Owner: Mental Health Blog URL:http://www.mentalhealthblog.com/ Join Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:54:56 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: This blog is devoted to the discussion of new developments and research within the field of psychology and mental health. Site statistics:Click here
Medication: The Cost Effective Therapy 2008-02-29 14:38:00 Finally, there’s more research suggesting the need to reduce the over-medicating of mental illness, specifically depression. The study conducted by Irving Kirsch of the University of Hull discovered that the benefits of anti-depressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone), and paroxetine (Seroxat / Paxil), are dependent upon the severity of the mental illness. The study used a meta-analysis of data retrieved from trials supplied by the US Food and Drug Administration. “When the data from all of these trials had been put together, the improvement in depression amongst patients receiving the trial drug, as compared to those receiving placebo (dummy tablets), was not clinically significant in mildly depressed patients or even in most patients who s Read more:Medication
, Therapy
Deal Or Squeal 2008-02-28 17:31:00 In recent news, Ottawa’s police Chief, Vern White has made some absurd statements with respect to drug dealing and welfare fraud. His force has decided to report a little over 100 drug dealers to welfare officials for fraud investigations in hopes of having them cut off social assistance. His views are portrayed in a manner that support the greater good of society by saying: “Our focus here, first of all, is to stop people from dealing drugs but secondly to ensure social assistance is provided to people for the right reasons and not for those people who continue to sell drugs and lie about their income”. On the surface, this act appears to be appealing to the so-called tax payer, however if you glance beneath it seems that there is an ulterior motive. What impact would these sort
Family Day: Ontario's New Stat Holiday 2008-02-18 15:11:00 Today is Ontario
’s first statutory holiday which celebrates the family. Our Premier Dalton McGuinty officially introduced this holiday after some 20 years of anticipating another day off. In our society work consumes a large majority of our time and energy. In a time of constant change and the advent of newer technology which supposedly makes our lives easier, one would think that there would be much more time for family, however this is not the case at all. There is a huge pressure on workers to climb the corporate ladder and earn more money not only to survive but to make sure our family survives well. In 2005, Statistics Canada found that 40% of stressed out men and women attributed their strain to work pressures and the next 10% attributed their source of stress to money struggl Read more:Family
, Holiday
Trichotillomania 2008-02-14 21:45:00 The following is a snippet of a recent paper that I have written regarding a disorder that seriously lacks attention:“Late at night, I sit at the end of the sofa, pull the shade off the lamp and allow the bright light to expose hundreds of beautiful hairs. My focus is intense and with great concentration, I locate very fine hairs and pluck them. This gives me great pleasure and the sharp pain relaxes me. The concentration takes me away. I love releasing the once buried little hairs and pulling them. With great luck, I find the thick hairs, some with their black sac still attached. I save those hairs like trophies carefully laying them along the arm of the sofa, black against white. […] now I go to bed exhausted but satisfied.” (Penzel, 2003, p. 10)This scenario depicts the exper
Extreme Stress in the First Trimester Associated with Schizophrenia 2008-02-08 20:59:00 There already exists much evidence of low birth weights and pre-maturity among newborns of mothers that suffer stressful life events during pregnancy. "Chemicals released by the mother’s brain in response to stress may have an effect on the fetus’ developing brain. These effects may be strongest in early pregnancy, when protective barriers between the mother and fetus are not fully constructed." Schizophrenia
is believed to commence during early brain development; however environmental factors during a pregnancy may influence the risk of developing schizophrenia.A study conducted by Ali S. Khashan of the University of Manchester suggests a likelihood of developing schizophrenia when a child’s mother experiences a stressful event during the first trimester of pregnancy.The subjects Read more:Extreme
, First
Naps Facilitate Learning 2008-02-03 19:44:00 The period of non-REM sleep essentially consists of the other four sleep stages and lasts between 90 and 120 minutes, while each individual stage lasts anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes in length.A recent study by Matthew A. Tucker, PhD, of the Center for Sleep and cognition and the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has discovered that a short 45 minute non-REM nap during the afternoon can have important benefits for an individual’s declarative memory performance.Declarative memory consists of accessible conscious memory, such as semantic memory which refers to factual knowledge and episodic memory which refers to theoretical knowledge.The study demonstrated that compared to those with equivalent periods of wakefulness, a nap facilitated declarative memory performance for a Read more:Learning
The Epileptic Diet 2008-01-28 20:02:00 Although the idea of treating epilepsy through diet is not a novel one, recent studies with adults have demonstrated some valuable results. Epileptic children have benefited from following the ketogenic diet for many years. This diet is one consisting of fasting and very restricted amounts of fluids and carbohydrates. It works so well that it can even completely eliminate seizures in children. The diet builds up ketones or compounds in the body that are produced mostly from fat calories.The secret to this science remains unknown to date; however, recent research suggests that a similar diet could be a saving grace for epileptic adults who are unable to benefit from medication. In 2002, John Hopkins began research with a modified version of the Atkins diet, which did not have a fasting
The Smell of Sadness 2008-01-22 12:07:00 The University of Tel Aviv has discovered a link between depression and a biological mechanism that affects the olfactory glands in women. Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld of the Faculty of Medicine implies that women who are depressed are simultaneously losing their sense of smell and as a result are wearing more perfume.This discovery appears to have been derived from research that implies a biological basis for depression found in lupus patients. In lupus patients and those with other autoimmune diseases, a particle known as an autoantibody attacks the person’s own immune system, appearing in the human body as an aberrant reaction to autoimmune diseases. This particle is a real novelty, says Prof. Shoenfeld. We have found that, when generated, it weakens a person’s sense of smell and ca Read more:Smell
, Sadness
Feeling Bitter? 2008-01-21 20:02:00 Feeling like you’re in a state of persistent unhappiness brought on by a recent string of negative life events? You could be suffering from a new reactive disorder called Post Traumatic Embitterment Disorder (PTED); a disorder that has been introduced as a subtype of adjustment disorders.Conceptually, this disorder is similar to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) however; the symptoms are not caused by severely traumatic life events. The manifestation of this disorder is through prolonged embitterment, severe psychopathological symptoms and great impairment in most areas of life in reaction to a severe negative, but non-threatening life event. PTED is characterized by experiences of injustice, violation of basic beliefs, embitterment and intrusions. Most often this disorder is due Read more:Feeling
, Bitter
Ottawa: Crack Pipes Back In Circulation 2008-01-15 12:04:00 In recent news, the Ontario government has managed to save the popular crack pipe program that the city of Ottawa
refused to support. Our Mayor, Larry O’Brien cancelled the program back in July 2007. As of yesterday, news has leaked that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will provide $287,000.00 in funding over the next year to the Somerset West Community Health Centre to manage the controversial program.Many of those who supported the motion to cancel the program may be furious with the province’s overturn; however from the news articles that I’ve read it appears as though the province has always been the main source of funding, while the city only topped up with a small portion of $7,500.00 a year. The crack pipe program is said to be an essential part of an integrated d
Biological Basis of Addiction 2008-01-14 12:34:00 I stumbled upon an article today regarding addiction, an area of study that has been of interest for many years. The research conducted at Indiana University examined the possibility that structural changes in the amygdala may be responsible for the co-morbidity of addiction and mental illness. Those who are familiar with addiction or have worked with addicts know just how often this combination occurs.The study compared the behaviour of adult rats that had both undergone surgery on their amygdala during infancy. One group had their amydalas damaged while the control group’s amygdalas were left intact. The control group experienced a type of mock surgery.Interestingly, those that grew up with damaged amygdalas showed more response to novel stimuli, less fear to elevated mazes, continued Read more:Basis
, Biological
FeelingBetterNow.com 2008-01-12 14:11:00 This website diagnoses and recommends a specified treatment of nine major mental disorders, from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder. It was designed by Dr. Sam Ozersky and other leading mental health experts that form Mensante Corp. This website that has been around since January 2006 diagnoses, treats, and follows up when a risk of mental illness is detected from answers to an online survey. It seems to be designed for the workforce. The site is actually endorsed by the Canadian College of Family Physicians. This seems like yet another desperate attempt at making psychology the science that it will never be. Although the idea is similar to the administration of psychological inventories it lacks a very important element, namely professional interpretation and explanation.
Introduction 2008-01-12 14:03:00 This blog is devoted to the discussion of new developments and research within the field of psychology and mental health. Read more:Introduction
Psychology and the Diverse Usage of the Nintendo Wii 2008-03-11 17:08:00 Critics have long argued against the effects of video gaming. There is the typical claim that the prolonged use of video games reinforces violent behaviours among children. And, there’s the usual assertion that video gaming discourages exercise and physical activity.With the advent of interactive video games some of these claims lose their strength. It seems that more and more benefits are being discovered through the use of the popular video game console, the NintendoWii
. Some of these benefits include engaging seniors in social and/or physical activity, connecting stroke and spinal cord injury patients in a new form of rehab, also known as Wiihab, as well as assisting surgeons to sharpen their skills.To add to that list, recently, the Nintendo Wii has been used for psychological e Read more:Diverse
, Usage
Happily Married Adults Have Healthier Hearts 2008-03-25 16:54:00 New research at Brigham Young University reveals a link between happily married adults and lower blood pressure. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad discovered that men and women from happy marriages scored 4 points lower on 24 hour blood pressure monitoring than single adults. Furthermore, singles or unhappily married adults with good social supports did not show any improvement in ratings. The group with the highest blood pressure scores were those involved in unhappy marriages. Basically, the study implies that a happy marriage can provide health benefits. The study observed 204 married and 99 single adults. Each wore blood pressure monitors for a 24 hour period. The monitors recorded roughly 72 times at random intervals including during sleep. Single adults completed questionnaires Read more:Adults
, Hearts
Therapists Debunk “All Night Long” Myth 2008-04-01 19:44:00 A new study reveals that sex doesn’t have to last hours to be satisfactory. In fact, according to a recent survey, sexual intercourse need only last somewhere along a reasonable continuum of 3 to 13 minutes. The survey was conducted by researchers Eric Corty and Jenay Guardiani of Penn State Erie. Fifty full members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research offered their input regarding sexual intercourse satisfaction. Sixty-eight percent of the group responded to the survey. These members consisted of psychologists, physicians, social workers, marriage/family therapists and nurses.The respondents established adequate sexual intercourse as lasting somewhere between 3 and 7 minutes and desirable intercourse lasted about 7 to 13 minutes. Sexual intercourse was seen as too short whe Read more:Night
Treating Trichotillomania 2008-04-11 12:46:00 As promised, here are some brief excerpts from my paper regarding the treatment of trichotillomania. This is simply a follow-up to the previous post: Assessment of Trichotillomania."Trichotillomania typically presents many challenges to effective treatment. The extant literature suggests that a minority of patients respond to a single intervention, for example, habit reversal or a specific pharmacological agent" (Christenson, Hollander & Stein, 1999, p. 93). Following careful investigation of data pertaining to treatment, findings point toward a high need for long-term controlled studies in order to determine the most appropriate methods for treating trichotillomania. The current research implies that there is no explicit procedure designed to be effective in all cases, rather because
Can Meaningless Noise Assist in Diagnosing Schizophrenia? 2008-04-13 20:17:00 The British Journal of Psychiatry presented a study conducted by Yale School of Medicine regarding the tendency to extract a meaningful message from meaningless noise. The study implies that, over time, this ability could produce a 'matrix of unreality' that triggers the initial psychotic phase of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The study implies that this ability could be an early sign of schizophrenia. The study consisted of a measly 43 participants who had already been diagnosed with prodromal symptoms such as social withdrawal, mild perceptual alterations or misinterpretation of social cues.A medication called olanzapine was used in this study. It is also known as zyprexa, an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Participants were assessed for Read more:Noise
, Schizophrenia
Size Does Matter 2008-04-20 21:14:00 Researchers of the Layton Aging & Alzheimer's Disease Center at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland have discovered that brain volume is linked to mental decline in people with Alzheimer's.This linkage was discovered while performing autopsies on deceased elderly patients. The entire brain was found to be larger in patients who had not experienced any cognitive impairment. In particular, the hippocampus, a part of the forebrain in the medial temporal lobe that plays a major role in long term memory, has been discovered to be larger in size for those patients with no cognitive impairments. Most surprising, those in both categories had plaques and tangles in the brain as found in typical Alzheimer patients.The study consisted of 12 patients who did not have Alzheimer's
Smells Like A New Treatment 2008-05-27 18:05:00 New research suggests that religious leaders may have been sitting on a potential treatment for depression all along. Even hippies seem to have caught on to the healing powers of incense long before the academic world.A team of researchers from John Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem studied the psychoactive effects of burning incense. Researcher, Raphael Mechoulam "found Read more:Smells
, Treatment
Could Excessive Cell Phone Use Lead to Cognitive Impairment Among Youth? 2008-06-16 21:11:00 Dr. Gaby Badre, of Sahlgren’s Academy in Gothenberg, Sweden presented to the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) that there is a relationship between excessive cell phone use and sleeping problems, such as disrupted sleep, restlessness, stress and fatigue, among youth 14 to 20 years of age.The study consisted of two groups; those who made less than 5 calls and/or text messages per day Read more:Cognitive
, Cell Phone
Impulsive Decision-Making And Hunger 2008-06-23 16:53:00 Finally, there exists a causal link between serotonin and impulsivity. The neurotransmitter serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that regulates emotions and it has often been associated with social decision-making.Scientists at the University of Cambridge have shed more light on the ‘myth’ that people tend to become aggressive when they are hungry. Our serotonin levels decline when Read more:Hunger
Psychiatrists Reveal First Case of Climate Change Delusion 2008-07-09 19:32:00 It is being called the climate change delusion as noted by Joshua Wolf and Robert Salo in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. The previously unreported phenomenon has finally found its first victim, a 17 year old Australian man. After eight months of depression and visions of apocalyptic events, the young man was referred to the inpatient psychiatric unit at Melbourne’s Royal Read more:Change
, Reveal
, First
, Climate
, Delusion
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