Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

Contributing Writer https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, MSW, is a freelance medical writer who writes news, features, CME materials, and books for a variety of venues and target audiences, including healthcare professionals and consumers. She has a passion for human rights activism and is the author of Behind the Burqa (John Wiley, 2002), a memoir of 2 Afghan sisters who escaped Afghanistan. In addition, she holds the 1995 Robert L. Fish Award for Best First Published Mystery Story. Her fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and several other publications. Beyond her desire to contribute to people's health and wellbeing through her writing, Batya offers emotional/spiritual support to clients in her Teaneck, New Jersey-based counseling practice to facilitate their journeys toward healing.

All articles by Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

Practice Management

What Does the Open Notes Mandate Mean for Psychiatrists and Mental Health Clinicians?

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

March 25, 2022

The new open notes regulation is a substantial change for both physicians, as well as patients. Does this mandate benefit or harm patients — or both?

Sexual Dysfunction

Managing Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction: A Holistic Approach

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

July 2, 2020

Sexual dysfunction has a significant impact on quality of life, personal relationships, self-esteem, and recovery, and it is a common cause for nonadherence or discontinuation of medication.

young person buying food during pandemic

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders During COVID-19: Helping Patients Navigate the Crisis

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

June 9, 2020

As a result of stay-at-home restrictions and sudden unemployment, millions of people are isolated at home without their usual routines and supports, with a large amount of unstructured time on their hands, less opportunity to exercise and obtain healthy food, and increased stress.

Practice Management

Seven Things to Consider When Transitioning to Telemedicine During COVID-19

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

May 28, 2020

Michael J Sacopulos, JD, CEO of Medical Risk Institute discusses the tasks required to transition to a telemedicine-based practice.

Practice Management

Support and Self-Care for Clinicians During COVID-19: An Interview With Jesse Clark, DO

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

May 6, 2020

To shed light on how clinical practice is dealing in this time of COVID-19, we spoke with Jesse Clark, DO, Associate Program Director of Education at the Community East Family Medicine Residency and Clinical Chairperson of Family Medicine at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sad woman sitting on the floor near her bed

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Common Bedfellows: Sleep Disturbances and Psychiatric Disorders

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

February 13, 2020

There is an emerging view that sleep disorders are not merely symptoms of psychiatric conditions; instead there may be a complex, bidirectional relationship between psychiatric and sleep disorders.

Green apple reflecting in mirror as red apple

General Psychiatry

Recognizing and Treating Dissociative Disorders: An Expert Interview With Rebeca Scherman, PsyD

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

December 16, 2019

The estimated prevalence of dissociative disorders in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings seems to be approximately 10%, with roughly half of these patients diagnosed with DID.

Geriatric Psychiatry

The Importance of Recognizing Hearing Impairment in Older Adults

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

November 25, 2019

Hearing loss is associated with higher levels of anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility, as well as higher rates of dementia, especially in older adults who are also visually impaired.

Schizophrenia and Psychoses

Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and the Psychosis Continuum

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

October 10, 2019

Awareness of differences between psychosis in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and varying presentations in patients can assist providers with diagnosis and treatment.

Neurocognitive Disorders

Should Aging Physicians Be Required to Undergo Cognitive Testing?

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

September 23, 2019

The issue of aging physicians poses serious challenges to the medical profession, with concerns that judgment or skills might decline with age.

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