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The fifth edition of the Diagnositic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatry may drop five of the personality disorders, including Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  This is understandably causing controversy, as discussed in the New York Times article “A Fate That Narcissists Will Hate:  Being Ignored.” New York Times Article A Fate That Narcissists Will Hate: Being Ignored [...] Read More

At the Visions Adolescent Treatment Center afternoon reception for Angels at Risk, Dr. Jeff Ball enjoyed the music of Jackson Browne and was able to meet both Jackson and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Kenny is a tremendously talented blues musician who joined in for a couple of songs. If you aren’t familiar with his music, check [...] Read More

On Sunday afternoon, December 5, 2010, Drs. Jeff Ball and Terry Krekorian, representing PCH Treatment Center, attended the Visions Adolescent Treatment Center Reception in Santa Monica honoring Angels at Risk. The setting was fantastic, with a beautiful house and great company. Entertainment was provided by Jackson Browne, backed up by two church choir singers with [...] Read More

The United States Defense Department’s Medical Surveillance report states that the most common reason for male military personnel to visit the hospital is a mental health issue.  In women, it is the second most common cause.  Post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol dependence and substance abuse are highly prevalent among former and active [...] Read More

Researchers found that meditation increased cellular levels of the enzyme telomerase, which is important to cell health.  They also found positive psychological changes were associated with these findings related to meditation.  At PCH Treatment, we have incorporated meditation into our immersive psychological healing programs.  We feel that mindfulness and learning to calm thought processes help [...] Read More

A report published by the American Psychological Association suggests the residents of Los Angeles are the most stressed in the nation.  Traffic, work problems and unemployment, balancing the demands of career and family — all contribute to stress, anxiety and unhappiness.  PCH Treatment Center, located in Los Angeles, offers help for persons with psychological issues [...] Read More

Researchers in the Amercian Journal of Psychiatry recently evaluated perceptions towards mental illness (schizophrenia and depression) and alcohol dependence, comparing public endorsement of treatment and prejudice from studies performed in 1996 versus 2006.  They found that the public perceived mental illness increasingly as a neurobiological disease, increasingly endorsing psychiatric services and medical treatment.  However, the [...] Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug administration approved Latuda (lurasidone) this week for treatment of adults with schizophrenia.  Latuda is an atypical antipsychotic medication. From the FDA website: FDA approves Latuda to treat schizophrenia in adults The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Latuda (lurasidone HCl) tablets for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia [...] Read More

The Link Between Bipolar Disorders and Creativity: Evidence from Personality and Temperament Studies. Srivastava S, Ketter TA. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA, shefalis@stanford.edu. Although extensive literature supports connections between bipolar disorder and creativity, possible mechanisms underlying such relationships are only beginning to [...] Read More

PCH Treatment Center would like to thank our tremendous marketing team for all of their hard work. Kurt Garbe, Colleen Kelly and Michael Ferguson. Read More

PCH Treatment Center was proud to be a sponsor at the Promises Foundation “Polo in the Palisades 2010″ today on the Polo Grounds at Will Rogers State Park. In addition to having a fantastic time mingling with everyone, Dr. Ball was able to spend time with Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, as pictured. PCH Treatment Center would [...] Read More

A recent article in Current Treatment Options in Neurology discusses the relationship of headaches with insomnia and psychiatric problems. The article discusses how headaches are associated with a wide range of sleep disorders. Clinicians, in evaluating a patient with headaches, should inquire about sleep history and its relation to headache patterns. They state that “Patients [...] Read More

The term “Emotional Regulation Disorder” has been proposed to replace the term “Borderline Personality Disorder”, and its usage is increasing. “Borderline” is a historic term describing people who were diagnosed to be on the borderline between a neurotic and psychotic disorder. However, the “Borderline” label is considered to be misleading and stigmatizing. Read More

Study Shows SAMe May Ease Depression By TARA PARKER-POPE A popular dietary supplement called SAMe may help depressed patients who don’t respond to prescription antidepressant treatment, a new study shows. SAMe stands for S-adenosyl methionine, a naturally occurring molecule that is widely used in Europe for depression, arthritis and other ailments. It is found throughout [...] Read More

ARISE Interventionist Training PCH Treatment Center co-hosts 2010 California ARISE Interventionist Training Course. PCH Treatment Center, in conjunction with Promises and Newport Academy, hosted the 2010 California ARISE Interventionist Training. Trainees traveled from various areas of the country to join ARISE and facilitator Dr. Judith Landau for the conference. The three-day training series took place [...] Read More