John Casada, M.D., Ph.D. is an associate professor and psychiatrist at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He has been in academic psychiatry since 1997. He did his psychiatry residency at the University of Michigan before joining the faculty of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he taught medical students, trained psychiatry residents, performed research on posstraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and treated patients in his anxiety disorder clinic. Dr. Casada is currently teaching undergraduate and graduate psychology students and seeing patients at Abilene Christian University and in his private clinic.
This blog is intended to be a forum for all things related to mental health and emotional well-being. This includes the impact of physical, spiritual, psychodynamic, cognitive, and existential factors on our abilities to live fulfilling and meaningful lives.
The Alienist's Blog 
Hi Dr. Casada,
I just found your blog today since someone accessed mine from your page, and notice you have my blog on your links (Family Dysfunction and Mental Health).
I’ve enjoyed what you I’ve read so far on your blog, so I’m going to put an link to yours on mine.
Cheers,
David Allen, M.D.
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By: David M. Allen, M.D. on July 24, 2011
at 1:10 am
Thanks. I credit Shrink Rap for the list. I found your blog the same way and enjoy reading it.
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By: thealienist on July 25, 2011
at 1:57 pm
Hi,
I’ve started my residency-equivalent in psychiatry in London (the Senior House Officer years) and I was excited to have stumbled upon your blog. I’ve found it thought provoking dipping in and out of things clinical and philosophical. I had a rather specific question, about which I thought you might kindly direct or advise me.
In the UK, the Mental Health Act plays a significant role in mental health services, as I’m sure you know. Different sections of the MHA will pertain to admissions for assessment or treatment and many others. I wondered what ‘system’ — I thought I ought to perhaps add a pinch of salt to the term — is present in the States regarding enforcing a period of involuntary inpatient stay for the sake of assessment or treatment of a patients in mental health services.
Thanks, I hope to continue using the resource for the insight and knowledge herein,
John Gossa, MBBS
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By: John on October 2, 2011
at 8:44 pm
The laws related to admissions and assessment for treatment differ among the various states in the U.S. I am in Texas, and the laws say that a person can be admitted involuntarily if a judge issues an order for emergency detention or if a physician deems that they are an imminent danger to themselves or others. In the latter case, there is a limited time (48 hours) during which the assessment must be made and one of the following actions taken: 1) patient agrees to the need for hospitalization and becomes a voluntary patient, 2) a hearing held to determine if further assessment or treatment is justified, or 3) the patient is found not to be mentally ill or an imminent danger to himself and is released. An order for temporary mental health treatment may not exceed 90 days. An order for extended mental health treatment may not exceed 12 months.
In practice, I have not seen patients involuntarily hospitalized (outside of the forensic setting) for longer than a few weeks.
I hope this information is helpful.
John
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By: thealienist on October 4, 2011
at 7:18 pm