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

My Latest Posts
My Answers

Covid-19 continued

I am continuing to write to FindaTopDoc and forwarding to Octogenarians. Those of you who have been following my posts have read about the vulnerability of our fee for service...

Goebel Speaking & Pseudoscience

I am continuing to speak simultaneously to the readers of FindaTopDoc and The Octogenarians hoping thereby to save lives by reaching as many as possible. Yesterday, I sent the...

Revisiting the function of government through the lens of Covid-19

I am continuing the practice of posting FindaTopdoc submissions to the Octogenarians blog simultaneously. The purpose is to disseminate information and access to information as...

Coronavirus recalled incidents revisited

As I note that the fired Captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is both retired and symptomatically ill, as well as testing positively for Covid-19, I recall more of the airstrip...

Coronavirus

There were two incidents that occurred yesterday that recapitulated earlier events in a déjà Vu manner. The first was the firing of the Captain of one of our two nuclear-powered...

Staggering Projections

As POTUS struts and frets upon the stage without Shakespearian dignity or grace, the predictions that are allowed to be heard are getting worse. Confirmed cases are close to 205,000...

Misinformation and disinformation about Covid-19

The fourth estate has taken on the task of keeping the general public apprised of the progress of the corona pandemic through the world and locally. This function is acknowledged...

The "China" Virus

POTUS insists on using the term "China" virus for Covid-19 and implies that Chinese concealment of the disease prevented the USA from being further ahead in prevention and treatment...

Not So Simple Things You Need To Know Continued

The number of people believed to be infected by covid-19 in the USA now exceeds earlier expectations by so much that mandatory stay at home orders have been issued by the governor...

Some not so simple things you need to know in order to evaluate what you are being told

The basic thing to be understood is that there is a real threat to life posed by Covid-19. This is primarily because it is a disease entirely new to our species. This means that...

Simple things you need to grasp about Covid-19

Two words that need to be understood are connectivity and superinfection. The first in pandemic terms is the measurable connectedness between humans who are subject to infection...

The Source of Simple Things to Know

Secretary of HUD, Ben Carson, a formerly renowned (pediatric? ) neurosurgeon irritably shared with George Stephanopolous of ABC news his dissatisfaction with Americans failing...

Following The Virus

What is known is much less than what is not known. We are closer to the truth if we talk about the known as what is likely to be true. What is known is that the coronavirus has...

Coronavirus Follow Up

There are now declared states of emergency all over the USA, Seattle, Portland, New York City, Washington D. C. , San Diego, Los Angeles, etc. What it means is that cases are...

Viral Update

The market decline continues as the first human trials in the U. S. have begun. Not too much can be expected from them short-term because of the small sample size and the six-month...

Covid-19 and the Global Economy Continued

Yesterday's 1,023 point decline in the DJI with accompanying similar jolts in the NASDAQ and world markets put us all on notice that the withdrawal of China's > 23% investiture...

Covid-19 and Global Trade Continued

The February 19th business beat section of the LA Times featured a Bloomberg news article on Global trade. The article stated that international commerce movement involving Chinese...

Coronavirus and the Economy

In 2003 when SARS struck, China accounted for approximately 8% of world commerce according to KCET's France24, but with COVID-19 China's share of world commerce is 19%. This is...

Pandemic Politics

The city of Wuhan and its associated province were put under new political leadership as China threw new, substantial resources into the fight against COVID-19. Street spraying...

Coronavirus Follow Up

The coronavirus, now called COVID-19, appears to be sweeping through China with roughly 50,000,000 people under quarantine according to Emily Baumgaertner, LA Times staff writer...

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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