By Dr. Alex Dimitriu, July 2, 2024

In psychiatry and medicine in general, sleep should be considered a vital sign. Almost every psychiatric condition, whether anxiety or bipolar disorder, ADHD or dementia, is substantially affected by lack of quality sleep. Poor sleep undermines impulse control, making us “bingey,” settling for quick fixes over more meaningful goals; harder stuff takes perseverance and discipline—that is, impulse control. More than a decade of work as a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist has taught me that helping people sleep better is most of the cure.

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By Suzy Hernandez, June 27, 2024

According to Dr. Dimitriu, depending on the materials, cooling pillows can improve comfort. Cooling pillows work to help manage temperature and promote a cooler sleeping environment. They generally use materials to absorb and pull away heat from the body, like a gel layer or memory foam.  

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By Sydni Ellis, June 12, 2024

By Alpana Mohta, MD, June 11, 2024

Board-certified psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, MD, spoke with MDLinx about the prevalence of sexual dysfunction with SSRIs: “The likelihood of SSRIs inducing sexual dysfunction is about 50% while being treated.” However, he notes, in some cases, this issue persists even after stopping the medication; this is known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD).

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By Rachel MacPherson, June 5, 2024

Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is dual board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, explains parasomnias are disorders of confusional arousal, meaning that the person is half awake and half asleep when they act out — which can range from sleepwalking to sleep talking and night terrors. “It can be thought of as anything you might do almost “automatically” while half asleep,” he says. Generally, though, parasomnias tend to be more simple behaviors, such as incoherent sleep talking.

Adding sleep apnea to the mix can increase the risks of engaging in unwanted unconscious behaviors. Anything that disrupts sleep, including sleep apnea, pain, or noise, can cause confusional arousal, says Dr. Dimitriu. 

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By SingleCare Team, May 20, 2024

“Because of its higher risk status, the government, your doctor, and your pharmacist will monitor the use of these medications more closely. Refills cannot be ordered, you will need an ID to get this medicine, and you will also need to see your doctor in person at least every 3–6 months,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Some doctors will also require drug testing to make sure you are not using other drugs when you are prescribed a potentially addictive stimulant like Adderall.”

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By Toketemu Ohwovoriole

May 06, 2024

Sadism is a form of sexual expression that is centered around power dynamics. Mutual consent and trust are essential to a healthy form of this sexual interaction. With mutual consent and respect for boundaries, sadism can allow a healthy exploration of fantasies, power dynamics, intimacy, as well as emotional release, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified psychiatry and sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine.

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