Find expert answers to your health questions

Douglas Severance

Bio

Dr. Severance, a Sharecare Editorial Advisory Board member, is a family practice physician with a private medical practice in San Ramon, California. He is board certified by both the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He has been medical director for several detoxification and rehabilitation programs, both inpatient and outpatient, since the 1980's, and has practiced family medicine since 1979.

Education:
• MD: Loma Linda University

Residency:
• Glendale Adventist Medical Center

Internship:
• Glendale Adventist Medical Center

Certification:
• American Board of Family Practice
• American Board of Addiction Medicine
• American Society of Addiction Medicine

Specialties:

  • family medicine

Location:

Activity

  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Does schizophrenia always develop quickly?
    Schizophrenia does not always develop quickly. How long it takes to develop varies depending upon the person and the severity of the condition. It usually begins and progresses in stages. Most people do not seek treatment for 12 to 24 months after they have their first psychotic symptoms....  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Is undifferentiated schizophrenia serious?
    As with some other types of schizophrenia, undifferentiated schizophrenia can be serious. With undifferentiated schizophrenia, you may have symptoms that switch from psychotic episodes and hallucinations to anxiety and depression. The changing symptoms could impact your quality of life and...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How common is undifferentiated schizophrenia?
    Undifferentiated schizophrenia is the most common form of schizophrenia because it covers all schizophrenia diagnoses. If your symptoms do not meet the criteria for the disorganized, paranoid, or catatonic types, you may be diagnosed as having undifferentiated schizophrenia. Talk to your...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How can college students with ADHD become better organized?
    There are different tools you can use to get more organized at college if you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One way is to divide up your assignments into 15-minute segments. Set a kitchen timer for 15 minutes. During that time, focus on your studies, take notes, or...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What does attention deficit mean in ADHD?
    The term attention deficit refers to people who have a hard time paying attention to details or sticking with an activity for an extended amount of time. People with attention deficit may not appear to listen well, might be forgetful, and can be easily distracted. Other problems for people with...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How does a teen's ADHD affect the family at home?
    The teen years are challenging for families, and when the teen also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the challenges are even greater. Teens with ADHD need more supervision than their peers, but at the same time, they are eager for independence. This can cause extra dif...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How are sleep disorders diagnosed in people with ADHD?
    The symptoms of a sleep disorder are sometimes similar to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To make a diagnosis, the doctor uses a series of questionnaires and interviews to get information from the patient and parents or family members. Sleep studies may be used...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Does the Rehabilitation Act help college students with ADHD?
    The Rehabilitation Act protects people with disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Under this act, individuals with ADHD have the right to seek employment with the federal government's executive branch. People with ADHD may participate in federally funded ac...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Can my child's ADHD be treated without medications?
    The National Resource Center on ADHD reports that medication is superior to behavioral therapies in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although both treatments are effective, especially when combined. According to the center, multiple treatments usually work best to...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Could my parenting style have caused my child's ADHD?
    The National Resource Center on ADHD acknowledges that some parenting styles may increase symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the center states that parenting styles cannot be the sole cause of...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    How is substance abuse linked to ADHD?
    The latest findings show that teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk of substance abuse, including smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and using illicit drugs. Adults with ADHD have a higher incidence of cigarette smoking and more problems stopping...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What causes sleep disorders in people with ADHD?
    The jury is still out on the actual cause of sleep disorders in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some experts speculate the stimulant medications taken for ADHD may cause difficulties in falling asleep. Some people with ADHD may have problems relaxing at night,...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    What is interactive metronome treatment for ADHD?

    The interactive metronome (IM) treatment may offer benefits for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This relatively new treatment option takes advantage of the metronome, a common musical tool used to keep the beat. With IM treatment, the traditional metronome is computerized,

    ...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Is there a single cause of ADHD?

    The cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown. It seems as if certain changes in the brain are connected to ADHD. For instance, some people with ADHD have less activity in the part of the brain that manages attention. Also, ADHD appears to have a genetic component, and c

    ...  Full Post
  • Douglas Severance
    Douglas Severance answered:
    Can the Americans with Disabilities Act help college students with ADHD?

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) disallows any type of discrimination against people with disabilities, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in the workplace and in institutions of higher learning.

    The ADA protects people with disabilities if they work for a

    ...  Full Post