February 27

New Study: SSRI Antidepressants 'Clinically Insignificant' For Most People. PsyBlog

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A new study published today is sure to set off another storm in the ongoing debate about the widespread prescription of antidepressants. Professor Irving Kirsch at the University of Hull and colleagues in the US and Canada report that new generation 'SSRI' antidepressants like Prozac or Seroxat mostly fall, "below the recommended criteria for clinical significance" (Kirsch et al. 2008). In other words, the most modern drugs prescribed for depression generally don't work.

The study was particularly interested in whether the drugs had different effects on people with different levels of depression. Here is what they found:
  • Mild depression: not tested as mild depression is usually treated with a 'talk therapy' rather than antidepressants.
  • Moderate depression: antidepressants made "virtually no difference".
  • Severe depression: antidepressants had a "small and clinically insignificant" effect.
  • Most severe depression: antidepressants had a significant clinical benefit - but see below...

More

From : PsyBlog 

February 26

Effectiveness Of Antidepressant Drugs Questioned

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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080226/thl-uk-depression-drugs-8004a53_1.html
February 25

Children Aged Between 1 And 4 Years: Control Of Instrumental Action

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The control of instrumental action following outcome devaluation in young children aged between 1 and 4 years (PDF; 195 KB)
Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology
From press release (American Psychological Association):

Hang on, parents. After the terrible twos come the goal-oriented threes. Kids seem to grow into the ability to act in pursuit of goals outside of what they can immediately sense sometime around that age, according to a new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Researchers found that by around age 3, children appear to shape their behavior in response to the outcomes they’ve come to expect. Anticipated outcomes that they value move them to act more than do outcomes that they don’t – a hallmark of emerging autonomy.

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February 25

Group Interpersonal Therapy Reduces Depression In Adolescent Survivors Of War

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Group interpersonal therapy reduces depression in adolescent survivors of war
Source: Evidence-Based Mental Health

Group interpersonal therapy, but not creative play, reduces depression symptoms in adolescent survivors of war and displacement in northern Uganda. Group interpersonal therapy may be more effective for girls than boys.

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February 22

10 Studies That Have Changed Psychology And The Way We See Humanity.

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What Are Babies Watching?

The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two.

Revolutionary Treatment of Depression

Euphoria Induced by Experimental Trickery

Even 24,576 Measurements Couldn't Prove Plants Have Souls

Stanley Milgram: Obedience to Authority Or Just Conformity?

Memory Manipulated After The Event

Personality or Situation? The Psychology of Individual Differences

Nobel Prize-Winning Research on Risky Decision Making

Sigmund Freud and Unconscious Mental Processes

From:

http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/02/top-ten-psychology-studies.php

 

February 22

10 Weird Psychology Studies

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Don't Stand So Close to Me

Empathy Causes Facial Similarity Between Couples to Increase Over Time

Neuroscientist Studies His Own Stroke

Superstitious Pigeon-Guided Missiles

A Psychic Dog?

Are We Programmed to Laugh When Tickled?

Invasion From Mars: The Anatomy of Panic

Does Semen Have Antidepressant Properties?

Stop Staring at Me!

Human-Dog Psychology

From:  

http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/12/10-weird-psychology-studies-vote-now.php

 

February 22

Drug Information Portal

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This database, launched in February 2008, provides information about over 12,000 drugs, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, dietary supplements, drugs of abuse, and investigational drugs. Searchable by generic or brand name, or browse resources by drug class or by audiences such as the public or librarians. Also includes news, featured drugs, and related resources. From the National Library of Medicine (NLM); database compiled from NLM and other government sources.
URL: http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25494

Annotation copyright LII.ORG 

February 22

Mind And Brain Portal, Wikipedia

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mind_and_Brain
February 22

Neuroscience Portal, Wikipedia

Neuro-science Portals, Gateways etc Trackbacks (0)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Neuroscience
February 22

Personal Reflections On Manic-Depressive Illness

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Personal reflections on manic-depressive illness This video talk, hosted by YouTube, is presented by Kay Redfield Jamison, a leading researcher in the fields of biplor disorder, manic depression and recurrent depression. The talk was given at the University of Virginia in 2002. A Flash-enabled browser is required to view this video. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxRLap9xLag
February 22

Psychology Portal At Wikipedia

Portals, gateways etc Trackbacks (0)
Psychology portal at Wikipedia Wikipedia is an online, user-editable collection of articles whose substance resembles an encyclopaedia. This page is the entry point for the psychology portal, which collects all psychology-related articles. The sections include applied psychology, behavioural, biological, clinical, cognitive, community, developmental, educational, evolutionary, gestalt, humanistic, developmental, educational, evolutionary, humanistic, industrial, linguistic, personality, psychoanalytic, school, sensory, social, transpersonal. This page should be useful for students, teachers and researchers. From Intute.ac.uk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Psychology
February 20

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Mindfulness In Medicine Screening, Labia On Orange, Sunday 24th February @ 18.15

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A DOUBLE FEATURE:

       1.Mind and Life conference with HH Dalai Lama 2005

       2.Mindfulness in medicine - an interview

The programme will be introduced by Dr Simon Whitesman* 

COST:  R40 includes a a glass of Flagstone wine and snacks courtesy of the Cape Town Tibetan Buddhist centre.

 

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Mindfulness in Medicine

Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn is internationally renowned for his work as a scientist and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society, and author of best sellers like Full catastrophe living and Wherever you go, there you are. He will tour South Africa for the first time in May 2008 hosted by the Institute for Mindfulness South Africa and the UCT Graduate School of Business.
See www.mindfulness.org.za

 

1. MIND AND LIFE CONFERENCE 2005 (28 minutes)

This first film depicts Jon Kabat-Zinn presenting to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the 13th Mind and Life Institute seminars in 2005 - dialogues where the Dalai Lama and western scientists probe the fundamental nature of the mind, emotions and reality.

2. MINDFULNESS IN MEDICINE (54 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn in conversation with Vince Pasquariello, MD.

Subtitled: Regaining Control of Your Life and Your Work.

This interview shows  how and why mainstream medicine in the US is now paying more and more attention to complementary therapies.

For information on screenings please see www.labia.co.za or www.exploringfilmfest.com  

Labia Cinema on Orange - Tel: 021-424 5927

 

*Dr. Simon Whitesman MBChB (UCT)

Simon is in private general practice at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital with a special interest in Mind/Body Medicine and stress-related disorders. He directs the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme at Cape Town Medi-Clinic and chairs the Institute for Mindfulness in South Africa. He is certified as an MBSR teacher through the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness

 

February 20

Jon Kabat-Zinn Visit, May 2008

Psychotherapy and counselling Mindfulness Trackbacks (0)

The Institute for Mindfulness* will be hosting seminars, book signing and retreats with world famous Jon Kabat-Zinn. Jon Kabat-Zinn, emeritus professor of Medicine, founder and first exceutive director of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Clinical applications of Mindfulness pioneered by him are:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

 

* mindfulness is paying attention on purpose from moment-to-moment with an attitude of non-judgment, curiosity and openness.

Programme

WESTERN CAPE:
1 – 4 May 2008 3-Day Retreat for Health Professionals, Coaches and Educators: Goudini Spa, Worcester
A Taste of Mindfulness and its Clinical Applications: MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy)

8 May 2008 Public Lecture and Book Signing : Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town
Coming to Our Senses:Healing Ourselves in Ways Little and Big Through Mindfulness

9 May 2008 Full day public seminar : Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town
A Day of Mindfulness Practice and Dialogue

10 – 11 May 2008 Two-day Retreat for Business Leaders : hosted by the UCT Graduate School of Business
The Power of Mindfulness: A Retreat for Business and Thought Leaders

GAUTENG:
13 May 2008 Public Lecture and Book Signing : The Wanderers Club, Johannesburg
Coming to Our Senses:Healing Ourselves in Ways Little and Big Through Mindfulness

14 May 2008 Full day public seminar : The Wanderers Club, Johannesburg
A Day of Mindfulness Practice and Dialogue

 Further information about the prgramme

February 11

Angry Students

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Anger and Violence on Campus: Recommendations for Legal Educators
Source: University of Tennessee Legal Studies Research Paper (via SSRN)

Recent rampage killings compel greater attention to anger and violence on the college campus. In each of these tragic mass murders, vengeful individuals sought to address perceived grievances against faculty and/or other employees of the university. In each of these situations, numerous clues of impending violence were evident. Sadly, however, in each of these cases the schools failed to take preventive actions. While prediction of violent behavior will never be an exact science, universities must begin to enact violence prevention strategies. Maintaining an attitude that ‘this couldn’t happen here’ hampers the necessary education of faculty, staff, and security personnel.

Our purpose in this paper is to provide guidelines for dealing with angry students. Additionally, we will point out characteristics of potentially violent students and suggest some violence prevention measures. Although we will touch on security issues, our goal is to help law educators prevent students from erupting violently rather than to stop a mass murder already in progress.

Several options available for retrieval of full text (PDF; 82 KB).

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February 11

Personality Traits: Economics And Psychology

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The Economics and Psychology of Personality Traits
Source: institute for the Study of Labor

This paper explores the interface between personality psychology and economics. We examine the predictive power of personality and the stability of personality traits over the life cycle. We develop simple analytical frameworks for interpreting the evidence in personality psychology and suggest promising avenues for future research.

+ Full Paper (PDF; 643 KB)

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