A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In metropolitan as well as more rural environments, it can be difficult to experience a night of pure darkness. Light pouring in from street lamps, issuing forth from appliances and television screens, or accumulating from the advertisements and lit windows of buildings can seem like an invasive force –although many people are so accustomed to a constant state of light intrusion that they fail to notice any problem at all. This issue may be a concern for mental health, as the ability to align one’s sleeping and working cycles with the natural rhythm of the earth has often been cited as of the utmost importance for overall well-being. Supporting this theory, a study performed at the Ohio State University and recently presented in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience has tested the effect of constant light exposure on mice.

The study involved two laboratory environments; one in which mice were exposed to artificial light without interruption throughout the day, and one in which an opaque tube, with dark conditions inside, was present, allowing mice to enter at any time. The researchers found that those mice housed in the constantly light environment exhibited stronger depressive symptoms than did the mice with the option to escape into darkness. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Lauderdale Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There are many adverse symptoms, both psychological and somatic, associated with alcohol abuse, and those in recovery often find themselves struggling with the inherent challenges. However, a study recently published in the journal Sleep suggests that even those who have been abstinent for years may still suffer from insufficient sleep. The study examined the sleep patterns and behaviors of a range of recovered alcoholics as well as a control group, and found that those with a history of alcoholism were far less likely to achieve deep, uninterrupted sleep than their counterparts with “regular” histories. The results may indicate that even after alcohol abuse is conquered, cognitive difficulties may still persist, requiring a greater attention to physical and psychological care.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Staten Island Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Nearly everyone can recall an experience –or a handful of them– with nightmares, memories of crawling into their parents’ bed or strolling down the hall for a refreshing glass of water after a particularly harrowing dream being one of the elements that serves to unite childhoods across the country and around the world. Nightmares don’t subside for plenty of people, however, and some experience more disturbing dreams than others. For some people, particularly those who are suffering from concerns in their personal, social, and professional lives, nightmares can be debilitating. Recently, this issue has made it to the forefront of the mental health industry for its implication in the risk of suicide.

Though other symptoms such as depression are more commonly associated with suicide, the prevalence of nightmares in suicidal thoughts and behaviors has been a growing subject of interest for mental health professionals. While most people experience occasional bad dreams, chronic sufferers of nightmares may be internalizing their pain or engaging in other thoughts or activities that don’t serve their overall well-being. A recent study led by a psychology doctoral candidate at Florida State University has investigated the link between nightmares and suicide, and has found that the unpleasant and terrifying dreams are significantly and independently associated with suicidal symptoms. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Woodland Hills Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

It has long been suspected that insomnia, rather than being a symptom of other health concerns, is a standalone issue that tends to be accompanied by any number of physical and mental difficulties. Those who experience chronic pain, such as in the case of people afflicted by osteoarthritis, are often affected by difficulty sleeping as well. Seeking better treatment for such clients, researchers at the University of Washington Seattle have performed a study on the ability of cognitive behavioral therapy to address both pain and sleeplessness. In contrast to a control group given stress management and wellness training, those given CBT reported significant gains in sleep efficiency and quality as well as a reduction in perceived pain over a year-long period. Therapy may gain a boost over popular medications as a result of the work.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Baltimore Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

A growing number of parents are concerned about the behavior, social aptitude, and scholastic performance of their children, but often this concern can lead to quick diagnoses of attention deficit disorder and other frequently suggested behavioral issues. With a multitude of children receiving regular medication for ADD and similar behavioral concerns, there is some dissent within the psychological and psychiatric communities over whether this medication is justified in many cases, or whether it is a symptom of an industry focused on profiting through pharmaceuticals. A recently developed approach to some behavioral issues in children with sleeping difficulties has been suggested as a further alternative, but a study performed at the University of Kansas School of Medicine has suggested that such efforts may be misled as well.

The research was focused on taking a second look at children who had undergone surgical removal of adenoids and tonsils in an effort to clear breathing passages and foster healthier sleep, and included instances of children reported to exhibit symptoms of ADD and other behavioral issues. The study found that while results were positive in terms of behavioral effects after six months, many of the participants did not show significant improvement over a two and a half year period. The results suggest that such treatment is poorly suited to providing a surgical “cure” for behavioral problems, and along with the many problems presented by over-medication of youth, provides support for the wider adoption of therapy and psychological care. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Albuquerque Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

It’s no secret that a good night’s rest is a key ingredient of a happy and healthy waking life. In modern societies where time is often seen as a commodity and stress prevails among much of the population, getting a night of quality, undisturbed sleep is often seen as a luxury. But the need for adequate rest is clear, as it affects everything from mood to productivity to physical health. Recently, a study was performed to understand the impact of sleep on romantic relationships, and as you might have guessed, there is a clear correlation between the quality of sleep a couple receives and the perceived quality of their interactions.

The study followed twenty nine couples over the course of a week; each individual was asked to record their thoughts on the quality of interactions during the day, as well as information about their sleep during the night. While the information recorded about interactions was necessarily subjective to a certain degree, the trend was clear: those couples who received a poor night of sleep experienced a decrease in the quality of interactions the following day. To make matters more difficult, women who recorded poor experiences during the day subsequently received a lower quality in sleep that night, as did their partners.

This “vicious cycle” of sleep and social interaction may have important implications for therapists and counselors, especially those who work with couples. While there are a range of methods involved in working out differences and creating a positive, rewarding relationship, the benefits of working out any differences before heading off to bed can be included as a valuable tool in the arsenal of healthy relationships. And getting quality sleep may become a more pressing prescription.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mountain View Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Ron Soderquist, PhD

Click here to contact Ron and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

This is what we hear from people who call our clinic:

“I am exhausted. It takes me hours to fall asleep, and then I wake up and can’t get back to sleep. I can’t shut down my racing mind. I am so groggy the next day, I’m afraid I’ll mess up at work. I am miserable to live with. I am desperate! Then I see those ads for Ambien and Lunesta and I get e-mail coupon offers to take to my doctor. The couple in the ad sleeps 8 hours and wakes up feeling wonderful. I don’t like being dependent on drugs, but what other choice do I have? I can’t go on like this. Besides they assure me it’s safe and there’s a one-week free trial.”

It’s not surprising doctors wrote some 49 million prescriptions for sleep drugs last year. The trend has been for doctors to prescribe more and more drugs for sleeplessness every year.

Are you desperate to get some sleep? What are the three issues drug companies don’t want you to think about?

The first issue drug companies don’t want you to think about is that through their massive spending on advertising, they have programmed you to think that the only way you will solve sleeplessness is by taking drugs. Over a two-year period (2005-2006) Sanofi-Aventis spent $350 million to advertise Ambien and AmbienCR, Sepracor spent more than $500 million to market Lunesta and Takeda (which makes Rozerem) spent $100 million. Is it any wonder so many people and doctors are convinced drugs are the only solution for insomnia? University of Minnesota’s Dr. Mahowald said, “I personally think the extent of advertising [for sleep drugs] has just been unconscionable.” Read the rest of this entry