MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'american psychological association'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:31:24 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118712&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Ffacebook-tied-to-poor-mental-health-in-teens-kids%2F You know it’s a good time of the year for psychology “news” when the American Psychological Association holds its annual convention. Why? Because they push out a bunch of sexy press releases about presentations at the conference. Case in point, “Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids,” a presentation that presents a seemingly-random selection of research findings about social networking websites like Facebook from the past few years. This quickly gets turned into an exclusive focus on the negative aspects of the talk — “Facebook tied to poor mental health in teens: What parents must know” (CBS News), “Too Much Technology Breeds Health Problems in Teens” (Patch.com), and of course the inevitable, “Is constant &#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118712 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:43:50 +0100 5118712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077772&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F28%2F12-weeks-to-feeling-better-try-psychotherapy-today%2F It’s time for psychotherapy to stop beating around in the bushes and get a new marketing campaign going for itself. It’s time for organizations like our own, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association and others to join together and have people understand a simple, basic message — 12 weeks is all most people need to start feeling better when faced with a mental health issue. Psychotherapy still gets a bad rap because of a basic misunderstanding of the process it entails, or prejudice around thinking that if you need to see a therapist, something’s really wrong with you. It doesn’t have to be this way. Just like the endless pharmaceutical commercials on TV for antidepressants and ADHD medications, psychotherapy could be remindin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077772 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:06:58 +0100 5077772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841739&cid=t_155396_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F05%2Ffeedback-sought-on-proposed-speciality.html The following was just forwarded to me this past weekThe Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) seeks member and public comments on Proposed Revision of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, a collaboration between the American Psychology-Law Society, APA Division 41 and the American Board of Forensic Psychology, and facilitated through the APA review process, per Association Rule 30.8, by BPA and the Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS). The revised guidelines aim to improve the quality of forensic psychological services, enhance the practice and facilitate the systematic development of forensic psychology, and encourage a high level of quality in professional practice.The proposed Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology can be viewed here.Invitation for ... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841739 Wed, 18 May 2011 16:46:00 +0100 4841739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841582&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fapa-mental-health-blog-party-2011-roundup%2F Here is our roundup of posts from the Psych Central Blog Network that blogged about mental health today as a part of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Mental Health “Blog Party.” Psych Central is the world’s largest independent mental health network run by ordinary mental health professionals. Each month, over 1.5 million people visit our site from around the world to learn more about better mental health and conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and anxiety. Psych Central bloggers are some of the most dedicated and passionate people I’ve met in the field of mental health. Some are professionals, some are not, but all share one thing in common — they have a knack for writing about psychology and mental health issu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841582 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:55:30 +0100 4841582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841583&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fmental-health-blog-party-why-do-i-blog-about-mental-health%2F As part of May Is Mental Health Awareness Month, many of us here at PsychCentral are participating in a Mental Health Blog Party hosted by the American Psychological Association. Today, May 18, we are all blogging about mental health awareness. Here’s my contribution. Why do I blog about mental health? I want to explain to people that depression and other mood disorders aren’t yuppie diseases for folks with the time and resources to ruminate and obsess, that they can be life-threatening illnesses. That’s right. Depression kills. It killed my godmother — my mom’s younger sister — at the tender age of 43. It kills approximately 800,000 people across the globe every year. Suicide takes more lives than traffic accidents, lung disease, and AIDs, and it is the second leading cause o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841583 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:01:37 +0100 4841583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841584&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fincreasing-mental-health-awareness-too-much-of-a-good-thing%2F Today is the American Psychological Association’s “Blog Party” in recognition of May being mental health month. The marketing effort behind designating a specific month a time to recognize and help increase awareness of a certain disease, disorder or condition is intended to help people learn more about various medical and mental health concerns. But a few weeks ago, physician H. Gilbert Welch wrote an op-ed in the LA Times that questioned whether the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Have we become a nation of people who will get diagnosed for all sorts of sub-clinical problems at the drop of a hat? Indeed, I think there is a very real danger of that becoming the case. And nowhere is that more likely than in mental health. Dr. Ron Pies talked about some of these... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841584 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:14:06 +0100 4841584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771211&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F30%2Fthe-freudian-problem%2F Excluding pop psychologists, (such as Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew or Wayne Dyer) Sigmund Freud is probably the most well known name associated with psychology (at least to the lay public).  In Frank Sulloway’s book, Freud: Biologist of the Mind, the author notes, “Few individuals, if any, have exerted more influence upon the twentieth century than Sigmund Freud.” (Shermer, 2001, p.203). A 1981 survey of chairpersons of graduate psychology found that the respondents considered Freud the most influential figure in the history of psychology (Davis, Thomas, & Weaver, 1982).  But times have changed. “[I]f all the members of the American Psychological Association [APA] who  were concerned with Freudian psychoanalysis were collected, they would make up  less than 10 percent of the membersh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771211 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:00:59 +0100 4771211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747651&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F24%2Fanalyzing-the-thinking-process-interview-with-diane-halpern%2F Diane Halpern is a professor of psychology at Claremont McKenna College; she is the former president of the American Psychological Association and former president of the Western Psychological Association.  Halpern has won many awards for her teaching and research, including the 2002 Outstanding Professor Award from the Western Psychological Association, the 1999 American Psychological Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the Silver Medal Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.  She has also authored a variety of books. Here are some of Halpern’s views on the thinking process. What is the goal of critical thinking?  Is critical thinking rational thinking? Critical thinking is good thinking or clear thinking—it involves analyzing the think... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747651 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:16:37 +0100 4747651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622290&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F21%2Fpsychologists-still-seek-prescription-privileges-no-new-news%2F This story caught my eye only because of its headline, Psychologists seek authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. Really? I thought… I never heard that before. Oh, wait a minute, I have. Because the last time I checked, psychologists have been seeking prescription privileges for something like 16 or 17 years, maybe longer. In all of that time, they’ve only gained them in two states. Was another state joining New Mexico and Louisiana? Was there a renewed push for this service because of a sudden demand for prescriptions from those who have a mental illness? In other words, for this new article that appeared in the Washington Post (but was actually written by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a healthcare policy organization) — what’s newsworthy about this story?... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622290 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:39:31 +0100 4622290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592459&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2Fcan_you_detect_a_liar.php Cover of Attachment in PsychotherapyAsk a lie detector professional and you will get a positive answer. But its not as simple as knowing how to work the instrument. The instruments used by a lie detector professional basically measure anxiety and are very similar to the machines used in biofeedback. The fact is that there is little research to support the idea that a polygraph or any other instrument can reliably detect a lie. Most psychologists and other scientists agree that there is little basis for the validity of polygraph tests. Courts, including the United States Supreme Court (cf. U.S. v. Scheffer, 1998 in which Dr.'s Saxe's research on polygraph fallibility was cited), have repeatedly rejected the use of polygraph evidence because of its inherent unreliability. (American Psychol... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592459 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:19:04 +0100 4592459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580956&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F13%2Fstaying-happy-in-bad-times%2F A year and a half ago, USA Today published an interesting article as a kind of wrap-up of the four-day annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. Among the happiness talk was how to stay chipper in this economy. My friend, Robert Wicks, attended and was interviewed for the article. Here is his section in the article (I still get giddy when I recognize my friends among the experts): Simplicity is a silver lining to the downturn, says psychologist Robert Wicks. “In the up economy, people were successful, but in many cases, they were missing their lives,” says Wicks, a psychology professor at Loyola University Maryland in Columbia and author of Bounce: Living the Resilient Life. “They weren’t spending time really enjoying themselves and weren’t spe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580956 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:34:11 +0100 4580956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314050&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F05%2Foptimism-and-the-psychology-of-chance-encounters%2F “…chance encounters play a prominent role in shaping the course of human lives.” ~ Albert Bandura Former president, American Psychological Association “Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind.” ~ Louis Pasteur A friend of mine recently went through a tough time: a personal crisis. She was scouring for signs of something positive, anything that would offer a ray of hope or light for her situation. She decided to go out for some tea when she encountered a woman, unknown to her, who began chatting about the trials and tribulations of her life. The woman spoke of gratitude for those who had courage, and at the end of what was essentially a monologue the woman said to my friend: “Everybody goes through difficulties. Surround yourse... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314050 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:05:00 +0100 4314050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302886&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F01%2Fpsych-central-by-the-numbers-2010%2F In October 2010, according to comScore Media Metrix, Psych Central had 820,000 unique U.S. visitors to the site, and in November 2010, we had 933,000 visitors. That puts us in the top 50 most-visited of all health websites on the Internet today — a first for us! Combined with our international audience, Google Analytics tells us we reach over 1.5 million unique visitors each and every month. Astounding, considering our humble beginnings of indexing other psychology and mental health resources online 15 years ago. To put this in some context, more people visit Psych Central every month than any one of these sites: The American Cancer Society The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association combined The American Medical Association The American Diab... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302886 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:00:52 +0100 4302886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031307&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F04%2Fproof-positive-cant-buy-me-love-but-what-about-happiness%2F “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” – Will Smith “What’s a soup kitchen?” – Paris Hilton Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and author of the best-selling Stumbling on Happiness, gave the keynote address at the American Psychological Association convention earlier this year. He challenged the three things he said his mother told him would make him happy: marriage, money and children. I’ve discussed the first one in talking about how, or if, relationships can make us happy. But now it is time to ask to ask the $64,000 question. Which, as it turns out, is the $75,000 question. I’ll explain… Can money make you happy? Is it true that th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031307 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:29:32 +0100 4031307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002967&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F26%2Fevidence-based-treatments-for-children-teens%2F We talk a lot about the different types of research conducted in psychology that measure the effectiveness of various treatment methods. In fact, we publish daily news stories that cover a lot of new research findings every week. Some of the treatment research has to do with medications, some with psychotherapy, and some with other methods of treatment. But it’s all confusing and can be more than a little overwhelming. Take, for instance, the contradictory findings and results surrounding antidepressant medications. Some research says they are no better than sugar pills — placebos. Other research says they can be effective, but you just need to find the right one at the right dose. It’s hard to know what the research really says as a whole. Wouldn’t it be nice if th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002967 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:29:12 +0100 4002967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965498&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F13%2Fproof-positive-can-other-people-make-us-happy%2F When we feel love and kindness toward others it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. – Dalai Lama Are we happy when we get what we want? It depends. This year the keynote speaker at the American Psychological Association convention was Dr. Dan Gilbert of Harvard. His book Stumbling on Happiness is an international bestseller and his talk was about affective forecasting: Do we know what will make us happy? He pointed out that we are hardwired from birth to be happy when we get salt, fat, sweet things and sex. Beyond that our culture provides us cues about what will make us happy. That was when he showed us a photo of his mother. He explained that his mother was the cultural agent informing him of what will make him happ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965498 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:40:55 +0100 3965498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924944&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Fsocial-memory-are-2-heads-better-than-one%2F Are two heads better than one? Maybe. Perhaps this doesn’t come as a surprise, because we all know on some level that even one “head” can be better than others in terms of memory. New research into “group memory,” or “social memory” sheds some light on how remembering together can be more or less effective. In part, it depends on the group’s “executive functioning”. Memory research has come a long ways since the early research many of us learned in psychology classes. There is the famous Bell Laboratories research into short-term memory which resulted in the famous axiom of “7 plus or minus two” – which refers to how many “slots” we can utilize “in our head” in real-time, keeping it there to “process,” sequence, manipulate. This is essentia... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924944 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:46:03 +0100 3924944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3899446&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F24%2Fresilience-and-mindfulness-thoughts-from-two-masters%2F Two legends in psychology — and popular culture — presented at this year’s American Psychological Association Convention. Synonymous with concepts pervasive within education, psychotherapy, and integrative approaches (combining aspects of yoga, medical research, and psychotherapy) Sir Michael Rutter, MD and Steven Hayes, Ph.D. each gave powerful and illuminating presentations. Sir Michael Rutter was introduced by past-APA President Richard Suinn. Sir Michael (Sir/Dr. Rutter?) not only has a voluminous body of writing about resilience, but is considered “the father of modern child psychiatry”. Sir Rutter described the development of his interest, from his family origins to his work studying genetics and coping mechanisms (e.g., Gamezy & Rutter, 1983) to his interest i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3899446 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3899446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890501&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F21%2Fethical-best-practice-in-an-evidence-based-age%2F There were 2 presentations at this year’s annual American Psychological Association convention, which were important to psychotherapists in particular. With the ever-growing challenge to prove efficacy of each and every treatment, healthcare providers and consumers alike face some confusion as to how much information is enough, or too much. Does every therapists need to give a long presentation about the relative proven efficacy of low-dose medication combined with verbal therapy — and 2 hours gardening per week? (I made up the last part, but hiking and fresh air were a popular cure for quite a long time in 19th Century Europe.) Physicians are acutely aware of the need to know the research, and most ethical codes demand informed consent. Both health and mental health professionals ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890501 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:20:35 +0100 3890501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889125&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F20%2Fonline-support-groups-mood-gym-and-happiness-2%2F I’m just back from the American Psychological Association’s 118th Convention in San Diego this year. It’s the annual gathering of the tribes, where the latest in psychological research, education, and practice is shared. As the saying goes, if it’s August, therapists cannot be found. But options for connecting to a source of support extend beyond the consultation room. There is a powerful role to be played by support groups, online as well as face-to-face, and numerous self-help tools now employ both online and offline components. The presentation I attended the first day of the convention highlighted ongoing research and discussion ranging from support group participation to self-guided cognitive training in the Mood Gym, to positive psychology’s approach: “teaching happiness.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889125 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:30:42 +0100 3889125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865305&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F13%2Fapa-brief-problem-child-affects-parents-well-being%2F A report from the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting this week suggests that parents’ well-being is negatively impacted even when just one of their children experiences problems in their life. The researchers defined “problems in their life” as health problems, drinking or drug abuse problems, divorce or other serious relationship issues or trouble with the law. Having a successful child doesn’t counter-balance the impact of having a child with problems. However, those parents who had a successful child without problems did have better well-being than those who did not have such a child. Read the full article: Parents Worry over Kids of All Ages (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865305 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:00:48 +0100 3865305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865306&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F13%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-13-2010%2F Happy Friday the 13th! Anything spooky going on where you are? I know at least some of you are at the American Psychological Association’s 118th convention in San Diego (I’m not sure how spooky that is.). While you’re there, you might as well be a sponge and absorb everything you can. Oh and do me a favor will you? Since I didn’t go, could you report everything you’ve learned back here? I actually remember going to my first and only APA convention. It was six years ago in Honolulu, Hawaii and I was in my first year of graduate studies. Being young and green, I was an eager beaver, wanting to learn everything I could about my field. I was also poor as heck and yet, my life seemed much more carefree back then. I studied full-time and worked part of the time as a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865306 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:39:54 +0100 3865306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862055&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Fapa-tracks-attendees-with-rfid-badges%2F I’m attending the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) annual meeting again this year. I tend to go every few years, as it’s a big convention (over 10,000 attendees) and can be a bit overwhelming. My symposium submission about online mental health interventions also got accepted, so I’m looking forward to chairing a great talk by researchers from around the world (today in Room 29B at 10:00 am). I pre-registered, so got my registration badge in the mail (hey SXSW, this is a great idea you should implement!). Then all you have to do is go to the registration area and pick up your badge holder and convention bag. There are two interesting things about the convention this year — the badges come with attached passive RFID chips. And the APA encourage... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862055 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:30:17 +0100 3862055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858202&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Favoid-apas-inpsych-social-networking-app%2F I’m off to attend the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA) in San Diego today, but before I go, I do have two APA-related news items to post. The first is about the APA’s social networking application it deployed for this year’s convention, called InPsych. It’s a great idea with one fatal flaw that makes it not only something I suggest you avoid, but something I recommend the APA disable access to immediately. The idea behind the social networking app is a good one — help people plan their convention schedule and meet up with other psychologists or psychology students while in San Diego. It’s a big convention with over 10,000 attendees every year, so it’s nice to have some way of keeping the information organized and at yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858202 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:05:47 +0100 3858202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790750&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Flying-on-the-couch%2F What happens when a psychologist writes a memoir? To tell the truth I have to lie. To write a memoir these days you had better be telling the truth. When I met with the publisher about Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist’s Memoir, she specifically asked me if what I wrote was true. I hesitated, and a worried look crossed her face. Finally, I insisted it was all true, except for the parts I made up. She told me I needed to explain. I told her that in essence, as a psychologist and a memoirist I serve at the discretion of both disciplines — the first devoted to understanding the human condition, the second to the condition of being human. Both employ methods of nonfiction writing to achieve their goal, but with a major difference: A psychologist must follow strict guidelines p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790750 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:35:52 +0100 3790750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729873&cid=t_155396_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsingle-session-psychotherapy-the-cab-driver-story%2F2010.07.06 Here’s a story that came out of the American Psychological Association (APA) conference: I was in a cab going to dinner. The cab driver found out I was a psychiatrist so he told me about his life-changing experience with therapy. At one time he was having an incredible problem with his life. He was using cocaine, couldn’t keep a job, and his relationships were going down the tubes. Therapy helped him quit cocaine and change all that. (Which was good, since he was the driver of my cab. I really wanted him not to be high or in distress.) This kind of turn-around story isn’t unusual for me — parolees will often come back and tell me about things they’ve done in free society that they’re proud of. The unusual part of this story is the fact that he made all o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729873 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0100 3729873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625589&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F02%2Fdid-you-think-that-apa-mandatory-fee-was-mandatory%2F You would think psychologists would have a unique understanding and appreciation of the power of human language and the meaning of words. Words shape perception, and psychologists not only study human perception, but also work to help change it when people are in need. So in what world does a “mandatory assessment” fee not actually mean “mandatory” (as in, required)? Apparently, in the world of the American Psychological Association. Since its inception, many, if not most, APA members have thought it was a required payment if you were a practicing clinical psychologist. It’s no wonder — the APA has referred to the fee as a “mandatory assessment” for the majority of that time. For most of us, that means it is required and obligatory. (If you h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625589 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:40:05 +0100 3625589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573753&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F18%2Fblogging-for-mental-health-and-psychology-2010%2F The [American Psychological Association's] Your Mind, Your Body “Mental Health Month” Blog Party represents the aim of APA’s bloggers to bring mental health writing to the web. We love that the American Psychological Association (APA) has decided to designate today as some sort of “blog party” to increase mental health awareness, but their press release and related marketing materials on this “blog party” make it pretty clear they don’t have a clue. I’ve never seen bloggers “organized” through a press release before. First of all, it kind of sounds like the APA doesn’t believe there’s any mental health writing on the web. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth… Mental health writing has been on... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573753 Tue, 18 May 2010 15:00:02 +0100 3573753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411133&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fwelcoming-dr-daniel-tomasulo-to-ask-the-therapist%2F I’m please to introduce our first male therapist — Dr. Daniel J. Tomasulo — to join our Ask the Therapist team, a feature we’ve been running for the past 5 years here on Psych Central. Daniel J. Tomasulo, Ph.D., TEP, MFA is a psychologist, psychodrama trainer and writer on faculty at New Jersey City University and formerly a visiting faculty member on fellowship at Princeton University. He has been in private practice for more than 25 years and works with individuals, couples, and groups, specializing in the use of psychodrama. He developed The HealingCrowd.com, a research and training site devoted to the use of action methods in group psychotherapy. His memoir, Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist’s Memoir, is his most recent book (Graywolf Press) and chr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411133 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:24:37 +0100 3411133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350334&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F10%2Fapply-for-a-mental-health-journalism-fellowship-at-carter-center%2F Applications from U.S. residents are now being accepted for six one-year journalism fellowships with the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program. These fellowships aim to enhance public understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses through balanced and accurate reporting. The postmark deadline for applications is April 19, 2010, and the fellowship recipients will be announced July 9, 2010. The 2010-2011 fellowship year begins in September 2010. “Informed journalists can have a significant impact on public understanding of mental health issues, as they shape debate and trends with the words and pictures they convey,” says former First Lady and Carter Center Mental Health Program Founder Rosalynn Carter. Each fellow is aw... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350334 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:56:21 +0100 3350334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075572&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F09%2Fsen-grassley-questions-more-nonprofits%2F We can’t help but note that the other shoe dropped on nonprofit agencies (as we predicted back in April) and their lack of disclosure and transparency about their funding sources. Will anybody really be surprised to find that 50% or more of many of these organization’s budgets come directly or indirectly from a pharmaceutical company? The list of organizations that Sen. Grassley sent a letter to is even more extensive this time around and, while including big organizations like the American Cancer Society, the American Dental Association and the American Psychological Association, it also includes smaller organizations like the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, NARSAD, Screening for Mental Health ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075572 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:12:01 +0100 3075572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003823&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2Fthe-psychology-of-terrorism%2F Terrorism is not a particularly new problem — it’s been a part of the world since civilization first organized. Despite how old it is, what we know about terrorist motivations and psychology is fairly limited. There isn’t a whole lot of empirical, scientific research on this topic (although there is an abundance of theory and anecdotal reports). But luckily, psychologists are slowly changing that, according to an article in the American Psychological Association’s monthly magazine, Monitor on Psychology. One researcher, John Horgan PhD at Pennsylvania State University, found that people who are more open to terrorist recruitment and radicalization tend to: Feel angry, alienated or disenfranchised. Believe that their current political involvement does not give them... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003823 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:03 +0100 3003823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2747985&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F30%2Fthe-miracle-worker-edward-m-kennedy%2F Senator Edward Kennedy pushed for equality among the underprivileged and desired reform for America’s mental health system. He was a gift from God — it was as if God had reached down from heaven through Sen. Kennedy to influence the very pinnacle of change. Following the funeral held August 29, 2009 that immersed America in sorrow — yet also in gratitude — the torch shall remain lit and glow brighter as people work in his name to finish the efforts he began in 1962. As President Obama said at his funeral, Senator Kennedy was “a champion for those who had none [...] a kind and tender hero.” If it were not for the service of the Kennedys and for their endless dedication to equality for mental and physical disabilities, Congress would not have passed the Mental... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2747985 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:03:56 +0100 2747985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667483&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F04%2Fcoalition-for-patients-rights-interview-with-dr-katherine-nordal%2F I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dr. Katherine Nordal from the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. She has also been the Executive Director for Professional Practice at the American Psychological Association (APA) since April 2008. She talked with me as a spokesperson for the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. Dr. John Grohol: To get started today, can you tell me a little bit about your professional background? Dr. Katherine Nordal: I came to the APA from Mississippi where I had been in independent practice for 28 years. I owned my own clinic. It was a small group practice. We had a rather diverse practice, everything from individual patient services to business consultation to working with the fire department and police departments and sheriff’s departm... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667483 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:07:24 +0100 2667483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414884&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F15%2Fwhat-is-the-international-college-of-prescribing-psychologists%2F A company called the “Prescribing Psychologists’ Register” has been around for many years, selling continuing education courses to psychologists looking to learn how to prescribe psychiatric prescription medications for mental disorders. Psychologists who want prescription privileges claim a shortage of psychiatrists and note that given psychologists’ deep training in mental health problems, they are an appropriate, logical choice to help fill the need. And except for the lack of any medical training required by a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology, the fact that the lack of psychiatrists mainly occurs in rural areas, and that there are other mental health professionals — such as physician assistants and psychiatric nurses — who already can help fill the pre... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414884 Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:51 +0100 2414884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348535&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F20%2Fhappy-14th-birthday-psych-central%2F So here we are, 14 years later after Psych Central first went online in 1995. And what a great 14 years it’s been! If you had asked me 14 years ago, “Hey, John, will this little dinky mental health website still be around 14 years from now?” I would’ve guessed “No.” Of course, I would’ve been happily wrong. The latest stats out from Media Metrix/Comscore shows that Psych Central reaches as many people each month as the British Medical Journal, the famed Mayo Clinic, and even our friends over at the American Psychological Association. But we’re not stopping — we’re experiencing one of the best growth rates for sites in our niche — mental health & psychology — and will continue to provide you with an interesting an... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348535 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:00:51 +0100 2348535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348539&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F18%2Fwhen-is-it-okay-to-hug-your-therapist%2F To hug or not to hug a client — that is the question that can haunt therapists. When a client is so distraught and you have no more words to offer, is physical contact a good idea? Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., Brown Foundation Chair of Psychoanalysis and professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, doesn’t seem to think so. In an April 2008 Psychiatric Times article, he talked about the trouble therapists can find themselves in if they do not follow American Psychological Association (APA) ethical and legal guidelines. Transference, in which therapy clients transfer feelings—positive or negative—for someone in their past to someone, such as a therapist, in their present—can help small transgressions, such as physical contact (including hugs) or... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348539 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:13 +0100 2348539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313507&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2FsNzuOyGgta0%2Fapa-monitor-we-dont-need-no-stinking.html The American Psychological Association publishes two monthly publications for members, the well-regarded journal American Psychologist, and the APA's newspaper, Monitor on Psychology. I've been having issues with The Monitor for as long as I can remember. At times, I think the magazine makes claims that are not at all substantiated by evidence, which really bothers me. Why? Because psychology is supposed to be a science; it is what separates psychologists from life coaches or snake oil salesmen. I usually skim the Monitor for about 30 seconds per month, but when I saw the cover for this month's issue, my intuition told me to look out for voodoo. The title: Brain imaging: New technologies for research and practice. So I browsed through the glossy pages, looking for something to catch my ey... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313507 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:02:00 +0100 2313507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730854&cid=t_155396_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F373515207%2F There were a few interesting research papers presented at the last  American Psychological Association conventions around the theme: Playing Video Games Offers Learning Across Life Span, Say Studies Skills Transfer to Classroom, Surgical Procedures, Scientific Thinking (press release). Probably the most interesting study was that of 303 laparoscopic surgeons, which "showed that surgeons who played video games requiring spatial skills and hand dexterity and then performed a drill testing these skills were significantly faster at their first attempt and across all 10 trials than the surgeons who did not the play video games first." The note goes further to explain the implications from this research: "The big picture is that there are several dimensions on which games have ef... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730854 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:05:45 +0100 1730854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709055&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2F15%2Fapa-report-examines-abortions-effect-on-mental-health%2F After evaluating over 150 studies which examine a potential link between abortion and mental health problems, the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion concluded in a draft report released Tuesday that “…there is no credible evidence that a single elective abortion of an unwanted pregnancy in and of itself causes mental health problems for adult women.” Although, according to their press release, the APA researchers did find that “some studies indicate that some women do experience sadness, grief and feelings of loss following an abortion, and some may experience clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety”, they found “no evidence sufficient to support the claim that an observed association between abortion hi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709055 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:40:06 +0100 1709055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1682961&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2F06%2Fpsychologists-wont-let-go-of-torture-debate%2F A year ago, we reported that the American Psychological Association (otherwise known as the APA, the professional association for half of the nation’s psychologists) banned psychologists from torture interrogations. But since that ban, psychologists against the APA’s stance on torture have not let the matter rest. Why has the debate raged on, despite APA’s insistence it is 100% against torture and psychologists being involved in torture interrogations? A July 1 article in Psychiatric Times helps shed some light on the issue: The American Psychological Association ethics code that was in effect before and through the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks set forth the following enforceable standard regarding conflicts between ethical responsibilities and various forms... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1682961 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:30:13 +0100 1682961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1247872&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F238790870%2Famerican-psychological-association-wink.html I've monitored the issue of psychologist involvement in torture on and off for the last few years. Honestly, if I wasn't spending my spare time writing this blog, I'd probably be following the issue much more closely. The American Psychological Association, easily the largest organization of psychologists in the nation, has never really forbidden its members from participating in some practices that many would consider to be tantamount to torture. Sound strange to you?I'd like to write in more detail on the topic, but a group of concerned professionals is far ahead of me on the issue, so I'll refer you to a couple of spots:Stephen Soldz's blog; in particular, this list is instructive. A document that examines in depth what appear to be some tricky moves on the part of the APA to give a win... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1247872 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:14:00 +0100 1247872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1090446&cid=t_155396_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F199207842%2Famerican-psychological-association.html As reported on a pair of my favorite blogs (Pharmalot and the Pharma Marketing Blog ), the American Psychological Association Task Force on External Funding has issued a wake-up call to psychologists. To briefly summarize, when legendary psychologist Philip Zimbardo was APA president in 2002, he was taken aback by the corporate-sponsored largesse at the American Psychiatric Association convention. Being a forward-looking fellow, Zimbardo saw the writing on the wall: As psychologists move toward attaining prescription privileges, drug companies would descend on the profession like vultures.Read the article based on the committee's findings here. It's very good reading. They make a long list of recommendations, 24 to be exact, including highlights such as...External funds (i.e., drug money) ... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1090446 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:22:00 +0100 1090446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1084423&cid=t_155396_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F198279092%2F A task force of the American Psychological Association has recommended that its 148,000 members turn their nose up at pharma funds; limit the role industry plays at professional conferences, meetings and CME sessions; and adopt strict guidelines on conflict-of-interest disclosure, according to a primer published in the American Psychologist (take a peek). And to get its readers in the right mood, they authors offer this quote: “You shall not pervert judgment, you shall not favor someone’s presence, and you shall not accept a bribe, for the bribe will blind the eyes of the wise and make just words crooked.” - Deuteronomy 16:19, Laws of Judges Here are a few of the many recommendations: External funds should never be a part of APA’s oerating or core budget, including both dir... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1084423 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:08:45 +0100 1084423