Life Satisfaction Linked to Resiliency

For all except the very fortunate few, life is full of ups and downs. In a new study, Spanish researchers found that learning to cope with the down times is integral to life satisfaction...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/24/life-satisfaction-linked-to-resiliency/39186.html

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Old Rats Learn New Tricks, and Rewire the Brain

New research with rats shows that changes in sensory experiences can "rewire" the brain at any age. The study also found that this rewiring involves fibers that supply input to...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/25/old-rats-learn-new-tricks-and-rewire-the-brain/39254.html

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Class-Action Lawsuit Against United Healthcare in CA- Alleged failure to cover mental-health diagnoses under "the same terms and conditions" applied to medical conditions.

The Los Angeles Law Firm of Cohen Mckeon, which focuses on representing policy holders in law suits against insurance companies, issued the following news release:

Class Action: United Healthcare Denies Mental Health Coverage Los Angeles, CA Monday, May 21, 2012

A class-action lawsuit was filed against United Healthcare Insurance Company, US Behavioral Plan, and California United Behavioral Health, which contracts with employers such as the University of California to provide mental health services to policyholders.

The class-action suit alleges that these companies, which are part of United Healthcare Insurance Company, have violated the California Mental Health Parity Act, which requires insurers to provide treatment for mental-health diagnoses according to "the same terms and conditions" applied to medical conditions.

Specifically, the defendants are accused of denying and improperly limiting coverage by conducting concurrent and prospective reviews of routine outpatient mental health treatments when no such reviews are conducted for routine outpatient treatments for other medical conditions.

Defendants are also accused of violating the Unruh Act, by discriminating against a class of persons with mental disabilities and psychiatric conditions; violating California's law prohibiting unfair competition, breaching the terms of its own insurance contract with policyholders, and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

The law suit was filed in Santa Barbara Superior Court on behalf of the plaintiff, who works in Santa Barbara.

Her mental health coverage was improperly reduced.

She was having four weekly outpatient psychotherapy sessions.

But in September, 2011 she was informed that she would limited to one weekly session for one month.

Plaintiff is represented by the Los Angeles-based class-action trial lawyers of Cohen McKeon LLP, and Meiram Bendat, founder of the mental health insurance-advocacy service, Psych-Appeal.

"This is an important case because it addresses an issue that impacts a wide range of people who are covered by health insurance" said lead attorney, Michael L. Cohen.

"For too long, people who suffer from severe mental health issues have not received health insurance coverage on the same terms as conditions that are applied to other conditions."

Specifically, the lawsuit seeks certification of a class consisting of hundreds and perhaps thousands of UC employees who were subject to improper review and denial of treatment for severe mental health illnesses.
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Angry Partner May Also Be Sad

Married couples usually are pretty good at recognizing each other's emotional state during conflicts. However, researchers have found that one significant emotion – sadness – often may be missed when a ...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/22/angry-partner-may-also-be-sad/39044.html

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Spider Phobia: Brain Scan Shows Cure in 1 Session

Before receiving treatment for her lifelong fear of spiders, one Chicago college student would flee her dorm for days if she merely suspected one's presence. She worried that her phobia would keep her from living on her own after graduation. But after a single, two-hour therapy session in which she confronted her fear in the form of a tarantula named Florence, she showed remarkable improvement in her actions -- and in her brain -- according to a new imaging study...


http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20120521/spider-phobia-brain-scan-shows-cure-in-1-session
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

GRAND OPENINGS: Southwest Florida's freshest businesses

Herald-Tribune Article

May 14, 2012

 

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC, 1525 S. Tamiami Tamiami Trail, Venice.
A licensed psychologist, Davenport provides therapy for individuals and couples of all ages and works collaboratively with patients to help them overcome emotional and psychological issues causing unhappiness in their lives.

 

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120514/ARTICLE/120519862/2413/BUSINESS?Title=GRAND-OPENINGS-Southwest-Florida-s-freshest-businesses

 

 

Psychiatry Manual Drafters Back Down on Diagnoses

Doctors on a panel revising psychiatry's influential diagnostic manual have backed away from two controversial proposals and supported new autism...

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/health/dsm-panel-backs-down-on-diagnoses.xml

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Collaborative Care Aids Mental, Physical Health

Collaborative Care Aids Mental, Physical Health
May 9th, 2012

A team-centered health care approach can increase depression-free days and overall quality of life among adults with depression and poorly controlled diabetes, heart disease or both. Such patients "have higher medical complication rates and higher ...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/09/collaborative-care-aids-mental-physical-health/38326.html

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Negative Words Can Be Shut Out Unconsciously

Our brains can unconsciously decide to withhold negative information, according to new work by psychologists at Bangor University in the U.K. Writing in the Journal of Neuroscience, the psychologists discovered the unconscious process during ...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/09/negative-words-can-be-shut-out-unconsciously/38420.html

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

NYT: Parents' Depression Linked to Problems in Children

A primary care doc talks about their experience working with depression over the years. Parents are frequently overlooked but how they feel is important.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=947828&f=26

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.