Dr.Silva

Dr.Silva last signed in Oct 23 2009 and has been on Bukisa since Aug 20, 2009.

About Me:

I am a Board-certified psychiatrist with almost 15 years of experience diagnosing and treating mental illness. Psychiatrists are physicians, so I did go to medical school and complete a four-year postgraduate residency training program. While obviously I subscribe to, and am heavily influenced by, the Medical Model and consider myself an expert psychopharmacologist, I also have a B.A. in psychology and I am a very spiritual (not religious) person who has devoted a large portion of my practice to individual psychotherapy and other forms of counseling. I very much believe in a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to mental health care. Please visit my blog Do Not Take On An Empty Mind.

How to Choose an SSRI

Published August 30, 2009 /

1 comments /

The most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants today are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the so-called "Prozac family" of medications, of which Prozac was the prototype, but which also includes Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa, and Lexapro. They are widely prescribed because they are very safe and generally well-tolerated, and

How to Engage in Meaningful, Successful Psychotherapy

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

This article discusses how to embark upon meaningful, successful psychotherapy by setting goals, avoiding pitfalls and engaging your therapist.
Understanding PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

This article briefly outlines the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for PTSD, so you can understand what doctors mean when they use the term and to improve communication between you and your healthcare provider, if you feel that you may be suffering from this disorder.
How To Know If You've Been Misdiagnosed With "Adult" Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

This article is based on my personal experience evaluating and treating individuals who have presented complaining of inattention, specifically "Adult ADD."
How To Treat Premature Ejaculation (Medical Model)

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

While there are certainly various psychological and physical techniques that do not involve the administration of a prescription medication, the most effective, full-proof method of stopping premature ejaculation (PE) can be found under the medical model.
How to Pick A Good Therapist

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

The topic of selecting the right therapist could fill a book. This article will briefly touch upon a few things to consider when making that selection.
How to Manage Weight Gain as a Medication Side Effect

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Diet & Nutrition

One of the most alarming and universally unacceptable of medication side effects is that of permanent weight gain, and it is not an uncommon one. This article focuses on weight gain as a side effect of psychotropic medication, but the general principles are applicable to weight gain from any medication or substance--including, for example, the recreational drug marijuana.
How to Make Your Sleeping Pill Keep Working

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

This article addresses how to avoid the problem of escalating the dosage of a sleep aide, while maintaining considerable benefit from the prescribed medication.
How to Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

These are important tips that should be followed by everyone, whether you suffer from clinical insomnia or just the occasional fitful night of sleep (or the lack thereof). Sleep hygiene refers to one's habits concerning sleep.
Why Your Antidepressant May Not Be Working

by Dr.Silva | in Health & Nutrition > Mental Health

This article covers the most common mistakes and misconceptions patients make when first taking prescription psychotropic medication for purposes of improving their mood. Once these common problems and pitfalls have been fixed or ruled out, there are indeed various options you can explore with your prescribing physician to alter the prescribed treatment regimen and get a better response.