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

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My Answers

Following Coronavirus

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Wuhan isn't Nineveh

WHO has decided that the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan and at least five and probably eight other Chinese cities is an epidemic in China, an evolving epidemic worldwide and a global...

Coronavirus Follow Up

The number of cases of the Wuhan strain of coronavirus showing up around the world is increasing geometrically. At least 1000 cases are reported, unofficially, because of the...

R.I.P. Kobe & Follow Up on the Corona Virus from Wuhan

The death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter along with seven others reminds us of the risks involved with technology. Why a commercial helicopter was flying in weather that had...

The Blue Planet Strikes Back?

The United Nations General Assembly adopting the recommendations of the World Health Organization, has announced through its Scandinavian female leader, a commitment to three hundred...

Septicemia and Infectious Disease

As has been mentioned, Torrance Memorial Hospital sent out an excellent discussion of septicemia in its Advantage newsletter. It is clear that the management of this entity in...

Disquieting Random News

It must be that your basic mindset substantially affects what comes to your mind as well as what you do with the information. Ostensibly random reading and TV, excluding war talk,...

Adaptation and Survival: Following up on Ebola, Antibiotic Resistance, and Climate Change

As the earth warms, subjecting areas to fire and flood, Permian frost gives up animal tissue which is being studied for genomic structure which in turn supplies clues to historical...

Antibiotic Resistance, Immune System Evasion and You

Have you seen a doctor or a health care professional recently? Did he or she shake hands? Did he or she inconspicuously or blatantly use hand sanitizer thereafter or washed his...

Antibiotic Resistance and Alzheimer's; A Possible Bane to the Elderly and Immune System Challenge Link to Schizophrenia a Possible Bane to the Young

A special report in the November issue of Psychiatric Times, reported on new findings from prospective studies which were presented at the 2019 Alzheimer's Association International...

Hide and Seek and Your Health

The many threats to our health and well-being (our health equity) encounter our last line of defense, our immune system. Whether the pathogen is a virus, bacterium, fungus, parasite,...

The Law of Unintended Consequences & Ecologic Change

I ended my last post with a hooray for Yale's double overtime win over Harvard on reunion weekend. The post had to do with evolutionary response of living or near living organisms...

Internal Threats to the Future of Homo Sapiens

Biodiversity and population control are the mechanisms employed by living organisms and near living organisms, mostly proteinaceous, to cope with and adapt to ecological change....

Pandemics, Epidemics and the Ecology Continued: With Some Long Overdue Acknowledgements

There are new outbreaks of febrile intestinal illness involving many states east of the Rockies. The CDC indicates packaged vegetable produce from areas involved in prior flooding...

Backtracking Homo Sapiens into the Future

As we try to control global warming and environmental deterioration, information from the past is producing fresh insights. First described in 1935, according to Bruce Bower in...

Infection and Mental Illness Link

The November 2019 issue of Psychiatric Times features an article by Brian Miller, MD, PhD, MPH titled, "Examining the Link Between the Immune System and Schizophrenia. " This article...

Follow Up on Ecology and Disease Spread

We have discussed in prior posts the relationship between climate change, environmental alterations, and species and vector adaptation, producing endemic to epidemic disease with...

There's No Business Like Government

Michael Heltzie in the October 26th issue of the Los Angeles Times attacks the premise that government should be run like a business. He gives the current wildfire crisis in California...

Truths and Consequences of Ecology with uninformed Astrophysical Speculation

Ecological disasters are sweeping the USA. In the wake of climate change pursuant to global warming, here in California flash fires are burgeoning both North and South. Firefighters,...

Follow Up on Opioid Toxicity

As the California court system delves deeper into the death of Tyler Skaggs, the Los Angeles pitcher whose death several months ago stunned the team, organized professional baseball,...

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.

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