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 'disorders'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:50:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182150&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fy40e0ba2MBU%2F Jeanene Harlick, 37, was at 65% her ideal body weight and needed a feeding tube, but her insurance company wouldn’t cover inpatient care at an eating disorder facility. Harlick lives in California, which has one of the nation’s strongest mental health parity laws—laws that say insurance companies must provide the same coverage for mental illness as they do for physical illness). So she sued—and won, for now; the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco just said that her insurance company, Blue Shield of California, must pay for her residential care. The ruling could make a difference in how insurers in other states cover mental health treatment, too. Forty-nine states and D.C. have mental parity laws, but they vary in degree widely, according to the National Conf... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182150 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:51:32 +0100 5182150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181898&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fis-california-eliminating-mental-illness-treatment%2F According to DJ Jaffe, co-founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center which advocates for mandated outpatient treatment laws, California is “eliminating mental illness treatment.” This, of course, will be a surprise to the tens of thousands of mental health providers in California. Millions of Californians currently receive treatment for their mental disorders, both in the private and public sector. In fact, Californians wanted to make up for past deficiencies in funding their mental health services, so they passed a law in 2004 that set aside new money specifically to help fund treatment. Jaffe claims the money isn’t going to the programs it was intended to fund. Should we take his word for it? The easiest way to see whether Jaffe’s claims hold up are to look at the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181898 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:13:20 +0100 5181898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181902&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fring-the-bells-that-still-can-ring-letting-go-of-perfectionism%2F Of all of the concerns clients bring to therapy, perfectionism can be one of the most relentless and the most difficult to overcome. It shows up under any number of guises, from the more mundane to more serious versions: “I’m not going to try to learn how to waterski because I know I won’t be any good at it.” “Anything less than an A is not a good enough grade.” “I need to punish myself for not being perfect.” Perfectionists engage in multiple problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They tend to fear failure, disapproval, and making mistakes. Sometimes they fear success. They overemphasize “shoulds” and engage in all-or-nothing thinking. They constantly pressure themselves to succeed. A shameful belief about inner “badness” often is at the core of pe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181902 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:51:17 +0100 5181902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174664&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Fnutritional-supplements-to-treat-adhd-bipolar-depression-empowerplus%2F In this study, only 49 percent of the participants kept providing the researchers data at 6 months — meaning the majority of them dropped out of the study before the 6 months were up! LOCF is generally frowned upon in good research unless there’s a very good rationale for its use. Why? Because research shows that this method gives a biased estimate of the treatment effect and underestimates the variability of the estimated result. In other words, it stacks the deck to demonstrate a treatment’s effectiveness — even when it might not be. It’s a research slight of hand. The bigger problem with this study and most of the studies cited by TrueHope is that they all suffer from significant design problems. All are open-label designs with biased, self-selected samples... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174664 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:45:54 +0100 5174664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169576&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F99B5X6YMrKA%2F URL: http://www.get.gg/Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been proven to help mental health problems. This website offers CBT self-help information, resources and tools, including therapy worksheets. For: Anyone, Clinicians, ConsumersTopics: Academia, Behaviour Management, Cognitive, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Common Factors, Counselling, Depression, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, General Psychology, Life, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Personality, Personality disorders, Psychology and Technology, Psychology and the Media, Self-helpFeatures: Articles, Assessment Instruments, Clinical Tools, File Sharing, Information, Links, Multimedia, Patient Handouts, Research Tools, Resources, Training, e-learning Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been proven to help mental hea... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169576 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:00:09 +0100 5169576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169577&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FxhaaQKoyW30%2F URL: http://www.pale-reflections.com/Pale Reflections is a complete support network for people affected by anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and all eating disorders. We offer information and a caring environment for eating disorder sufferers, their friends and family, and therapists & professionals. For: Anyone, Clinicians, Consumers, ConsumersTopics: Academia, Behaviour Management, Cognitive, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Common Factors, Counselling, Depression, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, General Psychology, Life, Mental Health, Mental Health Promotion, Personality, Personality disorders, Psychology and Technology, Psychology and the Media, Self-help, Abnormal, Addiction, Behaviour Management, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, Life, L... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169577 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:00:39 +0100 5169577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159197&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fusing-tragedy-to-justify-mental-health-services-in-delaware%2F In a letter that could’ve been written in virtually any state by any National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) representative, NAMI Delaware executive director Matthew Stehl and president Mary Berger recently wrote an op-ed for Delaware’s leading newspaper, The News Journal. In the opinion piece, Stehl and Berger decry the lack of adequate funding for mental illness treatment in the state. In a period of economic recession, state-funded health and human services are usually the first to undergo cuts. But it’s an especially relevant issue in Delaware, because the U.S. Department of Justice struck an agreement with the state to ensure it improves its mental health services for its indigent and poor residents who need mental health services. All of which is good. I’m ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159197 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:55:45 +0100 5159197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159198&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fcan-religion-or-spirituality-help-ward-off-depression%2F People of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities get depression. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to whom it strikes and when. Many people swear by certain things to help them keep depression away. Some people use exercise, while others throw themselves more into their work. Others take a daily dose of a herb like St. John’s Wort or fish oil, because of the association these ingredients have had with a reduction in depression in some studies. But what about religion? Can a strong sense of spirituality or religion help you ward off depression? According to new research that followed a group of people over 10 years, the answer is a qualified “Yes.” The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159198 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0100 5159198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159563&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=35007&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.mcgraw-hill.com%2Fmedical%2Fommbid%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F20%2Flysosomal-storage-disorders-and-calcium-handling%2F Several lysosomal storage disorders are characterized by aberrant calcium handling in affected cells (reviewed in Kiselyov et al, 2010, Cell Calcium 47:103-11). Increasing ER calcium stabilizes several lysosomal enzymes. It was shown that the chaperone calnexin significantly contributes to this phenomenon for glucocerebrosidase (Ong et al, 2010, Nat Chem Biol 6:424-32).   For more info on Gaucher disease, check out the OMMBID abstract here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1036/ommbid.176 For other LSDs click here.   Posted by Philippe Campeau, MD (Source: The OMMBID Blog) The OMMBID Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159563 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:51:40 +0100 5159563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159208&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F19%2F11-tips-for-succeeding-in-college-when-you-have-adhd%2F College is a big transition for any student. But when you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are added challenges to consider. These obstacles concern everything from studying to managing your time to spending impulsively to planning your future post-college. But by being aware of these potential problems and being proactive, students with ADHD can accomplish great things in school. Here’s how, according to Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D, a national certified counselor and licensed mental health counselor and author of Making the Grade with ADD: A Student’s Guide to Succeeding in College with Attention Deficit Disorder. 1. Apply for accommodations. Accommodations are “specific adaptations, including extended time on tests and an assigned note taker, that give yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159208 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:45:13 +0100 5159208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139875&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fintroducing-to-the-edge-and-back%2F Living with a mental health issue or mental disorder as serious as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety is no easy task. Ask anyone who grapples with these concerns on a day-to-day basis. But what can complicate even serious mental illness is a misdiagnosis of one disorder over another. To the Edge and Back is a blog about the trials, tribulations and triumphs of day-to-day life with a very peculiar psychological impairment. Steven Pace says that he is capable of tremendous achievements in a variety of fields on any given day. However, due to the chaotic and disruptive nature of his affliction, he fears that he may never be able to maintain a consistent level of productivity that would allow him to be recognized as a contributing member of society. This blog will share bits of his journ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139875 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:22:46 +0100 5139875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140109&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F5Hpp2h0kPiA%2F I’ve been seeing an increasing number of stories and studies lately on ‘soft bipolar disorder,’ or bipolar II, which is—in the crudest terms—basically a less serious version of classic bipolar disorder, or bipolar I. According to a University of Texas survey, approximately nine million Americans, or 4% of the population, have this disease. My curiosity piqued, I checked a book out of the library recently called Less Than Crazy: Living Fully With Bipolar II by Karla Dougherty. The writing is … not stellar (it’s like a publishing rule, I think, that self-help books must use cheesy metaphors at least three times per chapter). But overall, the book provides a good base for understanding bipolar II, how it differs from regular bipolar disorder, and why it (alle... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140109 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:15:07 +0100 5140109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139631&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fnational-child-measurement-programme-operational-guidance-for-the-201112-school-year%2F Title: National Child Measurement Programme: Operational guidance for the 2011/12 school year Scan or click to download ‘National Child Measurement Programme: Operational guidance for the 2011/12 school year’ The Skinny: Guidance on delivery of the National Child Measurement Programme in the 2011/12 school year. Supersedes previous guidance. Publisher: DH Published: 03/08/11 Size: 72p Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Children, Diet planning, Eating disorders, Grey Literature, Nutrition and diet disorders, Nutrition planning, Obesity, Overeating, Planning, Slimming, Weight watching, Young People (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139631 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:43:46 +0100 5139631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139638&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fcommissioning-prison-based-substance-misuse-services-201112%2F Title: Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 Scan or click to download 'Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12' The Skinny: Dear Collegue letter that recommends the composition of Joint Commissioning Groups for Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 should comprise of: • Prison governor or member of the prison senior management team (NOMS1) • PCT • DAAT lead • Local Authority representative • Probation (NOMS) • Police Publisher: DH Published: 27/07/11 Size: 3p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Behaviour disorders, Commissioning, Drug Abuse, Drug abuse services, Dual Diagnosis, Grey Literature, Health Services, Management cont... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139638 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:58:20 +0100 5139638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139641&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fnational-dementia-strategy-equalities-action-plan%2F Title: National Dementia Strategy Equalities action plan Scan or click to download ‘National Dementia Strategy Equalities action plan’ The Skinny: Sets out a series of planned actions in relation to the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy and the Dementia Commissioning Pack. It supplements the Equality Impact Assessment published alongside the National Dementia Strategy in 2009 and has been compiled in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Publisher: DH Published: 21/07/11 Size: 17p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Dementia, Grey Literature, Mental Disorders, Mental Health, Older People (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139641 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:18:23 +0100 5139641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139643&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Flaunch-of-dementia-commissioning-pack%2F Title: Launch of Dementia Commissioning Pack Scan or click to download 'Launch of Dementia Commissioning Pack' The Skinny: Dear Colleague letter announcing publication of the Dementia Commissioning Pack provides practical resources for health and social care commissioners to work together to improve the quality of both specialist dementia services and general health and care services for people with dementia and their carers. Publisher: DH Published: 21/07/11 Size: 2p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Alzheimers Disease, Dementia, Grey Literature, Mental Disorders, Mental Health, Nervous system diseases, Older People, Pre senile dementia (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139643 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:12:46 +0100 5139643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130668&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fdiversion-pathfinder-selection-for-children-and-young-people%2F Scan or click to download 'Diversion pathfinder selection for children and young people' Title: Diversion pathfinder selection for children and young people The Skinny: Invitation from DH Offender Health to submit expressions of interest to become a youth justice point of arrest diversion pathfinder. Funding is available to provide identification of health needs and other vulnerabilities and support under 18 year olds into interventions at the earliest stage possible. Publisher: DH Size: 16p. Published: 03/03/11 Supplementary Documents: Background Scope Document: Pathfinders for Children and Young People Point of Arrest Diversion Application guidance for Children and Young People Point of Arrest Diversion Pathfinders Application form Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion process ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130668 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:27:47 +0100 5130668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118720&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34958&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.counsellingresource.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychology-philosophy%2F%7E3%2FVVul9bwIz8w%2F Some of the longstanding and commonly accepted explanations we've been given about human nature are simply wrong. Worse, believing them leaves us vulnerable -- both individually and as a society -- to the manipulations of predators among us. And there are predators among us. They are not "sick." They are just disturbingly different and unfathomably dangerous.Tags: abuse and trauma, character disturbance, news and research, personality disorders, society (Source: Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life) Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118720 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:34:21 +0100 5118720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118160&cid=t_100287_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fsleep-disordered-breathing-and.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118160 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:14:00 +0100 5118160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118712&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Ffacebook-tied-to-poor-mental-health-in-teens-kids%2F You know it’s a good time of the year for psychology “news” when the American Psychological Association holds its annual convention. Why? Because they push out a bunch of sexy press releases about presentations at the conference. Case in point, “Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids,” a presentation that presents a seemingly-random selection of research findings about social networking websites like Facebook from the past few years. This quickly gets turned into an exclusive focus on the negative aspects of the talk — “Facebook tied to poor mental health in teens: What parents must know” (CBS News), “Too Much Technology Breeds Health Problems in Teens” (Patch.com), and of course the inevitable, “Is constant &#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118712 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:43:50 +0100 5118712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107598&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Fadhd-and-marriage-boundaries-can-help-rebuild-your-relationship%2F In marriages where one spouse has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or both do), there are often many challenges. One of them is overstepping each other’s boundaries. For instance, a partner with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might assume without asking their partner that they’ll just take over all the household responsibilities, including chores and finances, or they might refuse to treat their symptoms and give the ultimatum to “take it or leave it.” A non-ADHD spouse might take over all the responsibilities because they think their partner is incompetent or they might try to change them altogether. In her book, The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps, marriage consultant Melissa Orlov (who I recently interviewe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107598 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:45:34 +0100 5107598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107901&cid=t_100287_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2F12-steps-for-young-women%2F Hazelden Study Signals Importance of Twelve Step Meeting Attendance for Young Women in Early RecoveryThe frequency of attending Twelve Step mutual support meetings following addiction treatment can help predict success in early recovery for young women, according to a data analysis study.Meeting attendance frequency predicted both abstinence from substance use and number of drinking days at six months post-treatment for young women studied, reports Audrey A. Klein.Analysis focused on 139 young women, age 17-23, attending Twelve Step-based residential treatment for a substance use disorder. They were statistically compared to a sample of 237 young men who attended the same treatment program during the same time period. The analysis showed young women were as likely as young men to attend Tw... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107901 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:10:01 +0100 5107901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107600&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fbipolar-disorder-missed-when-presenting-with-depression%2F Coming as a surprise to more than a few mental health professionals, a new study out today suggests that bipolar disorder is often missed in patients who present only with major depression. The study examined 5,635 adults seen at community and hospital psychiatry departments in a number of different countries. The discrepancy was reported because of the use of “bipolarity specifier criteria” that are broader than the DSM-IV criteria, the standard for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals. Using the broader bipolar criteria developed by the researchers found an additional 31 percent of patients who could have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So what’s really going on here? Are professionals really “missing” bipolar disorder? Or have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107600 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:39 +0100 5107600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107601&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fantidepressants-overprescribed-in-primary-care%2F Antidepressants have long enjoyed a reputation as being a quick and “easy” treatment for all types of depression — from a mild feeling of being a little down, all the way up to severe, life-debilitating depression. But like all medications, they have side effects and instances where they should not be prescribed. Hence their continued need for a prescription after seeing a doctor. So what does it mean when primary care physicians are handing them out like candy? It suggests that your family doctor doesn’t really understand how antidepressants work, or what they are approved to treat. In short, it suggests that antidepressant medications are being over-prescribed by well-meaning doctors who are simply not using very good judgment. Melissa Healy, writing for the LA T... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107601 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:35:31 +0100 5107601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103379&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Fdepressions-other-symptoms%2F The hallmark symptoms of clinical depression are no doubt sadness and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed. Many people also are familiar with appetite and sleep changes. But there’s a whole set of other physical symptoms that are less known but just as debilitating. In fact, depression can literally hurt. According to a study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, up to about 76 percent of people who report the typical emotional symptoms also report physical signs, such as stomach problems, headaches, backaches and chest pain. Depression also is a chameleon. It can look like various other illnesses and conditions, even, for instance, the flu. Which, not surprisingly, makes diagnosing depression tricky, and thereby finding the right treatment... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103379 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:31:02 +0100 5103379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096340&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2F8-practical-pointers-to-help-your-child-pay-attention%2F Getting kids to pay attention is hard enough. But thanks to today’s technological advances, it can become an even bigger challenge. For instance, a University of Washington study found a link between toddlers watching TV and diminished attention spans by seven years old. Another study from UCLA found that kids who used technology had less reflective thought. Interestingly, however, they did have greater visual-spatial skills. “Technology is producing learners with a new set of cognitive strengths and weaknesses,” said Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D, psychologist, attention expert and author of Dreamers, Discoverers & Dynamos: How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School, a guide for kids who are inventive thinkers, crave novelty and are strongly drawn to dist... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096340 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:49:03 +0100 5096340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096341&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Fdoctor-is-my-mood-disorder-due-to-a-chemical-imbalance%2F Dear Mrs. ——– You have asked me about the cause of your mood disorder, and whether it is due to a “chemical imbalance”. The only honest answer I can give you is, “I don’t know”—but I’ll try to explain what psychiatrists do and don’t know about the causes of so-called mental illness, and why the term “chemical imbalance” is simplistic and a bit misleading. By the way, I don’t like the term “mental disorder”, because it makes it seem as if there’s a huge distinction between the mind and the body—and most psychiatrists don’t see it that way. I wrote about this recently, and used the term “brain-mind” to describe the unity of mind and body.1 So, for lack of a better term, I’ll just refer to “psychiatric illnesses.” Now, this notion of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096341 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:35:19 +0100 5096341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086257&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Flove-suicide-and-well-being-international-positive-psychology-associations-second-congress%2F We live in a world that needs our help. – James Pawelski, Director of Education and Senior Scholar at the Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania, just before asking for a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist act in Norway. From July 23rd through July 26th, the International Positive Psychology Association’s second congress took place in Philadelphia.  Two years ago, during a particularly miserable time in my life, my best friend, Professor Joel Morgovsky, suggested we go to the first congress together. I wasn’t in the mood. But I went, and I was sitting in talk after talk and workshop after workshop; mostly they were interesting, but please, when do we get to go home? Then I heard Barbara Fredrickson speak.  There are a few transformative lect... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086257 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:17:53 +0100 5086257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086259&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Ffullerton-police-beat-to-death-mentally-ill-homeless-man%2F A police officer only needs to use “reasonable force” to make an arrest. How many Fullerton, Calif. police officers does it take to arrest one man? Well, it took five patrol cars, 6 officers, tasering 37-year-old Kelly Thomas numerous times, and beating him so badly that he went into a coma. And then died a few days later. What was Thomas’s alleged crime that resulted in his death? Breaking into cars, looking for things to steal. Welcome to our more violent America, where citizens stand by while the police beating took place, too afraid to intervene and save Thomas’s life. Is this what we’ve come to? Kelly Thomas was a long-time member of the Fullerton homeless community, and apparently had schizophrenia. While sometimes scary looking (as not bathing and not ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086259 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:35:53 +0100 5086259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077933&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F-8WJ--lhs9Q%2F This study sheds light on important ‘SNPs’ or genetic variations within an individual’s DNA, associated with long-term, chronic eating disorders. These variations suggest genetic predictors for patients who may be particularly susceptible to eating disorders and whose illnesses are most difficult to treat effectively. The study’s lead researcher, Cinnamon Bloss, Ph.D., explains that ultimately, the study could help treatment of patients with long-term illness stemming from some of these genetic factors: Anorexia and bulimia likely stem from many different causes, such as culture, family, life changes and personality traits But we know biology and genetics are highly relevant in terms of cause and can also play a role in how people respond to treatment. Understanding the genetic... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077933 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:53:47 +0100 5077933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077768&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F29%2Fdbs-for-depression-still-mixed-results%2F Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a treatment long used for Parkinson’s disease. But in the past decade, some researchers have also examined its use for the treatment of severe clinical depression. Severe major depression is a serious problem in society, because some studies estimate that up to 30 percent of those who attempt to be treated for it find they have “treatment resistant” depression — that is, traditional treatments simply don’t work very well. Deep brain stimulation has mixed results. As we reported on back in February, a long-term followup of 20 patients found an average response rate to DBS of 64 percent. Not shabby, but also not the hopeful, guaranteed cure it was once held out to be. Maiken Scott, the behavioral health reporter for Philadelphia... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077768 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:39:07 +0100 5077768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077770&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F28%2Fcbs-news-others-get-nose-job-story-wrong%2F In one of the worst examples of health reporting I’ve seen today, a bunch of news outlets have equated “symptoms of a disorder” with having the disorder itself. It may seem like a subtle difference, but in the world of mental health diagnosis, having a symptom of a disorder is not the same as having the disorder itself. The study in question was conducted on people seeking treatment for a nose job. To assess patients’ psychopathology, the researchers administered a bunch of psychological tests to the patients before their rhinoplasty. One of those tests was the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for body dysmorphic disorder. Now, the researchers only found a 2 percent rate of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) among the 226 patients they tested. That rate is... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077770 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:58:34 +0100 5077770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062291&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fbps-on-dsm%2F Some of you may be following the development of the forthcoming fifth revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the major book used for psychiatric diagnosis. There has been a lot of criticism due to the secrecy of the process this time around, but the British Psychological Society (BPS), the major mental health organization in the UK, is taking an even more interesting and refreshing angle: criticizing the entire current framework of diagnosis. The DSM takes a medical approach to diagnosis. In short, this means that a ‘patient’ is assumed to have an underlying ‘pathology’ that manifests as various ‘symptoms’ that are assessed to make a ‘diagnosis’ and then apply a ‘treatment’ to said diagnosis. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062291 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:44:58 +0100 5062291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062294&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fmental-illness-is-not-simply-a-brain-disease%2F Last month, Andrew Brown writing for the UK’s Guardian, noted when Professor David Nutt kept referring to depression as a “brain disease” on a popular UK television program. We commend Andrew Brown for his calling out Professor Nutt in trying to dumb down the portrayal of mental disorders to simply “brain diseases.” Mental disorders remain complex disorders that involve all aspect of a person’s functioning and life — their brain and biology, their psychological makeup and personality, and their social interactions and relationships with others. The cause isn’t just one of these things in the vast majority of people who have a mental illness — the cause is all of these things, in differing proportions. I’ve written about this in th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062294 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:36:25 +0100 5062294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051021&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=35007&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.mcgraw-hill.com%2Fmedical%2Fommbid%2Fblog%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Ffaod-and-oxidative-stress%2F Mice models of VLCAD develop oxidative stress in the liver upon fasting, suggesting reactive oxygen species are important culprits in the hepatopathy of affected patients (Tucci et al, 2010, FEBS J 277:4699-708). Increased oxidative stress was also seen when over-expressing a mutant SCAD in cultured cells (Schmidt et al, 2010, Mol Genet Metab 100:155-62), while others noticed increased autophagy (Shirao et al, 2010, Hum Genet 127:619-28); the second possibly being a consequence of the first. Posted by Philippe Campeau, MD (Source: The OMMBID Blog) The OMMBID Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051021 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:31:41 +0100 5051021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050715&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Ftaking-your-teen-to-a-therapist%2F It’s hard enough knowing when you need to see a therapist and navigating the entire process from picking a professional to making the most of your time once you do. (Here are some tips, by the way.) But doing this for your teen can seem outright overwhelming. Educating yourself on the process, however, helps immensely. Below, clinical psychologist John Duffy, Psy.D, who works with teens and authored the book The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens, discusses everything from telltale signs to see a therapist to talking to your child to making the most of therapy. When Your Teen Needs Therapy According to Duffy, the time to take your teen to a therapist is “when you note a marked change in either her affect, her behavior, or both,” especially “if the chan... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050715 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:06:53 +0100 5050715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050718&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F19%2Fdepression-and-empathy-in-couples%2F Discussions focused on eliciting support, with one partner playing the role of help seeker and the other playing the role of help giver. The couples were given an alarm that beeped after 6 min, at which point they switched roles and continued the conversation for an additional 6 min.” In the second part, each individual reviewed their recordings separately and after watching the discussion in 30-second segments, paused the recording and wrote down the thoughts and feelings they experienced at that time during the interaction. They were also asked to infer and write down their partners’ thoughts and feelings. In the third part of the study, five coders independently judged “the degree of similarity between perceivers’ and targets’ statements by examining the taped discussi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050718 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:15:54 +0100 5050718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029255&cid=t_100287_155_f&fid=38409&url=http%3A%2F%2Fneuropathologyblog.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Faccording-to-greeks-term-camptocormia.html Arkady Melikyan, MDDr. Arkady Melikyan, a neurology resident currently rotating on my neuropathology service, informed me today of a word in the neurological lexicon that I had not heard of before: camptocormia. Dr. Melikyan credits attending neurologist Rodger Elble, MD, PhD for enlightening him with regard to this term. Camptocormia, according to Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology (9th edition, page 117), is "a severe forward bending of the trunk at the waist that is symptomatic of either a dystonia, Parkinson disease, or one of several muscle diseases that focally weaken the extensors of the spine." This condition causes "the patient to walk while looking at the ground beneath the feet, but rarely causes falling". Look at this 17-second video on YouTube demonstrating the conditi... neuropathology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029255 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:54:00 +0100 5029255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028464&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FfuZ8T941wuc%2F URL: http://www.safersociety.org/Safer Society Foundation is dedicated to ending sexual abuse so that we all can enjoy safer communities, healthier families and happier lives. For: Anyone, ConsumersTopics: Clinical Psychology, Depression, Emotional Health, Family Therapy, Mental Health, Personality, Personality disorders, Physical Health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sexual Assault, Social SupportFeatures: Articles, Information, Links, e-learningSafer Society Foundation is dedicated to ending sexual abuse so that we all can enjoy safer communities, healthier families and happier lives. Our work focuses on providing information and resources to help create safer communities through prevention and effective public policy, to provide victims with healing and restitution, and to provide off... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028464 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:27 +0100 5028464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028453&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fwhy-sugar-is-dangerous-to-depression%2F You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the link between sugar and depression. Anyone who doubts the relationship need only to spend a night in our house and see what type of behavior happens when two kids consume 12-ounce cans of Coke or Sprite — and the demonic demonstrations that happen after a 7-11 slurpee, especially if it’s red or blue, or God forbid, a mix. People who suffer from depression are especially vulnerable to sugar’s evil power. I am so sensitive to white-flour, processed foods that I can practically set an alarm to for three hours after consumption, at which time I will be cursing myself for inhaling the large piece of birthday cake at the party because I am feeling so miserable. That doesn’t stop me from eating dessert at the next gathering, of c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028453 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:34:30 +0100 5028453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028854&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FRQv7prG3aso%2F Almost a quarter of people surveyed in Ireland said they think depression is a “state of mind” rather than an illness, and two of every five respondents said they wouldn’t want to know if a friend or family member was depressed. The survey, called the 2011 Mental Health Barometer, was commissioned by pharmaceutical firm Lundbeck, the maker of the antidepressant Lexipro, and it gives some food for thought as to how we should really treat depression. You can tell from reading Lundbeck’s report that it has a positive interest in defining depression as an illness. While this is generally a good thing, I think we need to be careful to avoid looking at mood disorders like depression exclusively as illnesses. It negates the role that talk therapy or alternative therapies can have on treat... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028854 Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:09:27 +0100 5028854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008601&cid=t_100287_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fstudy-says-environment-plays-role-in.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008601 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:21:00 +0100 5008601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008602&cid=t_100287_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fantidepressant-use-during-pregnancy.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008602 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:35:00 +0100 5008602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997617&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F03%2Freading-the-newspaper-when-youre-depressed%2F Learning to read the daily newspaper when you’re depressed is like learning to feed the ducks in Annapolis without getting crapped on by the seagulls: it demands good timing, a certain strategy, and an obnoxiously wide hat (to shield your head). I can’t check CNN.com every half hour for the most recent headlines like Eric, my husband, does. I’m way too anxious about the world’s doom and gloom. Like all the other important activities in my week, I wait for the right moment: when I have a full stomach of protein and fiber, when I’m semi-rested (very rare with two insomniacs as children), when I’m not too caffeinated (even rarer), and when I’m not ticked off at a family member (rarest). When all these circumstances align, which happens as often as a l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997617 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:41:36 +0100 4997617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992755&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Fhow-the-dsm-developed-what-you-might-not-know%2F The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widely known as the bible of psychiatry and psychology. But not many people know how this powerful and influential book came to be. Here’s a brief look at the DSM’s evolution and where we are today. The Need for Classification The origins of the DSM date back to 1840 — when the government wanted to collect data on mental illness. The term “idiocy/insanity” appeared in that year’s census. Forty years later, the census expanded to feature these seven categories: “mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania and epilepsy.” But there was still a need to gather uniform stats across mental hospitals. In 1917, the Bureau of the Census embraced a publication called the Statistical Manual for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992755 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:43:12 +0100 4992755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992756&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F01%2Fis-anyone-normal-today%2F Take a minute and answer this question: Is anyone really normal today? I mean, even those who claim they are normal may, in fact, be the most neurotic among us, swimming with a nice pair of scuba fins down the river of Denial. Having my psychiatric file published online and in print for public viewing, I get to hear my share of dirty secrets—weird obsessions, family dysfunction, or disguised addiction—that are kept concealed from everyone but a self-professed neurotic and maybe a shrink. “Why are there so many disorders today?” Those seven words, or a variation of them, surface a few times a week. And my take on this query is so complex that, to avoid sounding like my grad school professors making an erudite case that fails to communicate anything to average folks like me, I often ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992756 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:03:11 +0100 4992756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992757&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F01%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-july-1-2011%2F Once I got to college, I began to love school. The feeling of working hard and then the instant gratification from all that hard work was awesome! One professor told me I’d be a professional student forever. Of course in the real world, you can work as hard as you want and still feel like you haven’t quite made it. And it’s not just your career, but that gnawing, frustrating feeling could also apply to friendships and romantic relationships too. I realized that the formulas that seem to work in school, working hard = A’s, just didn’t have a place in real life. Sometimes you could drive yourself crazy trying to force pieces of a puzzle that just didn’t go together. In the whole process of going to school and finally getting out of it, I realized it was�... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992757 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:10:08 +0100 4992757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984501&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FbjbrRmU_AUk%2F URL: http://psychology.vanguard.edu/amoebaweb/Outstanding resource maintained by Douglas Degelman, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Features over 2000 categorized links to quality psychology content. For: Anyone, Researchers, StudentsTopics: ADHD, Abnormal, Academia, Addiction, Anxiety, Behaviour Management, Bipolar, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Depression, Eating Disorders, General Psychology, Mental HealthFeatures: Articles, Databases, Information, Links Outstanding resource maintained by Douglas Degelman, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Features over 2000 categorized links to quality psychology content. Also, lists monthly featured websites, psychologically related, of cours... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984501 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:00:13 +0100 4984501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984502&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FkcfYVk6uQLw%2F URL: http://watchingthemsurvive.com/This website was compiled by a Partner of a survivor. When she revealed the source of the pain, hurt, confusion and trials, suddenly it became clear to that these episodes of abuse were a tremendously defining event in her life. It had altered her personality, growth and joy for the rest of her life. Our marriage and family was in shambles now, by and large, as the result of the snowballing of twisted reality that she lived with everyday. But now it was time… She could not fight it alone. Each time she tried she was swallowed more and more. So it was time for me to fight. So began another long and hard road, but this time it had purpose, focus and guidance. No longer would she go quietly into the night! Now she would walk in the Light of Truth&#823... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984502 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:00:15 +0100 4984502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984499&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Ffamilies-affected-by-mental-illness-feel-little-support-from-churches%2F A new study conducted at Baylor University indicated that families with a mentally ill member would like their congregation to offer more assistance. The study, published in the journal “Mental Health, Religion and Culture,” was the first to look at how mental illness of a family member influences an individual’s relationship with the church. “Families with mental illness stand to benefit from their involvement with a congregation, but our findings suggest that faith communities fail to adequately engage these families because they lack awareness of the issues and understanding of the important ways that they can help,” said Diana Garland, Ph.D., dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work and co-author of the Baylor study. The study surveyed nearly 6,000 participant... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984499 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:11:12 +0100 4984499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984500&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Fan-epidemic-of-bad-infographics-depression%2F In an effort to keep trying to get people’s attention in an increasingly attention-deficit world, we get a lot of inquiries for links to websites promoting education programs and other affiliate websites. The latest effort is focused around “infographics,” those graphics made popular by the USA Today newspaper that combines an interesting graphical element with hard data. A well done infographic ostensibly makes data more engaging. A fantastic infographic puts data into proper perspective and gives it valuable context. What these marketing firms send me, however, are not fantastic or even well-done. So in the interests of demonstrating that any infographic can be worse than no infographic, I’m going to critique one of the latest ones to have come across my desk. It&... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984500 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:34:42 +0100 4984500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975941&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2Fmarsha-linehan-what-is-dialectical-behavioral-therapy-dbt%2F Last week the New York Times ran a fascinating piece on Marsha Linehan, Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington and the original developer of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a modification of standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but including elements of acceptance and mindfulness. Her work has been designed specifically for people who harm themselves, for those diagnosed with borderline personality (BPT), and those who suffer from pervasive suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. For the first time in her life, the mental health expert disclosed her own story (that we also discussed on the blog yesterday), which involved hospitalization at the age of 17 that lasted longer than two years. Benedict Carey, author of the interview with Linehan, writes: No one knows h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975941 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:45:03 +0100 4975941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975943&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fdare-to-be-happy%2F If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ~ Frederick Douglass Let’s get this out in the open: I am bipolar II. That means the mania is really low-key and infrequent and the depression, at least in my case, for most of my life, has been pretty much nonstop. There are degrees of depression, of course. Mine gets severe relatively quickly and stays that way a relatively long time. Yes, I have been an inpatient at psychiatric hospitals. Yes, I have self-harmed. Yes, I have been on every psychotropic medication known to man, and failed most of them. The two that I’m on right now combine for one really annoying side effect. I have even, since about New Year’s, been undergoing a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). My memory is shot, along with many other things, but the suggesti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975943 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:49:03 +0100 4975943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975944&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fmarsha-linehan-acknowledges-her-own-struggle-with-borderline-personality-disorder%2F Dr. Marsha Linehan, long best known for her ground-breaking work with a new form of psychotherapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), has let out her own personal secret — she has suffered from borderline personality disorder. In order to help reduce the prejudice surrounding this particular disorder — people labeled as borderline often are seen as attention-getting and always in crisis — Dr. Linehan told her story in public for the first time last week before an audience of friends, family and doctors at the Institute of Living, the Hartford clinic where she was first treated for extreme social withdrawal at age 17, according to The New York Times. At 17 in 1961, Linehan detailed how when she came to the clinic, she attacked herself habitually, cut her arms legs a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975944 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:12:20 +0100 4975944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968579&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2F9-myths-misconceptions-and-stereotypes-about-adhd%2F Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about four percent of U.S. adults (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). Still, many myths, stereotypes and downright fallacies abound — everything from questioning the very existence of ADHD to downplaying its seriousness. Below, we spoke with two experts who treat individuals with ADHD to set the record straight. 1. Myth: ADHD isn’t a real disorder. Fact: ADHD is a mental disorder with a strong biological component (like most mental disorders). This includes an inherited biological component, notes Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D, a national certified counselor and licensed mental health counselor and author of four books on adult ADD, including Adult ADD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. For instance, studies have identified sever... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968579 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:17:58 +0100 4968579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968580&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Fintroducing-panic-about-anxiety%2F Lots of people experience panic attacks. For some people, it can get so bad that they also get agoraphobia — the fear of leaving one’s house. So I’m happy to introduce Panic About Anxiety with Summer Beretsky, a blog that will explore panic, agoraphobia and even topics about general anxiety in upcoming entries. If you’re not familiar with Summer, you can check out her archives at the World of Psychology blog. She is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her Master of Arts degree in Communication. She enjoys writing about her experiences with anxiety, panic, and Paxil. She contributes to the World of Psychology blog here on PsychCentral and has written for the Los Angeles Times. You can follow her on Twitter @summerberetsky. You can read more about her here. W... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968580 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:34:41 +0100 4968580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968421&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Fthe-fdas-new-report-on-silicone-breast-implant-safety%2F Did you know that women who get silicone breast implants should “assume that you will need additional surgeries,” and should get follow-up MRIs every couple of years? Over at Our Bodies Our Blog, I have summary of this and other information from the FDA’s new report on the safety of silicone breast implants, along with links to the agency’s additional resources on the topic, such as things to consider before getting implants, questions to ask your surgeon if you’re thinking of getting them, and more information on complications and adverse outcomes. Filed under: Body Image & Eating Disorders, Boobs, Government (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968421 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:42:25 +0100 4968421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960119&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fare-low-carb-diets-bad-for-the-brain%2F Are low carbohydrate diets bad for the brain? Ketogenic diets (low carbohydrate diets) promote the increased use of ketone bodies–soluble compounds produced by the body when fatty acids are broken down–by the brain. But, is this safe? When examining epileptic children who spend years in ketosis, or the accumulation of higher than normal ketone bodies, there seems to be no negative effect on cognitive function, except fatigue in the beginning stages of the diet (Hale, 2010). In addition, ketogenic diets are used as treatment for some diseases.  Klepper and colleagues (2003) reported that ketogenic diets have been used for decades to treat intractable childhood epileptics, but they can also be used for treating other conditions such as glut 1 deficiency syndrome and pyruvatedehy... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960119 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:58:36 +0100 4960119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960120&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcan-you-take-someone-to-the-er-for-mental-health-help%2F When I came home from work, she was sitting on the back porch steps, crying. Another friend was sitting next to her, arms draped around her shaking shoulders, trying to understand the words in between her hiccuped sobs. “Is everything okay?” I asked, even though I knew this wasn’t just a normal bout of tears. Julie (not her real name) had been crying the entire day. When I left for work she had been sobbing in the bathroom, and (I learned later) had turned on the shower to muffle the sound of her emotion from the rest of the house so no one would come and check on her. No one knew how long she had stayed like that, melted to the bathroom floor, clutching a towel to her chest, the shower running hot and humid whenever she felt she was getting too loud. It’s possible ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960120 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:45:24 +0100 4960120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960122&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcan-you-learn-about-happiness-from-virginia-woolf%2F Assay: Recently, I posted a quotation from Virginia Woolf for my weekly quotation. I often quote from Woolf, because she’s one of my very favorite writers. And, as has happened before, I got a few comments from readers saying, in effect, “Why are you quoting Virginia Woolf about happiness? She committed suicide — what can she know about happiness?” This response always surprises me, for a few reasons. First, Woolf aside, there’s a big difference between writers’ works and what they personally experience and how they behave in their own lives. Tolstoy, for example. I love Tolstoy’s fiction, and find it elevating and very illuminating on the subject of happiness, but I can’t bear to read about the actual Leo Tolstoy, who was a dreadful person. Nevertheless, suffering “... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960122 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:17:07 +0100 4960122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952984&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2Ftiki-barber-football-retirement-and-depression%2F As a reminder that depression strikes anyone, at any time, for any reason or no reason whatsoever, I give you Tiki Barber. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Barber, he was a professional (American) football player who decided to retire four years ago at age 32. A good time to retire as a football player, as your body starts to show its age against the physicality of the game. He took jobs as a sports commentator at NBC, both in their sports division and for “The Today Show.” But Mr. Barber’s depression appears to be directly related to a number of events that occurred in his life after his retirement. And now he says he wants to get back into the game, at age 36. His real problems appear to have started when it was revealed he was having an affair with a 23-year-old N... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952984 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:37:49 +0100 4952984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952985&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2F6-tips-to-help-summer-depression%2F The kids are out of school. Your neighbors are whistling on their way to work, greeting you with an enthusiasm peculiar to warm weather. And if you hear one more person ask you about your summer vacation plans, you will throw a US map and atlas at them. You don’t mean to be grumpy. But darn it, you are miserable in the oppressive heat, your kids are home for 90 consecutive days, and you are don’t have the stamina to pretend you are giddy that summer has arrived. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. After publishing a piece recently about the trigger of Memorial Day for me — reminding me that most of my relapses have happened in the summer months — I’ve heard from so many readers that fear this time of year for the same reason: summer depression. Ian A. Cook, MD, the direc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952985 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:39:48 +0100 4952985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952987&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2F4-ways-to-manage-oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-children%2F Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a childhood disorder that affects anywhere from 6 to 10 percent of children. It is characterized by a negative set of behaviors in a child directed toward the adults in their life, and can sometimes be mistaken for disorders that share some characteristics, such as conduct disorder and even attention deficit disorder. The diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder is given by mental health professionals to describe a set of behaviors a child is exhibiting that include: Often loses temper Argues with adults and authority figures Refuses to comply with adult requests Blames others for his mistakes Deliberately annoys people Is easily annoyed by others Is angry/resentful and spiteful/vindictive. Sound like a child you may know? If a child exhibits fou... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952987 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:12:36 +0100 4952987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934342&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FB56BnHKGbzI%2F URL: http://www.atsa.com/The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers is an international, multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to preventing sexual abuse. Through research, education, and shared learning ATSA promotes evidence based practice, public policy and community strategies that lead to the effective assessment, treatment and management of individuals who have sexually abused or are at risk to abuse. For: Anyone, Consumers, ResearchersTopics: Abnormal, Attachment, Behaviour Management, Foundation Website, Personality disorders, Relationships, Sexual AssaultFeatures: Articles, Collaborative News, Conferences, Information, Links, Research, Research Tools, ResourcesThe Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers is an international, multi-disciplinary organization ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934342 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:00:23 +0100 4934342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934338&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F13%2Fbipolar-disorder-tips-for-reducing-relapse%2F For many mental illnesses relapse is part and parcel. Bipolar disorder is one of these. What’s especially unnerving for people is that relapse can seem random, as though you go to bed feeling one way and wake up another, feeling hints of mania or depression. Why relapse occurs is largely unknown. But we do know certain facts based on research findings, according to Joseph R. Calabrese, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Program at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in this excellent article in bp Magazine on relapse: “Those who are diagnosed with bipolar II are more likely to relapse than those with bipolar I. Their episodes of depression, mania or hypomania are often shorter than the episodes experienced by those with bipolar I but tend to return more of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934338 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:34:54 +0100 4934338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902486&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F05%2F6-bipolar-rules-for-eating%2F The following post is by Hilary Smith, author of “Welcome to the Jungle: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Bipolar But Were Too Freaked Out to Ask” (Conari Press, 2010) as well as a cool blog to go with it, Welcome to the Jungle. We’ve all heard about “mood foods” that can promote wellness for people with bipolar and depression–fish oil for brain health, oatmeal for stable blood sugar, chocolate for, well, chocolateness. But it’s also important to think about how we eat. How we eat can have just as big an impact on our mood as what we eat, yet it often gets neglected in conversations about bipolar and food. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy mood through mindful eating practices. 1. Make eating an art. How you eat is sometimes a r... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902486 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 10:05:30 +0100 4902486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902487&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F04%2Fa-look-inside-the-mind-of-schizophrenia%2F Schizophrenia is one of the more debilitating types of mental illness. Over a year ago, I wrote an article for Psych Central about living with schizophrenia. In the beginning, I featured an excerpt from E. Fuller Torrey’s, M.D., excellent book Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients and Providers, because it captures the confusion and misinformation about this disorder. “Your daughter has schizophrenia,” I told the woman. “Oh, my God, anything but that,” she replied. “Why couldn’t she have leukemia or some other disease instead?” “But if she had leukemia she might die,” I pointed out. “Schizophrenia is a much more treatable disease.” The woman looked sadly at me, then down at the floor. She spoke softly. “I would still prefer that my daughter had ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902487 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:04:57 +0100 4902487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893553&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F04%2Fwhen-should-you-consider-hospitalization-for-depression%2F I wish psychiatrists sent people with depression home with instructions on when to go to the hospital similar to the ones obstetricians give to pregnant women once they reach 37 weeks of gestation: when your contractions last for a minute each and are five minutes apart, start the ignition! “How did you know it was time to go to the hospital?” a friend asked me the other day. “I didn’t,” I replied. “My friends did.” Each psych ward experience is different. And no doctor judges the decision to enter one in the same way. In hindsight, I wonder why my therapist didn’t urge me to commit myself months before I did. I talked about wanting to die most of my hour with her. Because it was all I thought about. That idea, alone, gave me relief. But I ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893553 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:02:02 +0100 4893553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893455&cid=t_100287_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-students-why-choose-psychiatry%2F2011.06.02 Here at Shrink Rap, we often talk about the stigma of having a psychiatric disorder. It’s funny, but society has it almost ranked, so that certain illnesses are very stigmatized–schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and borderline personality disorder, to name a few, and others are pretty much socially acceptable: Attention Deficit Disorder, for example, especially among the high school/college crowd where the patient often gets identified (or self-identifies) as the source for those late-night stimulants that so many kids cop. It’s not just the patients. Psychiatrists are also stigmatized, and that doesn’t help much when our society talks about the shrink shortage. Exalya writes: I’m a first (almost second) year medical student with a strong pas... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893455 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4893455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4876420&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F28%2Fatypical-antipsychotic-medications-not-a-good-choice-for-alzheimers%2F People with Alzheimer’s disease often suffer not only from the debilitating effects of the disease itself, but also from the secondary psychological effects. Delusions and hallucinations appear in up to 50 percent of those with Alzheimer’s, and as many as 70 percent demonstrate aggressive behaviors and agitation. Both caregivers and family members are distressed by these symptoms, and so everyone is motivated to treat the person with Alzheimer’s with antipsychotic medications. The problem? Antipsychotic medications haven’t always been well-researched on older populations, and fewer still on people with a disease like Alzheimer’s. And when the research has been done, the results are often underwhelming. Take the latest research, for instance, by Vigen and coll... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4876420 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:52:09 +0100 4876420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872161&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F27%2F8-tips-for-teenage-depression%2F Teenagers are moody. Absolutely. Fluctuations in hormones cause anger outbursts, irritability, emotional hysteria, bursts of anger, defiant behavior, and weepiness. So it’s very difficult to tease apart teenage drama from legitimate depression and other mood disorders. However, it’s worth the effort because depression and other mood disorders that begin in adolescence often become much more serious and difficult to treat as adult disorders. A 1996 study by the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that more than 6 percent of adolescents, between the ages of 9 and 18 years old, suffered from depression during the six-month period of the study, and almost five percent suffered from major depressive disorder. Moreover, many of the 20 percent of people who suffer from depression a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872161 Fri, 27 May 2011 15:27:51 +0100 4872161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872165&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Fwhen-mental-illness-stigma-turns-inward%2F This study shows in some cases, it might even be increasing.) We see stigma everywhere. Every time violence is automatically connected to mental illness in an article or news report, we see it.* We see it in movies and other forms of media. We see it at work where stereotypes might be perpetuated, where employees are afraid to “come out” with their diagnosis. We see it with our families or friends, who might say versions of “just snap out of it” or “get over it already” or offer “advice” like sleep more, eat less, look on the bright side and try harder. There’s also just pure ignorance, especially when it comes to serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., wrote in Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872165 Thu, 26 May 2011 12:00:16 +0100 4872165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852937&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F23%2F10-things-you-should-know-about-male-depression%2F What looks and feels like depression to a woman may not to a man, which is why so many men in America are misdiagnosed or missed altogether. However, considering that the rates of completed suicide of men are three to four times that of women, we need to educate ourselves about male depression and its unique symptoms. The following are 10 things you should know about male depression, compiled from Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin and other sources. 1. Depression affects about 6 million American men and 12 million American women each year. But these numbers don’t tell the story of men, and older men, in particular. 2. Suicide in men peaks in the 20s and again in the 60s and 70s. 3. Many men experience “depression without sadness,” which makes it more challenging for prima... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852937 Mon, 23 May 2011 16:45:23 +0100 4852937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841580&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fadhd-and-depression-common-bedfellows%2F Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression commonly occur together. According to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in ADHD and wrote the book More Attention, Less Deficit: Successful Strategies for Adults with ADHD: “ADHD makes people’s lives harder, so it makes sense that they have more to be depressed about. This is especially true because ADHD difficulties usually persist — it’s not like going through a bad break-up where things get better with time.” Because ADHD is lifelong, it “robs the person of optimism that things will ever improve, at least before a diagnosis is made and treatment started.” Below, Tuckman talks about both disorders, which is treated first and what readers can do. Depression Signs At f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841580 Thu, 19 May 2011 15:35:03 +0100 4841580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841584&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fincreasing-mental-health-awareness-too-much-of-a-good-thing%2F Today is the American Psychological Association’s “Blog Party” in recognition of May being mental health month. The marketing effort behind designating a specific month a time to recognize and help increase awareness of a certain disease, disorder or condition is intended to help people learn more about various medical and mental health concerns. But a few weeks ago, physician H. Gilbert Welch wrote an op-ed in the LA Times that questioned whether the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Have we become a nation of people who will get diagnosed for all sorts of sub-clinical problems at the drop of a hat? Indeed, I think there is a very real danger of that becoming the case. And nowhere is that more likely than in mental health. Dr. Ron Pies talked about some of these... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841584 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:14:06 +0100 4841584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841585&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F17%2Fnew-study-says-treating-mom-helps-childrens-mental-health%2F In this study, researchers learned that children’s improvement, in terms of both depressive symptoms and social functioning, is associated with the time it took their mothers to get better.” I sort of cringe when I read those facts because it took me two years to get better when I was severely depressed. My kids were the ages of one and three when my symptoms began, and they were three and five when I finally regained some stability. And yes, there were huge behavioral ramifications. Especially in my son. I suspect much of the anxiety he suffers today goes back to that frightening time in his life. Wall Street Journal columnist Melinda Beck writes about the new study in this week’s “Health Journal.” Beck mentions a report published in the journal Pediatrics that says at early a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841585 Tue, 17 May 2011 22:15:42 +0100 4841585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828988&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F14%2Fthe-interventionist-an-interview-with-joani-gammill-about-addiction%25e2%2580%25a8%25e2%2580%25a8%25e2%2580%25a8%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing a friend of mine who has just written a compelling memoir, The Interventionist, about addiction from the perspective of both an addict and an interventionist. You begin your book with the quote from Khaled Hosseini’s book, The Kite Runner: “And that, I believe, is what true redemption is … when guilt leads to good.” Do you believe your work with other addicts is partly what keeps you clean and sober? Why compels you to enter into such hopeless situations and try to fix things? Joani: I think as the quote infers “when guilt leads to good,” my work with addicts and alcoholics assuages my own continued ambivalence about my responsibility about having this disease. It is not at all logical. There is no “choice” about having this ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828988 Sat, 14 May 2011 10:29:48 +0100 4828988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820920&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F13%2Fusing-music-to-relieve-depression%2F Caught in a terrible conundrum of whether I should break my diet over New York Super Fudge Chunk or Chunky Monkey at Ben and Jerry’s yesterday, I was reading the different fliers pinned to the community bulletin board inside this 200 square feet of ice-cream heaven. One flier read: “Got the blues? Learn to play them!” I don’t know whether to blame the kids or my depression for my stupidity (the death of my brain cells in the prefrontal cortex), but I had to read these seven words four times (that’s 28 words) before I understood the message, which is an important one: Music can help treat depression. Back before my Prozac and Zoloft days, music was my sole therapy. I pounded out Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude to C Sharp Minor” as a way of processing... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820920 Fri, 13 May 2011 15:37:54 +0100 4820920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813363&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F10%2Fconquering-performance-anxiety-a-primer-for-all-phobias%2F Public speaking is the king of phobias. That’s according to Taylor Clark, author of the insightful book, Nerve. He writes: According to a 2001 poll, more than 40 percent of Americans confess to a dread of appearing before spectators. (In some surveys, fear of public speaking even outranks fear of death, a fact that inspired Jerry Seinfeld’s famous observation that at a funeral, this means the average person would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.) To get to the solution of this phobia — which can help us with all our other phobias — Clark tells the story of cellist Zoe Keating. Today her music is featured everywhere from National Public Radio to film scores to European ballets. Clark attended one of her performances and comments, “Keating seemed entirely obl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813363 Tue, 10 May 2011 14:30:33 +0100 4813363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803531&cid=t_100287_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FCnXzG-32TH4%2F Image via WikipediaAlcohol abuse and dependence, referred to as alcohol-use disorders (AUDs), affect 76.3 million people worldwide and account for 1.8 million deaths per year. AUDs affect 18.3 million Americans (7.3% of the population), and up to 40% of hospitalized patients have AUDs.This review discusses the development and progression of critical illness in patients with AUDs.In contrast to acute intoxication, AUDs have been linked to increased severity of illness in a number of studies.In particular, surgical patients with AUDs experience higher rates ofpostoperative hemorrhage,cardiac complications,sepsis, andneed for repeat surgery.Outcomes from trauma are worse for patients with chronic alcohol abuse, whereas burn patients who are acutely intoxicated may not have worse outcomes.AUDs... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803531 Fri, 06 May 2011 21:53:47 +0100 4803531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789333&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F05%2Fshould-you-tell-your-boss-that-you-have-adhd%2F When you have any mental health condition, it can be hard to know if you should disclose your diagnosis at work, particularly to your boss. It’s a thorny topic. For instance, you might be worried that others will judge you negatively because of the pervasive stigma in our society. Yet, you might need certain accommodations that you’d like to ask for. Also, many people are relieved to get their diagnosis — finally having a name for their disruptive symptoms — and want to share it with others. So what can you do? ADDitude Magazine has an excellent article on this topic by Wilma Fellman. I interviewed Fellman a few years ago for an article about succeeding in the workplace when you have ADHD. Her take? She advised readers against telling supervisors about their ADHD. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789333 Thu, 05 May 2011 12:13:11 +0100 4789333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780432&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F7PCdFHF6dWQ%2F We know it’s unsafe to drive after two or three glasses of wine, but what about after 1,050 milligrams of Lithium? Sure, my impulse response is good. My cognitive functions are fine. I know when I have to stop, where to look, and how to flip the bird if I have to. But my hands do tremor. And although most of the time no one notices, there are times when the shakes are quite visible, and embarrassing. Like on the morning of my first day at my new consulting job, where 300 consultants waited in one single file line to submit proper paperwork. I couldn’t get my Styrofoam coffee cup to stop shaking as I held copies of my birth certificate, driver’s license, and proof that I was not an alien. The man behind me noticed my shaking hands and said, “Oh, you poor thing. Your blood sugar is l... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780432 Tue, 03 May 2011 14:00:42 +0100 4780432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775535&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FXfmxcYwLR-Y%2F Migraine: n. A severe recurring headache (check), usually affecting only one side of the head (yep), characterized by sharp pain (understatement) and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting (a la Regan MacNeil), and visual disturbances (sounds like a peyote hangover, but, check, check, check). My migraines date back to (surprise!) starting my first real job after college – in the federal government. One night, I awoke to find the right side of my head throbbing and seemingly on fire. I couldn’t have lights on. I was nauseous. Noises and smells of any kind exacerbated the pain. Way back in high school, I had been convinced that I had every disease and disorder on the planet; I was perhaps the world’s youngest and most prolific hypochondriac. Instead of brushing up on my Edith Hamilton, ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775535 Mon, 02 May 2011 14:00:18 +0100 4775535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803146&cid=t_100287_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FRL51oCgViVc%2F The LITFL Review is your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peaks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803146 Mon, 02 May 2011 05:51:07 +0100 4803146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771209&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F01%2Fdr-jon-lapook-living-with-ocd%2F In case you missed it, Dr. Jon LaPook, chief medical correspondent for the CBS Evening News, penned an important post on the Huffington Post about OCD. For his CBS segment, he interviewed Jeff Bell, KCBS radio broadcaster and author of “Rewind, Replay, Repeat: A Memoir of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder” and “When In Doubt, Make Belief: Life Lessons from OCD.” In his Huffington Post piece, Dr. LaPook writes: “It’s my OCD.” I hear that on and off from friends and patients who half-jokingly use the term to describe overly careful behavior (such as double-checking to make sure the stove is off) but don’t actually have obsessive-compulsive disorder. True OCD can be a devastating disease. Patients have intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts and severe a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771209 Sun, 01 May 2011 12:31:58 +0100 4771209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762799&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F28%2F10-quick-stress-busters%2F Stress is like dark chocolate. A little of it won’t kill you. In fact, small blocks here and there can be good for you, or at least give you a reason to get of bed in the morning. But chronic and severe stress can damage your body and mind, blocking the fluid communication to and from most organs — especially in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and in the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. Believe me, you want these two systems–much like the House and Senate — running as smoothly as possible, with low levels of the delinquent stress hormones in your bloodstream. Which is why I have handy some tress busters. I use an average of five a day. Today I’m using all ten. Here they are, and good luck! 1. Simplify. Cut your to-do list in ha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762799 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:11:39 +0100 4762799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758702&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2011-vol-305-no-13%2F This article is a case-cohort study examining the association of maximum prescribed daily opioid dose and dosing schedule (“as needed,” regularly scheduled, or both) with risk of opioid overdose death among patients with cancer, chronic pain, acute pain, and substance use disorders. The study concludes that among patients receiving opioid prescriptions for pain, higher opioid doses were associated with increased risk of opioid overdose death. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy. Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Adolescent, Adverse, Analgesia, Drug Prescriptions, Drug Reaction, Hydrocone, Methadone, Mortality, Opioid, Opioid-Related Disorders, Overdose, Pain, Patient S... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758702 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:50:06 +0100 4758702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758704&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2011-vol-305-no-10%2F This article recommends a general framework for evaluating driver fitness relies on a functional evaluation of multiple domains (cognitive, motor, perceptual, and psychiatric) that are important for safe driving and can be applied across many disorders, including conditions that have rarely been studied with respect to driving, and in patients with multiple conditions and medications. Neurocognitive tests, driving simulation, and road tests provide complementary sources of evidence to evaluate driver safety. No single test is sufficient to determine who should drive and who should not. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy of the article. Filed under: Current Awareness Tagged: Accidents, Aging, Atrial Fibrillation, Co... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758704 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:32:57 +0100 4758704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753891&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FBVk7sxxWYy0%2F At Blisstree, we’re all about trying to get happier and healthier in order to live better, and we hope to help you do the same every day. But, of course, it’s not always easy to know how to make that intangible dream of happiness a reality. And even if you do know how to do it, it’s pretty challenging to keep all the parts of your life in balance so that often-elusive health and happiness last as long as possible. So I asked M.D., board-certified psychiatrist, and Blisstree contributor Dale Archer to give us ten steps we can take to promote and achieve lasting happiness in our own lives (and these are tactics he actually shares with his patients). So what are we waiting for? Let’s get happy — and healthy. 1. Exercise. Even if you’re not a gym rat, walkin... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753891 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:50:20 +0100 4753891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744839&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F23%2Frecovery-from-addiction-and-depression-an-interview-with-vivian-eisenecher-2%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing Vivian Eisenecher, author of Recovering Me, Discovering Joy, and a sought after speaker, mentor and writer since 1996. Her other published works include articles for Chicken Soup for the Soul and Woman’s World. Her inspirational story has been enthusiastically received by churches, companies and corporations, national organizations and national associations. She is passionate about reducing the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse. She loves helping people meet their potential and discover joy in their lives! Question: I love the definition of authentic success that you give in your book. You spell out PROCESS as an acrostic and go through the seven components of process. Could you abbreviate them here for my readers? Vivian: Authentic s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744839 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:59:18 +0100 4744839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742468&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-22-2011%2F Happy Earth Day! And Happy Early Easter! We’ve got lots to celebrate as tomorrow is also our new monthly, “Ask the Therapist Live event” on Facebook. Here are the details: When? Saturday, April 23 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET (11:00 am – 1:00 pm PT). What? Our Live event is your chance to “Ask the Therapist” your questions on everything from career to relationships. Who? Our therapists from the Ask the Therapist page, me and you! Where? Facebook. Read below for more information on how to join our Psych Central Ask the Therapist group to participate in tomorrow’s event. How? Ask your question as a Facebook update and our therapists will respond in the comments. This time I created an Psych Central Ask the Therapist group, which will help keep thin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742468 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:05:41 +0100 4742468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734435&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FKDaygXPd3b4%2F Ready to relax? Well, we’ve got a new 40 Days of Giveaways prize to help you do just that. If you’re late to this spring fling: Blisstree is using the season of Lent to reward you for giving up your vices in favor of healthier habits. Each weekday from now until May 3, we’ll give away a different prize to one reader just for becoming our Facebook fan. And today’s prize is all about relaxation, restoration, and rejuvenation. We’re giving away one (1) Heavenly Acupressure Mat (worth $50) to one reader who simply “Likes” Blisstree on Facebook. Time to seriously say see you later to stress. Heavenly Acupressure Mats are an easy and affordable way to enjoy the benefits of acupressure in the comfort of your own home. Each mat is made from 100% cotton, and has a total of 8,820 p... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734435 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:30:34 +0100 4734435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734437&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F5QvZKe6pbmc%2F My reasons for watching TV are manifold: Escapism, boredom, I-can’t-sleep-ism, it’s like having company over, (which I think was my grandma’s reason), to make myself feel better about myself, and just out of plain old (mostly bad) habit. But sometimes I watch TV simply to terrify myself to the core. Not by watching anything in the horror genre, but by catching a show like Relapse on A&E. This network is king of docu-reality series that focus on serious mental and physical health issues (Heavy, Hoarders, and Intervention are also very well done, though Intervention is a little too “Dateline NBC” for my tastes.) Relapse makes tough-love weight-loss reality TV shows like Heavy and The Biggest Loser look like springtime picnics in the park. You don’t hav... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734437 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:23:16 +0100 4734437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724267&cid=t_100287_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Faa-helps-reduce-victimisation-symptoms-and-drinking%2F We examined the associations of recent victimization with subsequent participation in alcohol-related treatment and mutual help, and with short- and long-term drinking and health outcomes.Treatment-naïve men and women having an alcohol use disorder with (n = 73) or without (n = 491) recent violence victimization were assessed at baseline and 1 and 8 years later.Victimized individuals had moredays intoxicated,drinking problems,symptoms of depression, andphysical health problems at baseline, andwere more likely to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) during Year 1.Victimization at baseline predicted re-victimization at 1 year, and more depressive symptoms and physical health problems at 8 years.Participation in alcohol-related treatment or AA during Year 1 was associated with fewer drinking pro... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724267 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:46:00 +0100 4724267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704713&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F12%2F6-tips-for-living-with-an-autism-spectrum-disorder-in-college%2F As Autism Awareness month continues, April is a time of transition for many high school seniors, as they learn what colleges and universities they got into. So it seems like an ideal time to talk about autism and college, and some tips to help with the transition. The excerpt below is from the book, Living Well on the Spectrum by author Valerie L. Gaus, Ph.D. The book is a self-help book that helps a person with an autism spectrum disorder identify life goals and the steps needed to achieve them. Read on for the excerpt… April is the month when most high school seniors receive their college acceptance letters and begin to plan the next phase of their lives. The transition from high school to college can be very difficult for people on the spectrum. All too often I am referred a youn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704713 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:05:05 +0100 4704713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704714&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F12%2F6-things-every-kid-should-know-about-a-parents-depression%2F Depression never happens in a vacuum. Like a ripple in the water, a parent’s illness can’t help but affect her offspring. Different studies have documented how depression in a new mother clearly affects her interactions with her baby or toddler. Depressed mothers are more withdrawn, less responsive to their infant’s signals. “Their facial expressions and displays of emotion [are] more muted or flat, and their voices [are] monotone,” explains Ruta Nonacs in “A Deeper Shade of Blue.” “They [remain] disengaged and [do] little to support their child’s activities or exploration of the environment.” A mother’s depression also affects grade-schoolers and adolescents. When parents fail to meet the needs of the people under their care, some kids begin to act out, have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704714 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:05:43 +0100 4704714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704717&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F11%2F8-tips-to-tell-your-child-they-have-adhd%2F Regardless of your child’s age, it can be hard to tell them that they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fortunately, today, people are more familiar with ADHD. “The good news at this point in time is that ADHD is pretty well known and many kids (or at least teens) know someone or have a friend who they know has ADHD,” according to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in ADHD and author of More Attention, Less Deficit: Successful Strategies for Adults with ADHD. Below are some ideas to help you talk to your child. 1. Come to terms with the diagnosis yourself. If you haven’t accepted the diagnosis, it’ll be much harder to talk to your child. According to psychologist Carol Brady, Ph.D, on ADDitude magazine, the best time to talk to you... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704717 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:44:49 +0100 4704717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696587&cid=t_100287_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Fsunday-news-round-up-whining-about-the-heat-edition%2F This week I added one more lecture to the list of lectures I need to write up for posts here; this week it was Kevin Pho, better known as KevinMD. I’ll have more detail and commentary later, but I particularly appreciated his closing remark that patients *are* going online for health information, and physicians can either roll their eyes and resist or get on board – I’ve made the same argument in various posts here. One more example of the Tennessee state legislature being up to utter hateful bullshit: Legislature moves quickly to nullify council’s newly adopted nondiscrimination ordinance. Nashville passed an ordinance basically meaning that businesses contracting with the metro government have to have nondiscrimination policies in place that include protections a... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696587 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:40:39 +0100 4696587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684623&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FDCClisqavdg%2F The other day I asked you a serious question. Poll: What’s Your Nervous OCD Habit? (Most of you gave serious answers like leg-shaking, followed by hair-pulling, and then nail-biting.) Personally, I’ve played with, tugged on, and actually pulled out my hair to varying degrees since I was little. (And over the years I’ve noticed that lots of the women in my family do the very same thing.) I guess because I don’t have bald spots (yet!), I never actually thought of this quirky little compulsive hair-pulling habit as trichotillomania (cool name, less-cool condition), but apparently it is — at least according to a mental health expert or two I’ve consulted in the past. But because I know that this is an area of expertise for Dr. Dale Archer, an M.D. board-cert... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684623 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:38:58 +0100 4684623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684624&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fi6rL9j4qhaI%2F It’s safe to say that I’m obsessed with the sounds of other people’s voices, and the ability that those voices have to cast a much-welcomed meditative spell over me. Plus, listening to a good, calming voice is an instant stress-reliever. Remember Kind Coma: Alec Baldwin, Deepak Chopra, and 3 Other Soothing Voices to Relax Your Mind, Body, and Spirit? Well, today we’re back with another edition that solely focuses on the dulcet tones of five yoga instructor pipes. It’s worth noting that I don’t actually use these instructional yoga videos as part of my practice. (I go to various yoga studios for that.) For me, these audio/video displays are purely instruments of mini-meditation sessions. And why buy the DVD when you can get the asana for free? I like to c... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684624 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:15:09 +0100 4684624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684625&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FhEsdhD61TSg%2F For all our chronic gripes about our monthly flow—pain, mood swings, excessive bloating, pimples—a period missed often signals a serious change in the body. Pregnancy is, of course, the most common cause for a cycle change, but there’s a bevy of reasons why your monthly bill may be a no-show. As you review our list of 12, it’s worth noting that they’re interconnected. In Western medicine, we often forget that the body is one constantly moving machine and that one malfunction can throw the whole thing off. When seeking diagnosis and treatment for irregular menses, it’s best to start with your PCP or gynecologist. After that, he or she may recommend that you visit a specialist such as a reproductive endocrinologist, a neurologist, a nutritionist, or even a psychiatrist or psychol... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684625 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:50:55 +0100 4684625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684431&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F06%2Fshould-you-tell-your-employer-you-have-autism%2F April is Autism Awareness Month, and in helping to promote awareness of autism, I’m pleased to provide an excerpt from the book, Living Well on the Spectrum by author Valerie L. Gaus, Ph.D. The book is a self-help book that helps a person with an autism spectrum disorder identify life goals and the steps needed to achieve them. One of the concerns I often hear from people with an autism spectrum disorder is about work and their career. In fact, just last evening while hosting our weekly Q&A on mental health issues here at Psych Central, the question came up whether a person should tell a potential employer about their Asperger’s (the mildest form of autism). While I am not a lawyer, my suggestion was that it probably wasn’t relevant for many jobs and not something tha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684431 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:16:41 +0100 4684431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684627&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrvefOx67dC8%2F Time to chill out. And we’ve got a new 40 Days of Giveaways prize to help you do just that. (If you’re late to this spring fling: Blisstree is using the season of Lent to reward you for giving up your vices in favor of healthier habits. Each weekday from now until May 3, we’ll give away a different prize to one reader just for becoming our Facebook fan.) And today’s prize is all about relaxation, restoration, and rejuvenation. We’re giving away one (1) Heavenly Acupressure Mat (worth $50) to one reader who simply “Likes” Blisstree on Facebook. That’s some serious stress relief. Heavenly Acupressure Mats are an easy and affordable way to enjoy the benefits of acupressure in the comfort of your own home. Each mat is made from 100% cotton, and has a total of 8,820 pain... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684627 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:30:04 +0100 4684627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684432&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F05%2Fcoming-to-america-can-increase-depression-anxiety%2F I chalk this up to the category, “This is news how, exactly?” Here’s the finding in a nutshell — “After arrival in the United States, [Mexican] migrants had a significantly higher risk for first onset of any depressive or anxiety disorder than did non-migrant family members of migrants in Mexico,” the authors report. Wow, surprising. You mean going to a foreign country, not necessarily knowing anyone, not necessarily having any job or job prospects, and not necessarily knowing the language can negatively impact your mental health? Do tell. The researchers “compared a sample of Mexican-born migrants (259 men and 295 women) after their arrival in the U.S. with a sample of non-migrants in Mexico (904 men and 1,615 women) on their risk for first onset of a de... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684432 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 22:21:19 +0100 4684432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684631&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FZU3FASlNUms%2F One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes is the one where George Costanza explains to Jerry what will happen if his worlds collide. Elaine has invited Susan, George’s girlfriend, to a show. It was Jerry’s idea. And George can’t believe how stupid Jerry was to suggest that, because if Susan becomes part of the inner circle, his worlds would definitely collide and, well, blow up. George (to Jerry): Well, that was a really stupid thing. You know what’s going to happen now? Jerry: Worlds collide. George: Yeah. Jerry: Because this world is your sanctuary and if that world comes into contact with this world… George: Yes. It blows up! So if you know that, why did you tell Elaine that? Jerry: I didn’t know. Kramer just told me about the worlds. George: You couldn’t figure out the wor... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684631 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:15:42 +0100 4684631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658415&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F30%2Fintroducing-partners-in-wellness%2F I’m pleased to introduce our newest blog, Partners in Wellness by Kate Thieda. This is a blog that is meant to provide information and support to relationship partners and spouses who are in a marriage with someone who has a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. Coping with someone who has a serious mental illness can often times be trying, difficult, and stressful. This blog will deal with topics to help caregivers and partners learn to better communicate and improve their relationships with someone who has a mental health concern. Partners in Wellness will focus on helping people who are in a relationship with a person who has a mental health issue. While this may include what people often refer to as “caregivers,” it is focused on people who are par... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658415 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:55:29 +0100 4658415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653336&cid=t_100287_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F03%2F29%2Fis-there-a-paradox-about-vaccines%2F Sometimes humor can’t be beaten for driving home a point, especially when it comes to a paradox. The word paradox implies absurdity, contradiction, illogicality, inconsistency, and irony. There are many paradoxes in life but none so ludicrous [preposterous, ridiculous, absurd] as those that exist within the fields of health, healing, medicine, and, most of all, pharmaceuticals, a conclusion I came to after years of listening to double-speak, back pedaling, and the pseudo-science Big Pharma puts out in advertising, lobbying, and advertising scare tactics. Listen closely to their ads and you will understand what I mean. Probably there’s nothing more illustrative of a paradox than the role of cholesterol in heart disease with the spin the pharmaceutical industry puts on it when Big Pharma... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653336 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:44:50 +0100 4653336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653489&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FGSTCqCXB59s%2F How do you work when you’re depressed? I get that question a lot. Here’s the honest answer: I can’t. At least at my rock bottom, I wasn’t able to work. My efforts failed miserably because my self-confidence was way below sea level – so all it did was bring on more frustration. I remember sitting down at my computer every morning, making the same effort, hoping that if I led with the body then the mind would follow. But the mind wasn’t interested in going anywhere, and was rather pissed off that I would even try. I performed this ritual for months on end. Butt to the chair. Crying at the computer. Then one day my (then) two-year-old poured a cup of apple juice over my keyboard. The hard drive made a funky noise, and the screen looked like a black-and-white film from the 70s ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653489 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:22 +0100 4653489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642673&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F28%2Fpediatrics-gets-it-wrong-about-facebook-depression%2F You know it’s not good when one of the most prestigious pediatric journals, Pediatrics, can’t differentiate between correlation and causation. And yet this is exactly what the authors of a “clinical report” did in reporting on the impact of social media on children and teens. Especially in their discussion of “Facebook depression,” a term that the authors simply made up to describe the phenomenon observed when depressed people use social media. Shoddy research? You bet. That’s why Pediatrics calls it a “clinical report” — because it’s at the level of a bad blog post written by people with a clear agenda. In this case, the report was written by Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, Kathleen Clarke-Pearson and the American Academy of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642673 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:05:36 +0100 4642673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642675&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F28%2Fdelusions-keep-up-with-the-times%2F Would you imagine the content of people’s delusions would change with the changing times? Well, according to Vaughan Bell writing over at Mind Hacks, they do. Research that analyzed the content of people’s delusions over the past few decades found that people’s delusions do indeed change. They recorded the content of the delusions for every patient with psychosis and while they didn’t find that the level of delusions changed, they did find that they tended to relate to the social concerns of the time. …more patients after 1950 believe they are being spied upon is consistent with the development of related technology and the advent of the Cold War. Delusional content tended to reflect the culture at the time, with focus on syphilis in the early 1900s, on Germans during... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642675 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:55:28 +0100 4642675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642857&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOltDOfijMCQ%2F Twelve years ago I was in my dermatologist’s waiting room, thinking about how lucky I was. Five years before that, I had breast cancer, but was now cancer-free. I had a good job that I enjoyed and afforded me a great lifestyle. I had two children who were happy and doing well. I had many friends in my office. We went out to dinner and dancing at least once a week. I lived in the inimitable city of New Orleans in an apartment facing the bayou. I could walk across the street to City Park and surround myself with lush flowers and oak trees draped with moss. The enormous park is home to an amazing number of ducks, geese, and other colorful of species of birds and water fowl that were so domesticated they would eat from my hands. Amidst the wildlife was a first-class museum that looked li... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642857 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:00:50 +0100 4642857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636480&cid=t_100287_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F25%2Fare-gambling-problems-more-common-than-drinking-problems-maybe-not%2F Research out of the University at Buffalo by John Welte and colleagues suggests that gambling problems — pathological gambling, to be specific — are more problematic than alcohol dependence in older adults. Some of the findings are interesting. But one finding stood out for me as being a bit sensationalistic. That finding was that pathological gambling — something other studies have consistently pegged in the 0.8% to 2.0% range of adults (see Stucki & Rihs-Middel, 2007) — is more common than alcohol dependence (which studies put in the 3.8% range, see Keyes et al., 2009). Past research has shown that alcohol dependence (also known as alcoholism) is something that occurs in the adult population at twice the rate of pathological gambling. In Welte’s (2011) s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636480 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:45:42 +0100 4636480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622433&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F1V7PzZT7Tbk%2F photo: Thinkstock Remember dear old Gilbert Gottfried’s callously offensive Tweets that included seriously unfunny jokes about the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in Japan? Soon afterward, we jumped on our moral high-horse and admonished him just like pretty much everybody else (Aflac went a step further and simply fired Gil from his esteemed position as their squawking duck), and we don’t regret doing it. But we did want to get a mental health expert to weigh in on the topic of bad-taste humor — as far as mental health issues are concerned. So we asked Dr. Dale Archer (he’s an M.D. and a psychiatrist) a few questions about when and how (if ever) comedy and tragedy can effectively combine to create an improved state of stronger mental health, and when it&... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622433 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:55:08 +0100 4622433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622434&cid=t_100287_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FjESWyffdYVI%2F photo: Thinkstock Yesterday I did a post called Adult Onset Claustrophobia: Is It Curable? featuring Dr. Yoav Cohen — a clinical psychologist in New York City who specializes in treating anxiety disorders and phobias. Because recently I’ve become concerned that I might be able to add adult onset claustrophobia to my mental health repertoire (i.e. I’m afraid of my phobia), I asked Dr. Cohen for some serious answers about the unsettling truths about adult onset claustrophobia. Yesterday we chatted about what claustrophobia actually is; today we’re talking about what to do if you think you actually have it. Here’s part two of my Q&A with the good doctor: Do most adults require professional therapy in order to beat claustrophobia, or can they successfully deal with it... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622434 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:34:38 +0100 4622434