Possessing over 16 years of professional medical experience, Dr. David Wexler devotes his practice to assisting those with mental health issues to find the medications that will most effectively return them to a high level of functionality. In his capacity as a psychopharmacologist, Dr. David Wexler works closely with his patients’ therapists and medical specialists to streamline a treatment plan that will set them on the road to recovery. Dr. David Wexler looks carefully at existing medical problems and medications that may trigger psychiatric symptoms, establishes whether there will be any negative interactions between prescribed drugs, and then walks the patient through the psychotropic medication management process. Dr. David Wexler also confers with his patients’ medical specialists and therapists to maximize his treatments’ efficacy.
In private practice for a decade, Dr. David Wexler has since built a network of patients and colleagues. Dr. David Wexler has been sought out by a wide variety of patients and professionals, including the San Francisco 49ers, for which he served as the designated psychopharmacologist. Among the numerous honors Dr. David Wexler has received over the years are the Patient’s Choice Award in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and his inclusion on the 2010 list of Best Doctors Bay Area.
Dr. David Wexler has been an active participant in the give and take nature of the medical community, endeavoring to share his knowledge with his peers. A former Adjunct Clinical Instructor for the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. David Wexler also stayed involved as the Chairman for the Continuing Medical Education Committee during his tenure at Kaiser Santa Clara.
Dr. David Wexler possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with emphasis on Foreign Languages as an informal minor from Harvard University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. Dr. David Wexler also completed a number of postgraduate linguistic courses at UCSD. In 1994, Dr. David Wexler completed his psychiatry residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. David Wexler works out of Portola Valley, California. When he is not working, Dr. David Wexler spends his time playing piano and oboe, traveling, and learning about different cultures.
A recent study conducted at the University of California, San Diego provides new insight into the cause of anorexia nervosa and promises to help achieve more treatment in the future. Using new imaging technology, the study revealed abnormalities in the brain circuitry of anorexia patients and helps to explain why certain individuals develop anorexia and other harmful behaviors, such as continuous dieting and unhealthy weight loss. Anorexia currently has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder, largely because of the lack of effective treatment. Now that a concrete neurobiological factor has been identified, researchers can begin to focus on developing treatments that regulate the affected brain function.
Many personality and temperament conditions that predispose an individual to developing anorexia have already been identified, including certain anxiety disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder, and perfectionism. These traits often intensify during adolescence as a result of hormonal changes and the psychological pressures of transition. Unfortunately, when anorexia results, the body is starved of the nutrition that is vital for proper physical and mental maturation, often causing chemical imbalances that increase the predisposing conditions and, in turn, the reliance on anorexia as a controlling ability. Individuals then enter a vicious cycle that is extremely difficult to break. Anxiety increases whenever a person with anorexia eats, and dieting becomes a way to handle that anxiety.
Often, the anxiety spreads to other aspects of life, and the individual begins obsessive worry about the effects of all actions, causing them to avoid many “normal” activities. The UCSD study thus also found unique alterations in the brain’s pleasure sensors and those parts involved with regular bodily sensations. Hopefully these new discoveries will also lead to earlier detection of those who are at risk of developing anorexia, allowing for early intervention and the possibility of developing skills to deal with anxiety in a healthy manner at an early age.
In 2008 and 2009, practicing psychopharmacologist Dr. David Wexler received the Patients’ Choice Award for his excellent treatment of patients under his care. To receive a Patients’ Choice Award, a doctor’s patients commend their doctor and his or her practice by logging onto various websites and assigning ratings to several categories. Only patient feedback can determine if a doctor is eligible to receive the Patients’ Choice Award.
Categories eligible for voting range from bedside manner considerations such as Helps Patient Understand Their Condition and Time Spent with Patient, to Office Environment and Level of Trust.
A doctor must receive high ratings in all categories in order to be considered for the Patients’ Choice Award. According to rankings on HealthGrades.com, Dr. David Wexler averaged 4.5 out of 5 stars, earning a perfect 5 stars in Time Spent with Patient. The aggregate rankings demonstrate an extraordinary level of trust in Dr. David Wexler by his patients.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment, Dr. David Wexler
About Dr. Wexler: David Brian Wexler is an accomplished psychopharmacologist and psychiatrist who practices in Portola Valley, California. He is frequently called upon to assess complicated cases and coordinate with other healthcare providers.
Overview
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of mental illness in which the patient has strong obsessions or compulsions that prove destructive to the routines of daily life. Patients with OCD either have strong phobias that lead them toward avoidance behaviors, and/or they have unexplained compulsions toward certain actions.
Individuals with OCD cannot control their thoughts. Their lives become dominated by their obsessions or compulsions, which are frequently created to deal with their recurrent thought patterns. The condition may be relatively mild, producing only minor impediments, or it may be severe to the point that the individual places him- or herself at risk of harm.
Symptoms
A range of symptoms is associated with OCD. Anxiety is one of the most common, often stemming from a sense that something has been left undone, is dirty, or is imperfect in some way. Common worries in OCD include the fear that a loved one is in danger or that a certain action will lead to becoming infected or dirty. As a result, individuals may wash themselves repeatedly, perform tasks over and over, or clean the same area of the house several times in a row. Other common symptoms include hoarding and counting. To be considered OCD, the obsessions or compulsions must take up one hour or more each day.
Causes
The causes of OCD remain unknown, although several theories suggest a psychopharmacological link. Some researchers believe that OCD is caused by an incorrect signaling process in the brain. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, may be involved, and drugs that affect serotonin levels have proven effective in treatment.
In other individuals, OCD seems to be triggered by infections. For instance, certain patients develop the condition following strep throat or scarlet fever. Brain injury and genetic factors may also play a role.
Frequency
The frequency of OCD is relatively constant between different cultural groups and holds steady at about one to two percent of the population. The condition is more frequent among women than men. Women are more likely to have the obsession type of OCD and men the compulsion type.
Treatment
A combination of counseling and medication usually proves most effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is the most common method.
Most people do not think of mental illness in connection with the stars of professional sports; however, because of their lifestyle, professional athletes are at high risk for diseases like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Many professional athletes have suffered from mental illnesses, most commonly depression and social anxiety. Two tragic examples are Dave Duerson, an NFL player, and Robert Enke, a goalkeeper for Germany’s national soccer team.
After retiring from professional football, Dave Duerson became an outspoken advocate of disability rights for injured players. He also became involved in charitable work and received the NFL Man of the Year Award for his activism. Duerson committed suicide at age 50, after sending a text message indicating that he suspected he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease resulting from repeated concussions and head trauma. Despite his active involvement in securing benefits for injured players, Duerson was unable to get help for himself.
posted at free-clipart-pictures.net
Robert Enke, one of Germany’s top players, was scheduled to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He had struggled with depression for over six years, and he took his life in 2009. Although he had received treatment for depression, either he was not getting enough help, or he was not getting the appropriate treatment.
Other players have overcome their mental illnesses. Ian Snell, a pitcher for the Mariners, had thoughts of suicide and asked his friend for help; he was able to continue playing and move beyond his depression. Zach Greinke, also a professional baseball player, was out for the greater part of the 2006 season because of extreme social anxiety and depression. He sought therapy and received medication, and he later returned to pursue a successful career and win the Cy Young Award.
All of these examples highlight the importance of having trained mental health professionals working with a team, in order to promote a safe environment and educate athletes about the importance of seeking help for mental illness.
About the Author: Formerly treating the 49ers, Dr. David Brian Wexler now works as a private psychopharmacologist in Portola Valley, in Northern California. He often treats patients with difficult and/or medication-resistant symptoms. Dr. Wexler works to develop a unique treatment solution for each of his patients. When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Wexler enjoys staying active, studying foreign languages, and listening to music.
Mental Health, Depression, and Elite Sports: Reflections on an Uneasy Relationship
Uploaded by uochester
