L.A. Times - Health

Is binge eating a psychiatric disorder?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

As the American Psychiatrics Assn. considers including it in its diagnotic manual, skeptics object and possible treatments are debated.

Rina Silverman's refrigerator is almost always empty. She keeps it that way to avert episodes of frantic food consumption, often at night after a full meal, in which she tastes nothing and feels nothing but can polish off a party-sized bag of chips or a container of ice cream, maybe a whole box of cereal. The food she's eating at these moments hardly matters.

Holidays can feed binge eaters' problems

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Food's central place in seasonal celebrations can prove difficult, especially with stress triggers from family or lonely feelings.

Three of the most common and most powerful triggers for binge eaters -- family, food and feelings -- converge at this time of year, making the holidays an especially challenging time.

Binge eating: Is it a form of addiction?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Overeaters describe cravings and benders. Experts are split.

The notion that binge eating is a form of addiction comes up frequently in experts' discussions of the diagnosis.

Trying to define binge eating disorder

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Many binge eaters do not fit into currently defined and accepted psychiatric illnesses.

Binge eating was long seen by psychiatrists as an unusual symptom of major depression or an anxiety disorder. After all, it seemed sometimes to lessen or yield to antidepressants and psychotherapy -- both aimed primarily at treating depression or anxiety.

Congress targets senior abuse

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Support is broad for the Elder Justice Act, which is linked to healthcare reform measures.

When it comes to political, social or health causes, elder abuse has not had the star power of some other movements focusing on the rights of vulnerable people.

Getting to the facts in the debate on mammograms

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's revised guidelines have been praised and criticized. The American Cancer Society is one group that disagrees.

It's such an appealing idea -- catch breast cancer early, treat accordingly and your patients will live.

Research Medicare Part D options

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Seniors need to review their options now to be aware of changes for 2010, including premium increases, new deductibles and alterations in the Extra Help program.

Got your eye on the calendar? Good. Seniors who want to participate in the Medicare drug program, known as Medicare Part D, must sign up for coverage with a plan that serves their geographic region by Dec. 31. Sign-up began Nov. 15.

An NYPD surgeon learns the random nature of wounds

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

An NYPD surgeon expected to see gunshots and random violence. But he was more surprised by officers' hidden traumas.

I expected to see more gunshot wounds when I became a police surgeon for the NYPD three years ago. I had seen my first one as an intern decades earlier -- a suspect injured during a robbery had been brought into the emergency room -- and I still recalled the jagged, deep crater left by the bullet. The image had left its mark on me, not only by its appearance but also because it had been inflicted by another human being.

A desire booster for women?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

An experimental non-hormonal drug appears to help women increase their sexual desire, but will the FDA approve it?

An experimental non-hormonal drug appears to help women increase their sexual desire and satisfaction -- and reduce the distress associated with lack of desire.

Anesthetic spray shows promise for premature ejaculation

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The first U.S. trials of a spray-on anesthetic for the penis showed that it increased the time to ejaculation nearly fivefold, providing the first good solution for premature ejaculation, researchers reported Thursday.