Locations
Office
About
Bio
Dr. Hunter was born in Louisiana, Missouri. He has an undergraduate degree from Washington University and completed medical school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He did his residency in Psychiatry at the University of Iowa. He is board certified in adult and Forensic Psychiatry. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He practices in Fulton, Missouri.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Psychiatry
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
45 Answers
5 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: Loss of bladder or bowel control is one way that physicians distinguish between a true epileptic seizure and a pseudoseizure. However, underlying ps... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: Panic attacks by definition are of short duration. However, some people experience several per day. With proper treatment the attacks can be managed... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: Personality disorders start in early adulthood and are often hard to treat. There are no fda approved medications. There are numerous skilled therap... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Depressant: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It eventually lowers your mood. The "buzz" that people feel when intoxicated is related to the lower... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
In many ways: Your child may feel neglected by your drinking or embarassed by you. He may choose to follow your example and begin drinking himself. There are many... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: Many native americans lack an enzyme that assists with alcohol metabolism. They are more likely to become intoxicated on smaller amounts of alcohol. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: Mental disorders were traditionally divided into psychoses and neuroses. People with psychosis cannot distinguish what is real with what is not real.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Low mood: Many including persistent low mood, sleep disturbances, lack of interest in activities, fatigue, irritability, hopelessness. Early treatment leads to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
It is complicated: Every person has a different metabolic make up. Some have more active enzyme systems and process alcohol more effeciently than others. It also depen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Don't wait: Don't wait to get professional help. Treatment works best when sought early on in the illness. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to motivat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: You are just trading one problem for another. Smoking cannabis brings with it all the problems of smoking tobacco. The "better" feeling you get is j... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: Rubbing alcohol is a poison that should not be inhaled or consumed. It is to be used on the skin to clean a wound. It can cause severe metabolic pro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Get checked out: Pain is the way your body lets you know there is a problem. The relationship to your drinking is no accident. This could be anything from an ulcer, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Good med: This is a good medication and you are taking a reasonable dose. Side effects to watch out for include sedation and weight gain. Work closely with yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Routine: Establish the same bed time every night. Use your bed to sleep only, not read or watch television. If you cannot get to sleep in a few minutes, get ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Good start: It sounds like you are being treated for an anxiety disorder. Both drugs are approved for this diagnosis. Since you have demonstrated some sensitivi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: Safe and effective preparations used to treat depression are all available only on a prescription basis. Over the counter treatments do not have the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: People become alcoholics because they like to drink alcohol and lose control over their drinking. Every alcoholic has a different excuse for drinking... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: In the United States, people of african american decent are at greater risk for problem drinking than the general population. This risk is greatly in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Not necessarily: Many studies indicate that there is a genetic component to alcoholism. Being brought up in an alcoholic home can only enhance this risk. Children te... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Absolutely: The liver detoxifies alcohol and is greatly effected over time with some users developing cirrhosis. Brain cells are lost from drinking and never reg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
It depends: This region of the world contains dozens of ethnic groups some of which have a lower incidence of alcoholism because of religious prohibitions. The b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
None: Do not drink alcohol if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Difficult: Diagnosing schizophrenia early on, is difficult but critical. Look for new problems in school or on a job. Pay attention to social isolation and new... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Unashamed: Help educate your friends about mental illness in general and schizophrenia in particular. Hospitalization is a time when your true friends should ra... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: Although Prozac (fluoxetine) is metabolized very slowly in the body, missing multiple doses can lead to a relapse. Most serotonin drugs are not effec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
See below: If you have consequences from drinking such as physical, emotional, legal, or social difficulties associated with alcohol use, then you may have an al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: Most mental health professionals would agree that there is no cure for alcoholism. There are several medications on the market to assist with sobriet... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Yes: The diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders fourth addition text revision or dsm-iv tr codes both alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Careful history: Psychopaths are what are known in the dsm-iv-tr as individuals with antisocial personality disorder. This condition, unfortunately, is quite common, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
There are many: One of the more popular therapies is dialectical behavior therapy where patients are urged to use their "wise mind" to slow down and not make snap jud... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Possibly: Traditional alcoholics drink every day or risk going into withdrawal. Binge drinking over time can easily develop into daily drinking, however. The ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Many places: If your life is in danger call the police. Many communities have shelters for battered persons who live in abusive relationships. Alanon is an organ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Probably not: There is no exact test for alcoholism. In general the cage questioneer can be helpful. If you have felt a need to cut down on your drinking, been an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Supervision: Toddlers require your full attention. If you are impaired or unconscious from drinking, you cannot adequately supervise your child. This is criminal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
It is complicated: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. As the alcohol enters your blood stream, the part of your brain that controls social interactions is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Unclear: The term "european" includes a huge and varied group of ethnicities, all with differing rates of alcoholism. The best way to predict your potential r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Several: You are at higher risk for liver disease. In addition, chronic alcohol users have a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, and some cancers. Alcohol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
No: The alcohol will eventually dry your skin and cause damage over time. There are many better over the counter products that can help your oily skin an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Seek treatment: You may have a severe infection such as strep throat or pnemonia. You should seek help from you primary care physician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Absolutely: It is very comforting to know that others share problems that are similar to your own. Support groups can provide strategies for coping with problems... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Changes in light: Most researchers believe that exposure to sunlight can impact mood. People with this disorder tend to find that the problem is worse during winter mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Many ways: If your drinking has caused legal, physical, social, emotional or other problems, then it has become a problem for you. Use cage. Have you felt a ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Not always: Nothing works in every situation. Many experts indicate that an alcoholic must "hit bottom" or have nothing else to lose before they are willing to s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. David Hunteranswered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Compassion: This is a mental disease and people who suffer from it are sick. Loved ones need to be long on patience but firm on limit setting. Being supportive ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
163
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Hunter is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hunter is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Wonderful response! You're pretty great Dr. F!
HealthTap member
Thank you for answering my question! I am very nervous about seratonin syndrome....
HealthTap member
Thank you Dr. Hunter for clearing out my concerns.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 1991MD
Awards
HealthTap Founding Doctor
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less