Ashok Bharucha

Psychiatrist | Psychiatry

143 Edgewood Drive W South Abington Township PA, 18411 Show map

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About

Dr. Ashok Bharucha is a psychiatrist practicing in South Abington Township, PA. Dr. Bharucha is a medical doctor specializing in the care of mental health patients. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Bharucha diagnoses and treats mental illnesses. Dr. Bharucha may treat patients through a variety of methods including medications, psychotherapy or talk therapy, psychosocial interventions and more, depending on each individual case. Different medications that a psychiatrist might prescribe include antidepressants, antipsychotic mediations, mood stabilizers, stimulants, sedatives and hypnotics. Dr. Bharucha treats conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, bipolar disorders, personality disorders, insomnia, ADD and other mental illnesses.

Education and Training

Penn State College of Medicine MD 1992

Harvard Medical School Residency in adult psychiatry 1996

U of WA School of Medicine Fellowship, geropsychiatry 1997

Bread Loaf School of English MA 2017

Board Certification

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Provider Details

MaleEnglish

Ashok Bharucha

Ashok Bharucha's Expert Contributions

My Answers

What can I take instead of antidepressants?
Proper diagnostic evaluation is key. Psychotherapy is effective for mild to moderate levels of depression. Ruling out medical causes of mood changes and the effects of substance abuse would be important. Transcranial magnetic resonance is also effective for mild to moderate depression. There are other neuromodulation treatments that are on the horizon. READ MORE
Does being obese affect your mental health?
The mind and body are very intricately linked in their functioning. What happens in the body affects the mind and vice versa. For example, obesity could lead to diabetes which is linked with higher rates of mental health issues. Likewise, obesity could lead to sleep disorders such as sleep apnea which could also undermine your mental health. There may be many other metabolic and hormonal changes related to obesity that could affect mental health. The mind and body should be treated as two sides of the same coin, and both require full attention for the best results. READ MORE
Can a pilot take antidepressants?
I don't know what the FAA regulations might be, but I don't see why you would not be able to have a condition treated with medications which for the vast majority of people are quite safe. READ MORE
What does a psychiatrist do for alcohol addiction?
First and foremost, a psychiatrist would work with your medical providers to ensure that there are no medical complications from alcohol use that need to be managed. A psychiatrist would have medication treatment options for alcohol addiction such as Naltrexone or Acamprosate to hopefully prevent the drinking from spiraling out of control. If there are coocurring psychiatric conditions such as depression, those would be treated as well. Most important would be individual and group therapy such as AA. READ MORE
Should I see a psychiatrist for ADHD?
A detailed history and cognitive evaluation by a psychologist would be a good first step. READ MORE
What is considered the most effective treatment for alcohol use disorder?
Proper treatment requires a comprehensive approach, to which involvement in AA and individual therapy is key. There are medications available that can help prevent alcohol binges from spiraling out of control, however, the key is always individual and group therapy. AA is very successful for those who are committed to the process and identify a sponsor with whom they have a good relationship. Co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, or medical problems should be evaluated and managed as well. READ MORE
What can a psychiatrist do for obesity?
The question, I think, is much broader than what a psychiatrist may be able to do. There are certain mental health providers who are often involved in behavioral and lifestyle management issues, along with physicians specializing in the management of obesity. Psychiatrists can certainly offer input regarding mental health problems that may be adversely affecting the management of obesity, and their treatment. From time to time, an obesity specialist will prefer that if a psychostimulant medication such as a controlled amphetamine formulation is prescribed, a psychiatrist be involved in its management. Due to the severe shortage of psychiatrists, however, finding access to them is often quite difficult. READ MORE
What is the best therapy for ADHD?
In my experience, many individuals with ADHD benefit from a coach who can assist with organization and time management skills. In terms of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches are probably most applicable. There are many excellent books on the topic as well, all widely available. Russell Barkley's works are highly thought of, but there are many others, including audiobook options for those who might focus better with audio than reading. READ MORE
What medication treats both depression and anxiety?
Virtually all available antidepressants treat both anxiety and depression - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), as well as older classes of medications. READ MORE
Sleep issues?
There are certainly many sedative-hypnotics, however, the key is a thorough understanding of the sleep problem. If the issue is chronic, a formal sleep medicine consult would be very prudent. Once the nature of the problem is clear, s/he would be able to develop a treatment plan with you. READ MORE
Can antidepressants cause health issues?
Antidepressants can certainly lead to weight gain for some individuals, and sexual side effects are common, but reversible, once an individual stops taking them. In the elderly, falls and fractures are a concern. Serotonergic antidepressants may increase risk of bleeding. It's important to point out though that depression and anxiety have serious adverse medical consequences of their own, and their treatment probably does more good than harm. Nevertheless, the risks and benefits must always be balanced at the individual level. READ MORE
Do antidepressants help with mood swings?
Mood swings must be properly evaluated for diagnostic clarity. For example, if the underlying problem appears to be bipolar disorder, antidepressants may exacerbate the problem. Many individuals with major depression do, however, experience irritability and anger and these may benefit from an antidepressant, but the key is a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the mood swings. READ MORE
Can you live a full life on antidepressants?
Yes. Most individuals tolerate antidepressants well. Most side effects are a temporary nuisance. Depression is a recurrent condition for many, even with active antidepressant treatment, so properly supervised maintenance treatment would be very sound. READ MORE
What drugs are used to treat addiction?
Several are commonly used. Naltrexone may be the most common. Acamprosate is also available. Some decades ago, Antabuse was used to produce a very unpleasant response to alcohol (nausea, vomiting, flushing, etc), but rarely used today. There is some indication that Topamax may have a role to play in managing alcohol use disorders too. READ MORE
I was prescribed Adderall when I was 12, could I get it again at 22?
About half (and likely more) of individuals diagnosed with ADHD during childhood continue to have persistent symptoms as adults. Hyperactivity tends to dissipate over adolescence, but focus problems tend to persist, and in some case, get worse as the demands of adult life exceed the person's ability to cope. Your doctor would probably want an ADHD assessment from a psychologist to ascertain if you still have problematic symptoms, but yes, stimulants are prescribed to adults. READ MORE
Can medications help with anxiety attacks?
Yes, antidepressants are usually the first line treatment if they are frequent and severe, along with cognitive behavioral therapy. For milder attacks that are infrequent, cognitive behavioral therapy alone may be effective. In addition to antidepressants, benzodiazepine anxiety medications are sometimes prescribed, but these have the potential for developing tolerance and abuse, so they should not be used as first line treatment, at least on a long-term basis. READ MORE
Is psychotherapy good for anger management?
Yes, most emotional and behavioral health issues require some component of psychotherapy, and when indicated, medications. The key with any mental health condition is a comprehensive evaluation of medical, psychological, and social factors that may be contributing to the picture. Without a clear, thorough understanding of the contributing factors, it would be hard to properly target the treatment. For example, one would not want to miss thyroid disease presenting as depression or heavy cannabis use as the precipitant for a psychosis. READ MORE
How do I stop panic attacks at night?
As with any psychiatric symptoms, a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation is a first step to generate the list of possible causes of the problem. If it truly is panic attacks, cognitive-behavioral therapy or certain types of medications may be helpful. An underlying sleep disorder such as sleep apnea would need to be ruled out as well. READ MORE
How long should I drink antidepressants for depression?
The first bout of major depression should be treated anywhere from 6 to 9 months at a minimum after symptoms resolve. The 2nd bout should be treated for at least 2 years, and 3 or more bouts means the risk of relapse without medications will be very high, and medication(s) should be continued indefinitely unless it stops working or you run into major side effects or other problems. READ MORE
How do you stop panic attacks without medication?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness based approaches are likely the best option. Like all conditions, it would be prudent to have the panic attacks properly evaluated, medically and psychiatrically, to be sure some other underlying problem is not being missed. Alcohol and substance use could also trigger panic and other symptoms, so a full diagnostic workup would be the first step. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

psychiatrygeriatric psychiatryDementia careTreatment of mood, anxiety, trauma disorders

Awards

Best Doctors in America 2009 Best Doctors

Professional Memberships

American association for geriatric
American Psychiatric Association
American geriatric society
Neuroscience Education Institute

Fellowships

University of Washington School of Medicine

Ashok Bharucha's Practice location

143 Edgewood Drive W -
South Abington Township, PA 18411

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Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

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