when it comes to Black Friday and Retail Therapy. Without getting too scientific, Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter in our brain’s reward system pathway, an interconnected group of structures in our central nervous system called the mesolimbic pathway. While many neurotransmitters are involved with feelings of pleasure, including serotonin, oxytocin, and others, dopamine is certainly the main player. Dopamine and the reward pathway are close ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD This study was published in Nov 2023, and conclusions suggest that internet (including social media) has not had a negative impact on the mental health of the population. The study points out, that there is a lack of information available on this topic, as large tech companies have not made their own internal studies and results available to the public. Studies specific to social media platforms (for example), may yield very different results. This study is incredibly broad, and aimed to make a connection between the number of individuals u ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD YOU’RE NOT ALONE, IF THE HOLIDAYS ARE A DIFFICULT TIME: It’s not uncommon for patients to seem almost embarrassed or ashamed, when disclosing at an appointment in October or November, that they may need additional support, throughout the holiday season. They may bring this up by mentioning that this holiday season will be their first without a recently deceased spouse or family member, or by reminding me of their difficult childhood, where their family was impoverished, or they were a witness to violence between their parents, or a chaotic home ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD MENTAL HEALTH & DIABETES MEDICATIONS USED FOR WEIGHT LOSS: OZEMPIC, MOUNJARO While some of these medications have been used for the treatment of diabetes for years, their side effects (and in-particular, their long-term side effects) for individuals using them specifically for weight loss, are still not completely understood. Unfortunately, it can take years or even decades, to fully understand the long-term risks of a medication. When you see a rapid increase in the use of a medication, especially when it is being used for a novel purpose ..read more

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates - Pagnani, MD WHAT ARE “5-HT” OR “SEROTONERGIC” SUPPLEMENTS? ARE THEY SAFE? Serotonin or 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), is one of the major neurotransmitters that is involved with regulating an individual’s mood, anxiety, cognition, and sense of well-being.  The other two major neurotransmitters are norepinephrine and dopamine. These three neurotransmitters are chemically similar, in that they are all monoamines. Medications that treat both anxiety and depression have been designed to target Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine receptors (the monoamines ..read more