Monday, June 26, 2006 11:54 AM
posted by R. Shock Coping with Compassion Fatigue In an insightful interview with WebMD.com's Medscape, Dr. Charles Figley discusses compassion fatigue, a state experienced by those helping people in distress and a phenomena that affects health care workers and the general public alike.
Dr. Figley began his study of psychologically traumatized people in the 1970's which led him to notice in the 1980's that many of his colleagues no longer worked in the field. When he studied deeper he found that these professionals were reacting to the "toxicity of the work". Further study revealed that those health care professionals who could remain in the field had certain methods of self care that he came to identify as ways of preventing and mitigating compassion fatigue.
Click here to read the full interview, courtesy of WebMD.com's Medscape (may require free registration)
link to this post  11:47 AM
posted by R. Shock Anorexia Nervosa - Genetic Links Researchers with the University of North Carolina's eating disorders program have discovered evidence that Anorexia Nervosa may have a genetic component. In groundbreaking research, scientists studied data on sets of twins from the Swedish Twin Registry, a sample population of 31,406 people in total.
Dr. Cynthia Bulik, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the study said, "We have gone through far too much time when parents are blamed for causing this disorder." Dr. Bulik further elaborated that people struggling with Anorexia are "fighting their biology."
Click here to read the full article, Courtesy of MedPageToday.com
link to this post Friday, June 23, 2006 10:11 AM
posted by Michael Mason Katrina's Wake a Wake-Up Call for Mental Health Issues Some scary news coming from the Katrina aftermath:
"New Orleans is experiencing what appears to be a near epidemic of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, one that mental health experts say is of an intensity rarely seen in this country. It is contributing to a suiciderate that state and local officials describe as close to triple what it was before Hurricane Katrina struck and the levees broke 10 months ago."
Click here to read "A Legacy of the Storm: Depression and Suicide" (may require registration).
link to this post Wednesday, June 21, 2006 10:18 AM
posted by R. Shock Anger Management When Reno, Nevada entrepreneur Darren Mack murdered his estranged wife and then shot and wounded the judge presiding over his bitter divorce case and child custody battle, Mack's friends, family, employees and community were shocked and stunned. Those who knew Darren Mack the best have all conceded that the only person who knew the depth of Mack's rage - towards both his wife Charla and Judge Chuck Weller - was Mack himself. MSNBC television commentator Rita Cosby has this to say about the case of Darren Mack:
"At some point, probably all of us have had tense moments with a spouse or a significant other, and this case, if the allegations prove true, is definitely an extreme situation. But sadly, there were few warning signs."
No warning signs, but evidence suggests that Darren Mack's actions were premeditated, according to a report from CourtTv's Crime Library website:
"Authorities believe that in the days before he launched his attack, Mack planned his getaway, renting a sport utility vehicle from a California company with his business credit card and probably stashing away enough cash to keep him afloat while on the run."
While it is certainly no excuse, the rage that tormented Darren Mack probably drove his actions. There's much to be angry about in today's world and some people just don't have the skills to resist anger. Sometimes people even forget that there is always a choice to resist acting on thoughts of violence. Behavioral health programs offer extensive anger management regimens that can help people learn the skills needed to control their anger in an increasingly frustrating world. If you or someone you love has a problem with anger, please seek help immediately.
link to this post Monday, June 12, 2006 8:49 AM
posted by R. Shock Predicting Who is Likely to Relapse? Investigators supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse have released the results of a fascinating study on addiction and brain functions which could lead to a method of diagnosing which recovering people are most likely to relapse.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists of the University of California, San Diego were able to identify a pattern of brain activity in 46 methamphetamine-abusing men. When each man had been off of drugs for about four weeks he was given two psychological tests; one where he was instructed to perform a simple task and one where he was required to make a decision. One year later, the participants were reinterviewed to determine which ones had relapsed into practicing addiction. The data showed that most of those men who relapsed had shown activity in a certain region of the brain during the decision making test, while most of those men who did not relapse had shown activity in a different part of the brain during the same test. The results seem to suggest that the decision making capacity works differently in men more likely to relapse, a factor that can be diagnosed before treatment even begins.
The leader of the study, Dr. Martin Paulus: "The most striking aspect of this result is that the fMRI pattern has 90 percent accuracy in predicting outcome. The differences in brain activity are pronounced, with little overlap." Paulus believes that the potential uses of this methodology are promising in methamphetamine-abuse treatment settings, allowing treatment professionals to allocate more intensive care to those patients who may need it the most.
link to this post Wednesday, June 07, 2006 12:02 PM
posted by R. Shock Recovering From Depression: 10 Steps Depression is a serious medical condition. If you believe that you are experiencing depression, seek help immediately. For people who are in treatment for depression, here are 10 simple things that the individual can do to help the process of professional care:
- Start acting better even if you don't feel better quite yet. This doesn't mean "just cheer up". Remember that your condition is being treated and that you might not have reached the point where you can "feel the effects". If you do nothing, your depression will probably only become worse.
- Set realistic goals that you can accomplish despite feeling depressed. The choice as to whether or not you want to manage your depression is one that only you can make. You can choose to allow your depression to slowly get worse, or you put the energy that you do have into doing things that can make you feel a little bit better. Think of it as an investment of your available energy. Schedule activities to get you out of the house, tell your friends and family about your depression and progress in treatment, ask your friends and family to help in your treatment. Easy does it, but do it. Just don't push yourself too hard or expect unrealistic results and keep in mind that the last thing that you want is to give in and become isolated.
- Create a schedule of activities and write it down. Set an alarm clock and wake up every morning at the same time. Come up with a morning ritual that gets you showered and dressed for the day. Have something to do morning, afternoon, and evening and observe a regular meal schedule.
- Break large tasks into small ones, set priorities, and do what you are able to do. Recovery from depression is similar to body-building programs in the sense that you build strength slowly. Start by putting small, simple tasks that can make you feel better on your schedule every day and then commit to doing these small tasks no matter how depressed you feel.
- Don't allow yourself to become isolated. Schedule time each day to be in the company of other people and eat meals with your family and friends whether you feel like it or not. Don't wait until you feel like being with other people. Because of the nature of depression, depressed people feel like they want to be alone. Don't give in to this.
- Find someone you can talk to and confide in. Talk therapy and support groups offer excellent opportunities to "get it all out".
- Make a list of things that you enjoy doing and put one or two in your daily schedule. What do you consider fun? If you were not feeling depressed, what would you be doing for enjoyment? The idea is to distract yourself from your depression and give yourself a few minutes of enjoyment in your life. Just remember to start small and not to wait until you want to do it. Depression drains your motivation and stops you from doing things that give you joy.
- Do a little mild exercise each day. Moderate exercise three times a week has been proven to significantly reduce depression.
- Expect your mood to improve gradually and not immediately. Feeling better takes time. Prepare small steps you can do every day, build in social support, and expect ups and downs in your depression. Yes, you're depressed and feel very down, but you still can choose to do little things that will either make you feel better or worse and only you have the power to make those choices. It's never hopeless until you decide that it is.
- Postpone important decisions until your depression has lifted. This is one of the few exceptions to the "keep doing what you would be doing if you weren't depressed" rule. When you are depressed, your judgment is impaired because depression causes pessimism and a negative view of the future. Try not to put yourself in a position where you need to make decisions about significant life changes such as changing jobs, getting married or divorced, buying or selling automobiles and homes, etc. If you cannot avoid such decisions, discuss them with people who know you and your situation in life. Seek advice from those around you who may have a more objective view.
Excerpted from Terrence T. Gorski, Depression and Relapse - Ten Guidelines for Starting Depression Recovery, Gorski-Cenaps Corporation, Spring Hill, FL, Spring 2006
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Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., Diplomate ABDA, is the Chief Executive Office at Brookhaven Hospital and the Vice President of Rehabilitation Institutes of America. Dr. Gainer has been involved in the design and operation of treatment programs since 1977.
Stephen Harnish, MD is the Medical Director of Brookhaven Hospital. Dr. Harnish is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is well known in Oklahoma for his informative radio and television appearances.
Aric Thorpe, MHR, is Brookhaven Hospital's Pastoral Liaison Representative. He conducts the quarterly Minister's Lifeline series and provides mental health information to pastors and clergy.
Sarah McGee serves as the Community Education Provider for Brookhaven Hospital. She provides information on mental health and drug and alcohol treatment to healthcare professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states. |
