EXPERT

Dr. Claudewell S. Thomas, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Claudewell S. Thomas, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is an established psychiatrist who is currently retired ,, He received his medical degree in 1956 at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and specializes in social psychiatry, public health psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Thomas was board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Learn More About Me

68 years Experience

Dr. Claudewell S. Thomas, M.D.

Specializes in:

Psychiatric Disorders
Public Health

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Not accepting new patients

My Latest Posts
My Answers

Follow up on Epidemic Watch Continued

Ebola is not the only viral threat that is quietly on the march. In the Saturday, October 26th Los Angeles Times, ON THE GROUND IN KAMPALA UGANDA, Krista Mahr reports the progression...

Water Water Everywhere

The ancient mariner will not be the only occupant of a boat surrounded by undrinkable water if current trends and practices go unaltered. As explorations of our fellow planets...

Revisiting Ebola With A View Of The Future

A recent issue of Sigma XI presents a view of the future of our interaction with the menace of Ebola. This is done through a new computer model. The article begins with a header...

Revisiting Health Care Equity

Medscape, WebMD, AJPH, Sigma XI, Smithsonian, The Atlantic Magazine, and the Journal of the Academy of Medicine are among the many scientific and medical journals speaking out...

Is There a Gaming Disorder? ICD 11 vs DSM 6-7

By way of necessary background information, the International Classification of Diseases (mental and physical disorders) is the official disease reference of WHO (the world health...

New Found Interest in Mental Illness

In the September 10th Los Angeles Times, staff writer Mary Healy addressed the increasing concern and fear of mental illness in the U. S. population because of the improper linking...

Youth is Under Threat

The American Psychiatric Association has issued an alert via Psychiatric Times to the effect that American youths between the ages of 15 and 25 are at risk of psychiatric morbidity...

More Potholes on the Road to Happiness

It is reasonably obvious that anxiety/depression is an unhappy state that destroys interpersonal relationships and intrapersonally (intrapsychically) is a threat. Not only to...

More on Fleeing Anxiety/Depression

On convertibles I failed to mention that side windows on cars may not have adequate sun ray protection and if they do have adequate protection it is like sunbathing, time sensitive;...

The Marijuana Argument Continues

THC is a gateway drug. It has little pain obliteration effectiveness. THC has a definite pain obliterative effect and there is benefit from the mood elevation effect delivered with...

Falling Life Expectancy in the USA: Guns, Suicide, Climate Change, and Opioids

According to the February/March 2019 issue of The Nation's Health, 2019 is the third straight year that the U. S. has experienced a fall in life expectancy as a whole. This includes...

Response To Anxiety/Depression Via Sun and Surf Carries Risk

A hedonistic excursion of some sort is often suggested for those of us who are down in the dumps, for good reason or not. With feelings characterized as listless or lack of energy...

The Ebola Threat Grows

Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever which means it causes severe bleeding in tissues like the gut, lung, brain, kidney, liver, etc. It is a painful and agonizing illness which...

What To Do When Ebola Arrives

I have encountered many diseases in the course of a lifetime. Most of the relatively rare ones, not personally, but professionally. Professionally, I've encountered them through...

Survival Guides for Domestic Terrorism

I have been reading various survival guides in this era of (mostly gun violence) domestic terrorism. One thing that seems common is the reversal of everyday logic like "safety...

Domestic Violence en masse: A Public Health Epidemic

The nation is facing an epidemic of gun violence that has all of the characteristics of other epidemics. There are many ways to look at what is happening. It can be seen as a...

What you need to know to maximize your health and a healthy lifestyle

In order to preserve your health, you need to know what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, and the ability to obtain reliable information. For those who have a primary care provider,...

Eco-Anxiety and Depression vs Reality Based Concern

Previous articles have dealt with the progression of disease through endemic, epidemic, and pandemic phases with attention paid to the effect of climate change on enablement and/or...

Climate Change and You & Your Neighbors Health

A series of prior articles have been concerned with public health aspects of the nation's health. It is increasingly apparent that climate change is of major importance in our...

Epidemics, Pandemics & Healthcare Revisited

Aeon essays present a fascinating illustration of the effect of climate change on habitat, protective coats, furs, diet, and tick proliferation. The difference between winter...

I am suddenly binge eating. Is it a mental disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a serious mental problem requiring psychiatric or psychological intervention. Psychiatric intervention carries with it the potential use of medication. READ MORE

Binge eating disorder is a serious mental problem requiring psychiatric or psychological intervention. Psychiatric intervention carries with it the potential use of medication. Specialty clinics and practices are appropriate for the treatment of this disorder which can be life threatening.

I feel negative most of the time. Is it a sign to be worried about?

There is not enough information to give you an answer. Important issues like age, sex, family history, general health, habits, length of time negativity has been present have to READ MORE

There is not enough information to give you an answer. Important issues like age, sex, family history, general health, habits, length of time negativity has been present have to be considered. Once again, a visit to your LMD is a logical place to begin. A visit to a mental health specialist can also be a place to begin.

How should a person requiring psychiatric help be approached?

A lot depends on the kind of friendship you have. If it is not solid and previously tested, it would be wise to ask him about his feelings concerning psychiatric help rather than READ MORE

A lot depends on the kind of friendship you have. If it is not solid and previously tested, it would be wise to ask him about his feelings concerning psychiatric help rather than proposing it.

I discovered anti-depressant pills in my daughter's cupboard yesterday. How should I confront her on this?

Asking her while explaining how you found them should not be a confrontation. I don't know how the two of you have been interacting. Are there no other family members to involve? READ MORE

Asking her while explaining how you found them should not be a confrontation. I don't know how the two of you have been interacting. Are there no other family members to involve? Kindness and concern while respecting her proximity to adult independence particularly as part of family discussion can help reduce anger and shame, some usual components of "reacting badly."

Does my son need to go through some kind of counselling during my divorce proceedings?

It is not likely that he can be emotionally unaffected by the divorce. His father might be helpful in discussing the necessity for divorce, if willing and capable. The effect of READ MORE

It is not likely that he can be emotionally unaffected by the divorce. His father might be helpful in discussing the necessity for divorce, if willing and capable. The effect of the divorce can take a long time to manifest if ever. In any event, I would think that "watchful," respectful waiting is indicated. Reduction of rancor in the proceedings can help reduce trauma to your son.

Antidepressants and fibromyalgia

Consultation with a neuropsychiatrist could be helpful. You might suggest that to your doctor.

What is the reason for constant negative feelings in my daughter?

Adolescence is a very stressful time. The reorganization of brain connections can produce distractedness, apathy, anger, or depression. Consulting with her school health service READ MORE

Adolescence is a very stressful time. The reorganization of brain connections can produce distractedness, apathy, anger, or depression. Consulting with her school health service and her academic counselor (with her permission) can sometimes reveal too heavy a load on a student. Try to ensure with the aid of your LMD that there is no physical problem, if all these measures fail ask about psychiatric consultation.

Can BP medicines cause hallucination?

Consult with your LMD about the hypertensive vacillation, ask him or her to review the medication for potential side effects. Some agents can produce euphoria and other mental READ MORE

Consult with your LMD about the hypertensive vacillation, ask him or her to review the medication for potential side effects. Some agents can produce euphoria and other mental symptoms or unmask early dementia. Ask about psychiatric consultation.

Is depression a sign of madness?

This sounds like a classical "reactive" depression; it should still receive medical screening. Your brother's LMD may choose to follow up (in the absence of physical findings) READ MORE

This sounds like a classical "reactive" depression; it should still receive medical screening. Your brother's LMD may choose to follow up (in the absence of physical findings) with an antidepressant or may refer to a psychiatrist. You can best help by keeping track, supplying bridging info (appropriately) to family and supplying supplementary family history of illness including alcohol use or abuse. Your willingness to be of help is likely to be well received by all and sundry.

Why do I have stabbing pain in my lower abdomen?

Your best follow up is a visit to your LMD. A visit by referral or directly (if you are authorized) to an ob-gyn specialist seems indicated.

Are there any exercises for the brain?

Yes, there are many brain exercises; the better exercises seem to focus on improving ones capacity for categorizing objects and ideas. Games like checkers and chess also seem to READ MORE

Yes, there are many brain exercises; the better exercises seem to focus on improving ones capacity for categorizing objects and ideas. Games like checkers and chess also seem to be helpful. Improving categorization seems to help memory. Memory facilitation seems to directly improve brain function.

Can a psychiatrist help with my memory loss?

The psychiatric specialization that deals with that is called neuropsychiatry. A careful total evaluation (healthwise) is called for.

Vivid daydreams

Vivid daydreams may or may not be significant depending on your age, your dietary habits, whether or not you are on medications prescribed or otherwise (cannabinol,ethanol,etc.), READ MORE

Vivid daydreams may or may not be significant depending on your age, your dietary habits, whether or not you are on medications prescribed or otherwise (cannabinol,ethanol,etc.), the length of time they have been going on, your family history, your general health etc. A basic health workup is the place to start. It would be good to know what causes the symptom that you are trying to control.

Is bipolar disorder hereditary?

There is an hereditary predisposition in bipolar disorder development. You can avoid severe worsening of the tendency by avoiding alcohol and marijuana. Maintenance of general READ MORE

There is an hereditary predisposition in bipolar disorder development. You can avoid severe worsening of the tendency by avoiding alcohol and marijuana. Maintenance of general health is desirable and early psychiatric evaluation for advisability of prescriptive intervention is needed.

I think I started binge eating. Is it a mental disorder?

Once more it starts with your general health. Check with your usual doctor to query your general health. Are there new habits that accompany the bingeing (smoking, pot alcohol)? READ MORE

Once more it starts with your general health. Check with your usual doctor to query your general health. Are there new habits that accompany the bingeing (smoking, pot alcohol)? Are you under undue stress? As you can see there are many questions to be asked and answered. Binge eating is something not to be ignored. To conclude that it is purely mental disorder, complicated as that is, is premature. Perhaps family can help answer some relevant questions.
Dr.Thomas

Is negative thinking a disease?

Negative thinking is a sign or a symptom.Your general health should be your first concern. LMD assessment is called for. If a clean bill is given then the twin duo of anxiety and READ MORE

Negative thinking is a sign or a symptom.Your general health should be your first concern. LMD assessment is called for. If a clean bill is given then the twin duo of anxiety and depression need to be looked for via mental health assessment (psychiatry,psychology,social work) team. Depression often has negative thinking as an early sign. Negative rumination (obsessional) is beyond sign but is a symptom of depressive illness. Remember start with a general health assessment.

Privacy and confidentiality with caregivers

Discussion with the psychiatrist and with the patient is called for. A mutually agreed upon posture may be arrived at. Issues like the nature of your caregiver status (family or READ MORE

Discussion with the psychiatrist and with the patient is called for. A mutually agreed upon posture may be arrived at. Issues like the nature of your caregiver status (family or not), family concurrence, if you are not and state laws need to be considered. If property disposal and/or a will are at issue, legal consultation may be necessary.

Resources

Patient Login

Oops! There was a login error

Doctor Login

Oops! There was a login error

For Patients

For Doctors