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 'forensic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:50:51 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036281&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F6atk8blu67A%2F URL: http://eprints.utas.edu.au/287/The aim of this ‘download’ is to present the basics of mental disorders. The target population is medical students, but general public readers may also find it useful. The mental disorders form a huge, mysterious and problematic body of knowledge. For: Anyone, Consumers, Clinicians, ResearchersTopics: Anger, Anxiety, Behaviour Management, Child and Adolescent, Clinical Psychology, Depression, Emotional Health, Insomnia, Life, Lifestyle, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Quality of Life, Self-help, Solution Focused, Stress, Abnormal, Behaviour Management, Forensic, General Psychology, Mental Health, PsychiatryFeatures: Collaborative News, Information, Clinical Tools, Databases, Information, e-learning, ebook The aim of this ‘download&#... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036281 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:00:37 +0100 5036281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008194&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-its-a-bad-idea-for-a-psychiatrist-to-serve-as-an-expert-witness-for-their-patient%2F2011.07.08 In Dinah’s post “The Chapter I Wish We Had Written” an anonymous commenter wrote about his problems finding an expert witness for his or her employment discrimination case (since I don’t know if Anonymous is male or female I’m going to use a standard male pronoun in this post—apologies if I got this wrong). Anonymous asked his doctor to help with the case, but he refused. He explained to Anonymous that he would be a biased witness and Anonymous also understood that the doctor’s involvement might affect the therapeutic relationship. Anonymous’s doctor gave her a number of referrals to forensic psychiatrists, but since he was not working with an attorney no expert would take the case. Anonymous was understandably frustrated by this situation. I... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008194 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100 5008194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911573&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fhow-forensic-psychology-began-and-flourished%2F There are many subsets of psychology. No doubt one of the most fascinating is forensic psychology. Forensic psychology is basically the intersection of psychology and the legal system. It’s quite a broad field. Psychologists work in a variety of settings, including police departments, prisons, courts and juvenile detention centers. And they do everything from assessing whether an incarcerated individual is ready for parole to advising attorneys on jury selection to serving as experts on the stand to counseling cops and their spouses to creating treatment programs for offenders. Most are trained as clinical or counseling psychologists. So how did this interesting specialty emerge and expand? Here’s a brief look at the history of forensic psychology. The Birth of Forensic Psychology The... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911573 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:09:18 +0100 4911573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841739&cid=t_100795_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F05%2Ffeedback-sought-on-proposed-speciality.html The following was just forwarded to me this past weekThe Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) seeks member and public comments on Proposed Revision of the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, a collaboration between the American Psychology-Law Society, APA Division 41 and the American Board of Forensic Psychology, and facilitated through the APA review process, per Association Rule 30.8, by BPA and the Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS). The revised guidelines aim to improve the quality of forensic psychological services, enhance the practice and facilitate the systematic development of forensic psychology, and encourage a high level of quality in professional practice.The proposed Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology can be viewed here.Invitation for ... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841739 Wed, 18 May 2011 16:46:00 +0100 4841739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560357&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F1LxdQNFWY0c%2F URL: http://www.refugemediaproject.org/home.phpThe Refuge Media Project was created by filmmakers, health educators, and human rights activists concerned about this issue. We are producing a half-hour documentary on immigrant torture survivors in the United States, and on some of the individuals and organizations who are working to help survivors deal with their traumatic pasts, and with the sometimes traumatic experience of coming to America. For: Anyone, ConsumersTopics: Abnormal, Anger, Behaviour Management, Clinical Psychology, Combat Stress, Common Factors, Depression, Emotional Health, Forensic, General Psychology, General Science, Medico-Legal, Mental Health Promotion, Military, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Scientific Misconduct, TraumaFeatures: Articles, Collaborative News, Comm... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560357 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:00:15 +0100 4560357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4540566&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbook-review-steeped-in-blood-the-life-and-times-of-a-forensic-scientist%2F2011.03.02 This post is a bit of a diversion from my usual posts, but I think it may still be worthwhile. You see, I want to promote a book. I’ve just read the book, “Steeped in Blood: The Life and Times of a Forensic Scientist“ by David Klatzow. What a stunning book. It really gives insight into the South Africa of old and possibly what South Africa of future may end up being like. I suggest that everyone get ahold of it and read it. However, David, I do feel I must challenge you on one point. Towards the end of your book, you say one of your surgeon friends told you a story of one of our Cuban import surgeons who tried to do a tonsillectomy through the neck rather than through the mouth, the normal way of doing it. I know this story and have heard it often myself in the cor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4540566 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4540566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119365&cid=t_100795_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F14cXS5N-tYg%2F Trapped: Mental Illness Inside America’s Prisons A beautiful and harrowing short film by documentary photographer Jenn Ackerman, examing conditions inside the Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit of the Kentucky State Reformatory. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119365 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:39:38 +0100 4119365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098054&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F23%2Ftop-50-psychiatrists-paid-by-pharmaceutical-companies%2F Who were the top 50 psychiatrists in the U.S. paid by the top seven pharmaceutical companies? This past week, ProPublica, an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, recently decided to answer that question by compiling a list of 384 physicians and health care providers who earned more than $100,000 total from one or more of the seven companies that have disclosed payments in 2009 and early 2010. Click here for the full list of 384 physicians. We combed that list and found the top 50 psychiatry earners for the past two years (2009-2010). You can click on any name below to learn more about the physician. According to an accompanying article to this data, ProPublic notes that “[p]ayments to doctors for promotional work are not ill... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098054 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:00:37 +0100 4098054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907658&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2FYBaX8tjDWL8%2F This is the kind of person some of us probably do not want moving in down the street. Whitby sea death boy was from psychiatric unit A 17-year-old boy who died trying to save a teenage girl in the sea off Whitby was on an outing from a secure psychiatric unit, it has emerged. The pair were rescued along with another teenage girl after being swept out to sea off the beach on Wednesday. James Samuel Willis, originally from Stockton, died at Scarborough Hospital. The girls were treated and discharged. Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust said all three were patients at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth. It said the hospital is a medium secure psychiatric forensic unit for youths. Also covered by the Yorkshire Post here. I do not have the skills to really write what I feel here. So please j... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907658 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:34:20 +0100 3907658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753898&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2FErVctpUe6H8%2F Time for me to join in the various bouts of liberal handwringing over Raoul Moat. In the news today is the furore over a collection of Facebook groups proclaiming Moat a “legend”. Or possibly a “lejjarnd” since 99% of people on those groups seem incapable of basic spelling. The charming inhabitants of these groups proclaim such lovely sentiments as: He got pushed to the edge by a lying scummy girlfriend who told him she was shagging a copper, she tried to wind him up and it worked quite well. He only done what every guy in jail ‘says’ he would do if his partner cheated while inside, difference is he wasn’t all mouth! Stupid little bitch, bet she feels stupid now. and he sat underneath a window nd listened 2 his ex nd new partner slaging him off 4... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753898 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:44:50 +0100 3753898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746855&cid=t_100795_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Flu8wKthWBow%2Fthe-man-who-ate-his-lover.html Body Shock: The Man Who Ate His Lover Good documentary about a case of voluntary erotic cannibalism between two men. A famous international news story, Armin Meiwes was eventually convicted. The documentary investigates his childhood, sexuality, psychological issues, and how the men met online. Via Documentary Heaven. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746855 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:16:56 +0100 3746855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729874&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fyour-hair-may-be-tracing-where-youve-traveled%2F2010.07.06 Researchers at the University of Utah and IsoForensics Inc. in Salt Lake City have demonstrated that water can potentially be used as a tracer to determine the travel habits of individuals. Because of the natural geographic variability in the hydrogen and oxygen isotope content of water, proteins within hair should contain evidence of these ratios and therefore act as signatures as to where someone has traveled. The current study has shown that the geographic source of tap, bottled water, beer, and sodas can be distinguished simply by measuring the isotope ratio of the water within these drinks. In our opinion, if the technology pans out for real world use, IsoForensics has a bright future with dictatorship governments, security and intelligence services, armed forces, and maybe even some ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729874 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:51 +0100 3729874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655634&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2Fh4NPNJEkN_A%2F URL: http://www.vdbs.org/The VDBS helps survivors of those who have died a violent death in different ways. They give and sponsor lectures for those who survive, give clinical intervention support to help those survivors, and they keep a list of counselors, therapists, and other trained staff who can help in this time of need. For: AnyoneTopics: Abnormal, Anger, Attachment, Clinical Psychology, Depression, Emotional Health, Family Therapy, Forensic, Life, Lifestyle, Medico-Legal, Mental Health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Self-harm and suicide, Self-help, Sexual AssaultFeatures: Articles, Clinical Tools, Collaborative News, Group Management, Links, Referral, Referrals, Therapist Directory The VDBS helps survivors of those who have died a violent death in different ways.  They give... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655634 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:00:19 +0100 3655634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652470&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FWjjBHQZSfig%2F URL: http://www.workplaceviolence911.com/wpv911.jspThe Institute serves as a center for research, consulting, training, and communication. Its mission is to educate employers, unions and employees about the growing threat of violence in the workplace and how to effectively deal with it. Being prepared is your best defense. For: AnyoneTopics: Anger, Attachment, Behaviour Management, Clinical Psychology, Coaching, Depression, Emotional Health, Forensic, General Psychology, General Science, Life, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Personality disorders, Risk Assessment, Solution Focused, TraumaFeatures: Articles, Clinical Tools, DVDs and Videos, Databases, Information, Links, Multimedia, Networking, Research Tools, Training, e-learningThe Institute serves as a center for research, con... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652470 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:02:16 +0100 3652470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581607&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhats-your-poison-science-and-medicine-vs-chemical-poisoning%2F2010.05.20 This is going to be a quick welcome to Deborah Blum (@deborahblum) who has just moved her blog, Speakeasy Science, to ScienceBlogs. Why quick? Because I am only 22 pages away from finishing her latest book, The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. This engaging tale of the race of science and medicine against chemical poisonings for profit and punishment features the true story of NYC chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler. Of course, the other actors are arsenic, methanol, chloroform, thallium, and radium, among others. In the teens through the mid-1930s, long before benchtop atomic absorption spectrophotometry and LC/MS instruments, Norris and Gettler devised methods to detect poisons in human tissues... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581607 Thu, 20 May 2010 14:00:49 +0100 3581607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3437972&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36519&url=http%3A%2F%2Feforensicmed.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fforensic-toxicology.html Deborah Blum has written an entertaining book (The Poisoner's Handbook) on the development of forensic medicine at the newly created Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York City - under the guiding steer of Dr Charles Norris - and of forensic toxicology during Prohibition in the 1920s.Alexander Gettler, the toxicologist at Norris' right-hand, worked tirelessly to identify poisonous substances in cadavers at a time when the techniques necessary to do so were either non-existent or unreliable.The 'Father of Toxicology' - Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787–1853) - attempted to bring chemistry into forensic medicine as often as possible and, on the matter of the detection of arsenic at exhumation he argued that arsenic in the soil around graves could be drawn in to the body and be mi... Forensic Medicine Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3437972 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:56:00 +0100 3437972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374174&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fis-it-malpractice-to-lie.html I came across this interesting malpractice case via the HealthLaw Twitter feed which I've been following for a while now. The case is Willis v Bender, a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals case out of Wisconsin.In this case a surgeon was sued by his patient following complications from a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal). Before the procedure he explained the risks of the surgery to her, and she also asked him questions about his experience and success rate with the procedure. She asked additional questions about whether he had ever been sued for malpractice or had any action taken against his medical license. He answered no to both questions and added that he had an almost perfect success rate with the surgery. Well, bad things happened. The patient suffered a perforated intes... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374174 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0100 3374174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370392&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5gBFWWzUHUY%2F By David RittgersRadley Balko will be moderating a panel at Georgetown Law next week, “Bad Science: The Execution of Cameron Todd Willingham and the Case for Forensic Reform.” Radley will be leading a discussion about the case of Willingham, who was executed by the state of Texas in 2004. Willingham was convicted in 1992 of murdering his three young daughters in a house fire that the state determined was arson. A report issued in 2009 claimed that in convicting Willingham, the state used techniques and assumptions that were no longer recognized as scientifically valid and that the original finding of arson could not be sustained. If you can’t attend in person, a webcast will be available. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370392 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:06:22 +0100 3370392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354374&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fthings-we-argue-about.html Sometimes, especially on the podcasts, we get heated and go at it. Oh, sometimes on the blog, too. Among ourselves, we refer to these discussions as "The Benzo Wars" --the posts where we've argued about what role benzodiazepines and addictive medications have in psychiatry, and "Who Deserves Care" cause Clink thinks her patients need help more than mine (..if you see me walking around with bruises, you'll know it's me......)So what else do Shrinks argue about? We've got a colorful history here. Took us decades to decided if homosexuality was a disorder (yes, maybe, no). Is psychosurgery with knitting needles good? Should our patients get special accommodations? What if I'm allergic to your support dog?Ah, we're writing a chapter and I like the input you all give!And please listen to our po... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354374 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:28:00 +0100 3354374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3156437&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8213 This just out in Malaysiakini: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) will file a formal charge against forensics expert Dr Abdul Karim Tajudin of Hospital Serdang who conducted the first post-mortem on deceased police detainee A Kugan. Lawyer N Surendran, who is representing Kugan’s family, told Malaysiakini that the MMC held an inquiry yesterday and cross-examined the deceased’s mother M Indra on the complaint against Abdul Karim for professional misconduct. “They felt that there was substance in the complaint and decided to file a formal charge against him,” he said. The complaint was lodged March last year urging for an independent investigation to probe why there were significant differences in the first and second post-mortem procedures conducted on Kugan. Strang... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3156437 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3156437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052179&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fare-they-animals.html Here's a story about a supermax facility in Illinois. Apparently efforts are being made to improve mental health services to these control unit inmates, some of whom have been insolitary confinement for up to ten years.They're getting a lot of service: group and individual counselling, psychiatric treatment and recreational activities. And they've had some serious behavior problems---109 of the 247 inmates are there because they committed new criminal offenses while in prison, includingstabbing correctional officers and murder.To me the story isn't interesting because of the mental health care issues or because of the nature of the inmates----that's pretty much old stuff to me. What I always think is fascinating are the comments left by the readers. Some people think the inmates are so men... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3052179 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0100 3052179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048162&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fthings-well-never-know.html I've been following the story of Maurice Clemmons, the suspect wanted for the killing of four police officers in Seattle. I don't have any connection to the case, but his story is familiar to me from thousands of inmates like him I've met over the years.In addition to the media reports, I reviewed the parole and clemency documentation published here.Here's what strikes me about the case:Clemmons was a repeat offender who committed new crimes every few months until he turned eighteen. The longest break in his criminal activity was the eleven years that he was in the Arkansas prison system. We don't know what he was involved in before that because juvenile records are generally sealed.He was already under court supervision when he was convicted of the robbery and theft that sent him to priso... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048162 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:33:00 +0100 3048162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977338&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2FSwV8o9_R2sE%2F URL: http://www.trauma-pages.com/These Trauma Pages focus primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and dissociation, whether following individual traumatic experience(s) or a large-scale disaster. The purpose of this award winning site is to provide information for clinicians and researchers in the traumatic-stress field. For: Clinicians, Researchers, Students, TeachersTopics: Anxiety, Depression, Forensic, Life, Lifestyle, Social Psychology, Social Support, TraumaFeatures: Articles, Books, Case Studies, Information, Links, e-learning These Trauma Pages focus primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and dissociation, whether following individual traumatic experience(s) ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977338 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:26 +0100 2977338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930905&cid=t_100795_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fa-resource-for-developing-sexual-assualt-referral-centres-sarcs%2F Title: A Resource for Developing Sexual Assualt Referral Centres (SARCs) Skinny: Guidance identifying the the minimum elements essential for providing high-quality Sexual Assualt Referral Centres (SARCs) for victims of sexual violence and sexual abuse, including forensic medical examination. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 40p Published: 27/10/2009 Posted in Crime Prevention and Control, Grey Literature, NHS, Sexual Health, Violence Tagged: Crime Prevention and Control, Forensic Medicine, Grey Literature, Guidance, Sexual Abuse, Violent People (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930905 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03:04 +0100 2930905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828258&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fday-tripping.html This is a post for ClinkShrink, but she's so busy lately that I thought I'd stick it up.So in Maryland, to the best of my knowledge (and I could be wrong) we have this idea that if someone is criminally insane and needs hospitalization, they should probably stay in the hospital. I'm not aware that forensic facilities take people on field trips. Like I said, I could be wrong, I don't treat inpatients and I don't work with designated forensic patients. The piece below caught my attention, it's from The Seattle Times:On Thursday, Phillip Arnold Paul, who had been committed after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the slaying of an elderly woman, disappeared during a field trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair with 30 other Eastern State Hospital patients and 11 staff members... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828258 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:30:00 +0100 2828258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725091&cid=t_100795_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F9HuAm2khJ2w%2Fhow-to-ruin-lives.html Nobody Waved Goodbye A vintage feature film about an angsty teen who rebels against his overbearing middle class parents, gets into trouble with the law after speeding in his father’s car, sees a psychiatrist, falls deeper into delinquency, fights with his girlfriend, and… The fashion and music may be dated, but the dialogue is eerily contemporary and realistic (I’m now resenting my parents all over again). Well-acted & directed, this is an excellent drama that won seven film awards. Complete info here.   (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725091 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:30:03 +0100 2725091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637863&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fcan-black-box-warnings-kill.html I'm going to write about a story I saw on-line about a depressed mother who poisoned her small child. It's a terribly tragic story, and please keep in mind that I only know what I read in the article Here, and I've never examined anyone involved. The question being asked at the trial is that of whether the mother, who was depressed, was legally sane and knew it was wrong to kill her child, and that's not what I'm going to write about. I didn't pick a graphic to go with this blog post, because I couldn't think of any photo that would be appropriate to such an angst-ridden topic.I'm pulling a few sentences from the newspaper article to use as a springboard for discussion:They said Sparrow told a nurse practitioner she was considering using sedatives to kill herself, her daughter and her dog,... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637863 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0100 2637863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2527962&cid=t_100795_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fmichael-jackson-what-will-an-autopsy-look-for%2F When any person dies suddenly or unexpectedly it becomes the responsibility of the medical examiner to determine the cause of death. Such is the case in the tragic death of Michael Jackson at the all too young age of 50. When I worked as a medical examiner in Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s, our policy was to automatically do a full autopsy investigation on anyone 50 or under regardless of their medical history. Over 50 and we might waive the autopsy if there were a clear medical history of illness or disease and there were absolutely no suspicious circumstances, as investigated by the homicide unit of the D.C. police force. Of course it goes without saying that for someone like Michael Jackson, who died suddenly at age 50 yesterday without any obvious cause, that a full scale investi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2527962 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:47:29 +0100 2527962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570869&cid=t_100795_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fmichael-jackson-what-will-an-autopsy-look-for%2F When any person dies suddenly or unexpectedly it becomes the responsibility of the medical examiner to determine the cause of death. Such is the case in the tragic death of Michael Jackson at the all too young age of 50. When I worked as a medical examiner in Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s, our policy was to automatically do a full autopsy investigation on anyone 50 or under regardless of their medical history. Over 50 and we might waive the autopsy if there were a clear medical history of illness or disease and there were absolutely no suspicious circumstances, as investigated by the homicide unit of the D.C. police force. Of course it goes without saying that for someone like Michael Jackson, who died suddenly at age 50 yesterday without any obvious cause, that a full scale investi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570869 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:46:00 +0100 2570869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441590&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F04oz160933E%2Feyewitness-testimony-can-you-really-trust-your-own-eyes-851.html We all like to think that we have good memories for events and that if we were to be witness to a crime or incident that we would be able to recall in detail the events of the day. However our memories are not that reliable at all.  This has implications on many levels, but especially in the courtroom and with the police. For example: “Some researchers in Bologna demonstrate the spectacular hopelessness of memory. One morning in 1980, a bomb exploded in Bologna station: 85 people died, and the clock stopped ominously showing 10.25, the time of the explosion. This image became a famous symbol for the event, but the clock was repaired soon after, and worked perfectly for the next 16 years. When it broke again in 1996, it was decided to leave the clock showing 10.25 permanently, as a memor... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441590 Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:58 +0100 2441590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405346&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2Fdrxdw5HjkWk%2Fwho-is-it-that-really-suffers-when-a-prison-sentence-is-given-815.html At this very moment in time there are 82,813 people in prisons in the UK (weekly updates of prison UK populations) whereas in February 2004 there were only 69,122. We are punishing more-and-more people every year with prison but is it effective (a topic for another post) and does it only punish those who were at fault? In the first known study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers found that people with a family member or friend in prison or jail suffer worse physical and mental health and more stress and depressive symptoms than those without a loved one behind bars. Moreover, these symptoms worsen the closer the relationship to the person who was locked up According to the study, those who knew someone in prison had 40 percent more days where poor physical health interfered wit... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405346 Wed, 13 May 2009 09:05:28 +0100 2405346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398682&cid=t_100795_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fforensic-and-toxicology-midterm-401.html 10 MCQs+ Write on the following:Types of skull fracturesCadaveric spasm and its differences from Rigor mortisDifferences between cut and contused woundsIdentification of the sex from the skullTreatment of alkaline corrosive poisoningThanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398682 Fri, 08 May 2009 11:41:00 +0100 2398682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348594&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fwhat-everybody-ought-to-know-about-why.html It's the question I get asked multiple times a week: "Why do I keep doing the same thing over and over again? There must be something wrong with me. Why do I keep coming back to prison?"Maybe you have a genetic brain disease, maybe you had a bad childhood, maybe you chose to pass by opportunities or advantages that other people took, maybe it's pure coincidence and by random chance something happened that swung you to the wrong side of the law. Medicine doesn't have the answer, sociologists don't have the answer, philosophers and religious leaders don't have the answer.Why do you keep doing the same thing over and over again, even if it's not good for you?Don't ask me, I eat lots of chocolate and hang from tall rocks.You do it because you're human, because the nature of humanity through th... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348594 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0100 2348594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313616&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fwho-are-you.html The DOC badge said his name was John X. Doe and that he was born on 1/1/81. The medical information system said his name was John Y. Doe and that he was born on 2/4/84. The legal information system said that John Y. Doe plead guilty to misdemeanor theft and was given six months. John X. Doe has an open robbery charge. John Y. Doe has been through the system three times and has always screened negatively for mental health issues and never needed psychiatric services. John X. Doe was in our forensic hospital for six months being restored to competency. The patient insists he's John X. Doe in spite of both information systems that link him through his DOC number.I've never treated either of these guys before, have no old records of my own and have no way of knowing if they're actually one and... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313616 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0100 2313616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2270487&cid=t_100795_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F03%2Fsmith-bell-and-the-art-of-observation%2F Sir Sydney Smith had humble beginnings in a village at the heart of the Otago gold fields, near the southern tip of New Zealand. After a stint in the New Zealand Army during the First World War and a colourful career as a medical investigator in colonial Egypt, he went on to hold the Chair [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2270487 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:00:53 +0100 2270487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2258194&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Flife-after-homicide.html Is there life after homicide? No, I obviously don't mean for the victims---I mean for the killers.This is a question that struck me after one of my patients, a convicted murderer who violated his parole, said to me: "I don't feel good about the fact that I'm a killer."For some reason that statement just struck me and I'm not sure why. Of course someone would feel bad about killing. Sociopaths don't, but most normal non-sociopathic killers do. I think it hit me because my patient's offense had happened over a decade before and he had done well on parole since his release. He was really sad about what he had done and was trying to make things better.The fact of the matter is that all killers aren't the same. You have the barfight killers, the enraged jealous lover killers, the cold and calcu... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2258194 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:53:00 +0100 2258194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256040&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6349 The press statement by the MMA President. : The conflict in the two autopsy reports related to Kugan Ananthan has caused all Malaysians to speculate on the reasons for the contrasting differences between the reports. So glaring are the differences between the two reports that the first Pathologist appears incompetent at the least. The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is gravely concerned about the issue. If the second autopsy report is accurate, and there is much to say that it is, then the Pathologist who performed the first autopsy was either negligent in the performance of his duty or was coerced into reporting as he did. The MMA is deeply concerned with this in either case, and condemns the first autopsy and report. The MMA has always maintained that doctors must be objective in th... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256040 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2256040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249133&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6339 The DG has spoken: PETALING JAYA: In the interest of justice and fair play, the Health Ministry will initiate an independent inquiry into the two post-mortem reports of A. Kugan who died while in police custody. The first post-mortem on Kugan was conducted by the Serdang Hospital, while the second was by the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the outcome of the inquiry would be made public. He added that the Health Ministry confirmed the Serdang Hospital forensic pathologist had performed his duty ethically and professionally. “There is also no indication the forensic pathologist was hiding facts while carrying out the post-mortem. “The post-mortem report had been given to Kugan’s family. It was unfair to make ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249133 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2249133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240987&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6332 Imagine the consternation in the public mind regarding the conflicting autopsy reports on Kugan who died whilst in Police custody. There were so many differences that it’s no surprise that Kugan’s mother has lodged a report After discovering vast discrepancies in the two post-mortem reports, the family of dead detainee A Kugan did the next sensible thing - lodge a police report and hope to see justice done. This morning, M Indra did just that. She lodged a police report against Serdang Hospital and the pathologist who conducted the first post-mortem on her son’s body. Accompanying her to the Petaling Jaya police district headquarters to lodge the report were her lawyer, two MPs and several family members. Dr Abdul Karim Tajudin of Serdang Hospital performed the first post-mo... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240987 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2240987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240894&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fill-show-you.html Working with violent patients has its challenges. The main one is when they actually do become violent. When they act up, smash things or assault someone there is a quick need to coordinate interventions between security and mental health staff. Of course, safety is the primary goal. Nothing therapeutic can happen until the patient regains control of himself, or someone else gets him under control.After that, we get him. Violence is actually pretty rare in my facility---a credit to the quality of the correctional staff---but occasionally it does happen.The only reason I'm writing a blog post about it is because the management of violent patients gets tricky when you're the one they're violent toward. It can be a challenge to continue working with a patient who has threatened you or, god fo... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240894 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:06:00 +0100 2240894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2194950&cid=t_100795_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geneticsandhealth.com%2F2009%2F02%2F17%2Freconstructing-a-face-through-dna-analysis%2F Forensics and criminal investigations now routinely include using the DNA to identify a person - missing, dead or a criminal suspect – by matching with other DNA samples on the scene or a database. Obviously, this technology becomes limited when there is no database or DNA to match with. But now, it is possible to actually draw a person’s face using a DNA sample! Called “forensic molecular photofitting”, the process uses mapped genes that are linked to skin pigmentation and facial structure to reconstruct facial features and skin tones. The process was used to help identify a serial killer in Baton Rouge, reports Dr. Mark Shriver at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Chicago. Shriver used the technology to identify the race of the suspect, De... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2194950 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:08:00 +0100 2194950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190558&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fescape-to-new-york.html OK, I'm out of prison. After a few months of listening to guys talk about stabbing people, firebombing houses and other general nasty things, I've escaped to New York. I walked through Central Park, saw a couple art galleries and went to a Broadway play (Speed The Plow, it was great). Oh yeah, and had some delicious food. So now I'm blogging from the Mac-users mecca, the Fifth Avenue Apple store. The one that looks like a big glass cube. I've just bought my new 16 gigabyte iPod touch and am happy as a clam. Yes, I'm out of prison...and mildly out of control in this store. I've got pictures to send my co-bloggers.And now a request---soon there is a play opening here called Zombie. It's about a serial killer. They're giving discount tickets to folks interested in forensic psychiatry. I'm goi... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190558 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:41:00 +0100 2190558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2086923&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fnewsworthy-deaths.html So for the second time in as many days we have another story about a wealthy, high-flying businessman who commits suicide. Yesterday it was a German industrialist, today it was a Chicago real estate auctioneer.I'm not sure what makes these suicides more newsworthy than the death of one of my neighbors a couple years ago that didn't make the newspaper, or the hundreds of other suicide deaths that happen every month in this country, but there it is on CNN. Maybe it's a media comment on the state of the economy. Maybe it's the shock value of a successful or wealthy person just throwing it all away and giving up. Maybe it's a morality tale that materialism doesn't lead to happiness. Regardless, the stories draw eyeballs just for the schadenfreude of watching someone fall from a high place.In o... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2086923 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:53:00 +0100 2086923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2083987&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fnoahs-ark-bring-on-new-fish.html One of our readers asked me to comment on how psychiatrists who work in corrections keep from becoming 'hardened' to their patients when so many of them are 'lying jerks' (anonymous reader's words, not mine).The question was weirdly relevant this week.I came back from a week off to find that our entire department was flooded. A three inch pipe (clean water, fortunately) broke over the weekend and left a five inch layer of water over our entire floor. It leaked from the third floor tier all the way through to the first floor entrance. I don't even want to think about how many gallons that was.The water had been vacuumed by the time I came in but the smell hit me immediately. There are no words to describe this. Employees came in, took a sniff, and immediately turned around to leave. I had n... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2083987 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:24:00 +0100 2083987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2060928&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fclink-responds.html In my post “Who Is A Criminal?” one anonymous commenter posted a link to a newspaper story about a former musician who died of benzodiazepine withdrawal in a Cleveland jail. The anonymous commenter wondered what I thought about the story.Over the course of the years it's not unusual for people to send me links, both on and off the blog, to stories about horrible things that have happened in a jail or prison and to ask my opinion about it. The link usually comes in an email with the subject heading, "Can you believe this???" or "Does this really happen???" The expectation seems to be that I'm supposed to either share their outrage or else defend some obviously horrible outcome.I do neither, mainly because I don't know anything particular about the case in the media. I do know that the f... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2060928 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:14:00 +0100 2060928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2046757&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fwho-is-criminal.html I'll admit this seems like an odd question with an obvious answer. Most people would say that a criminal is anyone convicted of a crime. However, there is a difference between someone who has merely been convicted of a single crime and someone with a pattern of criminal behavior. Repetitive criminals may be psychopaths or sociopaths. Fictional characters like Hannibal Lechter or Tony Soprano are good examples of sociopathic or psychopathic personalities.It might be a bit disconcerting to know that people like this actually exist and that they've been around for a long time. In 1837 an English psychiatrist named James Pritchard wrote a book entitled Treatise on Insanity in which he described people who lacked the ability to form attachments to others and who were unable to experience normal... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2046757 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:25:00 +0100 2046757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013608&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Ffrom-la-times.html Usually we pick our post topics off the New York Times, but here's a couple stories from the LA Times that caught my eye today:Report urges more sleep for medical residentsThe National Institute of Medicine has officially encouraged medical training programs to place 16 hour limits on the length of shifts that doctors in training can work. The report produced by NIM also recommends that any resident required to work longer than a sixteen hour shift be required to take a five hour nap before continuing.So now the biological functions of physicians are being regulated by accrediting bodies and other professional organizations. Imagine the stress: "Sleep, gosh darn it! Sleep or we'll lose our accreditation!"I totally agree that doctors need a decent amount of sleep in order to be any good to ... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013608 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:46:00 +0100 2013608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1963976&cid=t_100795_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5320 Senator T. Murugiah has taken to task hospitals that take “too long” to conduct post-mortems. The Star reported Murugiah, who oversees the Public Complaints Bureau, said he received a complaint on Friday and decided to check it out personally. He said the police had sent the body of a murder victim, believed to have been killed on Wednesday, to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia at 4pm on Thursday. “The family complained to me at 9.30am on Friday that the body has not been released because the post-mortem has not been conducted. “I called the hospital and sent a letter to them (asking them) to explain. They promised to conduct a post-mortem that morning and the body was released at 12.30pm. Keeping the body overnight and performing a post-mortem the next day is not an ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1963976 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1963976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1911338&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwhat-i-learned-part-3.html ClinkShrink is blogging from AAPL meeting she is attending.Click HERE for Part 1 (she'll even tell you what AAPL stands for).Click Here for Part 2.So, the clinical vampirism presentation taught me one main lesson: I'll never understanding how the program committee chooses which presentations to accept. The speaker presented an overview of the historical role of blood in ancient cultures and religions (remember our blog posts about Moche indian culture?), then he presented his own proposed typology of blood-seeking behaviors, then he presented two cases to illustrate that typology. The first case was your basic Goth who drank his girlfriend's blood (consensually) then beat her to death. The second case was a sad one about a psychotic killer who decapitated his mother, her bird and the famil... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911338 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:01:00 +0100 1911338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908754&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwhat-i-learned-part-3.html ClinkShrink is blogging from AAPL meeting she is attending. Click HERE for Part 1 (she'll even tell you what AAPL stands for).Click Here for Part 2.So, the clinical vampirism presentation taught me one main lesson: I'll never understanding how the program committee chooses which presentations to accept. The speaker presented an overview of the historical role of blood in ancient cultures and religions (remember our blog posts about Moche indian culture?), then he presented his own proposed typology of blood-seeking behaviors, then he presented two cases to illustrate that typology. The first case was your basic Goth who drank his girlfriend's blood (consensually) then beat her to death. The second case was a sad one about a psychotic killer who decapitated his mother, her bird and the fami... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908754 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:01:00 +0100 1908754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907585&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwhat-i-learned-part-3.html So, the clinical vampirism presentation taught me one main lesson: I'll never understanding how the program committee chooses which presentations to accept. The speaker presented an overview of the historical role of blood in ancient cultures and religions (remember our blog posts about Moche indian culture?), then he presented his own proposed typology of blood-seeking behaviors, then he presented two cases to illustrate that typology. The first case was your basic Goth who drank his girlfriend's blood (consensually) then beat her to death. The second case was a sad one about a psychotic killer who decapitated his mother, her bird and the family dog. (Note to future speakers: please warn your audience if you're going show autopsy photos during the time slot right before lunch.) I really d... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907585 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:01:00 +0100 1907585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901444&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwhat-i-learned-part-1.html For new readers, it's a ClinkShrink tradition to report on the annual American Academy of Psychiatry and Law conference, which is being hosted in Seattle this year.Today was the first day of the conference. It began with an excellent keynote address by AAPL president Dr. Jeffrey Janofsky, who talked about reducing inpatient suicides. He presented the result of an interesting quality assurance study done at Johns Hopkins Hospital which applied the principles of "failure mode and effects analysis" (FMEA) to the problem of inpatient suicide. He found that there were over 40 potential failure points with 90 possible causes, all of which could lead to a completed suicide. FMEA is a process developed for use in manufacturing but which is more recently being applied to hospital-based medical erro... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901444 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:27:00 +0100 1901444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870668&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fwashington-state-task-force-recommends.html An article by Carol Smith in the Seattle Post-Intelligence discusses a task force's recommendation to the state's involuntary commitment laws after a man with a psychotic illness murdered Sierra Club worker Shannon Harps last year.James Williams, a repeat violent offender with severe schizophrenia, has been charged with first-degree murder in Harps' death. Williams, who was under community supervision at the time of the murder, wasn't complying with court-ordered treatment and had been off the medications that helped control his violent hallucinations when he allegedly stabbed Harps to death.Community corrections officers supervising Williams used every tool the system provided to try to keep Williams in treatment and out of trouble, said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, who convened... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870668 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100 1870668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1713913&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fim-proud-of-my-kids.html I have a nice little cadre of students these days. They are young, bright, enthusiastic and at times a little anxious and intimidated. They are a wonderful group, and it's my job to figure out the best way to teach them what they need to know. They have a lot to learn and a limited amount of time to learn it in. Information is being thrown at them fast and furiously from several faculty sources. It's their job to catch it, retain it and somehow organize it for future use.Eesh, I'm glad I'm not in their position anymore. It's tough.People learn differently, and from year to year each group of students has their own preferences about teaching methods. Some want lectures, some want case conferences, and some just want to be left alone to read on their own. I find that we tend to cycle through... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1713913 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:14:00 +0100 1713913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709032&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F367165054%2F Following on from the news that people with mental health problems are now less likely to kill themselves, it now transpires that they’re also less likely to kill other people too The Guardian’s Bad Science columnist Ben Goldacre picks up the story, and makes some interesting observations on the attitudes of the media to mental illness and violence. Somehow what doesn’t get into the papers is as interesting as what does. Right now I’m looking at a press release on a story which seems pretty important to me: people with serious mental illnesses are committing fewer murders than ever before, by a truly enormous margin. Homicides in this group increased from around 40 a year in the 1950s to 100 a year in the 1970s, in line with a similar increase in the general popul... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709032 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:16:38 +0100 1709032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1551326&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fmy-last-day.html As I was leaving prison today I noticed a man standing on the corner. He was wearing nice pants and a dress shirt. He had a knapsack thrown over one shoulder and was wearing sunglasses while talking on a cell phone. I didn't think anything of it until he looked over and saw me and yelled, "Doc! Hey doc! Remember me? You helped me, you really did. I'd hug you but I know that wouldn't be appropriate." Frankly, I didn't recognize him at first. I knew who he was after he called my name, but just to see him standing there, well, the context was quite different and he looked very very different from his appearance in prison. Anyway, he was doing great. He had a place to live, a job, was going to AA regularly, staying clean. He was waiting for his ride to pick him up for AA. His phone rang and ... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1551326 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:53:00 +0100 1551326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516477&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fwhats-sociopath.html As my fourth and final post for Clink Week here at Shrink Rap, I have been inspired by Roy (again). I was curious about our different reactions to the character Tippi Hedron played in the Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie. Roy pointed to different aspects of her personality to say that she wasn't a sociopath, so it got me thinking about why I reacted so differently. We've already speculated about whether or not Darth Vader had borderline personality disorder, so lets progress to another Cluster B disorder by talking about Marnie.First of all, sociopathy per se does not exist in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. It was originally conceived in the mid-nineteenth century as "moral insanity", in other words a defect in moral reasoning. Even then there was argument about whether or not this co... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516477 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:43:00 +0100 1516477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512138&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fleave-me-alone-does-shu-syndrome-exist.html [Note: This is the second in a two part series discussing the effects of longterm segregation. The first part in the series can be read here.]When you read legal opinions or listen to professionals talk about the psychiatric effects of longterm segregation you will sometimes hear them refer to something called the "SHU syndrome". The "SHU" stands for Special Housing Unit, another name for a control unit prison or a tier in a regular prison where inmates are kept in longterm segregation.The commonly accepted definition of "syndrome" is a constellation of signs and symptoms that are common to all sufferers of a disease. Syndromes are validated by showing that the particular syndrome can distinguish between people who have the disease versus those who don't, and can distinguish one disease fr... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512138 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:46:00 +0100 1512138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1502528&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fleave-me-alone-science-of-solitary.html Solitary confinement, or segregation, is used for several reasons. Inmates are put into segregation as a disciplinary measure for doing things like threatening or fighting with officers, escaping, destroying state property or setting fires. Segregation is used for medical reasons for inmates who may have infectious diseases (like tuberculosis) or who are refusing evaluation for infectious diseases. Segregation is used for protective custody if the inmate is a juvenile or if there are reasons to believe the inmate's safety might be at risk in regular housing (also called general population). Finally, there are also mental health reasons for putting someone in segregation. Inmates who are new to the facility, who are frightened and need time to adjust, or who have had a recent trauma or loss... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1502528 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:00:00 +0100 1502528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1499901&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fi-didnt-hurt-anybody.html I am not a happy ClinkShrink right now. I'm a bit hot under the collar. In fact, I'm a bit hot everywhere right now.I have no air conditioner. I know, I know, I should be used to this by now. I don't have a phone, I don't have a desk, I have to hunt for chairs to sit on every day. I should be used to this.I am, I'm just not used to this at home.This isn't something I typically blog about. I generally keep my personal life off the Internet and stick to mainly professional-type topics, but I promise I will make this relevant to psychiatry.I called up the local heating and air conditioning guy, who took one look and pointed out what was wrong. He saw it immediately, and I can't believe I didn't.Someone stole my copper freon pipe. It was four or five feet long, leading from the external pump u... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1499901 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:54:00 +0100 1499901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1484865&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F302177638%2F Mr Man’s Wife raises discussion on the “Austrian cellar man” Stories such as this one infuriate me. Once again we have a lawyer who is paid far too much money to try to find a way of reducing the punishment of a man who has undeniably committed a heinous crime, and the best he can come up with is “he couldn’t help it; he’s mentally ill”. Previously on mentalnurse there has been debate on the pathologising of behaviour and it’s not a simple argument to resolve. We are, on one hand, a product of everything we are and experience; but, on the other, as humans we have ability to rationalise and, ergo, we can exercise choice. This juxtaposition has been something of a burden for mental health law for many years - at what point does someone cease to be culpable? MM... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1484865 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:34:47 +0100 1484865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1458501&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F294608768%2F (Guest post by markyjones) I am a nurse working in a locked ward in Anglia region. (I’d rather not give name of hospital). We have a patient on a section 37/41 order who has been granted unescorted town leave. I think she is an abscond risk (others disagree with me). She can take her passport and credit card in her posession as doc thinks she has ‘capacity’ to manage own affairs. If she absconds abroad can we get her back? I know section 18 covers retaking her while she is still in the UK but what if she gets on a plane? Much debate among colleagues, but I think MHA 1983 ceases to be effective once absconder leaves country. Police cannot issue a European Arrest Warrant unless she commits a crime. Anyone any ideas on this one? (Source: Mental Nurse) Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1458501 Tue, 20 May 2008 22:43:25 +0100 1458501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1428988&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fhow-to-say-goodbye.html In a few weeks I will be less of a ClinkShrink than I currently am. I'll still be a ClinkShrink, I'll just be doing it in fewer prisons. It feels odd to schedule my patients for followup knowing that I will no longer be there for their followup appointment. I am faced with the question of how to say goodbye to my patients, some of whom I've treated over multiple incarcerations in the last fifteen years.Patients come in and out of my life fairly quickly. With a caseload of at least 150 patients or so, there's no way I can specifically remember each one. Often they disappear without warning, released to parole or transferred to other facilities. Sometimes I read about them in the newspapers later, either arrested or killed. That bothers me. I used to think that inmates didn't get attached to... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1428988 Thu, 08 May 2008 02:24:00 +0100 1428988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336429&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fbody-modification-and-tsa.html I have GOT to add this to the lecture. Evidently, according to this story, Mandi Hamlin was forced to "rip out" her body jewellery (nipple clamps) "with a pair of pliers before she was allowed to board a flight in Lubbock TX." The woman holding the pliers in the photo is her lawyer, and Ms. Hamlin is suing the TSA.First--the photo gives me the heebie-jeebies.Second--the story reminds me of the Bond movie where the SMERSH agent at the Oktoberfest has blades that spring from her bra and she uses them to try to stab James Bond. Thirdly--I'm not sure I buy the story--those posts should be surgical stainless steel or titanium, and I think they're small enough so as to not set off the magnetometer. I know it varies. I have a pocket watch that doesn't do diddly in Cleveland but gives the machine ... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336429 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:22:00 +0100 1336429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1319705&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fbody-modificiation-on-good-friday.html Orac, brought this article to my attention looking at people in the Philippines who emulate the crucifixion on Good Friday. This reminds me of the folks who to the O Kee Pa and other rituals. Evidently, being tied to a cross was a punishment used in the Austria-Hungarian military. This is a dangerous activity, and the people aren't intending to die (one fellow mentions doing it in gratitude for his mother's being cured of TB. My first, admittedly snarky response was "Didja think of paying her doctor's bill?" Even though these folks aren't intending to die, they can hurt or even kill themselves unintentionally.The forensic questions are 1. what was the person's intention and 2. is such a procedure so inherently dangerous as to make death very likely? Russian roulette or autoerotic asphyxia ... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1319705 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:36:00 +0100 1319705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307988&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fst-patricks-day-and-puddle-jump.html Spring in Maine is an experience. The land comes to life really rapidly. The trees bud, the weather is unstable (you can go from 20 to 60 overnight, and back again) and all the dog mess that's been frozen since Thanksgiving thaws all at once.Be that as it may, the big thing about spring at Bates is the Puddle Jump. Starting in 1975, and I assume fueled by lots of ethanol, hardy souls take a chainsaw to the ice on Lake Andrews and then jump in.The lake has been drained twice that I know of. Once in 1998, to retard eutrophication, and once to search for a ditched firearm in 1985.--Lots of stuff was found on both occasions, including three 30 pound snapping turtles (which explained why my attempts to introduce frogs to Lake Andrews never worked), a bed, lots of textbooks (a couple of them min... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307988 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:18:00 +0100 1307988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207396&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fa-baseless-malp.html In the February 1, 2008 issue of Medical Economics, Gastroenterologist Michael Cappell tells the story of the time he got sued in a shotgun malpractice case. Even though innocent of wrongdoing, he still paid a hefty professional and personal price. Shabby treatment of health care professionals discourages the good ones from practicing medicine and they will not be there to help the sick when they are needed because the lawyers have driven them from the field. Here is part of what Dr. Cappell says about the personal toll on him:From a societal perspective, justice was served. Except for the elderly physician, who faced trial for malpractice, the court dismissed claims against all of the other 16 physicians originally named in the lawsuit. From my perspective, however, justice was poorly s... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207396 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:30:21 +0100 1207396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1191389&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Farmy-suicides-u.html The Associated Press reported today, 01/31/08, that the number of suicides in the military has continued to climb and is up 20% from last year.As many as 121 Army soldiers committed suicide in 2007, a jump of some 20 percent over the year before, officials said Thursday. The rise comes despite numerous efforts to improve the mental health of a force stressed by a longer-than-expected war in Iraq and the most deadly year yet in the now six-year-old conflict in Afghanistan. Internal briefing papers prepared by the Army's psychiatry consultant early this month show there were 89 confirmed suicides last year and 32 deaths that are suspected suicides and still under investigation. More than a quarter of those — about 34 — happened during deployments in Iraq, an increase from 27 in Iraq ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1191389 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:10:37 +0100 1191389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188612&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Fbrain-imaging-a.html Justice Talking Radio program released an excellent program on 01/14/08 entitled "Neurolaw, The New Frontier" in which various experts discuss the latest brain imaging techniques and how it is being used and could be used in the future.Some lawyers are using brain scans showing defects to argue that their clients aren’t responsible for criminal behavior. In recent years, this neuroscientific evidence has been increasingly used in our courtrooms. But some scientists argue that the imaging is still new and unreliable, while others question whether juries should be ruling on what counts as a "defective" brain. As neurolaw grows in influence, it could potentially revolutionize our notions of guilt and punishment as criminals say "my brain made me do it." Might w... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188612 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:16:42 +0100 1188612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186134&cid=t_100795_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fheath-ledgers-autopsy-inconclusive-so-far%2F When death strikes someone at a young age, it is always tragic - and there are always questions. For most, the questions are limited to the family, friends and perhaps to some in the local community. For celebrities, the questions become national, even international. Sometimes the questions are about the cause of death, but they always involve the whys. Why them, why now, why our child? These latter questions are existential in nature and are rarely, if ever, fully answered. The former, however, are the purview of the pathologist, a physician with specialized training in solving the physical causes of death. Sometimes the answers are obvious, sometimes not. On rare occasion, they are never determined. In the case of Heath Ledger, the questions remained unanswered as of this writing. I’m ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186134 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:25:13 +0100 1186134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1173624&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fnew-record.html The legal limit for intoxication in Ohio is 0.8 mg/dl. It used to be 1.0, but the legislature lowered it. (BTW, in the mythical 70kg average man, 1 drink equivalent will raise the BAC by 0.02. Postmortem decomposition can also raise the BAC from bacterial production, but it doesn't usually raise the BAC by 0.02 or 0.03)So, one drink equivalent will raise the BAC by 0.02. A drink equivalent is the amount of alcohol that's in 12 oz of 4.0 beer, 4 oz of 24 proof wine, or 1 oz of 80 proof liquor (and 1 fl oz = 30 ml, for you metric types). When I see people who've gotten stupid, their BACs are higher. Usually 2.0-2.5. That's the range for DWI. Or BWI (biking while intoxicated, hate losing that driving licence) or SWI (Swimming at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river is not a good idea, it's wider t... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1173624 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:15:00 +0100 1173624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1140326&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Funpleasant-reality.html From Edwin Leap M.D. Why I've taught several women to shoot.Key grafs:But worst of all, we don’t teach adequate fear. A young woman, of slight frame, should fear being alone in the forest. I’m sorry. It may sound sexist, but the news will bear me out. Young, healthy men are seldom the victims of random attacks. Young women are victims because they post little threat of dangerous retaliation.We mustn’t be paralyzed by fear, but must use it. We must realize that sociopaths and murderers, rapists and serial killers stalk this world like the nightmare monsters our ancestors believed lay beyond the safety of the walls, the warmth of the fire.We have to learn that calling 911 on a cell phone is not going to save us in the few seconds it takes to die. And we have to accept that sometimes, s... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1140326 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:49:00 +0100 1140326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1127454&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fcrowner.html Recently, I was asked "Why is a coroner an elected official?" The short answer is that Richard Coeur de Leon fought with Leopold of Austria during the Crusades. I tell my students this, and they ask for the long answer (they'll soon learn).Richard I was a good soldier, talented, a good singer, and good to his mum. He was a lousy king. For one thing, he spent too much time fighting in the Holy land, and not enough time taking care of bidness. While off indulging in the sport of killing peasants, he fought with Leopold of Austria. Two alpha males banged heads. Coming back from the Crusades, Richard decides to take the direct route, across Leopold's territory in disguise as a returning common soldier. Most people at the time were short. A full grown man as a knight would be 5'3". Richard was ... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1127454 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:29:00 +0100 1127454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1123286&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Finvoluntary-out.html Chris Jenkins wrote a good article in yesterday's, 12/30/07, Washtington Post about involuntary outpatient mental health treatment. In New York State there is such a law known as Kendra's law and it appears to be successful. It is being looked at closely by other states such as Virginia as a model to replicate.Susan Wezel had been committed to the city's hospital wards more than a dozen times in 10 years. Her psychosis was so deep and debilitating that she lost her career and her relationship with her son, as she refused to take her medication or follow treatment. But because of a New York state law, Wezel hasn't been hospitalized in more than a year. She doesn't wander the streets alone at night anymore. She takes her medication willingly. She even has plans to follow her dream of singi... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1123286 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:18:37 +0100 1123286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122149&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Fthe-innocent-ma.html The Innocent Man by John Grisham, his first non-fiction book, is an important book which tells the story of the perversity of the criminal justice system when prosecutors are narcissistic despots, cops are corrupt, judges are officious functionaries, and juries are prejudiced mobs who care nothing for facts, evidence, and the truth. Ron Williamson, a mentally ill ex professional baseball player, is framed for a murder he did not commit and was a couple of weeks from being executed before some diligent indigent defense attorneys finally got a decent judge to review the error riddled original trial and put a stay on the execution. Barry Sheck's Innocence Project finally did DNA testing which found that Williamson and the other man framed, Dennis Fritz, could not have committed the crime. I... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122149 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:06:01 +0100 1122149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101450&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Fit-takes-the-su.html Back on April 2, 2007 the Associated Press report on the Supreme Court's ruling that the EPA does have the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions was broadcast on CNN.The Supreme Court rebuked the Bush administration Monday for its inaction on global warming in a decision that could encourage faster action in Congress on climate change and lead to more fuel-efficient cars as early as next year. The court, in a 5-4 ruling in its first case on climate change, declared that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate those emissions from new cars and trucks under the landmark environment law, and the "laundry list" of reasons it has given for declining to do so are... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101450 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:09:48 +0100 1101450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1084575&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fill-always-have-work.html I can understand the thrill of speed, and the desire to fly like a bird. Or even a flying squirrel.But these guys scare me. One guy jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, did some acrobatics, and then tried to re-enter the same plane. Mother of all bird strikes, if you ask me. I guess I'm not an adrenalin junkie. It's also the unpredictability. The margin of error (or probability of a disastrophy) is too small or large, respectively. Though I do appreciate autopsies where most of the dissection is already done for me. Though I always hate having to chase off the crows and raccoons. (Source: Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files) Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1084575 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:37:00 +0100 1084575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1055870&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fi-am-consulting-forensic-pathologist.html Why have I gotten so many consults on dead cats? Not that I really mind. It's mildly depressing, it's rather challenging because it's outside my area of expertise. I know of two veterinary pathologist, but I don't think any of them do forensics. They make big big bucks in pharma-land.Hmm. Perhaps I have discovered a niche market. But can I make a living at it? (Source: Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files) Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1055870 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:37:00 +0100 1055870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1049125&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fargh_25.html How come there's never a camera around when you need one. A story from Keep Breathing that I could use for my body modification talk next Friday. (Source: Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files) Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1049125 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:36:00 +0100 1049125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1021491&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fpharmacology.html I'm trying to write a lecture on recreational pharmacology. I'm on the hallucinogens part, and I want to talk about LSD, and I keep spoonerizing it to LDS. This is totally different. (Source: Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files) Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1021491 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:14:00 +0100 1021491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015146&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36520&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrzeusforensicfiles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fccw.html I just recently heard from a friend of mine. She and her daughter were on the university campus where she works when an unfortunate student had a problem. He got some bad news, and was threatening students, faculty, and staff. He was going to "shoot them all." Campus police were called. By the time they arrived, the man was long gone. The campus police (I know nothing of their training, nor if they are sworn officers) remonstrated with the staff for "agitating" the man.The state itself has a CCW law. The university has banned concealed carry. Two weeks ago, students at that university demonstrated against the university policy by carrying empty holsters. The thing is, they're right.Self-defense is primarily one's own responsibility. Law enforcement can't keep you safe. One tool, not the on... Dr. Zeus's Forensic Files blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015146 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:29:00 +0100 1015146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=977334&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F174807121%2F One of the advantages of blogging is finding like-minded bloggers and tracking the development of their ideas over time. Two bloggers who I have been fortunate enough to meet in cyberspace are David Web (forensic psychology extraordinaire) and Jamie Davies (A-level guru and website builder). Both have launched new projects and I am happy to feature them here. David is probably best known for his extensive Forensic Psychology/Science empire (Blog, website 1 and 2 and myspace). Recently David ventured into PsychSplash territory with “Exploring Psychology“. The exploring psychology blog is where David showcases and reviews some of  the very best freely available psychology resources on the Internet. Already I have found a stack of interesting material on his site and am starting ... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=977334 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:40:35 +0100 977334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=948752&cid=t_100795_155_f&fid=36522&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpathtalk.org%2Farchives%2F27 Reason Magazine’s Radley Balko has an exposé (a shorter version has been published in the Wall Street Journal) on the broken medical examiner system in Mississippi, and, in particular, the troubling case of Dr. Stephen Hayne, an “entrepreneurial” pathologist who gives all forensic pathologists a bad name.   Hayne is the de facto state medical examiner for Mississippi and appears, according to the article, to be in the pockets of the state’s prosecutors.  Notably, he has: Testified on the stand in a murder trail that the nature of a wound was consitent with two people pulling the trigger (the conviction has been overturned by the state Supreme Court in no small part due to this testimony). Testified to performing in excess of 1,500(!)  forensic autopsies in a... pathtalk.org blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=948752 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:13:27 +0100 948752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908574&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F09%2Fmore-than-1-in-.html The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics made note of a distressing phenomenon in its press release last June, 27, 2007. They noted that 1/3 of all prison and jail inmates in the United States are African American which far outstrips the degree of their representation in the general population. More than one in 10 (11%)  African Americans between the ages of 25 - 34 are incarcerated in the United States. What a waste of human energy and talent. What does this say about our society which finally ended slavery, and then ended segregation, and now incarcerates so many of its African American citizens? There is something significantly wrong. Obviously for significant numbers of Americans we are not the land of the free and the home of the brave. Link: Bureau of Justice ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908574 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:42:16 +0100 908574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=906074&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F09%2Fanother-possibl.html Could another innocent man be executed in Alabama tomorrow? Here is a blurb from the Innocence Project's web site.Unless Alabama Gov. Bob Riley or courts intervene, Thomas Arthur will be executed tomorrow despite his claims of innocence and the possibility of DNA testing in his case. Less than two months ago, Darrell Grayson was executed after Riley refused to step in and allow DNA testing that could have proven Grayson’s guilt or innocence. The Innocence Project advocated for DNA testing in the courts and through the political system in both cases. But over the last few days, Riley has refused to even learn more about how DNA testing could prove Arthur’s innocence. “As we told the governor’s senior advisers, 42 states in the country now allow post-conviction DNA testing. In 42 st... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=906074 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:23:30 +0100 906074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=892785&cid=t_100795_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F159974190%2F (Here’s a request from a reader - feel free to use the comments box to offer advice. Zarathustra) I am new to all this so here goes!! I am a 3rd year Advanced Diploma in Nursing student and have just 5 months left till I qualify. I have been given a job interview on Monday for a staff nurse position on a forensic low secure men’s ward. I am extremely nervous as I do not know what sort of questions they might ask me, if anyone has any idea at all I would be eternally grateful!! Many Thanks (Source: Mental Nurse) Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=892785 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:56:25 +0100 892785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=816666&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fpathological-ga.html There is an interesting article in the June, 2007 issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine entitled, "Pathological Gambling: A Nonsubstance, Substance-Related Disorder?" which provides an overview of the history of diagnosing and treating pathological gambling. Lifetime prevalence rates for pathological gambling are between 1% and 2% of the population. The co-occurance of pathological gambling and other substance using disorders is about 50% for gamblers who also have substance use problems, and about 9% - 16% for people with substance use disorders who also have gambling problems. With minor variations current treatment for pathological gambling is very similar to treatment for substance use disorders. There is no know effective medications. With the rise in gambling opport... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=816666 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:44:54 +0100 816666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=815140&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fwhat-do-criminal-barristers-think-of.html Most criminal barristers think psychiatrists make more useful expert witnesses than clinical psychologists, with the latter considered to be most appropriate when it comes to determining confession reliability. That's according to a survey of 62 British barristers by Tim Valentine and colleagues.In case any readers are unsure of the difference – psychiatrists are medical doctors who have gone on to specialise in mental health. Clinical psychologists are psychology graduates who have gone on to practise in mental health following their post-graduate training, which these days takes the form of a doctorate with taught and research-based components.It always used to be psychiatrists who were called on to act as mental health expert witnesses in criminal cases, but over the last twenty years... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=815140 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:18:00 +0100 815140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=795080&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Ffresh-doubt-cast-on-memories-of-abuse.html Memories of child abuse, long buried, but suddenly recovered in therapy, have been a source of controversy for some time now. The fear is that such memories are false; that they are the product of suggestion, hypnosis, visualisation or other therapeutic technique.Now Elke Geraerts and colleagues have cast fresh doubt on the reliability of these therapy-recovered memories. They found that such memories are dramatically less likely to be corroborated by third parties or other evidence, than are lost memories of child abuse recovered outside of therapy, or abuse memories that were never forgotten.Seventy-one participants with never-forgotten memories of child abuse, and 57 participants with recovered memories responded to a newspaper advert posted by the researchers. They were interviewed in ... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=795080 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:50:00 +0100 795080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=776103&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fjurors-may-be-biased-against-fathers-in.html Accused fathers in child sex abuse trials have the odds stacked against them, a new study suggests. Monica McCoy of Converse College and Jennifer Gray of the University of Wyoming found that with all other circumstances and evidence held equal, people are more likely to judge a father guilty than a mother. However the same gender bias wasn't found to apply when the suspect was a stranger to the alleged victim.A community sample of 256 adults in South Carolina read a 6-page fictional account of a court case involving the alleged serious sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl. The report described the cross-examinations of the alleged victim, the suspect, a witness for the defence and a witness for the prosecution. All participants read an identical account but for one exception – the suspe... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=776103 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:31:00 +0100 776103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=767549&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F139001194%2F As has been the case for a while now, readers continue to submit sites to PsychSplash for inclusion which I am very happy about! In “issue” #2 of the Smorgasboard series, I run through the latest sites sent to me by keen readers. Annie Books: Author and school psychologist Michelle Fattig and illustrator Josh Fattig have created the “Annie Book Series”, a series of stories about characters Michelle and Josh who have Asperger’s Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder. In the books, Michelle and Josh use their unique skills to “fight crime, battle evil, and promote world peace”. Books are targeted specifically at parents, teachers, professionals and children who face the challenges of Aspergers and ADD. Visit the site to learn more (warning! - site i... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=767549 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:19:57 +0100 767549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=600080&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fcan-good-people-really-turn-bad-re.html The idea that certain situations can turn good people evil has spread like wildfire ever since Philip Zimbardo's (in)famous Stanford Prison Experiment. The study ended prematurely when the "ordinary" participants acting as "guards" turned sadistic. Zimbardo has said this showed "the evil that good people can be readily induced into doing to other good people", and recently he has explained the Iraqi prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib in similar terms.But what if the participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment weren't "good people"? What if the idea of participating in a prison experiment, or working at an interrogation facility, appeals to a certain type of character?Thomas Carnahan and Sam McFarland posted two adverts, just like the ones used in Zimbardo's study, in several campus newspapers... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=600080 Thu, 10 May 2007 15:27:00 +0100 600080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=568028&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fcan-god-make-people-more-aggressive.html Reading violent scripture that's been taken out of context can increase people's aggressiveness, especially when God is said to sanction violence, a new study suggests.Brad Bushman and colleagues presented hundreds of students with an obscure, violent passage from the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It tells the story of an Israelite man plotting revenge on a murderous mob from Gibeah, eventually leading to the deaths of thousands of soldiers on both sides.Crucially, half the students read a version of the passage that included the Israelite man and his associates praying 'before the LORD', together with the sentence: 'The LORD commanded Israel to take arms against their brothers and chasten them before the LORD'. The remaining students read the exact same story but excluding these tw... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=568028 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:41:00 +0100 568028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=564420&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fmy-three-shrinks-podcast-17-happy.html This podcast comes out the day after the 1-year anniversary of our blog. Thank you to all of our well-wishers. It's not always easy to keep something like this, and the podcast, going. But having friends like Dinah and Clink make it easy.Note that next week will be a special podcast, where we will discuss many of the submissions for our May 1 Grand Rounds. Send us your submissions by Saturday, April 28, 2007, at midnight at mythreeshrinksATgmailDOTcom. We'll even include some brief audio comments about your post (attach a 20-30 sec .m3).April 22, 2007Topics include:A lot of silly talk about our anniversary, gifts, ducks, and chocolate.Virginia Tech Tragedy. Most of the podcast is about this and related offshoots. We discuss some comments on Dinah's post, Unspeakable. We also point out two ... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=564420 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:35:00 +0100 564420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=554369&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fadults-are-unable-to-tell-when-children.html With their wide eyes and innocent hearts, you might think it's easy to tell when a child is lying. Oh no it isn't. Not according to Leif Stromwall and colleagues, who found adults were useless at detecting when children were lying.Thirty children aged between 11 and 13 were told they were going to be interviewed about one event that had really happened to them, and about another that they'd never experienced (an earlier questionnaire identified which life experiences the children had actually had). The children's task was to talk about both events as if they had experienced them both.So next the children were interviewed about two such experiences (e.g. the time they were bitten by a dog, or the time they found a dead bird) by one of three female researchers who were blind to which experie... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=554369 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:31:00 +0100 554369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=548297&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fmy-three-shrinks-podcast-16.html ClinkShrink here. I volunteered to help Roy by editing one of our podcasts--heaven help me, I did the best I could. Be patient, I'm using Windows. This is podcast number 16 which was actually podcast number 14 taped about a month ago and taken out of order for no particular reason.April 17, 2007Topics include:First up are the Top 25 Crimes of the Century, a topic that could only be mine. It's a Time article that lists some of the most infamous or unusual crimes, but I have a couple bones to pick about their choices. Roy and Dinah just think I'm weird for even knowing this stuff. [Listen in to find out Clink's favorite crime. -Roy]Next we answer a question from Driving Miss Molly regarding how much and what kind of preparations psychiatrists do before their patients' appointments.Finally we... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=548297 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:00:00 +0100 548297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=544501&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fits-tough-job-but-somebodys-gotta-hew.html Human Sacrifice, Power, and Ritual in Moche Society and Visual Culture[Note: Roy beat me to this topic by a few mere seconds.]My fellow bloggers are such good friends. They didn't even blink when I invited them to go to a lecture on human sacrifice with me. It was fascinating. The speaker, Steve Bourget, worked for several years on an archeological expedition in Peru involving the Moche people who practiced human sacrifice from 200 to 700 A.D.Human sacrifice was used to reinforce the political power of rulers by linking them with gods and the priest caste who led the sacrificial ceremony. The victims were prisoners-of-war, sometimes hundreds at a time, who were led nude to the ceremonial site. They were killed by blunt head trauma using a club-like tool or by throat laceration. Many murals... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=544501 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:50:00 +0100 544501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=517604&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fmy-three-shrinks-podcast-14-no-april.html Hard to believe we went so long without a podcast. Sorry about that, folks, but life got too hectic for a spell. We didn't do anything special for April Fools Day (except some funny YouTube links), but we still think you'll like today's podcast.April 1, 2007:Topics include:Q&A: Midwife with a Knife, an OB/GYN, asks us about whether pedophilia is a disease or something else, and what we think about civil (as opposed to criminal) commitment for it. Clink uses one of her 50-cent words on us (ephebophilia, a term that Clink says was coined by John Money in his book, Love Maps). See also The Last Psychiatrist's posts on this here and here.NYT article: "The Brain on the Stand", by Jeffrey Rosen. Clink talks about this article about brain diseases being put on trial to explain bad behavior.Q&... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=517604 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:30:00 +0100 517604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=508252&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fcourtroom-confidence-backfires-when.html Confidence is extremely convincing – many studies have shown that both real jurors and mock jurors are more likely to believe a courtroom witness who appears confident. But what if a confident witness is seen to make an error? New research by Elizabeth Tenney and colleagues shows that in this case, confidence backfires: confident witnesses who make mistakes are perceived to be the least reliable of all.Forty-eight students read one of four versions of a courtroom transcript. As expected, participants who read about a key witness who said they were absolutely sure of their testimony, found that witness more credible than did participants who read about an equivalent witness who admitted being uncertain.Crucially, however, half the students read versions in which the witness was seen to ma... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=508252 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 08:11:00 +0100 508252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=508235&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwalk-like-psychiatrist.html Roy, oh Roy, too many 'roids, it's Roy unleashed....So Roy wrote these lyrics on the comment section of ClinkShrink's Comet post, and I just can't resist clipping and pasting them. Please, sing loudly, very loudly, to the tune of Walk Like An Egyptian!All the old inmates in their cellsThey do the Haldol dance don't you knowIf they move too quick (oh whey oh)They're gettin' a dose of InderalAll the bizarre men have a fileThey got a gray mouse for a petSeroquel smiles (oh whey oh)They trade their pills for a cigaretteFreudian types with the hookah pipes sayAy oh whey oh, ay oh whey ohWalk like a psychiatristThe big COs like to take their keysThey spin around and they cross the floorThey've got your back (oh whey oh)You're in the clink so they guard the doorAll the prisoners like to see the d... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=508235 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:11:00 +0100 508235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485782&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F03%2Fbankruptcy_unde.html NPR Religion program had an interesting program on March 11, 2007 describing the bankruptcy underway in the Catholic diocese of San Diego. There have been so many pedophile law suit settlements that they have bankrupted another Catholic diocese. This news has me wondering where the Catholic dioceses get their money to begin with? It is from their parishioners of course. And that has me wondering why parishioners would be financially supporting an institution which harbors, enables, and abets sex abusers and then hypocritically purports to teach people about morality? The God which the Catholic church claims to represent must have one heck of a sense of humor. Either you laugh or cry. Is this an example of bad faith described in the post below? To listen to the show click on the link be... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485782 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:12:18 +0100 485782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470305&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fno-you-dont.html I think Dinah raised an interesting topic in her last post. Can psychiatrists ever refuse to treat someone, or to treat them only under certain conditions?I'll leave Dinah and Roy to talk about the free society way of handling that; I can address what happens inside the walls.The patients I treat get locked up because of persistent misbehavior or persistent high-risk behavior. (I don't call it 'self-destructive' behavior---even though it is---because inside the walls that term has a very different connotation.) I don't really ever have the option of not treating someone. My clinic is never too full to accept new patients and our jail/emergency room never goes on 'fly-by' status due to lack of bed space. So, I get all comers.That being said, I do have certain limits. By the time I get my pa... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470305 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:55:00 +0100 470305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470457&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34738&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbps-research-digest.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fteenage-delinquency-and-absent-fathers.html Following a spate of gang shootings in London last month, in which three teenagers were killed, opposition leader David Cameron claimed part of the blame lay with family breakdown, particularly absent fathers. Now a breaking study from America appears to support his case.Rebekah Coley and Bethany Medeiros interviewed 647 teenagers and their mothers in 1999 and then again in 2001. The sample consisted of poor urban families in which the father was not resident. The average age of the teenagers at the first interview was 12.5 years, and most were African American or Hispanic, living in Boston, Chicago or San Antonio.Fatherly involvement appeared to have a protective effect. The teenagers who saw more of their fathers at the first interview, and/or who had more communications with him, were l... BPS RESEARCH DIGEST blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470457 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:16:00 +0100 470457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470496&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34742&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeception.crimepsychblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D166 From The Sunday Times, 25 Feb: People who lie in their e-mails and text messages face being rumbled by new “truth detection” software being developed by researchers. The academics have analysed tens of thousands of electronic messages and claim to have identified telltale signs that show if a person is being economical with the truth. […] The [...] (Source: Deception Blog) Deception Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470496 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:40:28 +0100 470496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=471380&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2F87811208%2F The incomparable David Webb has recently launched “All About Forensic Science“. Capitalizing on the growing interest in this area (how many CSI program are currently on TV?), David has again amassed a large selection of resources, writes a regular blog and has provided students and members of the public a great place to start their forensic science journey. A simple and easy way to keep up with David’s exploits is to subscribe to his monthly newsletter. Congratulations to David. His forensic empire is growing rapidly (see his other work)- Do you sleep David?? (Source: PsychSplash) PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=471380 Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:22:34 +0100 471380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=472260&cid=t_100795_109_f&fid=34794&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadseg-shu.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Flighter-side-of-suicide.html Dinah raised the issue of suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts), which in turn raised the issue of what to ask and in what manner to elicit information (i.e. how to get the information in order to make a reasonable assessment of risk). This, then, reminded me of the frank manner in which a former patient informed me: "If I had a serious plan to take my own life, do you really think I would tell you?" Implying, "So you could stop me?" Wow. But as has become customary, this is a riff point off of ShrinkRap.I begin by presenting an analogy. A clinical instructor pointed out that the prevalence of sexual abuse is significantly higher than we would expect. In other words, it is grossly under-reported, and she stressed that an important factor is the discomfort of clinicians to merely inquire. I... Turn Your Head and Scoff blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=472260 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:13:00 +0100 472260