Locations
CT Anxiety & Depression Treatment Ctr
Farmington, CT
Phone
Practice website
About
Bio
Dr. Liebowitz trained during psychiatry’s
transformative years graduating Phi Beta Kappa
from the University of Virginia in 1978, Stony Brook
University Medical School in 1982, psychiatry
clerkship at Columbia University Psychiatric
Institute in 1981, and psychiatric residency at
Yale University in 1986. He is currently an assistant
clinical professor at the University of Connecticut.
He opened the Connecticut Anxiety and
Depression treatment center in 1994.
He is author of Psychiatry in Technocolors: A psychiatrist's memoir of lessons learned about diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression. available on Amazon.com
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
474 Answers
159 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: But the definition is usually failure of 2-3 different treatments. Treatment-resistant doesn't mean incurable. Very often people have gotten multipl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Be careful: I'm not aware of anything that has been proven safe or effective. Suppliments have been excepted from fda scrutiny as long as it is labeled "not desi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Getting help: I assume you are young and need your mother's permission to get help. Consider confiding in a teacher or school counselor or relative and developing... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
GAD or Bipolar: The answer is not so simple as anxiety can be a symptom of early bipolar both mania and depression. Family history of bipolar might suggest this is e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: The key word is "struggling" as it indicated the degres of distress you have. There are good treatments for these problems. Get a good evaluation by... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Never: There is evidence for new nerve growth even in alzheimers patients. Exercise and intellectual stimulation helps stimulate brain growth at any age.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Sleep hygiene: A healthy lifesyle that includes regular exercise, diet with avoidance of caffeine and food close to bedtime, avoidance of alcohol help more than any ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Not necessarily: Recurrent depression is associated with a higher risk for several conditions including heart disease, diabetes. Some might be due to not taking good ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
For some: They can be used to treat narcolepsy and residual symptoms of sleep apnea (after CPAP or other treatments have been optimized). Only a sleep study ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Anticonvulsant meds: Usually this is treated with klonopin, but Neurontin (gabapentin) and other anticonvulsant meds may help. Make sure to distinguish between myoclonus ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Depends: Hysterectomies can be partial (leaving in at least one ovary) or total, removing uterous and both ovaries. In the latter case memopause is induced wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
No: Don't listen to the lawyer ads. There is no evidence for birth defects from zoloft (sertraline). It has been the antidepressant of choice for pregnan... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Stuttering biologic?: I'm not an expert in this area but a psychiatrist i knew treated himself successfully with a newer antipsychotic medication. This off label use has m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Maybe: Another my sister has questions. Addictions do run in families. Is that due to biologic predisposition or bad example? I think both. The worst cas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Xanax (alprazolam) taper: This is a short acting benzo which can be difficult to come off. I usually switch people to the equivalent Klonopin dose (about have the mg dose of x... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Dependence: Depends on the amount. Small amounts may just lead to dependence, but prolonged and excessive use can cause change in bowel bacteria leading to other... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Good question: Kindling is the phenomenon noted in 1960s where a small stimulus to the brain repeated over time produced a grand mal seizure. Continued stimulus res... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: I have had several patients report ringing in their ears or tinnitus that either began or worsened on wellbutrin (bupropion) and other antidepressants... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Careful: You may push him away by being so aggressive. You both need to be ready or you will have to deal with the consequences of being a single parent with a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
All additive: All muscle relaxants have sedative effects that are similar to Xanax so can have additive adverse effects. It might be better to replace the Xanax wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Tell your doc: This can occur but i wouldn't call it normal and it seems that your anxiety is not being well controlled with this medication. There are many others ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Not necessarily: Decreased libido can come from hormone changes (esp if nursing), pain from episiotomy or c-sections, post partum depression or worrying about the chil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Bipolar frequency: You don't catch bipolar disorder like a cold or cancer. You are born with a biologic predisposition and this might manifest at a certain age or be tr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: Provided you have been stable on medications and continue in ongoing treatment. Stress and boundary issues can emerge, but with good treatment most p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: I have heard of both transitional living programs and supervised living programs. Some are community based with vna going independent living faciliti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Downers and uppers: While not an interaction the combo is a dangerous path. Phentermine used to diet causes anxiety, taking a tranquilizer, xanax (alprazolam) to counter... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Daily headache: My first thought is stress, but there are so many other options that i recommend an evaluation. Did you get bitten by a mosquito with a viral illness... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Many: Seizures can have any number of symptoms from simple movements to gran mal whole body shaking to nothing but a brief loss of awareness in petit mal. T... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: Alcohol depletes serotonin making Celexa (citalopram) not work. Alcohol causes diahrea and irritates your bowel (you apparently have inflamatory bowel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Depakote side effect: Divalproex is metabolized to valproic acid which can cause stomach upset. Higher doses can be associated with weight gain and tremors. The benefits ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Unreliable drug: It's a very unpredictable drug. The same person at different time can experience euphoria, relaxation or extreme paranoia, panic and hallucinations at... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
In hospital?: In hospital suicide precautions can include removal of sharp objects, belts etc. It can include checks every 15min or constant one on one observation... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
None: True antisocial personality disorder has no medication treatment. In addition, traditional therapy has little benefit as the individual just lies to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Funtion is key: Rather than symptoms pointing to use of medications, i more likely focus on severity, duration and degree of impairment from depression. This is usua... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Essential tremor: This maybe part of an essential aka familial aka intention tremor. These are not serious but tend to run in families. They usually are seen most in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Can: Depression feels like falling into a hole as well a variety of other, loss of energy, motivation, drive, change in sleep and apetite, poor concentrati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes: Esp in mania there is irritability, grandiosity and impaired judgement. Paranoia may cause the person to misinterpret social cues leading to aggressi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Connects: Peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves that reside out of the brain and spinal cord (ie central nervous system). It sends signals to the b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Poop out: True antidepressants don't wear off like a stimulant. Antidepressants can take weeks to take effect. Some people find they get benefit from the medi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Only one year: Ambien (zolpidem) seems safe for most people, but it clearly can have dependence and occational tolerance with loss of benefit and withdrawal insomnia... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Depression: I answered this before. There are many different treatments for depression. Mild symptoms can benefit from exercise, healthy lifesyle and psychother... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Eating disorders: Bulimia refers to a patient binging on high coloric foods then purging or vomiting. It can cause dental disease, and seizures as a result of electrol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Ssri sexual dysfunct: Medications that affect serotonin ssri, like Prozac (fluoxetine) can reduce sexual interest (libido) and cause delayed orgasm. It is uncommon to caus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Unsure: I can think of several possible answers including eye strain and dehydration. Excess caffeine intake can actually dehydrate you as it is a diuretic. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Antidepressants: I have found antidepressants most helpful. Particularly ones that are dual action like Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta also tricyclics like nortri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Consider TCA: Remeron (mirtazapine) is a great med for GI upset but does make people hungry. A tricyclic antidepressant as nortriptyline might be a substitute.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Yes but: They are two meds of the same class but can feel very different. Abilify (aripiprazole) tends to cause insomnia while Olanzapine is very sedating. R... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Mania: There is no official diagnosis of euphoria syndrome. An assessment of what is going on is needed to make a diagnosis and then recommend treatment. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
count the ways: Nicotine paralizes cilia in lung causes more serious infections, cough, gross phlegm. Co weakens you and has the same effect as anemia. The smoke de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Neil Liebowitzanswered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Tramadol: Tramadol is a pain med that has properties of both an opiate and antidepressant. The antidepressant effect can make you anxious and the opiate effect... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k 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.
6
Recommendations
686
Thank you notes
Dec 18, 2014
Dr. Liebowitz is an expert on depression and anxiety with a wealth of experience evident in his answers. Not only is he knowlegeable about the conditions but is up to date on the latest medications a...Read More
Nov 7, 2014
We are priviledged to have such an expert as Dr Liebowitz on health tap. His contributions in Bipolar disorder, Depression are important. He is a major contributor to the health tap community.
Aug 22, 2013
Knowledegeable and caring answers
HealthTap member
Thank you and I will talk to the doctor to see if she will run these tests. She ended up prescribing me anxiety medication and depression medication but I don't feel I need them. I just want to feel g...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you Dr Liebowitz. I only take xanax as needed when I have a panic attack but i still did not want the possibility of mixing muscle relaxer and xanax. Thanks again for your time!!!!
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Yes I think It was the Seroquel but I haven't taken it in 8 months. :( I don't know what to do. Thank you for your insight.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, NY
Graduated 1982MD
Awards
Most Influential, Third Place, Hartford, CT - Winter
2013
Top Psychiatrist , Second Place, Connecticut - Winter
2013
Top Psychiatrist , First Place, Connecticut - Summer
2013
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