Flaco Guapo Media

SAN ANGELO – “The 4 F’s: Frequency, function, feeling pain and fatal,” “Diagnosis: A Double-Edged Sword,” “Recent Advances in Treatment of Depression” and “Myths of Insanity Defense” were topics presented by four professionals in their panel discussion, titled “Myths in Mental Health” that took place last week on the campus of Angelo State University’s Houston Harte University Center. The two-hour presentation was in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May.



The first panelist was Dr. Drew Curtis, ASU assistant professor of psychology. Dr. Curtis’ “Understanding Abnormality: The 4 F’s” dealt with: frequency, function, feeling pain and fatality. “Frequency impairs your functioning, your social relationships, etc. Everyone is sad; depression however is more than sad, there is a frequency to the point where the person is not getting out of bed or not showing up for work. With depression there is a high risk for suicide.” Dr. Drew’s hope was to provide mental health awareness and to educate the public.” “For me it’s to restore humanity to people who suffer with disorders.”

The second panelist was Mark Rehm, director of ASU Counseling Services. In Rehm’s presentation, “Diagnosis: A Double-Edged Sword”, he discussed one of the myths which is chemical imbalance theory. “80 percent of the population believes that depression is mostly caused by chemical imbalance.” Rehm’s goal that evening was to provide people who have been diagnosed or experienced mental health struggles, primarily anxiety or depression, with the hope that there are things that they can do to change their lives for the better; such as getting good night’s sleep, exercise, good nutrition, supplements, medications also.” “There is hope and there is healing for you,” said Rehm.

The third member on the panel was Dr. John Snuggs, private practice in adult psychiatry. His presentation was on “Recent Advances in Treatment of Depression: Special K and Magnetism.” Earlier last month, March 5, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first truly new medication for major depression in decades. The drug is a nasal spray called esketamine, derived from ketamine, per https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/ketamine-depression/
“Its’ efficacy, especially in patients with treatment resistant depression, far exceeds any other options we have today” Dr. Snuggs said. With this ketamine medication, the patients’ response was about 50 percent to 70 significantly better. Also, what is unique about the medication is that with traditional antidepressants you typically have to wait four weeks to see benefit with the medication stated Snuggs. “With ketamine administered, patients see results within four hours.” And maximum benefits within a day, he concluded.



The fourth panelist was Dr. Jarvis Wright, a private forensic, who presented “Myths of the Insanity Defense”
In Dr. Wright’s lengthy remarks, he mentioned the M'Naghten Rule. “It is a test applied to determine whether a person accused of a crime was sane at the time of its commission and, therefore, criminally responsible for the wrongdoing; that every man is to be presumed to be sane, and ... that to establish a defense on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was laboring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.”