• Ross F. Grumet, MD
    • Philosophy
    • Reviews
  • Service
    • Telepsychiatry
    • IME Services
    • Suboxone
    • Backup Psychiatry
    • Sleep Advocate
    • Professional Fees
  • Blog
    • Is It Your Fault?
  • New Patients
    • FAQs
  • Pay Bill
  • CURRENT PATIENTS
  • Contact Us

Psychiatry Atlanta

At Psychiatry Atlanta Dr. Ross Grumet provides a wide range of psychiatric services

1718 Peachtree Street NW Suite 481
Atlanta, GA 30309
404.685.9414

December 14, 2016 By: Dr. Ross Grumet - 2 Comments

Loneliness and Other New Findings

From Dr. Ross Grumet: Loneliness is a persistent feeling of isolation. Persistent is key to diagnose loneliness/depression opposed to normal human condition of feeling lonely or sadLoneliness has been defined for treatment and diagnostic purposes as comprising a persistent sense of lack of companionship, of feeling left out, and of isolation. This condition of loneliness has been linked to the accumulation of the substance amyloid in the brains of people who are at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.(JAMA Psychiatry,2016;73(12):1230-1237). Together with mild memory loss, we may have some possibility of early identification of people who may benefit from prevention or treatment.

Keep in mind the term “persistent” because we don’t want to diagnose every person who feels lonely. Like depression (sadness) and anxiety (apprehension), being lonely is an important emotional signal (part of the human condition) indicating possible action to be taken, such as dealing with loss, threat, or lack of social support.

We really need to distinguish, for example, the above depression from the Depression which merits psychiatric treatment and is defined as not only persistent sadness (depressed mood) but also having loss of capacity for pleasure, as well as evidence of disturbances of sleep, appetite, energy/movement, self harm thoughts, etc. Depression in this clinical sense has been associated with inflammation: disturbances of the immune system, including activation of chemical defenses (cytokines). Inflammation is notably being recognized as a feature of many severe psychiatric conditions including mania, schizophrenia, addiction.

News stories regularly feature new discoveries in brain science, such as links to brain chemistry, genetics, diet, trauma, social environment. Each of these findings may have some pertinence. But keep in mind the term “heterogeneity”: there are no single cause pathways to developing mental illness. And there is no chemical, genetic, or environmental finding that distinguishes those who are ill from those who are normal. We all overlap. Read each new discovery or surprise as a pin that you are placing in a very large map, where you are just beginning to see various clusters in various locations.

 

We encourage comments on these posts. However, for a professional psychiatric inquiry please use our Contact Form. 

Trackbacks

  1. Loneliness and Other New Findings | Sleep Advocate says:
    December 14, 2016 at 10:29 am

    […] Click HERE for Loneliness and Other New Findings. […]

    Reply
  2. Loneliness and Other New Findings | Psychiatry - Palm Beach says:
    December 14, 2016 at 10:40 am

    […] Click HERE for Loneliness and Other New Findings. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Emails

New Idea Emails from Dr. Grumet

* indicates required

Search Psychiatry Atlanta

Contact Us

Contact Psychiatry Atlanta if you have any questions and to setup an appointment.

Contact Psychiatry Atlanta if you have any … [Read More...]

New Patients

New Patient Forms

Message from Dr. Ross Grumet for Potential New … [Read More...]

IME Services

Independent Medical Exam (IME) Services by Ross F. Grumet, M.D. of Atlanta Psychiatric Specialists

Independent Medical Exams - IME Services Ross F. … [Read More...]

Ross F. Grumet, MD

Dr. Ross Grumet

Ross F. Grumet, MD Credentials Diplomate in … [Read More...]

Dr. Ross’s Blog

You Can't Get Away With It: Sleeplessness Hurts by Dr. Ross Grumet of Atlanta Psychiatric Specialists

Long Haulers (COVID-19) And Gaslighting

The Single Key To Knowing If You Are Addicted

Awarded Top Psychiatry Blogs

The APS Blog by Dr. Ross Grumet is recognizeds as a Top Psychiatry Blog

Office Hours

Opening Hours
Monday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Office Procedures

Of … [Click HERE to learn more about our Office Procedures...]

Medical Disclaimer

Me … Click HERE for Medical Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for Psychiatry Atlanta and Dr. Ross Grumet

PATIENT PRIVACY Right to Request … [Read More...]

  • Website Privacy Policy

Follow Us!

Follow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on Twitter

Search

© Copyright 2014-2021 · All Rights Reserved · Website by TecAdvocates

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkWebsite Privacy Policy