• Articles

    Hypothyroidism: An Update

    DAVID Y. GAITONDE, KEVIN D. ROWLEY, LORI B. SWEENEY

    Hypothyroidism affects approximately one in 300 persons in the United States. If untreated, it can contribute to hypertension, infertility, and cognitive impairment. A serum thyroid-stimulating hormone test is the best method of assessing thyroid function. Most patients with...

    Rational Use of Opioids for Management of Chronic Nonterminal Pain

    DANIEL BERLAND, PHILLIP RODGERS

    Although opioid prescribing for chronic nonterminal pain has increased in recent years, evidence for its long-term effectiveness is weak and its potential for harm is significant. Before prescribing opioids, physicians should perform a biopsychosocial evaluation and devise a...

    Managing Grief and Depression at the End of Life

    ERIC W. WIDERA, SUSAN D. BLOCK

    Psychological distress is common in patients who are terminally ill. Physicians should distinguish uncomplicated grief reactions from more disabling psychiatric disorders, such as major depression. Although pharmacologic interventions are not warranted for uncomplicated grief...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP, Others Fight for GME Residency Slots and Urge CMS to Refine Proposed Rule | Collaboration Provides Physicians Assistance with EHR System Selection | USPSTF Recommendation Spurs Decrease in Mammography Rates, Says the Mayo Clinic | Health Coaching Lowers Patients'...

    Editorials

    Differentiating Grief and Depression in Patients Who Are Seriously Ill

    VYJEYANTHI S. PERIYAKOIL

    Differentiating between grief and depression in a patient who is seriously ill is important because the management strategies for each condition are different. It can be difficult to distinguish between depression and grief because they have overlapping symptoms (i.e.,...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Epidural Analgesia for Labor Pain

    NATHAN HITZEMAN, SHANNON CHIN

    Compared with other types of analgesia or no analgesia, epidurals offered better pain relief, but were associated with a longer second stage of labor and increased risk of instrumental vaginal delivery, maternal fever, and oxytocin (Pitocin) administration. There were no...

    Close-ups

    A Better Day Tomorrow

    YALDA JABBARPOUR, IRIS LEVINER

    The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

    COMMENTARY

    YALDA JABBARPOUR, IRIS LEVINER

    Understanding R.H.'s personal narrative has helped me provide better care. After learning the struggles R.H. and her family had been through, I began to see that her chronic medical conditions, especially her chronic pain, were greatly influenced by the social and emotional...

    Photo Quiz

    Large Growth on the Face

    ALEKSANDAR JANKOVIĆ, IVANA BINIĆ, GEORGI GOCEV

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Risk Stratification of Children with Bronchiolitis

    MARK H. EBELL

    Bronchiolitis is a common and sometimes serious viral lower respiratory tract infection in young children.

    Practice Guidelines

    AAN Updates Guideline on Treatment of Essential Tremor

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    Propranolol and primidone (Mysoline) are the most commonly used therapies for essential tremor, but these agents are ineffective for up to one-half of patients. In 2005, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) published recommendations for the use of other therapies for...

    Letters to the Editor

    Effects of Bariatric Surgeries on Obesity and Comorbidities

    Case Report: Bupivacaine Toxicity with Dorsal Penile Block for Circumcision

    Tips from Other Journals

    Which Weight-Loss Programs Are Most Effective?

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Amoxicillin Does Not Improve Symptoms of Acute Rhinosinusitis

    CARMINE DIMARTINO

    Exercise Reduces Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Illness

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Treatment of Grief and Depression at the End of Life

    If you are very sick or are nearing the end of life, you may have some losses. You may lose your health, wealth, independence, or close relationships with your friends and family. All of these losses can be hard to cope with. It's normal to have feelings of grief from these...

    Corrections

    Correction



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


    Tag Legend

    Legend

    CME Continuing Medical Education Credit
    POC Point-of-Care Resource
    FREE Free Access
    Alg Algorithm
    DDx Differential Diagnosis
    PtEd Patient Education