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 'central'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:24 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159833&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSUw2xkpf29g%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Astellas US named Percival Barretto-Ko as senior vp of corporate strategy and government affairs. Before that, he was executive director, corporate strategy and communications at Astellas Pharma Europe. Prior to joining Astellas, he held senior... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159833 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:11:26 +0100 5159833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159314&cid=t_114899_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Femergency-room-balancing-act There seems to be an undercurrent of debate going on with regard to emergency room wait times. I’ve come across a number of articles and blogs lately having to do with the growing trend of hospitals advertising the wait times of their ERs to the surrounding community. Healthcare IT is helping many to go mobile with these timely messages. Patients in need of emergency care can text their zip code to 4ER411 and receive a list of area hospitals and their ER wait times from Miami-based ER Texting. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159314 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:02:16 +0100 5159314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139730&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-really-happens-on-a-night-shift-at-the-hospital%2F2011.08.19 I wonder how many cups of coffee an average night nurse consumes during their shift. Look, there’s someone we can ask, although it looks like her caffeine buzz is wearing off. Notice the telltale chin to chest head tip that gives sleep deprived nurses away. She may look like she’s charting, but she really is in a twilight sleep. Working nights isn’t for wimps. Neither is working holidays and weekends. You are always short of help, and BIG things seem to go wrong just as the day shift staff heads out the door. I always thought that I was just paranoid about working the off shifts, but Muhammad Saleem from RN Central sent me some information that validated my observations. I’ve posted their research results below. I’ve lived through a lot of these situations. I’ve seen seasoned n... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139730 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:50 +0100 5139730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159028&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4704%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Duniversity-of-westminster-shuts-down-naturopathy-nutritional-therapy-but-keeps-acupuncture-and-herbal-medicine There’s been no official announcement, but four more of Westminster’s courses in junk medicine have quietly closed. For entry in 2011 they offer University of Westminster (W50) qualification Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture (B343) 3FT Hon BSc Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture with Foundation (B341) 4FT/5FT Hon BSc/MSci Complementary Medicine (B255) 3FT Hon BSc Complementary Medicine (B301) 4FT Hon MHSci Complementary Medicine: Naturopathy (B391) 3FT Hon BSc Herbal Medicine (B342) 3FT Hon BSc Herbal Medicine with Foundation Year (B340) 4FT/5FT Hon BSc/MSci Nutritional Therapy (B400) 3FT Hon BSc   But for entry in 2012 University of Westminster (W50) qualification Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture&... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159028 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:43:52 +0100 5159028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118708&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fannouncing-the-psych-central-drug-discount-card%2F I’m proud to tell you about a new, free benefit offered to Psych Central members and readers — a drug discount card. The Psych Central drug discount card can save you up to 80% or more off the cost of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and pet prescription drugs. The Psych Central Drug Discount Card is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies, including major chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and at regional chains and local stores. It is offered in partnership with NeedyMeds. The card may be used by those without insurance and by those who decide not to use their insurance — for example if the drug is not covered under their plan, the copay or deductible is high, the cap has been reached, or if they are in the donut hole. There are no income, insu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118708 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:11:01 +0100 5118708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086540&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Flaquinimod_fails_for_multiple_sclerosis.php If you haven't been reading carefully, you might have had trouble figuring out Teva's oral therapy for multiple sclerosis, laquinimod. After all, earlier this year, the company was blowing the horn for the compound at neurology meetings, touting how safe and effective it was, its advantages over existing therapies, and its potential in the market. You'd hardly know that the compound actually didn't perform as well as many people were hoping. And of course, that very article does mention, near the end, that the company was going to have some more results later in the year. . . . . .and that day has arrived. Unfortunately. Laquinimod missed its primary endpoint of reducing relapses in MS patients, and unless Teva and its Israeli partner company (Active Biotech) have some real surprises to u... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086540 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:57:35 +0100 5086540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069825&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FRqwvmj9MSCs%2F As drugmakers scramble to replenish their pipelines, they are encountering all sorts of difficulties, including rising costs for clinical trials. And this is happening across all phases. Why? There is increasing competition for trial sites and clinical research organizations that can yield reliable, high quality data, according to a recent survey. And so, 32 percent of those surveyed pointed to higher costs for enrolling patients and 25 percent cited vendor fees. Expenses for recruiting trial sites was named by 14 percent, followed by 12 percent who fingered technology costs, according to Cutting Edge Information, which surveyed 21 drugmakers, 12 biotechs, nine device makers and 23 contract research organizations. Meanwhile, staffing for drug development is rising. For instance, Phase IV ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069825 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:39:41 +0100 5069825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028158&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1bQcSKcql2Y%2F By Walter OlsonThe New York Times has an article today on the plight of Central Falls, Rhode Island, a 19,000-population industrial city that may declare bankruptcy under the fiscal weight of $80 million in pension obligations for police and fire officers. Unlike some coverage of municipal fiscal woes, this one does not dance around the way some of the problem originates in misguided labor policy: The city, just north of Providence, is small and poor, but over the years it has promised police officers and firefighters retirement benefits like those offered in big, rich states like California and New York. These uniformed workers can retire after just 20 years of service, receive free health care in retirement, and qualify for full disability pensions when only partly disabled. “Promi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028158 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:27:20 +0100 5028158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008139&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6jdRyezxVhw%2F By Michael F. CannonFrom their editorial the other day: There is no doubt that Medicaid… has to be cut substantially in future decades to help curb federal deficits. For cash-strapped states, program cuts may be necessary right now. But in reducing spending, government needs to ensure any changes will not cause undue harm to millions. How would the Times cut Medicaid spending? The magic of central planning! The best route to savings — already embodied in the reform law — is to make the health care system more efficient over all so that costs are reduced for Medicaid, Medicare and private insurers as well. Various pilot programs to reduce costs might be speeded up…. And if government were smart, rather than stupid, that would work. I’ve got a better idea for cutting Me... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008139 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:58:44 +0100 5008139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968889&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F23%2Fcladribine_is_gone.php Multiple sclerosis therapy has been changing a lot in recent years, and one of the biggest events was the introduction of Gilenya (fingolimod). That's the first non-injectable for MS, and it's quite a story (as well as being quite a weird compound from a chemistry perspective). Novartis has been racing ahead in selling that one, because they knew the Merck KgGa (Merck-Darmstadt) had another oral compound in the works, cladribine. That's a nucleoside analog with a different mechanism (targeting some lymphoctye subtypes and thus changing immune response), and it was already used in treatment of some forms of leukemia. It did show promising results in the clinic for relapsing MS, and there were high hopes. Not now. Word has come that the company that they're withdrawing their application in... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968889 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:35:59 +0100 4968889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862514&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBrZgMjl4-q0%2F By Mark A. CalabriaThere’s a great piece in the spring issue of The Independent Review on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke by San Jose State Professor Jeffrey Rogers Hummel.  Although a bit long, its well worth the read for anyone wanting to understand both Bernanke’s thinking and his actions during and since the financial crisis. First, Prof. Hummel discusses the differences between Bernanke’s and Milton Friedman’s explanations for the Great Depression.  Those that debate whether Bernanke’s actions, especially the quantitative easings, would be approved of by Friedman will get a lot out of this discussion.  From this comparison, you get the point that Friedman was concerned about overall credit conditions and liquidity, whereas Bernanke is less focuse... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862514 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:15:18 +0100 4862514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813253&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_wrupaZeHWs%2F By David BoazPresident Obama has been saying that if the United States government can find and eliminate Osama bin Laden after ten years of searching, it can do anything: Already, in several appearances since the raid, Obama has described it as a reminder that “as a nation there is nothing that we can’t do,” as he put it during an unrelated White House ceremony Monday. On Sunday night, during his first comments about the operation, he linked it to American values, saying the country is “once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to.” This is, of course, nonsense. Finding bin Laden, difficult as it proved to be, was an incomparably simple task compared to using coercion and central planning to bring about desired results in defiance of economic reality. You ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813253 Wed, 11 May 2011 14:01:13 +0100 4813253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775336&cid=t_114899_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fsubclavius%2F The subclavius muscle is a little known muscle that lies deep in the upper anterior chest wall. Its main action is to anchor the clavicle. Its proximal attachment (origin) is the 1st rib and costal cartilage. The distal attachment (insertion) is the inferior surface of the mid-clavicle. Innervation is via a local nerve branch off the brachial plexus. The muscle is of clinical significance in that it is intentionally punctured when placing a subclavian central venous catheter. It also functions in protecting the underlying subclavian artery and vein from being punctured in displaced clavicle fractures. Left subclavius muscle in red (illus. courtesy Wikipedia) Related Posts Central Venous Catheter – Subclavian Vein (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775336 Mon, 02 May 2011 06:00:51 +0100 4775336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762797&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F28%2Fintroducing-boomers-on-the-rise-aging-well%2F I’m pleased to introduce our newest blog, Boomers on the Rise: Aging Well with Tamara McClintock Greenberg, Psy.D. This blog will discuss the increasingly complicated landscape of modern day aging, because, let’s face it, none of us is getting younger. Topics relate to healthcare and medicine, gender differences related to aging, coping with illness, and the many demands today’s middle-aged and older adults face. We’re all getting older, and with a generation of baby boomers getting to retirement age, this is the largest group of individuals that will become seniors in our nation’s history. There is a lot to navigate as we age, and few of us get a handbook to help guide us on our journey. I hope this blog will help give us the valuable tips and information that will make ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762797 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:02:31 +0100 4762797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762798&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F28%2Fmotivation-iq-tests-more-than-intelligence%2F One of the common misconceptions about psychological testing is that even the so-called objective psychological tests (usually done on a computer or paper-and-pencil tests) tap into a single “truth” about the person. And that there is very little subjectivity in such tests. In fact, one’s approach to taking a psychological test has a big impact on the test’s results — and the interpretations of those results by a trained psychologist. The problem is that psychologists — and worse, the legal system — uses these tests as not only an indicator of where a person is in their life right now, but as a predictor of their future potential. If something as simple as one’s motivation can have a significant impact on one of these scores, what does that m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762798 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:24:30 +0100 4762798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724180&cid=t_114899_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F-upChOONzUI%2F Questions over Greg Mortenson’s stories – 60 Minutes – CBS News. Filed under: books Tagged: 60 Minutes, Afghanistan, CBS News, Central Asia Institute, Greg Mortenson, Korphe, Pakistan, Three Cups of Tea (Source: white pebble) white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724180 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:30:31 +0100 4724180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696684&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F11%2Fintroducing-sex-and-intimacy-in-the-digital-age%2F The Internet and smartphones have significantly changed how ordinary people interact not only with one another, but with their own sexuality. Intimacy takes on new definitions, as we use technology to not only keep in touch and connected with one another, but for sexting and other talk that has, in the past, been reserved for face-to-face time. You may not be doing it, but I bet dimes to donuts someone you know is. Which is a very good reason to have a blog about sex, intimacy and technology here at Psych Central. I’m pleased to introduce Sex and Intimacy in the Digital Age, a blog about sexual addiction and problems, adultery and cheating in the digital age of the Internet, smartphones, and always being connected. A day doesn’t go by where we don’t hear how the Internet and other di... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696684 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:24:27 +0100 4696684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664458&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F31%2Fyour_comments_on_the_nihs_cns_drug_program.php After my post the other day on the NIH neurological disease effort, I heard from Rebecca Farkas there, who's leading the medicinal chemistry effort on the program. She's glad to get feedback from people in the industry, and in fact is inviting questions and comments on the whole program. Contact her at farkasr-at-ninds-dot-nih-dotgov (perhaps putting the address in that form will give the spam filters at NIH a bit less to do than otherwise). She also sends word that they'll be advertising soon for a Project Manager position for this effort, and is looking for suggestions on how to reach the right audience for a good selection of candidates. This post might help a bit, but she's interesting in suggestions on where to advertise and who to contact for good leads. (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664458 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:00:25 +0100 4664458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631520&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F24%2Fgot-regret-the-top-10-american-regrets%2F Americans share a lot of the same regrets in life — lost love, family spats, missing a career or educational opportunity. So says new research out of Northwestern University from a telephone survey conducted by researchers on 370 American adults. The researchers asked people to describe one regret in detail, with the rationale that whatever regret they described would be the one that is most memorable. Regrets based on inaction were held on to longer over time, versus those based upon some action the person took. So what are the top ten regrets held by Americans? The Top 10 American Regrets Here are the subjects that survey respondents most commonly described they held the greatest regrets about: Romance, lost love – 18.1% Family (e.g., family arguments) – 15.9% Educati... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631520 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:26:00 +0100 4631520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615083&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwQVFtpMI84E%2F By Daniel J. MitchellTo put it mildly, the Federal Reserve has a dismal track record. It bears significant responsibility for almost every major economic upheaval of the past 100 years, including the Great Depression, the 1970s stagflation, and the recent financial crisis. Perhaps the most damning statistic is that the dollar has lost 95 percent of its value since the central bank was created. Notwithstanding its poor performance, the Federal Reserve seems to get more power over time. But rather than rewarding the central bank for debasing the currency and causing instability, perhaps it's time to contemplate alternatives. This new video from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity dives into that issue, exposing the Fed's poor track record, explaining how central banking evolved, and mentio... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615083 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:07:28 +0100 4615083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610797&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fiwx_-UAQHks%2F By Ted Galen CarpenterPresident Obama’s trip to Latin America is likely to focus on economic topics, but two security issues deserve scrutiny during his stops in Brazil and El Salvador.  Washington’s diplomatic relationship with Brazil has become somewhat frosty, especially over the past year.  U.S. leaders did not appreciate Brazil’s joint effort with Turkey to craft a compromise policy toward Iran’s nuclear program.  The Obama administration regarded that diplomatic initiative as unhelpful freelancing.  And when Brazil joined Turkey in voting against a UN Security Council resolution imposing stronger sanctions on Tehran, the administration’s resentment deepened.  Obama should not only try to soothe tensions, he should shift Washington’s policy, express appreciation for B... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610797 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:16:49 +0100 4610797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600581&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F16%2F3-ways-to-boost-your-mood-naturally%2F Imagine yourself outside. The sky is bright blue, the sun is sparkling and the air feels crisp and cool. Maybe you’re walking along the beach, feeling the warm sand on your bare feet. Perhaps you’re riding your bike in a park, surrounded by hundred-year-old trees and singing birds. Or maybe you’re pinching the dirt as you dig through the backyard to plant a few flowers. Being outdoors at a park, the beach or even just a few feet from our doorsteps can feel both relaxing and invigorating. In fact, research has shown that participating in physical activity in the great outdoors can do a world of good for your psyche. When analyzing ten studies with 1,252 participants, UK researchers found that outdoor activities like walking, gardening and bike riding helped boost the mood and self-es... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600581 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:18:11 +0100 4600581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532257&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F28%2Fmoving-in-the-right-direction-my-new-role-at-psych-central%2F Oprah Winfrey told the 1997 graduating class of Wellesley College that failure is God’s way of saying “Excuse me, you’re moving in the wrong direction.” She also said that when you are doing what you were created to do, it should feel like breathing. The talk show host was spot on with me because the last six months as a strategic communications consultant (whatever the hell that is) at a large consulting firm felt like 175 days of suffocation. The more I tried to fit in with all the Harvard MBAs, the more awkward I felt (as a theology major). The more I studied the various models of change management and how to direct a government agency from vision to implementation, the greater gap I felt between who I was and what I was doing for a steady paycheck. I didn’t ma... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532257 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:45:58 +0100 4532257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459941&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQR3poXuB5DM%2F By Juan Carlos HidalgoThe new Brazilian government of President Dilma Rousseff has announced spending cuts of 50 billion reais (approximately $30 billion) this year. This amounts to approximately 1.3% of the country’s estimated GDP for 2011. Despite good intentions, that is still a very timid effort in curbing the size of government in Brazil: Total government spending (including state and local levels) runs at almost 40% of GDP. Perhaps the timidity of the proposal is explained by the fact that curbing the size of government is not the motivation for the spending cuts. Nor is it to avoid a looming fiscal crisis. Brazil’s estimated budget deficit for 2010 was 2.3% of GDP; not good, but still a far cry from the fiscal woes of Europe or the U.S. Dilma’s reason for cutting spending lies... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459941 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:57:02 +0100 4459941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460006&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fintroducing-adventures-of-a-bipolar-mom%2F I’m pleased to welcome you to Adventures of a Bipolar Mom with Beth Vandagriff. Beth is a 30-year-old wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was recently diagnosed with Ultra-Rapid Cycling Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety and Paranoia. She joins us here to share her experiences with bipolar disorder and parenting — how it is to juggle all the demands of motherhood along with the demands of living with a combination of mental health concerns. Bipolar disorder, also known by its older name “manic depression,” is a mental disorder that is characterized by constantly changing moods. A person with bipolar disorder experiences alternating highs (what clinicians call “mania“) and lows (also known as depression). Both the manic and depressive periods can be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460006 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:11:04 +0100 4460006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399618&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F25%2Fintroducing-adventures-in-positive-psychology%2F I’m pleased to introduce our newest blog, Adventures in Positive Psychology with Joe Wilner, MA, focused on the topic of positive psychology. You’ve probably heard a thing or two about positive psychology in the past decade, because of its focus on helping people to better understand themselves and their lives to increase happiness. Sure, life can be challenging sometimes and many face a mental health concern. But that’s no reason you shouldn’t be seeking personal growth all of your life too, and find ways to increase your happiness and well-being. Joe Wilner has a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Management and Leadership. Joe is a certified meditation instructor through the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIH... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399618 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:55:40 +0100 4399618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382755&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FSamESHnA_8M%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI’m not a big fan of central banks, and I definitely don’t like multilateral bureaucracies, so I almost feel guilty about publicizing two recent studies published by the European Central Bank. But when such an institution puts out research that unambiguously makes the case for smaller government, it’s time to sit up and take notice. And since these studies largely echo the findings of recent research by the International Monetary Fund, we may have reached a point where even the establishment finally understands that government is too big. The first study looks at real-world examples of debt reduction in 15 European nations and investigates the fiscal policies that worked and didn’t work. Entitled “Major Public Debt Reductions: Lessons From... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382755 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:37:43 +0100 4382755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361067&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F18%2Fintroducing-equine-therapy-blog%2F I’ve long been fascinated with equine therapy (also known as equine assisted psychotherapy) — that is, using horses to help someone heal from a mental health or other life issue. So I’m pleased to present you with our new blog on just this topic, Equine Therapy: Straight from the Horse’s Mouth with Claire Dorotik, LMFT. Claire has made a specialization of equine facilitated psychotherapy, developing an equine assisted psychotherapeutic approach that has proved highly effective in restoring emotional and physical balance to those who have battled trauma, abuse, and eating disorders. She has written many articles for Horsetrader, Ride, and Flying Changes magazines on the subject of horses and horse training, and is also a contributing author to Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Straight... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361067 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:58:42 +0100 4361067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318307&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FY7S7Cf-xYC4%2F By Ian VasquezNicholas Kristof provides “a useful reminder of the limitations of charity and foreign aid” in his New York Times op-ed about Haiti today. “Nearly a year after the earthquake in Haiti,” he notes, “more than one million people are still living in tents and reconstruction has barely begun.” He emphasizes the importance of “trade, not aid” and of the role of business: “It’s hard to think of a charitable project that will be as beneficial as the Coca-Cola Company’s decision to build up the mango juice industry in Haiti, supporting 25,000 farmers.” He also cites a seemingly successful microfinance aid project that lends money to poor women in Haiti to begin and expand business ventures by, for example, investing in livestock or growing fruit for sale. It is... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318307 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:09:45 +0100 4318307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318286&cid=t_114899_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2Ftoday-in-rape-culture-tosh-0%2F I love funny online videos as much as most people, so when web clip show Tosh.0 started airing on Comedy Central, I watched a few episodes. I soon decided that I could no longer watch due to frequent rape jokes and other misogynistic and problematic material. Last night, I saw a new promo for the upcoming season of Tosh.0 and was slapped across the face with a blatant rape joke. Unfortunately I can’t embed it, so you’ll have to go to the site to view it. Here’s the transcript: Some guy, probably from a web video I haven’t seen: Hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your husband. Daniel Tosh: Because on season 3 of Tosh.0, we’re raping everybody. “We’re raping everybody.” That was deemed acceptable for a show promo on Comedy Central, and i... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318286 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:24:57 +0100 4318286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265855&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F18%2Fmovies-and-mental-health%2F I’m pleased to introduce Movies and Mental Health with Joseph Burgo, Ph.D. This blog is devoted to looking at films — both recent, contemporary movies and the classics — as an avenue for examining different aspects of the human experience. “I’m particularly interested in exploring and writing about the nexus between mental health issues and popular culture,” says Dr. Burgo. “From time to time, a book or TV show might also be an appropriate topic for discussion.” I love movies, and I love delving into the psychological aspects of their characters, because there are just so many darned good stories out there. So I must admit, I’m not only happy to introduce this new blog, but also will be an avid reader of it. Please head on over to Movies and Mental Health blog now and giv... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265855 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:20:03 +0100 4265855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265687&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FueRzNG8I_pU%2F By Malou InnocentPresident Obama released his Afghanistan war review today. It highlights progress on the battlefield against insurgents, the success of Special Forces operations and drone strikes, and achievements in training the Afghan security forces. I have four thoughts on the matter: First, scattered throughout the document are passages such as “al-Qa’ida’s senior leadership in Pakistan is weaker,” “[a]l-Qa’ida’s senior leadership has been depleted,” and “al-Qa’ida’s leadership cadre have diminished.” However, can we deter more jihadists than our efforts help to inspire? After all, “fighting them over there so they don’t fight us here” did not deter Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad and his inco... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265687 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:31:24 +0100 4265687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253200&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F12%2Fdo-your-panic-attacks-ever-grow-rosy-in-retrospect%2F Photo Credit: gavinmusic The other night, I found myself obsessively listening to a unique crowd-sourced brand of music at OneHelloWorld. OHW is — well, think Postsecret, but for your ears. The site’s creator (who doesn’t identify himself by name) asks the world to call his phone and leave a three-minute narrative voicemail. Then, he creates a musical composition for the background that’s inspired by the content of your message. (“Call it a soundtrack for your thoughts,” the site describes it.) The result? An intriguing amalgam of personal stories and instrumental melodies. The completed tracks are moving. Some are inspirational; some are depressing. Always one to take part in the novelty of experimental projects on the internet, I called OHW’s ph... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253200 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:06:16 +0100 4253200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253469&cid=t_114899_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F12%2F13%2Fthe-pain-system-is-so-complicated%2F There are a couple of ways to approach the problem of pain – the one I grew up with is the medical one: diagnose the problem, fix the problem, life returns to normal.  The person’s role in this is to be open about what is wrong, let the treatment provider know the information (and only the information) relevant to the problem, follow the medical instructions, and all will be well. Of course the majority of readers of this blog can see some short-comings in this model.  It forgets that people choose when to seek treatment and that they make decisions about this based on ‘common knowledge’ (or what the community around them says they should do), family history, current stressors and activities, degree of distress, and how much the symptoms get in the way of living l... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253469 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:17:10 +0100 4253469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241766&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F08%2Fpsychotherapy-continues-decline-as-depression-treatment%2F Perhaps we’ve seen the rise and fall of psychotherapy treatment. At least when it comes to depression, the most common mental disorder diagnosed today. The numbers don’t lie, according to multiple nationally-representative surveys conducted over the past two decades. At the start of the 1990s, psychotherapy was the treatment of choice for depression, with 71.1 percent of depressed people saying they had been treated with psychotherapy. By 1997, with the newer SSRI antidepressants firmly taking hold in prescribers’ toolboxes, that number had dropped to 60.2 percent. When the latest research when conducted, they found 53.6 percent of depressed people surveyed in 1998 were in psychotherapy. When they looked again in 2007, that number had dropped to a new all-time low —... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241766 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:45:51 +0100 4241766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200603&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F25%2Fhappy-thanksgiving-2010%2F If it’s November and you live in the U.S., chances are you’re going to find yourself eating some turkey today. Happy Thanksgiving! At this time of the year, it’s also traditional to give thanks for what we have. We’re a nation of bounty and plenty, even during these tough economic times. Most of us have the luxury of having a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, and warmth in the cold. These are simple things we take for granted everyday. But I want to really thank you for reading Psych Central’s World of Psychology blog all year long. This has been the 10th year I’ve regularly been blogging, and it’s 10 years I’ve really enjoyed. So thank you for reading. I also want to thank our members, because without people who’ve made the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200603 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:29:59 +0100 4200603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152271&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPN1cDZXQRcw%2F Long time passing? The lament is a take-off on an old Pete Seeger song, but one might get the impression the refrain is appropriate after viewing a new summary of compounds presented at the recent American Chemical Society meeting in Boston. The latest gathering yielded presentations for 58 new drug candidates but, by one reckoning, the amount of innovation on display was lacking. Specifically, not one previously unidentified drug target was reported at ACS, which was held in August, according to Citeline Drug Intelligence, a market research firm that tracked the presentations. What was on display? Central nervous system compounds ranked highest, with 23 candidates, followed by 16 for metabolic diseases and just eight for oncology. This, by the way, stands in contrast to previous years whe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152271 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:01:41 +0100 4152271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151876&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F09%2Fbad-research-texting-health-risks-and-teens%2F I was astounded to read about new survey research from Scott Frank, MD, MS, who — when commenting about his new findings — was widely quoted as saying, “The startling results of this study suggest that when left unchecked texting and other widely popular methods of staying connected can have dangerous health effects on teenagers.” Of course it would indeed be startling if his study had demonstrated a clear causative relationship — you know, like A causes B — between texting and the unhealthy teen behaviors the researchers studied. But of course, this is not what they found. They conducted a survey and, like researchers do, found that a bunch of variables are inter-related. What that relationship exactly is, is anybody’s guess. The headlines say it... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151876 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:41:47 +0100 4151876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125256&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F01%2Fdrugs_at_home.php This article reminds me of the "designer drug" era in the 1980s. The Wall Street Journal profiles one of the many European chemical entrepreneurs making a fortune by synthesizing and selling new psychoactive drugs. And they're all labeled "Not For Human Consumption", so hey, everything's perfectly legal. Until the authorities ban the specific substance, naturally, and then he moves on to another one down the list. As someone who doesn't see a new chemical structure go into humans until years of testing have been done, you can imagine what I think of this. The small amount of amazement I feel is completely overwhelmed by contempt for anyone who would dose people with an untried CNS drug. Oh, but he's not dosing anyone, is he? All he's doing is selling them little vials of white powdery stu... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125256 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:21:25 +0100 4125256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121920&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F30%2Flaugh-when-youre-afraid%2F “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane,” sings Jimmy Buffett. “Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods,” says a Japanese proverb. A sense of humor, for me, is by far the most useful weapon in my depression arsenal. Which is why Eric is panicked when I stop laughing, when my funny bone is split in 43 places. For two nights in the psych ward, our group therapy session was to watch a comedy act by an actress (I forget her name, sorry … I was on too many sedatives to take notes) who pokes fun at depression and mood disorders, the way I try to do on Beyond Blue. Our psychiatric nurses were well aware of the studies showing that laughter can be a powerful tool for recovery and healing. In between meals and meds, they did their best to evoke a fe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121920 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:11:56 +0100 4121920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105765&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Flove-in-the-brain%2F Ahh, what researchers won’t study. Is nothing sacred, even the most spiritual of matters of the heart, such as love? Now research out of Syracuse University by Stephanie Ortigue (that’s her, pictured), suggests that there are measurable brain changes when a person falls in love. She gathers this idea from a review of the research literature of neuroimaging studies (studies that primarily used something called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI) that have examined people in love. She found that all of the fMRI studies of love point to “subcortical dopaminergic reward-related brain systems (involving dopamine and oxytocin receptors).” These are similar to the rewards a person feels when taking cocaine. The study’s new findings are that there are 12 s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105765 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:28:42 +0100 4105765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098056&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F22%2Fgoing-mental-kindle-sweepstakes-fourth-winner%2F We’re pleased to announce the third winner in the Psych Central ‘Going Mental’ Kindle Sweepstakes — Gina Ciuca! Congratulations Gina!! You can enter the sweepstakes now by signing up for our free weekly mental health newsletter. We’re ‘going mental’ by giving away 5 new Amazon.com Kindle Readers — one a week — to new subscribers of our weekly Psych Central newsletter. We still have one Kindle left to give away, and there’s still time left to enter in order to win our last Kindle. The Sweepstakes closes Oct. 23 at Midnight ET. These are the high-end Kindle readers — the ones with 3G built-in. That means you don’t have to have an Internet connection to even use them. And don’t think you have to buy books to use these things — hundreds of free b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098056 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:55:57 +0100 4098056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107953&cid=t_114899_175_f&fid=39258&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FInsidePaTraining%2F%7E3%2FIGE3Mvq3fSU%2Fopthalmic-photography Does the image above represent art or medicine?  I’ll let you decide.  Either way, as a PA student, you may be able to make a diagnosis just from the image.   Our class was just tested on our first run-through of opthalmology.  It’s a fascinating area of medicine, and one in which a primary care PA [...] (Source: Inside PA Training) Inside PA Training blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107953 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:06:57 +0100 5107953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077321&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F16%2Fgoing-mental-kindle-sweepstakes-third-winner%2F We’re pleased to announce the third winner in the Psych Central ‘Going Mental’ Kindle Sweepstakes — Allison Romano! Congratulations Allison!! You can enter the sweepstakes now by signing up for our free weekly mental health newsletter. We’re ‘going mental’ by giving away 5 new Amazon.com Kindle Readers — one a week — to new subscribers of our weekly Psych Central newsletter. We still have two Kindles left to give away. These are the high-end Kindle readers — the ones with 3G built-in. That means you don’t have to have an Internet connection to even use them. And don’t think you have to buy books to use these things — hundreds of free books are available in the Kindle store, and hundreds of RSS feeds can also be added for minimal monthly fees. We&#... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077321 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:51:56 +0100 4077321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055783&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F11%2Fgoing-mental-kindle-sweepstakes-winner-week-2%2F We’re pleased to announce Week 1’s winner in the Psych Central ‘Going Mental’ Kindle Sweepstakes — Katarina Gasevski! Congratulations Katarina!! You can enter the sweepstakes now by signing up for our free weekly mental health newsletter. We’re ‘going mental’ by giving away 5 new Amazon.com Kindle Readers — one a week — to new subscribers of our weekly Psych Central newsletter. These are the high-end Kindle readers — the ones with 3G built-in. That means you don’t have to have an Internet connection to even use them. And don’t think you have to buy books to use these things — hundreds of free books are available in the Kindle store, and hundreds of RSS feeds can also be added for minimal monthly fees. You may have noticed we’re a week ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055783 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:12:19 +0100 4055783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036718&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F06%2F11-surprising-facts-about-americas-sexual-behaviors%2F Wow, to be a paid researcher in America to study the sexual behaviors of Americans. Now that’s an enticing job. Where do I sign up? Apparently I’d pop on over to Indiana University, as that’s where the latest batch of researchers come from who have something to say about sex in America. As a part of the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, researchers surveyed a national, representative sample of 5,865 people ages 14 to 94. They recently published some of their initial findings in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. So without further ado, here are 11 surprising facts about sex in America from that survey. 1. Condom use is pretty uncommon. Only 1 in 4 acts of sexual intercourse are protected by a condom. Condoms are, of course, the most reliable method to avoid s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036718 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:33:09 +0100 4036718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013146&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FH6U5zwCeVMo%2F By Mark A. CalabriaA common defense offered for keeping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or something like them, is that the market simply cannot absorb the same level of mortgage lending without them.  The central flaw in this argument is that Fannie and Freddie themselves must be funded by the market.  So if the financial markets can absorb X in GSE debt, then the financial markets can absorb X in mortgages. Different market participants currently face different capital requirements for the same assets.  To some extent, Fannie and Freddie were a vehicle for shifting mortgage risk from higher capitalized institutions to less capitalized.  If the Obama administration and bank regulators are serious about closing “regulatory gaps” then all entities backed by the govt, implicit o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013146 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:21:31 +0100 4013146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4009961&cid=t_114899_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F09%2F28%2Fcentral-asia%2F A 19 year old patient who has just been diagnosed with XDR-TB – the form of tuberculosis that is resistant to all available tuberculosis medication. The doctors just found out that he cannot be treated. The patient’s mother has died of TB and his brother is also sick with a drug resistant form of the bacteria. He however responds to some of the medication and is recovering. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4009961 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:52:46 +0100 4009961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002967&cid=t_114899_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=3999043&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F24%2Fgoing-mental-kindle-sweepstakes-winner-week-1%2F We’re pleased to announce Week 1’s winner in the Psych Central ‘Going Mental’ Kindle Sweepstakes — Hugh Partridge! Congratulations Hugh!! Week 2’s drawing period started today at midnight, so you can enter now by signing up for our free weekly mental health newsletter. We’re ‘going mental’ by giving away 5 new Amazon.com Kindle Readers — one a week — to new subscribers of our weekly Psych Central newsletter. These are the high-end Kindle readers — the ones with 3G built-in. That means you don’t have to have an Internet connection to even use them. And don’t think you have to buy books to use these things — hundreds of free books are available in the Kindle store, and hundreds of RSS feeds can also be added for minimal monthly fees. If ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999043 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:43:49 +0100 3999043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999044&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F24%2Fmental-health-stigma-still-prevalent%2F Two stories published in the past week by our news team gives me reason to be a little pessimistic about the gains we’ve made in terms of educating folks about mental health concerns. The first article entitled, Depression Stigma Higher in Medical Students, examined mental health attitudes amongst medical students — you know, those folks who should be the most open-minded about these disorders that have significant roots in the brain. Of course, from the title of the article, you already know the study’s findings. In a survey of 505 medical students, researchers found that not only do the future doctors have higher rates of depression than in the general population (not surprising, given the stress of medical school), but they have something a little less expected —... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999044 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:05:19 +0100 3999044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3982034&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F18%2Ftreating-chronic-depression-and-anxiety-with-hallucinogens-and-marijuana%2F Johns Hopkins just published an interesting summary of the research recently on treating mood disorders with hallucinogens. In the most recent Depression and Anxiety Health Alert, the author chronicles the history of hallucinogens and how they affect the central nervous system to release the right kind of neurotransmitters. As per the Johns Hopkins report: Hallucinogens (also called psychedelics) were a promising area of research in the 1960s and early 1970s, when they were being developed as possible treatments for a number of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. These drugs were banned in the ’70s and ’80s, however, after their recreational use became a widespread problem. In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) again began allowing resear... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3982034 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:22:34 +0100 3982034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969052&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F14%2Fintroducing-autism-aspergers-and-beyond%2F In this day and age, we seem to increasingly medicalize mental disorders and their treatment, even in very young children. I believe this has significant repercussions in a child’s development, when parents turn to a psychiatric drug as the sole remedy for their child’s concerns. While no parents wants to see their child suffer needlessly, medications have become the “go to” treatment despite the efficacy and greater safety of other treatments. I’m pleased to welcome you to Autism, Asperger’s and Beyond, a blog by Diane Yapko, MA. Diane is a speech-language pathologist who for the past 30 years has specialized in working with the pediatric population in the areas of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental and neurological disabilities. After listening to her speak on ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969052 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:08:00 +0100 3969052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913102&cid=t_114899_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fphysician-assistant-jim-love-explains-feels-patients-great-care%2F Jim Love is a physician assistant in central Maine who thinks that America should more towards a model of medicine where care is given by non-physicians. Love, who as a young man tried but could not get into medical school, works in an office under a sign that says Sebasticook Family Doctors that is about 25 miles from his supervising physician but says he is confident in his skills and care. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913102 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:53:38 +0100 3913102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913152&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F28%2Fwalking-yoga-helps-your-brain%2F Two studies out last week demonstrate connections between practicing yoga and simple walking may work to help improve your brain health. Previous research has linked exercise to helping keep our brains healthy. The two latest studies independently found that walking and yoga may help our brain health in different ways. To study the effects of walking on brain health, researchers followed a group of older adult “couch potatoes” — ages 59 to 80 — who joined a walking group, or stretching and toning group for a year… Researchers followed a group of “professional couch potatoes,” composed of 65 adults ages 59 to 80, who joined a walking group or stretching and toning group for a year. All of the participants were sedentary before the study, reporting less th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913152 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:10:47 +0100 3913152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896079&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F23%2Fkurzweil_responds.php Ray Kurzweil has responded to the criticism of his Singularity Summit comments on reverse-engineering the brain, a chorus to which I added my voice here. He says that he was misquoted on the timeline and on the importance of genomic data for doing it. His plan, he says, is to understand what level of complexity will be needed in order for a system to organize and adapt the way the brain does to stimuli, and the modular nature of its organization gives him hope that this can be realized: For example, the cerebellum (which has been modeled, simulated and tested) — the region responsible for part of our skill formation, like catching a fly ball — contains a module of four types of neurons. That module is repeated about ten billion times. The cortex, a region that only mammals have and t... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896079 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:48:31 +0100 3896079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865305&cid=t_114899_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=3848912&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F09%2Fbeing-beautiful-doesnt-always-help%2F We often hear of how beautiful people seem to get all the breaks — first through the door at nightclubs, being chosen to be on a team or as a friend based upon looks alone, even getting a date just because of your physical beauty. But as previous research has shown, sometimes being beautiful can put a person at greater risk while they try and attain an ideal of beauty that doesn’t exist. Now new research suggests another barrier faced by some of the beautiful people — applying for a job. In the study, attractive women were discriminated against when applying for jobs considered “masculine” and for which appearance was not seen as important to the job. Such positions included job titles like manager of research and development, director of finance, mechanical engineer ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3848912 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:09:55 +0100 3848912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780149&cid=t_114899_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Ffather-manages-sleep-apnea-on-national.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780149 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:20:00 +0100 3780149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776612&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaBixXSE3HwE%2F Two more colleges are in the process of restricting funding from industry. Harvard Medical School will prohibit its 11,000 faculty from giving promotional talks for drug and device makers and accepting personal gifts, travel, or meals, The Boston Globe writes. And Central Michigan University may not accept money upcoming continuing medical education programs, according to Central Michigan Life. The Harvard will also place strict limits on income faculty can earn from companies for consulting, joining boards, and other work; require public reporting of payments of at least $5,000 on a med school website; and promise more robust internal reporting and monitoring of these relationships. Harvard will also create a firewall between health care companies during these courses. One target is Pri-M... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776612 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:36:16 +0100 3776612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767075&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcleveland-clinic-targets-the-heart-of-chicago%2F2010.07.19 All I can say is, best of luck. From the Chicago Tribune: In a move likely to shake up the market for heart care in the Chicago area, the well-known Cleveland Clinic’s cardiac surgery program said Thursday that it has signed an affiliation agreement with Central DuPage Hospital in the western Chicago suburbs. The internationally known Cleveland Clinic draws patients from more than 85 countries around the world for everything from open-heart surgery and valve replacement to heart transplants. Its deal with Central DuPage, in Winfield, is designed to enhance the heart care provided at the 313-bed community hospital and potentially bring Cleveland Clinic patient referrals at a time heart surgeries are less needed than they were a decade ago. This won’t shake up the market in Chicago. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767075 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3767075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767122&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F19%2Fintroducing-the-therapist-within%2F I’m pleased to introduce The Therapist Within, a blog about psychotherapy by Gabrielle Gawne-Kelnar. Gabrielle is a psychotherapist who comes to us from Sydney, Australia, and I’m hoping her perspective from a different country and culture on psychotherapy will bring us new insights into the therapy process and the different ways it is practiced. But I’ll let Gabrielle speak for herself: A central part of my work as a therapist is a belief that everyone has their own answers, and their own unique solutions to the challenges in their lives, hidden somewhere inside them — it’s just that sometimes these answers can be hard to see. So, together, we’re embarking on a kind of quest here. A quest for questions. For curious keys that might help unlock some of the answer... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767122 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:00:49 +0100 3767122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750040&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3JD2HOguO0k%2F By Daniel J. MitchellA number of economists have been warning about the Federal Reserve’s easy-money policy, but defenders of the central bank often ask, ”if there’s an easy money policy, why isn’t that showing up in the form of higher prices?” Thomas Sowell has an answer to this question, explaining that people and businesses are sitting on cash because anti-business policies have dampened economic activity. Not only has all the runaway spending and rapid escalation of the deficit to record levels failed to make any real headway in reducing unemployment, all this money pumped into the economy has also failed to produce inflation. The latter is a good thing in itself but its implications are sobering. How can you pour trillions of dollars into the economy an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750040 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:42:05 +0100 3750040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746712&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fyou-know-youre-unwell-if-youre-a-woman-writer-on-the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart%2F Because, according to a recent controversial post on Jezebel, you toil unjustly in an insufferably sexist work environment. However, according to a scathingly funny open letter response written by 32 current female members of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart staff (pictured above), that’s just simply not true. We’re not sure whom to believe – we just wish one of these nice secretaries would get us a cup of coffee. photo: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Post from: BlissTree You Know You're Unwell If...You're a Woman Writer on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746712 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:37:42 +0100 3746712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695567&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fusing-ultrasound-to-zap-the-brain-back-into-action%2F2010.06.24 Scientists at Arizona State University have developed a new method of non-surgical brain stimulation using pulsed ultrasound that enhances cognitive function in mice, and may one day be used to non-invasively treat patients with mental retardation, Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions. In intact motor cortex in mice, ultrasound was found to stimulate action potentials and elicit motor responses comparable to those only previously achieved with implanted electrodes and related techniques. It also activates meaningful brain wave patterns and the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus — one of the most potent regulators of brain plasticity. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgad... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695567 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:00:01 +0100 3695567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695626&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F24%2Fomega-3-treatment-for-depression%2F Can omega 3 help treat depression? According to new research, the answer is yes. In one of the largest studies on omega-3 supplements done to date, Canadian researchers found that for people who don’t also have an anxiety disorder with their depression, the popular omega-3 fish supplements helped improve depression symptoms. The improvements the researchers found in this study were similar to improvements found in studies of antidepressants, suggesting that for some people, omega-3 may be an inexpensive antidepressant alternative. From October 2005 to January 2009, 432 male and female participants with major unipolar depression were recruited to take part in this randomized, double-blind study (neither patients nor researchers knew which capsules patients received). For eight weeks,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695626 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:02:07 +0100 3695626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687108&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3200 Western herbal medicine need not be mystical nonsense, but it usually it is,  Plants often contain chemicals that have pharmacological actions, with all the possibilities for good and for harm that implies (see Plants as medicines).  It would be quite possible to teach about the plant constituents and their actions in an entirely scientific way, but it seems that this is not what courses in herbal medicine choose to do.  That is why they shouldn’t be called Bachelor of Science degrees. We have recently revealed the ancient nonsense taught at Middlesex University in its "BSc (Hons)" degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dangerous Chinese medicine taught at Middlesex University as well as similar dangerous gobbledygook from the University of Westminster:... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687108 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:17:47 +0100 3687108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671672&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrAaybV1oE8Q%2F By Tom G. PalmerCAFMI Director Mirsulzhan Namazaliev at 2009 Cato University Kyrgyz libertarians are leading a series of coordinated voluntary efforts to provide emergency aid to the victims of the vicious attacks of the last few days in their country and to promote peace throughout the nation and the region.  I’ve been in regular touch with our friends there, and on Tuesday evening I talked to Central Asian Free Market Institute (CAFMI) Director Mirsulzhan Namazaliev by Skype, as he was interrupted by a stream of volunteers working late into the night in the CAFMI offices.  He made their resolution clear: “We are helping those who are suffering, but we are doing more.  For me personally this is not only a fight for life.  It is a fight for freedom.  We don’t want to be rule... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671672 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:29:58 +0100 3671672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671890&cid=t_114899_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-pill-approved%2F The first oral, disease-modifying MS drug, Fingolimod, was approved for release and marketing by the FDA’s Advisory Committee on Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs a few days ago! I apologize for the delay my reporting such important news, but my travel schedule has been a bit nutty of late. Data was submitted earlier this year as to the efficacy and safety of the drug and the approval process took a HUGE leap on June 10 this a unanimous, 25-0 vote to allow drug maker, Novartis, to begin the next phase in the long process of bringing new drugs to market. Contacts at Novartis wouldn’t give a firm date as to the release of the drug to the US market, but it will most assuredly be available before for doctors’ prescriptions by the end of the calendar year. A .25mg dose of the dr... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671890 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:26:56 +0100 3671890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644737&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fthe-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-from-last-night-videos-that-crack-us-up%2F In case you missed last night’s episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on Comedy Central, here’s a clip from the beginning. We were going to comment on correspondent Helen Thomas and her recent controversial comments about Israel, but instead we thought we’d leave the commenting to the reigning champion of political humor. Post from: BlissTree The Daily Show With Jon Stewart From Last Night: Videos That Crack Us Up (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644737 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:35:56 +0100 3644737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629856&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F04%2Focd_linked_to_the_immune_system.php Now here's one that I certainly didn't expect: there's a mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, where the animals have a mutation in the Hoxb8 gene. These animals spend huge amounts of time repetitively grooming themselves (and their cagemates), and eventually remove so much hair that they give themselves lesions. From what I can see, they're doing the usual moves that mice do, but spending a lot more time doing them. And it doesn't seem to be something due to insensitivity to pain; the animals have some sensory alterations, but disrupting Hoxb8 in the spinal cord only doesn't lead to the grooming phenotype. A new paper from a group at University of Utah reports that the brain signature of Hoxb8 mutation is found only in a population of microglia, one variety of the support cells t... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629856 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:23:27 +0100 3629856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599323&cid=t_114899_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F26%2Ften-years-of-pubmed-central-a-good-thing-thats-only-going-to-get-better%2F PubMed Central (PMC) is a free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), developed and managed by NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) (see PMC overview). PMC is a central repository for biomedical peer reviewed literature in [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599323 Wed, 26 May 2010 00:19:23 +0100 3599323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592196&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGpYjJuTxPnw%2F By Michael F. CannonThe following excerpt from Jeffrey Friedman’s article in the January/February 2010 issue of Cato Policy Report, though about the financial industry rather than health care reform, captures why so many critics of ObamaCare are comfortable describing it as socialism: What I am calling social democracy is, in its form, very different from socialism. Under social democracy, laws and regulations are issued piecemeal, as flexible responses to the side effects of progress — social and economic problems — as they arise, one by one…. The case-by-case approach is supposed to be the height of pragmatism. But in substance, there is a striking similarity between social democracy and the most utopian socialism. Whether through piecemeal regulation or central planning,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592196 Mon, 24 May 2010 14:21:37 +0100 3592196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585596&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fw_6bVPmLuzg%2F By Daniel IkensonIn a Cato paper released earlier this month, I argued that the glacial pace of America’s economic recovery and its growing public debt juxtaposed against China’s almost uninterrupted double-digit annual economic growth and its role as Congress’s sugar daddy have bred insecurity among U.S. opinion leaders, many of whom now advocate a more strident approach to China, or emulation of its top-down approach. I cite, among others, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, who is enamored of autocracy’s capacity to facilitate China’s singularity of purpose to dominate the industries of the future: One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages. That one... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585596 Thu, 20 May 2010 19:10:12 +0100 3585596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581588&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FgqqswmxuieU%2F By Chris EdwardsYesterday, the Washington Post reviewed the life of Phyllis McClure, who was an advocate for federal education spending in low-income neighborhoods. Once an aspiring journalist, Ms. McClure joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1969. She immediately used her penchant for muckraking to illuminate the widespread misuse of federal funds meant to boost educational opportunities for the country’s neediest students. The money was part of the new Title I program, created under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The slim volume that Ms. McClure wrote in 1969 with Ruby Martin — ‘Title I of ESEA: Is It Helping Poor Children?’ — showed how millions of dollars across the country were being used by school districts to make ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581588 Thu, 20 May 2010 14:55:25 +0100 3581588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577451&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F19%2Fpsych-central-iphone-app%2F Have you ever wanted to keep up with the primary content published on Psych Central or one of its dozens of blogs on your iPhone? Now you can with the Psych Central iPhone app (free, of course!). If you already have an iPhone, just pull up the App Store and type in “psychcentral” in the search box, and you’ll see it pop right up. Download it and in a few minutes you’ll be up and running with all of the latest articles from Psych Central News, our dozens of blogs, World of Psychology and the Ask the Therapist feature. The app is completely customizable as well, allowing you to view and keep updated only on the content of interest to you. Don’t care about Blog C or Blog G? Simply turn them off and their content will no longer be displayed. You can customize font... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577451 Wed, 19 May 2010 10:06:00 +0100 3577451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573775&cid=t_114899_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FQ4Reaa85lRs%2F           Tourette syndrome (TS), or Tourette disorder, is more common Origins of Tourette Syndrome than doctors once thought.  It affects at least 1 in 1,000 to 2,000 people and maybe more.  It is believed that about 100,000 Americans have the disorder. Many more may have other tic disorders that are less severe.  Tourette syndrome is more common in boys than in girls.  It almost always starts before age 18 – usually between ages 5 and 7.  Even though kids with Tourette syndrome can get better as they get older, many will always have it.  The good news is that it won’t make them sick or shorten their lives.  The syndrome is a condition that affects a person’s central nervous system and causes tics.  Tics are unwanted twitches, movements or sounds that ... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573775 Tue, 18 May 2010 09:35:04 +0100 3573775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560496&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fas95V6glgzI%2F Containing drug development costs and speeding compounds through the pipeline is always a big issue, but clinical trials are becoming more expensive anyway. Why? One answer is the increasing complexity of the studies - the number of procedures for each clinical trial rose 49 percent from the 2000 to 2003 period to the 2004 to 2007 timeframe, and the total effort per protocal jumped 54 percent. For instance, the average number of eligibility criteria used to screen volunteers rose 58 percent, which contributed to a 21 percent decline in volunteers enrolling in trials. But the larger number of procedures per protocol dissuades volunteers from completing trials - retention rates dropped 230 percent, according to the Tufts Centers for the Study of Drug Development, which reviewed data from 8,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560496 Thu, 13 May 2010 15:15:35 +0100 3560496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522694&cid=t_114899_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Fa9Ooujq93yw%2F           The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.”  There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common.  Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.  You should know that the condition is very common.  In fact, it is as common as adult diabetes and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.  More than half of the people who have the disorder are overweight.  Sleep apnea is more common in men.  One out of 25 middle-aged men and 1 out of 50 middle-aged women has sle... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522694 Sat, 01 May 2010 14:40:45 +0100 3522694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515492&cid=t_114899_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Frisks-and-flaws-nhin-development Everyone who cares about the privacy of their PHI should read Latanya Sweeney’s written testimony on the NHIN flaws (PDF).   Her criticisms of the proposed models National Health Information Network are sorely needed.   HHS has been charging ahead full steam without paying attention to the risks and flaws of the models they are funding.   (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515492 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:23:09 +0100 3515492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511585&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F28%2Fintroducing-mental-health-humor%2F I’m pleased to introduce the new blog, Mental Health Humor — humor from the creative and always-interesting mind of Chato B. Stewart. We’re pleased to welcome Chato to Psych Central, as he’s been blogging elsewhere online for years, sharing his unique and funny perspective on all things mental health and human behavior. Humor is an individual thing, though, and we recognize that. So you may not find everything Chato does “funny,” and that’s okay. That just reminds us all that we all have an individual and unique sense of humor. But Chato says it best – I’ve known all my life the power behind humor, it can give help, hope and healing. My goal and mission has also been to tap into humor and use it as a positive tool to cope with the serious ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511585 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:40:28 +0100 3511585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511762&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F28%2Fhomemade_morphine.php I wrote here some time ago about human cells actually making their own morphine - real morphine, the kind that everyone thought was only produced in poppy plants. Now there's a paper in PNAS where various deuterium-labeled precursors of morphine were dosed in rats, and in each case they converted it to the next step in the known biosynthesis. The yields were small, since each compound was metabolically degraded as well, but it appears that rats are capable of all steps of a morphine synthesis from at least the isoquinoline compound tetrahydropapaveroline (THP). And that's pretty interesting, because it's also been established that rats have small THP in their brains and other tissues - as do humans. And humans, it appears, almost always have trace amounts of morphine in the urine - which ... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511762 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:19:37 +0100 3511762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501563&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F24%2Foff-the-internet-for-24-hours%2F What happens when you take 200 journalism students and cut them off from the Internet for 24 hours? It’s something I might call “information anxiety,” because the students expressed a great deal of anxiety in the narratives they provided the researchers after the experiment was over. (But I would be quick to add, I’d never consider this a ‘disorder’ — just a simple, predictable result of removing an important set of tools we’ve come to rely on from our everyday world.) “Students expressed tremendous anxiety about being cut-off from information,” observed Ph.D. student Raymond McCaffrey, a former writer and editor at The Washington Post, and a current researcher on the study. “One student said he realized that he suddenly ‘had less in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501563 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:34:08 +0100 3501563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501413&cid=t_114899_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fdrug-combination-could-solve-snoring.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501413 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:19:00 +0100 3501413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499118&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F23%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-23-2010%2F Wow can this week really be over?! Perhaps it was all of the celebrations that took place this week that made it go by in a flash. If you haven’t already heard, it was our birthday over here at Psych Central. Can you believe it’s been fifteen years since we began? Thanks to all of you who have sent a ton of b-day wishes on Twitter, Facebook and on our blogs! We really couldn’t have made it this far without you! And if that wasn’t enough, it was Earth Day yesterday. What did you do to celebrate? One fan on Facebook got creative by donating money, picking up trash and getting some exercise at the same time! Speaking of which, scroll down to the first post and see how you can keep the celebration going. Here are the posts that made it to the best of our blogs this week... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499118 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:34:17 +0100 3499118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490704&cid=t_114899_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2F4s8IJdYx6fs%2F           Retinal detachment will affect about one out of 10,000 people each year in the United States.  The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive nerve fibers and cells that covers the inside and back of the eyeball.  For us to see, light must pass through the lens of the eye and focus on the retina.  The retina then acts like a camera, taking a picture and transmitting the image through the optic nerve to the brain.  The vitreous fluid, the gel-like material that fills the eyeball, is attached to the retina around the back of the eye.  If the vitreous changes shape, it may pull a piece of the retina with it, leaving a retinal tear.  Once a retinal tear occurs, vitreous fluid may seep between the retina and the back wall of the eye, causing the retina to pull away.  Th... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490704 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:59:52 +0100 3490704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457819&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Four-absolute-favorite-video-of-the-week-stephen-colbert-on-tiger-woods%2F By now you’ve seen the new Nike TV ad featuring Tiger Woods and the voice of his inquisitive (yet deceased) dad. Genius marketing, state-of-the-art technology, top-flight manipulation. But have you heard Ward Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver and Gene Wilder’s character from Young Frankenstein giving sage advice to ol’ Tiger? Much, much funnier. Check out this clip from an episode of The Colbert Report this week on Comedy Central: Post from: BlissTree Our Absolute Favorite Video of the Week: Stephen Colbert on Tiger Woods (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457819 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:18:50 +0100 3457819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453888&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fv4Qyws5guZs%2F By Michael F. CannonFederal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a speech in Dallas yesterday where he inadvertently discredited claims that ObamaCare would reduce health care costs and the federal deficit.  According to The Washington Post: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke warned Wednesday that Americans may have to accept higher taxes or changes in cherished entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security if the nation is to avoid staggering budget deficits that threaten to choke off economic growth… While the immediate audience for the speech was the Dallas Regional Chamber, his message was intended for Congress and the Obama administration… Bernanke has urged Congress to address long-term fiscal imbalances in congressional testimony before, but usually only when he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453888 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:44:29 +0100 3453888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435040&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FkbXLcrVifJU%2F By Chris EdwardsEducation scholar Diane Ravitch has an op-ed in today’s Washington Post arguing that the nation needs to change course on K-12 education. Ravitch was a supporter of the No Child Left Behind Act, but now she says “we wasted eight years with the ‘measure and punish’ strategy of NCLB.” So central planning of the nation’s schools from Washington didn’t work under George W. Bush, but now Ravitch has a whole bunch of new central planning ideas for the schools. She uses the phrases “we need” and “we must” repeatedly, implying that we should impose new national rules of her choosing on all the schools. She says:  ”Everyone agrees that good education requires good teachers. To get good teachers, states sho... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435040 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:49:50 +0100 3435040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3432847&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-conscious-do-gooders-are-entitled-jackasses%2F I first had this thought recently when a guy at the store with a shopping cart filled with organic groceries cut in front of me at the checkout line. He must have seen me – I’m a size four, not invisible. After he piled his eco-purchases onto the conveyor belt, I saw him peer back into my cart; he was clearly disappointed with my decision to choose non-organic cereal and vegetables. (We’re still in a recession, people!) It reminded me of that “South Park” episode in which everyone bought hybrid cards, and instead of polluting the environment with smog, they clogged up the community with their smug. Shoppers who buy “green” and organic products may feel like ethical superstars, but according to a study by the University of Toronto titled “Do Green Product... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3432847 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:34:48 +0100 3432847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429154&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Flie-to-your-kids-and-feel-good-about-it%2F If someone tells you they never lie to their kids, they’re lying. Some truth-stretching is essential in order to spare youngsters from life’s harsh realities, or just make parents’ lives a little easier. Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” coined his own term for it: Truthiness – truth that comes from the gut, not books. So, here are four instances when we give you permission to lie straight to your kids’ faces. Santa/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy Dilemma We know this one is controversial. Some hardcore parents spill the beans from day one about Santa Claus and the rest of them being big fat phonies. But those families miss a lot – leaving out cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, hunting for eggs on Easter Sund... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429154 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:33:39 +0100 3429154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420539&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F29%2Fteenage-bullying-leads-to-9-indictments%2F You know things have gotten bad when prosecutors start prosecuting teens — some on felony charges that could result in significant jail time — because of bullying. Yes, bullying. Most of us have experienced bullying at one point in our lives, or know someone who has been bullied. Of course for most, the bullying didn’t result in lifelong scars. Part of that is because the extremes of bullying were not really known 20 or 30 years ago. You couldn’t bully someone 24/7 through Facebook, Twitter, email and forums devoted entirely to making other people’s lives miserable (yes, such online communities exist). So nowadays sometimes bullying is taken to an extreme. Not by one or two teens or kids, but by a whole gang of them. In central Massachusetts, it led Phoebe P... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420539 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:02 +0100 3420539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403849&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fin-praise-of-e-breakups%2F Men can be annoying when they’re trying to be polite. I had been seeing Daniel for a few weeks. We went out for dinner a couple of times, and spent one lovely Saturday afternoon kissing on the lawn in New York’s Central Park. He was just my type: a funny, neurotic Jewish guy who grew up in Manhattan. He had fun stories about his parents, his therapist, and his antidepressant medication regimen. I didn’t know him all that well, but I was smitten. For our fourth date, Daniel asked me to dinner at a restaurant convenient to him. This could only mean one thing: He wanted to bring me back to his place afterward – an invitation to which I would not object. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Before our entrées arrived (but, sadly, after we had ordered them), Daniel told me that we �... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403849 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:07:58 +0100 3403849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3358942&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fpregnancy-woes%2F Sad Pregnant Woman I’m always intrigued — and frankly, quite skeptical — when Hollywood star moms-to-be gush over how much they love being pregnant. They wax on about how they’ve never felt better or sexier. They blather about how beautiful their skin looks and silky their hair feels. My all-time favorite, however, is when they exclaim that they wish they could be pregnant forever. Better them than me, I say. For me, pregnancy sucked. Getting pregnant sucked even worse. A little back story: My husband and I had tried for about a year to have a kid the old fashioned way. No baby showed, so we moved on to fertility drugs, and then artificial insemination. Still nothing. So we brought in the big guns – in vitro fertilization – because it turned out we were, reproductively speaking... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3358942 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:46 +0100 3358942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346446&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_2rkEyE6Yn4%2F By David Boaz“Michael Foot, a bookish intellectual and anti-nuclear campaigner who led Britain’s Labour Party to a disastrous defeat in 1983, died [March 3],” reported the Associated Press. He was 96. Foot personified the socialist tendency in the Labour Party, which Tony Blair successfully erased when he won power at the head of a business-friendly, interventionist “New Labour.” Yet Foot remained a respected, even revered, figure. “Michael Foot was a giant of the Labour movement, a man of passion, principle and outstanding commitment to the many causes he fought for,” Blair said Wednesday. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Blair’s partner in creating “New Labour,” praised Foot as a “genuine British radical” and a “ma... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346446 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:40:51 +0100 3346446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346502&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F08%2Fintroducing-adhd-from-a-to-zoe%2F I know we just launched our first blog devoted to attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and related issues last week. But now I’m pleased to bring you a second one, too. Sometimes fate just works that way. I’m pleased to introduce you today to ADHD: From A to Zoë, a blog about a woman who lives with ADHD with the hyperactivity. (It’s now commonplace to abbreviate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as ADHD, even though some people who have this disorder don’t experience hyperactivity and it’s often just referred to as attention deficit disorder.) I met Zoë through Pete Quily, an ADHD coach whose regular and consistent tweeting I enjoy. This blog explores ADHD from the unique perspective of a woman who experiences the H — hyperactivity — component of t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346502 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:30:25 +0100 3346502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311746&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F26%2Ffriday-flashback-for-february-26-2010%2F I’m in Houston on my annual e-patients retreat. So what better way to help you get through your TGIF fever than to give you a look back on what we were talking about on Psych Central in years past (gee, I sound so old-timey!). 11 Years Ago on Psych Central The Great Psychology Prescription Debate I boiled psychologists’ push for prescription privileges down to a question of money in this post. Psychologists are being pushed down the income ladder by cheaper psychotherapy providers (like marriage and family therapists and clinical social workers), and so look upward to see what they could be doing that could be making them more money. Psychiatrists can make twice as much psychologists because they can prescribe psychiatric medications. Re-reading this essay, I think things are a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311746 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:18:02 +0100 3311746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283609&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F17%2Fteens-sunlight-and-sleep%2F Two new studies out this week demonstrate the importance of teens getting enough sunlight and sleep. Staying up all night — and not worrying about sleep until later — can come back to haunt you for numerous reasons. Fatigue leads to poor school performance and general crankiness (above and beyond your normal crankiness). Lack of sleep may also shrink your brain as well as your memory. And sleep problems in children have been linked to ADHD. Researchers have studied this behavior and now believe insufficient daily morning light exposure contributes to teenagers not getting enough sleep: “These morning-light-deprived teenagers are going to bed later, getting less sleep and possibly under-performing on standardized tests. We are starting to call this the teenage night owl syndr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283609 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:24:07 +0100 3283609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3266931&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2747 Every single request for information about course materials in quack medicine that I have ever sent has been turned down by universities, It is hardly as important as as refusal of FoI requests to see climate change documents, but it does indicate that some vice-chancellors are not very interested in openness. This secretiveness is exactly the sort of thing that leads to lack of trust in universities and in science as a whole. The one case that I have won took over three years and an Information Tribunal decision against the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) before I got anything. UCLAN spent £80,307.95.(inc VAT at 17.5%) in legal expenses alone (plus heaven knows how much in staff time) to prevent us from seeing what was taught on their now defunct “BSc (Hons) homeopa... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3266931 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:59:15 +0100 3266931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259299&cid=t_114899_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fan-interview-with-f-sommer-anderson-central-sensitisation-syndromes%2F How many of you have headed off to ‘Therapy Worksheets’ blog? Yes, that’s the one I’ve linked to in my roundup of the best CBT resources on the internet.  Will Baum, the editor of that blog is also the author of where the client is, a blog about professional private practice in mental health care.  Will contacted me the other day and sent me a link to a really interesting interview with Frances Sommer Anderson, a clinical psychologist who works with people experiencing chronic pain.  Her take on chronic pain management is influenced by John Sarno, who has a hypothesis that much chronic pain is influenced by psychological factors (often emotional issues) from childhood.  One of the premises of his approach is that people need to heal their ‘repressed’... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259299 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:45:32 +0100 3259299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248566&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F07%2Fwatching-others-do-good-clean-scents-promote-altruism%2F What would you say if I told you that simply observing people thanking others induced more altruism? The simple act of watching someone else do something uplifting or a good deed motivates us to also do good. At least that’s what researchers found in a recent demonstration of this effect at the University of Plymouth. In two experiments, researchers (Schnall et al., 2010) tested the level of altruistic behaviors amongst female students by asking them to view TV clips of three kinds — a neutral clip showing scenes from a nature documentary, an uplifting segment from “The Oprah Winfrey Show” showing musicians thanking their mentors, or a clip from a British comedy, intended to induce mirth. When asked if they wanted to participate in another study (in the first experiment), ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248566 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:05:48 +0100 3248566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220559&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F29%2Fdo-you-refer-to-yourselves-as-we-in-a-couple%2F If you do, congratulations! You’re likely better at conflict resolution with your partner than couples who don’t refer to themselves as “we.” How do we know? Well, conversations can tell us a lot about how couples view themselves, both individually and as a couple. By analyzing conversations between couples, you can learn a lot about their interactions: UC Berkeley researchers analyzed conversations between 154 middle-aged and older couples about points of disagreement in their marriages and found that those who used pronouns such as “we,” “our” and “us” behaved more positively toward one another and showed less physiological stress. In contrast, couples who emphasized their “separateness” by using pronouns such as “I,” “me” and “you” we... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220559 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:02:37 +0100 3220559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216829&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F28%2Facorda_and_ampyra.php I had not been following the progress of Acorda's recently approved drug Ampyra for MS. (Well, more specifically, it's to improve gait and walking speed in MS patients). Opinion seems to be rather divided about how successful it'll be. On the one hand, new therapies for multiple sclerosis are certainly needed, but there's also room to argue about just how efficacious Ampyra really is. I'm not going to fight that one out here, because we'll have the judgment of the market pretty soon. What I find interesting is the structure of this new drug: it's 4-aminopyridine. If there's a more simple, lower molecular weight structure approved within the next few years as an oral drug for anything, I'll be quite surprised. This brings up several interesting topics relating to drug development and in... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216829 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:35:20 +0100 3216829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216730&cid=t_114899_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Ffda-approves-the-walking-pill-for-multiple-sclerosis%2F As of Friday afternoon, a long awaited addition to our arsenal of MS symptomatic drugs has been approved. We had a conversation about Ampyra which is a timed-release version of the drug 4-Aminopyridine (and formerly known as Fampridine SR), last May.  At that time the drug was being resubmitted to the FDA for approval (rejected, originally, due to “formatting issues” during the application process). This drug is thought to increase signal conduction by blocking tiny pore-like potassium channels on nerves of the central nervous system (CNS). The time-released part of the drug is what is new, for those of you who have been getting 4-Aminopyridine from compound pharmacies. Phase III clinical trials suggest that some 34-43 percent of people taking Ampyra had positive results in the areas ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216730 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:01:39 +0100 3216730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212310&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTtjt1Gia9H0%2F By Michael F. CannonIn The New York Review of Books, oncologist and author Jerome Groopman delivers a stunning rebuke to those in the Obama administration (read: OMB director Peter Orszag) who think the federal government can improve health care quality by telling doctors how to practice medicine: in the Senate health care bill…Doctors and hospitals that follow “best practices,” as defined by government-approved standards, are to receive more money and favorable public assessments. Those who deviate from federal standards would suffer financial loss and would be designated as providers of poor care… Over the past decade, federal “choice architects”—i.e., doctors and other experts acting for the government and making use of research on comparative effec... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212310 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:23:41 +0100 3212310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197880&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F22%2Fmaybe_you_need_some_more_testosterone_over_there.php This one's also from the Department of Placebo Effects - read on. An interesting paper out in Nature details a study where volunteers took small doses of testosterone or placebo, and then participated in a standard behavioral test, the "Ultimatum Game". That's the one where two people participate, with one of them given a sum of money (say, $10), that's to be divided between the two of them. The player with the money makes an offer to divide the pot, which the other player can only take or leave (no counteroffers). A number of interesting questions about altruism and competition have been examined through this game and its variants - basically, the first thing to ask is how much the "dictator" player will feel like offering at all. (If you like, here's the Freakonomics guys talking about t... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197880 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:32:59 +0100 3197880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189288&cid=t_114899_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Freally-weird-ms-symptoms%2F If multiple sclerosis symptoms are nothing else, especially to the newly diagnosed, they are weird!  Sure, symptoms can be frightening, challenging, difficult and even debilitating… but how many times have I caught myself saying, “Hmmmm, that’s weird!” Often we are told, “That’s doesn’t sound like MS,” or something of the kind, by our medical professionals only to find out (oft, via the pages of this blog) that we are not alone in our experience of something not in the medical text books.  It is one of the aspects of the Life with MS blog of which I am most proud! I have a real doozie to share, with a discussion of MS symptoms from the X-Files. The middle of last week, I developed a cold.  You know that feeling when you wake, somewhere between the back of your nose and t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189288 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:14:22 +0100 3189288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185417&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F19%2Fmilitary-wives-more-likely-to-be-depressed-anxious%2F As we reported late last week, a recent study has confirmed that wives of active-duty soldiers are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and other mental health conditions. While much attention is focused on the mental health of soldiers themselves (especially with the recent rise in suicides in the military), a lot less attention is given to the families of those soldiers. This new study helps shed some much-needed light on the subject, and confirms what has long been suspected — the emotional toll for war-time deployments is much higher than anybody thought. The AP story on this issue had this quote: “Spouses tell me all the time that they want to get mental health assistance,” [wife of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] said. &#8... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185417 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:57:19 +0100 3185417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167197&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F12%2Fintroducing-the-psych-central-community-connection%2F It’s a proud day for our Psych Central family. Today, we officially announced the creation of the Psych Central Community Connection, Psych Central’s new non-profit arm. What is the Psych Central Community Connection? The Connection is our non-profit that makes micro grants (also called personal grants) available to Psych Central members in emergency financial need. These micro grants (of $500 or less per individual) are for immediate personal/family need that might make the difference between homelessness and staying in one’s home, heat in the winter or freezing cold, or keeping the electricity turned on. They were previously referred to as “Community Fund Drives” and, indeed, we will continue to rely on our community of kind-hearted members to offer matchi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167197 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:10:37 +0100 3167197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149114&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F06%2Fplacebo-as-good-as-paxil-tofranil-for-most-depression%2F From the “What the…?!” file, new research we reported on today found that two antidepressants — Paxil (still commonly prescribed) and Tofranil (not commonly prescribed) — seem to only really work for the most severe kind of depression. When prescribed for mild to moderate — the vast majority of depression diagnosed today — these two antidepressants did not any better than a sugar pill placebo. The researchers for this new study pooled together the results of six previously published research studies that compared the effects of antidepressants to placebo for 718 adults with varying levels of depression — from very severe depression, to moderate depression, to mild depression. Three of the studies looked at paroxetine (Paxil) and the others l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149114 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:06:39 +0100 3149114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149064&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2628 The purpose of this post is to reveal a few samples of things that are taught on a homeopathy ‘degree’ course. The course in question was the "BSc Hons homeopathy course at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). Entry to this course was closed in 2008 and, after an internal review, UCLAN closed almost all of the rest of its courses in alternative medicine too. The university is to be commended for this . The purpose of making public some of what used to be taught is not to embarrass UCLAN, which has already done the sensible thing, but to make it clear that the sort of thing taught on such courses is both absurd and dangerous, in the hope of discouraging other courses .Three years after I first asked for teaching materials, the Information Commisioner ruled th... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149064 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:56:33 +0100 3149064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3135514&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2618 Can’t resist another bit of straight plagiarism. In this week’s Times Higher Education, the inimitable Laurie Taylor wrote this. Rock around the clock Professor Georgina Kunzite, the Head of our Department of Crystal Healing, has reacted strongly to the recent High Court ruling that the University of Central Lancashire must hand over teaching materials from its defunct homeopathy course to a campaigning sceptic. Speaking to our reporter, Keith Ponting (30), she said she had no intention of acceding to any similar request for materials from her own oversubscribed course in crystal therapy. Such a move, she argued, risked undermining the power of the crystals, which were notoriously wary of attempts to question their curative validity. She had initially been disconcerted by... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3135514 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:08:32 +0100 3135514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111464&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F21%2Fmanaging-childrens-expectations-during-a-holiday-recession%2F This will not be a great Christmas for many families, due to another holiday season with the economy still in shambles. That is, if you believe that Christmas should be measured in the amount of gifts you give (or receive). And while most of us wouldn’t say we believe the number of gifts we give to our children is important, many still rely on quantity acting as some sort of indicator of parental worthiness. Psych Central writers have written before on this topic, doing Christmas on a budget and providing answers to people who believe simplifying during the holidays is just not possible. It is. And you should always set a budget for gift purchases every year (for all occasions, not just Christmas). “But what if that budget this year is smaller than in years past? Won’t m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111464 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:00:22 +0100 3111464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108398&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F20%2Fautism-rates-redux-autism-rates-better-than-in-october%2F Talk about déjà vu. It was just over two months ago we and other news agencies reported on a study published in the journal Pediatrics that found that autism was now in about 1 in 91 children. So I was scratching my head when I started seeing news reports late this past week stating that autism was in 1 out of every 110 children. After a little digging, I see it was spurred by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a press release on the findings of an analysis of actual 8-year-old child health records, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Pediatrics study was a structured phone survey of parents (not an analysis of actual child health records). While it’s great that we now have two datasets that are in basic agreement that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108398 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:56:46 +0100 3108398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3101064&cid=t_114899_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNJXjaAU31_U%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is something we hope to make a regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Merck hired Michael Rosenblatt as executive vice president and chief medical officer. He’s been the dean of Tufts University School of Medicine since 2003 and before that, was a professor of medicine at Harvard Med... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3101064 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:39:33 +0100 3101064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092739&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fpsych-central-mindapps-offer-ecbt-iphone-app%2F A few months ago, MindApps released an iPhone application called “eCBT Mood.” It allows a user to apply tried and true cognitive-behavioral techniques in their everyday life, and track their progress with those techniques over time with a simple graph. I liked it because it explained CBT stuff in a direct, easy-to-understand manner, and most importantly, was “actionable.” It walks you through specific steps of an automatic thought, for instance, and gives you encouragement to try and change it as it’s happening. The application’s core is an “eCBT toolbox” that allows you to learn more about your thoughts and feelings, identify your automatic thoughts, keep a feeling and thoughts log, challenge automatic thoughts, and identify and challenge co... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092739 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:36:00 +0100 3092739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089262&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp2n8huTt0pA%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThe picture below, taken from a story in The Economist, shows that France, Germany, and Italy are among the nations with the most central bank employees (as a share of the population). In some sense, this is a dog-bites-man factoid. After all, is anyone surprised that Europe’s major welfare states have bloated public payrolls? But there’s more to this story. All three of these central banks ceased to have a monetary policy, starting back in 2002, when their nations adopted the euro. The mission is gone, but the bureaucracy lives on. To be fair, the bureaucrats in these nations presumably are not sitting in quiet rooms playing minesweeper. Perhaps these central banks are responsible for other functions, such as financial regulation. Of course, given how gov... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089262 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:07:08 +0100 3089262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071160&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2485 Conclusion 62 It is for these reasons that we uphold the Decision Notice. We record our gratitude for the helpful and succinct submissions of counsel on both sides and the incisive contribution of Professor Colquhoun. We wish to add that, whilst we have not accepted the great majority of the arguments advanced by UCLAN, we do not in any way seek to cast doubt on the veracity of the evidence of its witnesses, nor the honesty and loyalty with which they have sought to serve its interests. 63 Our decision is unanimous. Signed David Farrar Q.C.   Watch this space to see what can now be revealed. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071160 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:34:49 +0100 3071160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059755&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F04%2Fmood-swinger-magnet-special-offer-2009%2F Looking for a great holiday gift? Exclusively for the first 35 Psych Central members who want them, we’ve teamed up with Mood Swinger again this holiday season to offer a 50% discount for any Mood Swinger Magnet Set — OFFICE version, HOME version, EVERYDAY version, KIDS version, or ORIGINAL version. The 79-piece Original Mood Swinger Mood Magnet Set, for instance, is fun, functional, and gives you a creative way to express yourself in a humorous way. It’s a unique form of magnetic therapy that gives you the ability to display 72 different moods. I find them a great way to share my mood with others in the household, without having to say a word. Ironic? Perhaps, but it works! To get this special deal, visit the Mood Swinger website, add any set of magnets to your cart, and... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059755 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:45:55 +0100 3059755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044806&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Finsecurity-pain-and-depression%2F We often try and highlight the connections between one’s mental health and their physical health complaints, to demonstrate that the two are inseparable. Yet another study has been published to show how our insecurity can even impact something as physical as the feeling of pain. The study of 382 teenagers showed that those who were more insecure had a tendency to amplify the degree they felt pain: We found that adolescents with insecure relationships tend to be more ‘alarmist’ about their pain symptoms; they have a tendency to amplify the degree of threat or severity of their pain. This amplification leads to more intense pain and more severe depressive symptoms. In other words, the more insecure a teen reportedly was, the more intense pain they complained of, often in the form... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044806 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:30 +0100 3044806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023179&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F24%2Fwhats-it-going-to-take-to-make-you-happy%2F Happiness. Ahh, what an enticing word that is. Psychologists call it “subjective well-being” (and even abbreviate it as SWB in their research), but it boils down to the same thing — what makes us more happy? And how can we do more of that special stuff that will lead to greater happiness in our lives? This Emotional Life, a new PBS documentary hopes to help answer that question in three 2-hour shows from January 4 through the 6th, 2010. “Each episode weaves together the compelling personal stories of ordinary people and the latest in brain science research, along with revealing comments from celebrities such as Chevy Chase, Larry David, Elizabeth Gilbert, Alanis Morissette, Katie Couric and Richard Gere.” Sounds like good stuff and we’re happy to help pr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023179 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:44:22 +0100 3023179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3018979&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRiXVruPRDAs%2F The Wall Street Journal reported that Congress likes Fed Chairman Bernanke, but not the institution that he heads. There is growing consensus that the Fed needs to be reformed and restructured.  Most notably, there are calls to strip the Fed of its supervisory authority.  In practice, the new sentiment reflects the failure of the Fed to rein in risk taking by the largest banks. The Fed is pushing back.  One reserve bank president said that removing the Fed’s supervisory authority “would affect our ability to conduct monetary authority effectively.” He went on to say that without the supervisory authority, the Fed wouldn’t know enough about risks brewing in the economy.  This argument is shop worn. The Fed had the authority. It fueled the housing boom with its m... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3018979 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:02 +0100 3018979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015387&cid=t_114899_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fneuropathic-pain-from-multiple-sclerosis%2F Multiple sclerosis can hurt! Pain is a real part of life with MS for over half of us. Pain can come in several forms and affect several areas of the body.  The pain I’d like to proffer for our consideration in this post is called neuropathic pain or neuropathy. This is a pain which is caused by a dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).  Owing to the fact that we have a disease of the central nervous system (CNS), many of us may not be familiar with the PNS. These are the nerves which connect the limbs and organs to the CNS. While there is not suspected demyelination of the PNS, the stripping and scaring of neurons and axons in the CNS is thought to cause misfiring of signals from the PNS, which then tell the brain that we are feeling pain in an uninjured part of the body. I... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015387 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:11:58 +0100 3015387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2985021&cid=t_114899_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F12%2Fmassaging_the_data_for_neurontin.php There's a disturbing article out at the New England Journal of Medicine on studies conducted on Neurontin (gabapentin) for various unapproved indications. Parke-Davis (and later Pfizer) looked at a wide range of possible indications for the drug - migraine, neuropathic pain, bipolar disorder, and more. That in itself isn't unusual, since CNS drugs often have rather broad and poorly defined mechanisms, and it's not like we understand any of them all that well. What is unusual is the pattern found when comparing the internal reports with the published versions that showed up in the literature. The authors found that: "More than half the clinical trials that we included in our analysis (11 of 20) were not published as full-length research articles. For 7 of the 9 trials that were published... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2985021 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:13:42 +0100 2985021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984783&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fxa6w9YSpjHE%2F I expected and got some pushback about my post comparing the Berlin Wall to the wall along our southern border. Happily, it was more civil than the reactions I often get when I talk about immigration and free movement of people. One fair comment focused on the key distinction between the Berlin Wall and our border wall: the direction the guards were facing. From the perspective of the state, it’s easy to conceive of border guards facing “in” or “out”—and those facing in suggest much worse than those facing out. But from the perspective of the individual, what matters is whether or not the border guards are facing you. Our border wall keeps Mexicans and Central Americans from freedom and a better life precisely the way the Berlin Wall did East Ge... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984783 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:34 +0100 2984783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977270&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9odL-hGEr5w%2F In a way, I always knew it would happen. I knew that, come November 9, the left-leaning NYT would publish an article focusing on the supposed crisis of capitalism rather than the end of communist dictatorship. Still, I was not prepared for Slavoj Zizek’s op-ed entitled “20 Years of Collapse.” First, a few words about the author — a Marxist philosopher from Slovenia. Generally ignored or ridiculed in Slovenia, Zizek is considered (by some) to be the new messiah of leftist thought in the West. Why did the NYT chose to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the collapse of communism with Zizek’s call for “socialism with a human face,” rather than an op-ed by someone like Vladimir Bukovsky, a former Soviet political prisoner tormented for years by the communists, is anyone... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977270 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:19:31 +0100 2977270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930959&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwnBLwpHHETs%2F How and when should the Fed unwind the enormous monetary expansion it undertook in response to the financial crisis and recession? The WSJ reports [$]: As the Federal Reserve’s next meeting approaches in early November, an internal debate is brewing about how and when to signal the possibility of interest-rate increases. The Fed has said since March that it will keep rates very low for an “extended period.” Long before it raises rates, however, it will need to change that public signal to financial markets. Because the recovery is so young and is expected to be so weak, many central bank officials are comfortable, for now, keeping rates very low. But they are beginning to strategize about how to walk away from the “extended period” language. My suggestion is t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930959 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:48:27 +0100 2930959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927364&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F26%2Fare-the-media-becoming-addicted-to-internet-addiction%2F As Dr. John Grohol has cogently argued, there are many reasons to be skeptical of “Internet Addiction” as a discrete and specific “disorder” or diagnosis. Yet I am impressed, and a bit dismayed, by all the attention this issue seems to garner in the popular media. I don’t intend any disrespect to the reporters and journalists who are trying to cover the topic, several of whom have graciously interviewed me. Some reporters are as skeptical as many of us in the mental health field, and a number have asked pertinent questions as to how real so-called Internet addiction is. I simply wish that devastating illnesses like schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder created such a buzz in the media and in the awareness of the general public. Over the last 30... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927364 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:01:59 +0100 2927364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912193&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2351 Conclusion I was told by the Univerity of Kingston that “The course is one which the University has validated and continues to be subject to the University’s quality assurance procedures, such as internal subject reviews, annual monitoring and external examining” The only conclusion to be drawn from this is that “quality arrurance procedures” work about as well in universities as they did in the case of baby Peter. No doubt they were introduced with worthy aims. But in practice they occupy vast amounts of time for armies of bureaucrats, and because the brain does not need to be engaged they end up endorsing utter nonsenes. The system is broken. Resistance is futile.  You can see a lot of the stuff here It is hard to keep secrets in the internet age. Thanks ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912193 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:15:26 +0100 2912193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865730&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F06%2Fphone-psychotherapy-helps-depression%2F Imagine a treatment that was so powerful and useful, it could even be delivered by the telephone. That treatment? Good old psychotherapy. We’ve previously discussed the benefits of using web-based self-help programs for depression based upon proven cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. And we’ve noted previous studies that showed the benefits of telephone therapy for depression. But this new 600-person study is the largest to date of psychotherapy by phone — and one of the largest studies of psychotherapy ever. Subjects in the study were randomly assigned to one of three groups — treatment as usual, telephone care management, and telephone care management + psychotherapy. People in the treatment as usual group continued to receive any treatments normally available... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865730 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:49 +0100 2865730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2831040&cid=t_114899_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F09%2F25%2Fcentral-african-republic%2F Photo: Jaume Codina Carnot, Central African Republic – September 2009 South-eastern Central African Republic currently faces a severe nutritional emergency. The crisis in the gold and diamond sector, on which many of the region inhabitants depend, has been the last straw for an already highly vulnerable population. Alerted by the local authorities, the Médecins Sans Frontières teams have opened four feeding centres in one month in Carnot, Boda, Nola and Gandoula and implemented a number of outpatient treatment programmes in the area. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2831040 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:47:17 +0100 2831040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790299&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F13%2Ftest-predicts-depression-medication-response%2F Did you know that as much as some doctors and researchers like to think that medicine is a science, it is very much an art too? You can see that no more clearly than in the decision process doctors use to prescribe a specific psychiatric medication. Ask a psychiatrist what their usual depression treatment regimen is, and they’ll usually talk to you about using one or two different antidepressants they are most familiar and comfortable with prescribing — not which medication is best for the patient. Why is that? Wouldn’t you like to prescribe the most effective medication for a particular patient based upon their brain’s chemical structure and likely reaction to it? We sure would, but until recently, we had few ways to determine how a person might react to particular... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790299 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:35:31 +0100 2790299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786000&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fschering-plough-committed-to-corrupting.html Since my last post about Schering-Plough's campaign to buy off doctors with invitations to join its Speaker's Bureau, a number of my colleagues have reported receiving their own invitations. Strangely, many of them are prominent opponents of industry-funded medical education.For example, Ivan Goldberg, creator of the popular website Depression Central, and an outspoken critic of drug industry manipulation of doctors, received this letter. Check it out, because it's a little different from the one I got. They offered me $170,000 for 125 presentations (of 45 minutes each), while they offered Dr. Goldberg more money ($179,500) for fewer (only 96) presentations. In a phone conversation with Dr. Goldberg, he suggested that the differential was due to the fact that he lives in expensive New York... The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786000 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:05:00 +0100 2786000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782073&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F10%2Freflections-on-my-birthday%2F Yesterday, I did my civic duty and served on jury duty. It’s a reluctant responsibility many citizens in the U.S. serve, me among them. As luck would have it, I wasn’t called to actually sit on a jury, so Providence must have been shining on me a bit. An early birthday present, if you will. It also reminded me that living in a country such as the United States is a privilege, one that was earned on the backs and lives of millions of Americans who came before me. I am grateful for the opportunity offered me because of what my great grandparents decided to do — to immigrate to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Because of their courage, I’m here today, doing what I do. On events like my birthday, I get reflective and appreciative. I have a lot to be ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782073 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:53:14 +0100 2782073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709197&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F17%2Fexercising-your-brain-as-you-age%2F According to a news article we published today, simple everyday activities are all we need to keep our minds sharp as we age, mixed in with a healthy dose of daily physical exercise. The study measured over 4,000 participants’ brain and cognitive functioning over a 6 year period to arrive at these results. Boiled down to the basics, the researchers found the following activities help our brains remain sharp as we age: Mental activities, like reading or doing a crossword puzzle Physical exercise, generally the more the better (but even some, such as simply walking for 30 minutes per day, is better than nothing) Remaining socially engage with your friends or family Maintaining a positive attitude throughout life Learning new activities, hobbies or anything that requires concentrat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709197 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:33:43 +0100 2709197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2726973&cid=t_114899_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FrUQtgvT6FuY%2F Although many viruses are classified into individual families based on a variety of physical and biological criteria, they may also be placed in groups according to the type of genome in the virion. Over 30 years ago virologist David Baltimore devised an alternative classification scheme that takes into account the nature of the viral nucleic acid. One of the most significant advances in virology of the past 30 years has been the understanding of how viral genomes are expressed. Cellular genes are encoded in dsDNA, from which mRNAs are produced to direct the synthesis of protein. Francis Crick conceptualized this flow of information as the central dogma of molecular biology: DNA —> RNA —> protein All viruses must direct the synthesis of mRNA to produce proteins. No viral genome e... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2726973 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:12:08 +0100 2726973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688658&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2043 Conclusion This selection of slides shows that much of the stuff taught in degrees in herbal medicine poses a real danger to public safety and to public health. Pittilo’s idea that imposing this sort of miseducation will help safety is obviously and dangerously wrong. The Department of Health must reject the Pittilo recommendations on those grounds. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688658 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:24:29 +0100 2688658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670815&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2007 Conclusion Recent events show that the halcyon days for alternative medicine are over. When the Pittilo report first appeared, it was greeted with derision in the media. For example, in The Times Alice Miles wrote “This week came the publication of the Report to Ministers from the Department of Health Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the UK. Otherwise known as twaddle.” In the Independent, Dominic Lawson wrote So now we will have degrees in quackery. What, really, is the difference between acupuncture and psychic surgery? People will no doubt continue to use it and that is their right and their responsibility. But if the government w... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670815 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:45:35 +0100 2670815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649061&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fdivorce-hurts-not-only-emotionally-but-also-physically%2F This study suggests another reason to seek out marital or family counseling before getting a divorce, which should be seen for what it is — a choice of very last resort, after other honest attempts have been made to fix the relationship. Divorce hurts everyone, even your children. And this study shows that even after remarrying, for some reason people who had previously divorced still report more health concerns than those who never divorced. Of course divorce is a legitimate option for couples who’ve already tried everything else. Perhaps being aware of all the additional concerns you and your children may be at risk for can help you help ward them off — or at least better recognize them if they do happen. The study also demonstrates yet again the intimate connections b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649061 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:40 +0100 2649061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634390&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1950 Acupuncture has been in the news since, in a moment of madness, NICE gave it some credence, Some people still seem to think that acupuncture is somehow more respectable than, say, homeopathy and crystal healing. If you think that, read Barker Bausell’s book ot Trick or Treatment. It is now absolutely clear that ‘real’ acupuncture is indistinguishable from sham, whether the sham control uses retractable needles, or real needles in the ‘wrong’ places. There has been no clear demonstration of long-lived benefits in any condition, and it is likely that it is no more than a theatrical placebo. In particular, the indistinguishability of ‘real’ and sham acupuncture shows, beyond reasonable doubt that all the stuff about “energy flow in meridians&#8... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634390 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:15:35 +0100 2634390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613838&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fk4KyMt3g-yk%2F More than 250 economists have signed an “Open Letter to Congress and the Executive Branch” calling upon them to “defend the independence of the Federal Reserve System as a foundation of U.S. economic stability.” Allan Meltzer is not a signatory to the petition and he has explained why not.  The Fed has frequently not shown independence in the past, and there is no reason to expect it to do so reliably in the future.  Professor Meltzer has just completed a multi-volume history of the Fed and knows all-too-well of the Fed’s willingness to accommodate the policies of administrations from FDRs to Lyndon Johnson’s.  I would add that the Fed’s behavior under Chairman Bernanke breaks new ground in aligning the central bank’s policy with Treasury’s.  Much of what the Fed has... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613838 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:37:06 +0100 2613838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613856&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1899 Jump to follow-up .The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) is the first place I asked to see teaching materials that were used on its homeopathy “BSc” course. The request was refused, and subsequent internal appeals were refused too, Clearly UCLAN had something to hide. An appeal to the information commissioner took almost two years to be judged, but the case was won. The eventual decision by the Information Commissioner rejected all the grounds that UClan had used to evade the Freedom of Information Act. UClan appealed against the judgement and I still haven’t got the stuff but that hardly matters now, because the course in question shut its doors. In any case, plenty of stuff from similar courses has leaked out already. Meanwhile, in September 2008,... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613856 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:21:41 +0100 2613856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610924&cid=t_114899_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1899 .The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) is the first place I asked to see teaching materials that were used on its homeopathy “BSc” course. The request was refused, and subsequent internal appeals were refused too, Clearly UCLAN had something to hide. An appeal to the information commissioner took almost two years to be judged, but the case was won. The eventual decision by the Information Commissioner rejected all the grounds that UClan had used to evade the Freedom of Information Act. UClan appealed against the judgement and I still haven’t got the stuff but that hardly matters now, because the course in question shut its doors. In any case, plenty of stuff from similar courses has leaked out already. Meanwhile, in September 2008, UCLAN announced an in... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610924 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:21:41 +0100 2610924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2606034&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F15%2Fencephalon-73-with-videos-channel-n%2F Every month, there’s a thing like Grand Rounds (which focuses more on health and medicine blog posts) that highlights some of the most interesting brain and neuropsychology blog posts around the net in the past month. It’s called Encephalon and Psych Central’s own Channel N is hosting Encephalon 73 with Videos. If you’re looking for some interesting reading — or viewing — this month’s Encephalon is worth checking out! Good stuff in there. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2606034 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:39:21 +0100 2606034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2507261&cid=t_114899_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fsleep-apnea-abnormal-heart-rhythms-in.html A new study examines the link between sleep apnea and “cardiac arrhythmias” – abnormal heart rhythms.The study involved 2,911 older men. Sleep apnea was measured during an overnight sleep study. Heart monitoring detected two groups of abnormal heart rhythms: atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF), and complex ventricular ectopy (CVE).Results show that the general risk of AF and CVE increased as the severity of sleep apnea increased. The specific risks varied according to the type of sleep apnea that men had.Men with obstructive sleep apnea had a greater risk of CVE but not AF. Men with central sleep apnea were between two and three times more likely to have AF.The NHLBI reports that the atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They collect blood as it comes into the heart. The ven... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2507261 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:00 +0100 2507261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510286&cid=t_114899_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdRvEBrk9ayA%2F A couple weeks ago, I blogged about the foolishness of press release economics: states “creating” jobs by handing out taxpayer money to select businesses.  I concluded by saying that “journalists should be on the lookout for more press-release economics schemes coming from the states as revenues remain tight and politicians become desperate to demonstrate they’re “doing something.”  Journalists should examine a state’s tax structure when a taxpayer giveaway is announced to see if perhaps the governor is masking economic-unfriendly fiscal policies.” Sure enough, the Pew Center’s Stateline.org has an article up detailing the efforts of state governors dealing with the recession by giving businesses taxpayer money to “create” jobs.  Of cour... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510286 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:18:15 +0100 2510286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511164&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F17%2Fintroducing-the-psych-central-mood-tracker%2F After taking a look at a few of the mood trackers that have long been available online, I was very unsatisfied with both how they asked you about your mood (”How depressed are you today?”) and the results they displayed (can we say “unhelpful”?). Mood trackers are used to help you track your emotional state on a daily or weekly basis, helping you get a better grasp on your emotions. Mood trackers can also help you determine your treatment’s effectiveness over time. Like a screening quiz for depression or anxiety, you typically can’t just ask a person, “How depressed are you?” and get any kind of answer that you can hang your hat on. People aren’t always the best judge of their own mood states — especially when they are in the down... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511164 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:04:19 +0100 2511164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458165&cid=t_114899_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Ffriday-flashback-for-june-5-2009%2F You know summer’s on its way when it starts heating up here in New England, so what better time to flash back to some classic posts from the Psych Central archives? 10 Years Ago on Psych Central Becoming Stuck Online In this classic post, I rant about the world of Internet mental health moving at a glacier’s pace, compared to the world of Internet technologies and services. I also allude to my moving on from the founding of Mental Health Net to take a short-lived position with the doomed Internet startup, drkoop.com. I wrote then, “My goal is to pursue and push others to explore the positive uses and effects of the Internet,” and never has that been more true than today. The Internet has opened so many doors for so many people, I still enjoy talking about all the p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458165 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:30:04 +0100 2458165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452541&cid=t_114899_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1606 This article, which was some time in gestation, appeared shortly afte the last degree in homeopathy in the UK closed its doors. So perhaps it should have been called The Return of Reason. What’s interesting is that it has become commonplace for the mainstream newspapers to print articles like this and to dump some of their whackier lifestyle articles. The print version had a much better title too, The Retreat from Reason, with a two-page spread.. They published the entire ‘Patients’ Guide to Magic Medicine‘ as a sidebar on page 4. To these has now been added, inspired by Jack of Kent, Libel: A very expensive remedy, to be used only when you have no evidence. Appeals to alternative practitioners because truth is irrelevant One part of the article that I particular... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452541 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:18:35 +0100 2452541