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 'efficacy'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:10:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096706&cid=t_125713_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fadhd-treatment-efficacy-the-questions-we-must-ask-to-protect-our-children.php Let’s face it. The bottom line on how we judge ADHD treatment efficacy is whether it is safe and effective. We know that some of the psychostimulants just fail the test as regards this essential criteria. When looking at the efficacy of treatments for ADHD, we want to get all the information that we can but very often, this is just not possible. Let us take Ritalin as an example as that is a household name in ADHD circles and there are even jokes about kids having Ritalin for breakfast. Have we got all the information available? Is it on the Internet? The answer is that some of the material is on the Web and in abundance. For example there are over 9,000 articles published on how toxic Ritalin is. If you do a search on Google about sudden deaths from Ritalin, you will find over 350,0... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096706 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5096706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062246&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-effective-are-antidepressants%2F2011.07.24 Antidepressant drugs have been getting a bad rap in the media. I’ll just give 3 examples: On the Today show, prominent medical expert Tom Cruise told us Brooke Shields shouldn’t have taken these drugs for her postpartum depression. In Natural News, “Health Ranger” Mike Adams accused pharmaceutical companies and the FDA of covering up negative information about antidepressants, saying it would be considered criminal activity in any other industry. And an article in Newsweek said  “Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse.” Yet psychiatrists are convinced that antidepressants work and are still routinely prescribing them for their patients. Is it all a Big Pharma plot? Who ya gonna believe? Inquiring minds want ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062246 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:00:36 +0100 5062246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062295&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fintegrative-behavioral-couple-therapy-where-acceptance-is-key%2F “There are two sides to every story.” This timeless saying couldn’t be truer when it comes to conflict in a relationship. In fact, it’s how couples therapists Andrew Christensen, Ph.D, and the late Neil Jacobson, Ph.D, start off their 2002 book Reconcilable Differences. Well, actually, they share a third side: their objective take on a couple, which usually includes some truth from both stories. In the late 1990s, Christensen and Jacobson developed a type of couples therapy called integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT), which combines techniques from behavioral couples therapy with new strategies to cultivate acceptance. Recently, Christensen, a professor of psychology at UCLA, and colleagues (2010) published their findings from a five-year study that compared the ef... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062295 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:37:14 +0100 5062295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050579&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fincreasing-government-oversight-of-irbs-could-help-prevent-seeding-trials%2F2011.07.21 I thought I read the final chapter in the tale of Pfizer’s shady marketing practices for Neurontin years ago. Sadly, there’s at least one more chapter to go. Recall that in 2008, leaked documents from a US District Court revealed that Pfizer had covered-up the results of a clinical trial which showed the drug didn’t work for chronic nerve pain, even as it promoted off-label use of the anti-seizure drug for that purpose. The next year, it was revealed that Parke-Davis (now a subsidiary of Pfizer) took advantage of lax disclosure policies by certain medical journals to publish 13 articles promoting off-label use of Neurontin that were ghostwritten and funded by the company without disclosing such arrangements. Now, it has come to light that Parke Davis’ marketing department sponsored... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050579 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:20 +0100 5050579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934550&cid=t_125713_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fr7ddNltOXQU%2F (Editor’s Note: the recent trade book Computer Games and Instruction brings together the leading edge perspectives of over a dozen scientists in the area of videogames and learning, including a very insightful analysis –excerpted below– by Harvard’s Chris Dede. Please pay attention to his thoughts on scalability below, and enjoy!) — The research overview provided by Tobias, Fletcher, and Dai (this volume) is very helpful in summarizing studies to date on various dimensions of educational games and simulations. The next challenge for the field is to move beyond isolated research in which each group of investigators uses an idiosyncratic set of definitions, conceptual frameworks, and methods. Instead, to make further progress, we as scholars should adopt common research strategies ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934550 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:24:20 +0100 4934550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902425&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fan-at-home-laser-hair-removal-system-that-works%2F2011.06.04 Without going into TOO much detail of how I know this… I have personally observed that the TRIA Laser Home Removal System does work after observing its use and its effects over a 6 month period of time. And before anybody asks… no… I was not paid to write this nor did I get a free one to try. Rather, someone I am close to bought it off Amazon.com and I was a skeptic on-looker. In any case, the caveat being that I know it works (admittedly anecdotal) as long as the hair is dark (ideally black or brown) on very light colored skin (ideally white). The way laser hair removal works is (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Fauquier ENT Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902425 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4902425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883755&cid=t_125713_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fadhd-treatment-efficacy-what-criteria-can-we-use.php It’s unbelievable but the drugs companies are still raking in handsome profits for ADHD drugs, even when there is a recession which will take 80 years to recover from. Adderall XR provided a lot more revenue for the pharmaceutical company manufacturing it – in fact revenue shot up by 16.5% in the last quarter. Prescriptions for Vyvanse, another popular ADHD drug, rose by 102% this quarter compared to 2008. If we were to judge ADHD treatment efficacy just by the sheer profits they are generating, we might be fooled into thinking that these psychostimulant drugs must be the ideal cure for ADHD ! Nothing could be further from the truth, believe me. Let us throw the profit criteria out of the window as there are too many conflicts of interest there.It seems that certain aspects of ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883755 Sun, 29 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507580&cid=t_125713_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-Jr6GgyKRVI%2F What if patients believed a drug will not work? Or expected that a med will work? Can such notions actually have an affect on efficacy? Well, a new study suggests patient views can, indeed, alter outcomes. A brain imaging study of patients at Oxford University demonstrated that altering patient views could enhance or diminish the efficacy of strong painkillers, PharmaTimes writes. In reaching this conclusion, the researchers put 22 healthy adult volunteers in an MRI scanner, administered an intravenous line containing Ultiva, an opioid-based painkiller, and applied heat to a leg at a level where pain was felt. And guess what? An initial control pain rating of 66 (out of 100) fell to 55 when the painkiller was given secretly, but then dropped to 39 after patients were told they received tre... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507580 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:59:27 +0100 4507580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394529&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F24%2Fects-final-days%2F We may be witnessing electroconvulsive therapy’s final days. This week, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel will review whether there’s enough evidence to downgrade electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) devices into the Class II medical device category — that is, a medical device that carries only “medium risk.” Like a syringe. That’s right, a device that can send electricity directly into your brain is being considered to be placed in the same medical device category as a syringe. And guess who doesn’t mind that reclassification? Why, the American Psychiatric Association, of course — they are right on board with this re-classification (PDF). Currently ECT devices are classified as Class III devices — high risk. Yet they have neve... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394529 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:30:56 +0100 4394529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298670&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F29%2Fcalories-in-disguise%2F Low-carb proponents claim that eating a low-carb diet enhances weight loss irrespective of caloric content.  Low-fat proponents often make the same claim.  Many other advocates of special diets make similar claims: It’s not calories, it’s something else causing weight loss. In support of their diet’s efficacy, proponents often cite their own successes or the success of other followers. However, they often fail to acknowledge that many other people lose weight following radically different weight-loss plans.  And never mind the scientific research, as it provides evidence that all successful weight loss programs share a common characteristic: create a calorie deficit on a consistent basis and weight loss follows. Calorie Defined A calorie is a unit of energy. It is the amount ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298670 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:20:17 +0100 4298670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277834&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Favastin-the-fdas-disappointing-decision%2F2010.12.21 “With this disappointing decision, the FDA has chosen to place itself between patients and their doctors by rationing access to a life-extending drug. . . We can’t allow this government takeover of health care to continue any longer.” That quote, courtesy of this morning’s [Dec 17th] Washington Post, incensed me to such a degree that I am writing this blog despite the two deadlines I have today. The speaker is Sen. David Vitter (R-La). The “disappointing decision” he refers to: The FDA’s decision to remove the breast cancer indication for Avastin (bevacizumab). I wrote about this earlier, and you can read the post here, but that was before yesterday’s [Dec 16th] decision. I’m not going to comment here on the benefits or risks of Avasti... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277834 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4277834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125008&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvaccines-top-10-reasons-to-get-your-shots%2F2010.11.01 Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in history. They are incredibly safe and effective and are well-tolerated by most people. In the US, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carefully reviews all reports of adverse reactions that could be associated with vaccines. Over decades of review, they have found that the rate of potential severe reactions is so low that they cannot even calculate a risk. There are many vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. Please check these vaccine schedules to make sure that you and your family are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. (Or you can ask your doctor/nurse to review your vaccine needs with you in person.) Vaccines for ages 0-6 click here. Vaccines for ages 7-18 click here. Vac... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125008 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:32 +0100 4125008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018216&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F30%2Fhoward-sterns-endless-psychotherapy%2F Howard Stern, the ubiquitous satellite radio talk-show host, is big proponent of psychotherapy. He has noted how he’s been in psychotherapy three times a week for the past few decades, much like Woody Allen. But what kind of psychotherapy is Howard Stern in? And why does it seem endless? This type of intensive, long-term psychotherapy is almost always psychoanalysis — a specific type of psychotherapy that focuses on how a person’s unconscious conflicts impact a person’s everyday functioning. People who undergo psychoanalysis almost always meet with their analyst 2 to 3 times a week, every week, for years on end. Howard Stern has said he sees his analyst 3 times a week, but sometimes feels like he would like to cut down to twice a week. Psychoanalysis is considered a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018216 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:33:38 +0100 4018216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3534133&cid=t_125713_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F46%2Fglutathione-for-skin-whitening%2F Glutathione is a natural antioxidant that gets rid of harmful substances in our body like free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Manufacturers claim that it’s skin lightening property works by shifting the production of eumelanin (which is the brown/black pigment of the skin) to pheomelanin (yellow/red pigment). This shift in production to a lighter type of melanin becomes visible as whiter skin. Basically, glutathione is a supplement, not a drug. It has been categorized by the FDA as generally regarded as safe (GRAS). No definitive studies have been done to really evaluate the efficacy and safety of glutathione as an oral skin whitening agent. However, there are a lot of testimonials and apparently the people whom I know have taken the supplement are happy with the results. They rep... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3534133 Tue, 04 May 2010 17:28:56 +0100 3534133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153592&cid=t_125713_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F07%2Felevated-proteins-may-warn-of-ovarian-cancer-but-sufficient-lead-time-predictive-value-still-lacking%2F Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers discovered that concentrations of the serum biomarkers CA125, human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and mesothelin began to rise 3 years before clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer, according to a new study published online December 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. However, the biomarkers became substantially elevated only [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153592 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:22:08 +0100 3153592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079384&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F11%2Ffda-wants-your-comments-on-ect%2F The good folks over at the Committee for Truth in Psychiatry (a national organization for people who’ve had electroconvulsive therapy - ECT) wanted me to remind you that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking comments on the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive devices. You may not be aware, but these devices — which deliver electrical impulses to your brain! — have never been tested by the FDA for either safety of efficacy. Let me repeat that – the FDA has never approved ECT devices for safety or efficacy. Doctors today can apply electrical impulses to your brain without having any government agency approve such treatment, despite the fact that ECT in most people results in sometimes-significant memory loss. We wrote about FDA’s desire to... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079384 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:35:05 +0100 3079384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513401&cid=t_125713_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F22%2Faccentuate-the-positive%2F How often do we spend most of our assessment time looking at people’s problems, deficits, functional difficulties? I know that much of my time in assessment involves looking across a range of domains and experiences – and whooops! by the time we come to an end I’ve hardly looked at what this person has continued doing despite their pain and distress. After reading this 2005 paper by Tedeshi and Kilmer I’m ready to re-orient myself and review the structure of my assessment interview to see how I can integrate the resources and strengths that a person brings into the situation. There are three main areas that Tedeshci and Kilmer identify as useful to explore when looking at the positives of an individual: Strengths - ‘the measurement of thos eemotional and behav... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513401 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:25:47 +0100 2513401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442920&cid=t_125713_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F28%2Fthe-gap-between-pain-management-and-returning-to-work%2F One of the most satisfying experiences I have in my job is seeing someone who has been off work for ages finally return to work.  It’s like seeing the person open up and bloom again.  I often see people who have been off work for several years – most of them don’t have jobs to return to, and most of them have experienced a couple of attempts to return to work that have, for some reason or another, failed.  Often pain is given the blame for this, and the remedy is thought to be ‘develop pain management skills’ – and I guess in part that’s true.  But not completely. There is a difference between using pain management skills at home, where for the most part, activities can be picked up and put down as needed, and at work where other demands are pr... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442920 Wed, 27 May 2009 20:58:01 +0100 2442920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389931&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Fthe-problem-with-phase-iii-clinical-trials%2F Phase III clinical trials are the final phase of research needed before a drug receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Two fairly large-scale studies are needed and they need to show the drug is both safe and effective on the subjects tested. There’s been a long-standing problem with such clinical studies, however, one that the FDA has long been aware of but powerless to fix. They are purposely designed to employ stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria that may exclude a substantial portion of the population. In other words, the people the drugs are studied on are not representative of the people that will actually be receiving the drugs once approved. In other words, Phase III clinical studies are stacked in favor of finding positive results for the medicatio... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389931 Wed, 06 May 2009 09:06:31 +0100 2389931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348546&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2Fwith-fda-change-ect-may-go-the-way-of-the-dinosaur%2F Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally decided to start taking action to close a loophole that’s been around nearly as long as the agency itself. Last Wednesday it said that it would require safety and efficacy data from manufacturers of medical devices in 25 different categories. This data is equivalent to the types of data the FDA currently requires for medical devices and drugs — data that shows the device is both safe and effective in use for a prescribed disorder. One of those 25 categories is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) machines. Yes, you heard right. For decades, the most notorious of all psychiatric treatments available has never met any type of rigorous FDA approval for their use. How can this be? In the case of electroconvulsive therapy ma... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348546 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:51:52 +0100 2348546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287236&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F22%2Fdespite-controversy-lexapro-approved-for-kids-depression%2F Lexapro, an antidepressant already approved to treat major depression in adults, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression in children ages 12 to 17. This happened just weeks after the drug’s marker, Forest Laboratories, was charged by prosecutors of illegally marketing this and another drug (Celexa) to children and paying kickbacks to doctors for prescribing them. Digging into the studies that resulted in the FDA’s approval demonstrates a clearly mixed picture of Lexapro’s effectiveness in children: The FDA on Friday approved Lexapro’s use for adolescents based on favorable results in two clinical trials, one involving adolescents taking Lexapro and another involving children and adolescents taking chemically similar Cele... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287236 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:28:25 +0100 2287236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144533&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F29%2Flancet-study-ignores-significance-of-side-effects%2F A new meta-analysis study was published today in the journal Lancet which showed that two antidepressant drugs — Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) — were more effective than their psychiatric peers. Remeron and Effexor fared better, too, than the other drugs included in the analysis, such as Prozac, Cymbalta, Luvox and Paxil. The study looked at two components important to treatment — efficacy (how much does this drug actually help reduce depressive symptoms) and toleration of the drug (how many people stop taking the drug because it simply can’t be tolerated by their body), as measured by drop-out rates. However, the study did not look at a drug’s side effects, which is a major component of finding a psychiatric drug that’s appropriate a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144533 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:53:14 +0100 2144533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077059&cid=t_125713_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fbeyond-iq-byte-6-academic-self-efficacy.html Here is Byte # 6 from the Beyond IQ project, a project that outlines a proposed Model of Academic Competence and Motivation (MACM). Today's construct spotlight is on "academic self-efficacy." Academic Self-Efficacy: Definition and Conceptual Background: A person’s confidence in their ability to organize, execute, and regulate performance in order to solve a problem or accomplish a task at a designated level of skill and ability. Academic self-efficacy refers to a person's conviction that they can successfully achieve at a designated level in a specific academic subject area.Individuals typically select tasks and activities in which they feel competent and avoid those in which they do not. Students who are confident in their capability to organize, execute, and regulate their problem-solv... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077059 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:07:00 +0100 2077059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074002&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F28%2Fthe-psychology-of-new-years-resolutions%2F As we put the holidays behind us and dig out from underneath all of the wrapping paper (or snow! or both), many of us turn to the upcoming New Year’s celebration to engage in a ritual that any visiting alien might be puzzled by — New Year’s resolutions. Why do humans pick a single point in time each year to try and change certain things in their life — behaviors, attitudes, whatnot — make resolutions about them, and then proceed to fail at them within a month’s time? The most popular New Year’s goals people set, according to Miller and Marlatt (1998) are: 37% - Starting to exercise 13% - Eating better 7% - Reducing the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and other drugs, or quitting smoking According to the same survey, most people — 7... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074002 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:22:17 +0100 2074002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2000284&cid=t_125713_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fbeyond-iq-project-jrnl-of-ed-psych.html A recent issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology (2008, Vol. 100, 8) had a number of articles dealing with constructs included in the Beyond IQ projects Model of Academic Competence and Motivation (MACMM). Below are the iAbstracts (images captured and emailed from myiPhone). If any reader would like to read one of the articles (I would provide a copy of the pdf file), in exchange for a guest blog post summary to this bog, please contact the blogmaster (iapsych@charter.net)MACMM Self-concept and Self-beliefsMACMM Self-efficacy and Self-Regulated LearningMACMM Achievement goal-orientation (next three)Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, Journal of Educational Psychology, motivation, self-beliefs, self-efficacy, self-confidence, goal... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2000284 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:31:00 +0100 2000284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844650&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F01%2Fpsychodynamic-psychotherapy-gets-some-research-respect%2F Psychodynamic psychotherapy is often the overlooked stepchild in modern psychotherapeutic circles. While still regularly taught and practiced, it’s a therapeutic style that’s largely fallen out of favor in the U.S. with the rise of shorter-term therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which typically have a stronger research base. New research published yesterday in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) suggests that, in a large-scale meta-analysis of 23 previously published studies on the efficacy of psychodynamic therapy, it can be a very effective therapeutic technique, especially in complex cases (such as those involving a personality disorder). What is psychodynamic psychotherapy and what are its defining characteristics? As the accompanyin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844650 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:58:05 +0100 1844650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646123&cid=t_125713_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Flonger-aa-attendance-predicts-change%2F This study examined the predictors of self-efficacy in the year after treatment and 15 years later. A sample of 420 individuals with alcohol use disorders was assessed five times over the course of 16 years. Predictors of self-efficacy at 1 year included improvement from baseline to 1 year in heavy drinking, alcohol-related problems, depression, impulsivity, avoidance coping, social support from friends, and longer duration of participation in mutual-help Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Female gender, more education, less change in substance use problems, and impulsivity during the first year predicted improvement in self-efficacy over 16 years. Clinicians should focus on keeping patients engaged in self-help of AA, addressing depressive symptoms, improving patient’s coping,... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646123 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:15:11 +0100 1646123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1406963&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F29%2Ffailing-in-order-to-succeed%2F Everyone’s heard of the need for self-esteem. If you don’t feel good about yourself, how can you ever accomplish anything in your life? But what you may not know is the need for something else, which may be even more important — self-efficacy. That is, the belief that you have what you need in order to succeed (even if you don’t always do so). People with self-efficacy often have very high standards for themselves, which brings about a paradox — they may not always have the highest self-esteem, nor do they always succeed (according to their own standards). What they do do is to never give up and always continue believing in themselves and their abilities. The Wall Street Journal’s Melinda Beck has a column today about the role and importance self-ef... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1406963 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:59:34 +0100 1406963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369670&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F13%2Ftherapy-with-animals-%25e2%2580%2593-not-just-a-cats-and-dogs-game-anymore%2F If you suffer from a mental disorder maybe you’d feel more at ease – home on the range. At least that’s what a new study out of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences supports. To assess the benefits of Green care, the researchers asked ninety patients (59 women and 31 men) with schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders to complete self-assessment questionnaires on quality of life, coping ability and self-efficacy, before a 12-week period spending three hours twice a week working with the farm animals. The research results showed that the patient’s experience with the farm animals positive results on the patient’s ability to copy with psychiatric symptoms and thus improving their quality of life. In addition, after six months self efficacy was s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369670 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:00:31 +0100 1369670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188575&cid=t_125713_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F01%2F30%2Fa-love-letter-to-ect%2F We have a lot of respect for James Potash, a well-known researcher from Johns Hopkins who has made his career by studying the genetic basis of mood disorders and schizophrenia and possible overlaps. So we were a little saddened to see him write this love letter to ECT, over at ABC News. We don’t doubt that ECT has helped many, many people over the years, and, that as a treatment of last resort for people with serious, chronic depression, it is relatively effective. We’re a little concerned about his data in this article. ECT doesn’t appear to be effective in 75% of cases where it is used, from our reading of the research — its efficacy in fact varies from about 25% to 65% (see, for example, Eschweiler, et. al., 2007; Kellner, et. al. 2006; Kho, et. al., 2005). Si... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188575 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:53:19 +0100 1188575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=998972&cid=t_125713_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F178281647%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=998972 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:30:21 +0100 998972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675445&cid=t_125713_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F15%2Fe-medical-records-no-guarantee-of-good-diabetes-care%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, ResearchWhen my husband and I departed our new dentist office a year ago, we agreed it was 'cadillac dentistry' at its finest. Computerized records at the hygienists' fingertips, digital x-rays (those are nice!) and even a package of mints and a sparkle-sprayed carnation on the way out. A typical cleaning is around $25 more than insurance allows, so we're paying big bucks for a glittery flower and fresh breath. Is the dentistry honestly any better? Fellow blogger, Brian White, over at That's Fit just highlighted a new study on the relationship between computer wizardry at the doctor's office and diabetes care. Guess what? Medical offices investing in electronic medical record-keeping actually delivered a lower quality of care for diabeti... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675445 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675445