Author: jennpierson

Return to news >

  Ranking Places Four Lindner Center Doctors at the Top Locally

The Frances and Craig Lindner Center of HOPE is pleased to announce the following doctors were ranked among the best doctors in the nation and among the top specialists in the Tri-State as indicated by The Best Doctors in America 2017-2018 database. As selected by their peers, 479 specialists from the Tristate were included in the listing published in Cincy Magazine’s December 2017/January 2018 issue:

Paul E. Keck, Jr., M.D., President-CEO, Lindner Center of HOPE, is a nationally renowned psychiatrist and researcher in Bipolar Disorder and psychopharmacology. He authored over 525 scientific papers in leading journals and was the 7th most cited scientist in the world published in the fields of psychiatry and psychology over the last decade.

Michael A. Keys, M.D., Dr. Keys is a regionally known and respected expert in Geriatric Psychiatry. He currently serves as a Senior Adult Psychiatrist (part-time) at the Lindner Center of HOPE. He is also a member of several national and international psychiatric associations and editorial boards.

Susan L. McElroy, M.D., A nationally recognized researcher and educator, Dr. McElroy is internationally known for her research in bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obesity, impulse control disorders and pharmacology. As Chief Research Officer for the Lindner Center of HOPE, she currently oversees multiple ongoing studies in bipolar disorder, major depression, binge eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

This is the seventh consecutive year these doctors were included in this database. All three physicians hold faculty appointments with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and are part of UC Physicians.

Joining the list for the second year is:

Brian P. Dowling, M.D., a highly regarded psychiatrist in the Cincinnati area, who focuses on maximizing time with his patients in order to truly understand their individual stories attempting to offer them hope and a sense of possibility. Dr. Dowling is the Director of Medical Education at Lindner Center of HOPE.

Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason is a comprehensive mental health center providing excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, outpatient services for substance abuse through HOPE Center North location and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

Return to news >

Parents of adolescents (ages 12 to 17) struggling with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa are often on a difficult journey as they attempt to care for their child. This journey can often cause parents to question their parenting and their ability to successfully help their loved one. The Proximi Recovery Eating Disorder Program (PREP) is uniquely designed to meet the daily needs of these struggling families through home, school and community assistance from a trained therapist.

Evidence-based research indicates that Family Based Therapy (Maudsley) is the most-effective first-line treatment for adolescents fighting an eating disorder (EDO). This type of therapy works to keep the family unit together. PREP provides committed families access to a therapist every day of the week to provide consultation, education, training and support through a combination of office visits, phone calls and in-home and family meal sessions. This program will allow the therapist to join the family as a consultant in the battle against the eating disorder, while empowering parents to manage authentic situations that arise. This intensive 24-week program includes:

  • Initial 2-hour evaluation
  • Initial 1-hour nutrition assessment and meal planning with registered dietitian
  • One 50-minute office-session per week with the therapist
  • One 1.5 to 2 hour in-home mealtime session per week
  • One 50-minute in-school or in-community mealtime session per week
  • One daily phone consultation with parents ( 5 to 10 minutes a day, up to 60 minutes weekly)
  • One 30-minute follow-up registered dietitian session per month (5 sessions total)
  • As warranted, consultation/collaboration with all pertinent patient care providers (ie primary care physician, psychiatrist, school personnel, dietitian, or other specialists)
  • A protocol pamphlet and other education materials and assignments
  • Pre and post testing to measure change
  • Post program follow up sessions, three 30-minute sessions at 6, 12 and 18 months post –program
  • Assistance in obtaining follow-up services in traditional outpatient therapy, if needed

The Proximi Recovery Eating Disorder Program provides comprehensive EDO treatment that involves every core component of the adolescent and family’s life. This private-pay program is intended to answer the quest for support from those families feeling at a loss when their adolescent is discharged to home amidst a pattern of revolving doors between admissions and discharges. With proper education and training, families can work together to prevent readmissions and successfully manage the eating disorder in the home.

For more information or to schedule an initial evaluation, call Scott K. Bullock, MSW, LISW-S, CEDS, PREP Founder and Therapist at 513-536-0724.

Return to blog >

Nicole Mori, RN, MSN, APRN-BC

Research Advanced Practice Nurse, Research Institute at Lindner Center of HOPE

Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 mg/kg, remains one of the main contributors to preventable disease and health care costs. It is also associated with increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, in addition to lower quality of life and functional impairment.   Patients with psychiatric illness are 50 percent more likely to be obese than the general population.  The higher rates of obesity are contributing directly and indirectly to the marked reduction in life expectancy among those with mental illness.  In addition to being an important medical comorbidity, obesity has been associated with a more severe course of psychiatric illness, lower health-related quality of life, poor self-esteem, stigma, and discrimination.  Obesity, like mental illness, is a complex, chronic condition requiring long term management.  The treatment of overweight psychiatric patients poses unique challenges and both the psychiatric illness and the weight problem must be targets for treatment in order to achieve optimal outcomes.

The strong relationship between obesity and psychiatric illness is evidenced by the high prevalence of obesity among drug-naïve patients. Commonly-occurring symptoms such as psychomotor retardation, inactivity, hypersomnia, increased appetite, and hyperphagia are thought to contribute to weight gain.  Furthermore, binge eating behavior, eating unusually large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control over eating, is very common in people with psychiatric illness.    Binge eating behavior is a risk factor for obesity, and when present in psychiatrically ill people, is associated with greater psychiatric and medical morbidity.  Lastly, treatment with most mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and some antidepressants is associated with significant weight gain, which renders them less acceptable to patients and leads to discontinuation.

Weight management poses unique challenges to psychiatric patients. As we have seen, both the behaviors associated with psychiatric illness and the use of certain psychotropic medications, contribute to weight gain.  In addition, the symptoms and cognitive deficits associated with mental illness are a barrier to participation in behavioral weight loss interventions.  Finally, the use of most weight control drugs is limited by their psychiatric side effects and their interactions with psychotropic medications.  Obesity and excessive weight gain place a disproportionate burden on psychiatric patients’ health, complicate adherence to treatment, and reduce quality of life.  Treatment of psychiatric illness needs to include weight management strategies and a greater integration of behavioral and medical care.

Clinicians can help improve outcomes by maintaining a focus on both the psychiatric condition and the weight problem when treating this population. First of all, regular monitoring of psychiatric symptoms should be accompanied by monitoring of weight, BMI, vital signs as well as metabolic lab parameters (e.g., lipids and glucose).  Assessing for binge eating behavior or an eating disorder is important because additional referrals and greater integration of behavioral and medical care may be indicated for patients with disordered eating.

Prescribers can mitigate weight gain associated with psychotropic medications by selecting medications with lower potential for weight and metabolic disturbances whenever possible.   Knowledge of the pharmacology of obesity and eating disorders is helpful in guiding treatment choices and avoiding adverse events.  Some FDA-approved weight-loss agents have antidepressant effects, and some off-label adjunctive medications may be beneficial to depressed patients who binge eat.  Treating mental health patients with FDA-approved weight-loss drugs requires caution due to the potential effects on psychiatric symptoms as well as drug-drug interactions.  For instance, in treating patients with bipolar disorder, medications with lower risk for mood de-stabilization should be used and most medications should be avoided in patients with hypomanic, manic or mixed symptoms.

Although new weight-loss medications have come to market in recent years, there is no research to inform their use in mental health patients.   Clinical trials typically exclude people with a psychiatric illness and those taking psychotropic medication.  Research to find effective weight-control medications that are safe for this population is greatly needed.

 

References

Allison, D. B., Newcomer, J. W., Dunn, A. L., Blumenthal, J. A., Fabricatore, A. N., Daumit, G. L., … & Alpert, J. E. (2009). Obesity among those with mental disorders: a National Institute of Mental Health meeting report.American journal of preventive medicine, 36(4), 341-350.

McElroy, S. L., Crow, S., Biernacka, J. M., Winham, S., Geske, J., Barboza, A. B. C., … & Frye, M. A. (2013). Clinical phenotype of bipolar disorder with comorbid binge eating disorder. Journal of affective disorders, 150(3), 981-986.

McElroy, S. L., Guerdjikova, A. I., Mori, N., & Keck Jr, P. E. (2016). Managing Comorbid Obesity and Depression through Clinical Pharmacotherapies. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, (just-accepted).

The Research Institute at the Lindner Center of HOPE is conducting a 40 week, placebo-controlled study of liraglutide, a novel weight loss agent, in patients with bipolar disorder with a BMI ≥30 or with a weight-related medical comorbidity and a BMI ≥27. For additional information, contact Anna Guerdjikova @ 513-536-0721. [email protected]

Return to events >

(Mason, OH– September 21, 2016) Lindner Center of HOPE is sponsoring CincyStorytellers:  Addiction and recovery – a night of live storytelling Wednesday, November 16, 2016 starting at 7 p.m. at The Carnegie in Covington, Kentucky.

All storytellers who will take the mic have one thing in common — they have stories to share from waging their battle against the heroin epidemic in our region.

The sponsorship of this event by Lindner Center of HOPE means that there is no cost for tickets, but they must be reserved in advance. Tickets are available at https://tickets.cincinnati.com/e/cincystorytellers-addiction-and-recovery.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Storytelling begins at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

 

Local Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Lindner Center of HOPE’s HOPE Center North location is dedicated to outpatient treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The location offers comprehensive assessment, individual and group therapy, intensive outpatient treatment and medication-assisted treatment in Mason, Ohio. The mission is to meet people where they are and treat them with care, compassion and comprehensive treatment methods aimed at lasting recovery.

At the Lindner Center of HOPE, it is understood that addiction is a disease. When struggling with Substance use disorders (SUDs), like so many medical conditions, a patient often needs a combination of medical care and professional support to manage it.

At HOPE Center North there is a strong team of dedicated addiction specialists who create individualized plans for each patient.  Plans may include medication-assisted treatment, therapy, support groups, combined with other comprehensive methods, like treating for possible underlying issues, such as depression or anxiety.

Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason is a comprehensive mental health center providing excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, outpatient services for substance abuse through HOPE Center North location and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

Return to events >

candleSeptember 10, 2016 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Lindner Center of HOPE, in support of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, is encouraging everyone to participate in recognizing the effect of suicide and help prevent suicide by lighting a candle at 8 p.m. on September 10. The candle will be in remembrance of those lost to suicide and for the survivors of suicide. A candle may be lit by a window and/or an image of a candle can be posted on social media.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many make a suicide attempt. The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has tried to take his or her own life. This is happening in spite of the fact that suicide is preventable.

More facts about suicide can be found at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs398/en/.

Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason is a comprehensive mental health center providing excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, outpatient services for substance abuse through HOPE Center North location and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

 

####

Return to news >

GoldSeal_transparentLindner Center of HOPE today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Opioid Treatment Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.

Lindner Center of HOPE, specifically in its Outpatient Addictions Program, HOPE Center North (4483 State Route 42, Mason), underwent a rigorous onsite survey on May 19 and 20, 2016. During the review, compliance with behavioral health care standards related to several areas, including care, treatment, and services; environment of care; leadership; and screening procedures for the early detection of imminent harm was evaluated. Onsite observations and interviews also were conducted.

Established in 1969, The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program currently accredits more than 2,250 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services within a variety of settings across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs.

“Joint Commission accreditation provides behavioral health care organizations with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas related to the care of individuals and their families,” said Tracy Griffin Collander, LCSW, executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We commend (name of organization) for its efforts to elevate the standard of care it provides and to instill confidence in the community it serves.”

“Lindner Center of HOPE is pleased to receive Behavioral Health Opioid Treatment Accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Paul E. Keck, Jr., MD, President and CEO, Lindner Center of HOPE. “Staff from across the organization continue to work together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve care for those in our community. We believe this sets us apart in our approach in the fight against heroin and other opioids.”

The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and individuals and their families. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

###

The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Lindner Center of HOPE offers comprehensive outpatient services for the treatment of substance use disorders at its HOPE Center North location, 4483 State Route 42, Mason. Included in these services are outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). MAT is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that when treating substance use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful.

 

Return to news >

Empowering an adolescent struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) with the skills they need to manage their OCD can have a profoundly positive impact. Williams House at Lindner Center of HOPE has enhanced a specialized assessment and treatment track for adolescents suffering with OCD. This track focuses on creating a strong collaborative alliance in order to engage the adolescent in the difficult work involved in OCD treatment. Clinicians are experienced in making the tasks of hierarchy completion and exposure/ response prevention rewarding and fun.

Williams House also has expertise in working with complex co-morbidity coupled with OCD. Given the individualization of the program to meet the needs of the adolescent, the duration of stay is customized with a minimum stay of 14 days, with most staying 4 to 6 weeks.

This individualized residential OCD treatment track may begin with a Williams House Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment to:

  • Clarify diagnosis (OCD symptoms are not always clear and sometimes may be masking other diagnoses)
  • Evaluate treatment readiness
  • Introduce Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
  • Develop a treatment hierarchy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through integrated Williams House programming
  • Illness management and recovery groups

Many individuals begin the track with a confirmed diagnosis, and may not need a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. Therefore, Williams House at Lindner Center of HOPE’s treatment track for OCD will work with individuals and their families to take progressive and proven steps to free themselves from the grasp of OCD and other anxiety conditions through a customized treatment plan, which includes:

  • The development of their treatment hierarchy and establishment of their completion goal
  • Tailored intensive treatment that combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication treatment with specific emphasis and continuous opportunities to practice Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). In addition to 3 hours of structured ERP, patients engage in ERP experiences throughout the day and participate in more than 5 additional hours of therapy daily.
  • Individualized therapy
  • Self-directed work
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through integrated Williams House programming
  • Illness management and recovery groups
  • Patient and family education

Admissions specialists and clinicians are available to confidentially discuss and assess each individual’s unique circumstances. Call (513) 536-0537 / (888) 537-4229 or visit Williamslindner.org.

Return to news >

Lindner Center of HOPE is pleased to announce that Stacey Reese, MSW, LISW-S, has been named Program Manager of SibcyStacey M. Reese, MSW, LISW-S House at Lindner Center of HOPE. The program manager has 24-hour responsibility for high quality clinical care and services on the Sibcy milieu for Sibcy House patients. The position works collaboratively with Sibcy team members and other departments within the organization to assure appropriate admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge of Sibcy House patients. Program planning, development and implementation and program and clinical outcomes are major areas of focus for the program manager. Ms. Reese is responsible for managing the overall patient experience as well as relationships with internal and external program stakeholders.

Ms. Reese has served the last several years at Lindner Center of HOPE as manager of inpatient social work, recreation therapy, and spiritual care. She has nearly 20 years of social work experience.

Reese earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree from the Ohio State University. She is a licensed supervising independent social worker.

Sibcy House at Lindner Center of HOPE near Cincinnati, Ohio, is a specialized and intimate unit, offering comprehensive diagnostic assessment and treatment for patients 18 and older, suffering with complex, co-morbid mental health issues.

Return to events >

Lindner Center of HOPE is competing against other charitable non-profit organizations to recruit blood donors for Hoxworth Blood Center through Bleed for a Cause. The top organization who earns the most points in the competition will win $10,000 for their organization. Lindner Center of HOPE would use the dollars support their efforts to provide HOPE to those struggling with mental health and addiction issues.

The competition helps boost blood donations for Hoxworth during a typically strained time in inventory, while giving another local charity the opportunity to win $10,000 to support their own efforts.

Cincinnati uses approximately 80,000 units of blood per year. Giving blood assures that there’s a ready supply of blood in our community hospitals.

The competition runs July 18th through August 13th.

Lindner Center of HOPE has teamed up with the City of Mason and Assurex Health in an effort to recruit the most donors and win the competition. Hoxworth will have a van on site at Mason’s Municipal Building from 11 am – 1pm on Tuesday, August 9th and from 3 pm – 5 pm at Lindner Center of HOPE’s front parking lot.

Please click here to register for a spot on August 9th. If interested donors cannot make this date, they may donate at any neighborhood location. All donors should tell the Hoxworth representative that they’re donating blood on behalf of LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE. “No Say, No Pay” – Type Code A740 on your Hoxworth donor form.

Contact Amie Kocher at 536-0328 with questions.

Remember to indicate Lindner Center of HOPE as your charity of choice at your appointment – Code A740!

Return to news >

Lindner Center of HOPE surveyed referral sources for its many programs and services in June 2016. Results of that survey indicated a high rate of satisfaction from those referring patients to Lindner Center of HOPE for mental health and addiction assessment and treatment. Approximately 130 referrers took the time to respond to the survey.

An average of 31 percent of referrers gave a score of 5 (on a 5-point scale with five being the highest) when asked how likely they would be to refer again to Lindner Center of HOPE. The group, on average, rated the value of the patient stay/experience 4.6 on the 5-point scale. Also, of note, was an average score of 4.5 when asked about their satisfaction with the care given to their patient.

Overall, scores for all questions in all services (inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, outpatient, intensive outpatient and substance use disorder treatment) averaged 4.4 on a 5-point scale. With 5 indicating the highest satisfaction.

Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason is a comprehensive mental health center providing excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, outpatient services for substance abuse through HOPE Center North location and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

 

####