A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The prevalence of anti-depressants and other psychiatric medications has experienced a great increase recently, and many concerns are rising in response to the growing dependency on such substances. While there are some medications that have proven to be helpful in improving the quality of life for pregnant mothers and young children, some in the mental health professions remain skeptical over the ultimate utility and safety of such medicines. Adding support to this camp, a study at Georgetown University Medical Center has recently suggested that medicines indicated for mood issues, pain, and epilepsy, when administered to pregnant women or to infants and young children, may cause mental health concerns at a later age.

The study focused on animal models, specifically working with rats in a laboratory setting, but suggests that the issue is likely a prominent one for humans, as well. After administering various modern treatments for mood issues, as well as those indicated for pain and for epilepsy, researchers monitored laboratory rats, finding that those animals which had been treated with the medication were more likely to exhibit signs of mental health complications as adolescents and adults. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The use of anti-depressant medications is steeply on the rise, with many mental health professionals concerned about the frequency with which people experiencing mental health difficulties rely entirely on pharmaceuticals to relieve symptoms. Part of this concern stems from the fact that for many clients, anti-depressants simply don’t work, a problem that a recent study conducted at Northwestern University has suggested can be explained in the preoccupation with treating symptoms of stress. The research provides evidence for clear genetic distinctions between stress and depression, noting that the latter is an entirely different phenomenon within the brain and suggesting that it should be treated differently, as a result. The study may help wean Americans and concerned clients worldwide from modern dependency on psychiatric medications.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The fact that general practice physicians often prescribe anti-depression medication to their clients is well known, but the extent of the prescriptions, which account for over 50% of all prescriptions nationally, is not as renowned. Neither is the fact that general practice physicians account for a considerable amount the total prescriptions of other psychotropic drugs, such as anti-psychotics, stimulants, and anti-mania medications. But the recent creation of a research report by Thompson Reuters and SAMHSA, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is likely to increase the notoriety of its statistics on general practice prescriptions, which highlight a departure from traditional psychiatrist roles.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Rampant on the news both specific to the mental health community and delivered to the public at large, over-prescription of psychiatric medications has been developing as a major problem for several years. With scores of reports highlighting suspicious links between high-prescribing and endorsing individuals and pharmaceutical company pay-offs, a growing mistrust of the eagerness with which some medications are prescribed is largely responsible for a surge in interest in non-invasive therapies such as psychotherapy. Over-prescription remains an issue in America and many parts of the world, however, and is especially disturbing in the case of children, who are often subjected to drugs that combat ADHD, depression, and other issues even when a clear need has not been established. In response to such activities, a conference on the psychiatric abuse of children has been organized for the venue of Syracuse, New York from the ninth to the tenth of October.

The conference will examine the ways in which children are subjected to needless drugs, and how these drugs create additional problems both during childhood and later on in life. Encouraging participants to take action against over-prescription in their own communities and professional fields, the conference is sure to inspire new ways to help families overcome uncertainty over medications when emotional and behavioral issues are present. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Most people familiar with the substance LSD probably associate the drug with the psychedelic counter-culture of the 1960’s and 70’s, when recreational use was popular. But the drug and its maker had other hopes for LSD as well, hoping to see it prove useful medically –especially in terms of the mental health field. After several decades of reluctance to return to the scientific study of the substance, researchers in Switzerland and at the University of California have begun conducting and publishing studies on the use of LSD as an aid in feelings of anxiety among the terminally ill. As more scholars and associations turn their attention to clinical uses of the substance, the mental health field may find that this controversial drug holds potential to heal.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Though there are certainly some children who experience developmental, learning, and social difficulties due to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and who can realize remarkable benefits through the use of prescription medications, it may seem that an excessively large number of youths are diagnosed with the issue and given pills. Concerns about the over-use of drugs geared towards children with symptoms of ADHD has risen in recent years as some parents and mental health professionals note the potential of therapy and other treatment types to provide a more meaningful and long-term solution for kids with difficulties focusing.

This issue has been given its own spotlight recently with the release of a report showing that abuse of prescription medications for ADHD has risen over 75% in the last eight years. The steep incline in abuse may correlate with increasing amounts of prescriptions being written for children who may not truly need the medication. Concerns about proper education about the medications and misunderstandings spread among youths as to potential benefits of taking excessive amounts of the pills are also being voiced in response to the discovery of the surge in abuse. A low number of deaths –precisely four– were connected with the abuse of such medications, but over forty percent of teens who reportedly abused the drugs exhibited moderate to severe side effects, and were prone to receiving hospitalization or visits to the emergency room. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Often, an inability to access or receive meaningful mental health services can lead those experiencing debilitating symptoms to rely on pharmaceuticals and other substances in an effort to self-medicate. Such instances carry great risks, not only for physical and mental health, but for the development of deep addictions, engendering further negative consequences. This situation has been clearly observed recently in Kashmir, where long-term violence and social disorder have led to a growing number of women developing symptoms of mental health difficulties. The creation of accessible mental health care as well as treatment for addiction and substance abuse is needed to help the region recover from its deep-rooted turmoil.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

While anti-depressant medications are able to help some clients who experience intense feelings of sadness, and may also help in attaining sleep and realizing greater energy, their use has become alarmingly widespread in the west. Short-term side effects associated with such medications are fairly well known, but as a recent informational piece supplied by the Mayo Clinic to a concerned writer notes, not much is known about the potential long-term effects of such drugs. As use increases and the length of time over which anti-depressants have been taken expands, greater knowledge on the subject is bound to appear –and many mental health professionals hope the news won’t be bad.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Statistics on the prevalence of mental health concerns in the modern world may seem staggering, especially with the consideration of rising reports of feelings of depression, anxiety, and other related issues. But equally if not more astounding are the rapidly rising rates of psychiatric medication prescriptions, which have spawned a multi-billion dollar industry intent on treating the full spectrum of common mental health complaints with readily available drugs. Many have cited significant negative elements of the industry, such as a tendency to market medications directly to clients, rather than to mental health care professionals. The connections between product endorsement and prescription and personal bonuses and gifts have also been called into question on several occasions. Recently, a book was published that delivers another blow to the industry. Titled The Emperor’s New Drugs, the book explores the question of whether anti-depressant medications and their next of kin are actually effective in the first place.

Though extensive clinical trials have been performed to support the positive actions of the majority of psychiatric medications, many remain skeptical as to their ability to help treat mental health concerns in a meaningful way. For some people, adjusting chemical balances may prove beneficial, but in his book, Irving Kirsch, who is a professor of psychology at the University of Hull, challenges whether imbalances can really be blamed for the manifestation of mental health issues. Citing the ability of placebos to have similar effects in many cases, Kirsch suggests that it is psychotherapy, rather than silent medication, that holds the greatest potential to heal. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Anti-depressant medications, which have experienced a sharp rise in popularity in recent years, often fall short of providing a truly meaningful or long-term solution to those experiencing difficult mental health concerns. While many may take anti-depressant medications in an effort to quell suicidal thoughts and behaviors, a recently released study has suggested that the substances provide little if any deterrent to those under the age of twenty five. While adults over the age of sixty-five showed a notable decrease in “suicidality,” based on a review of statistics and literature recently provided to the US Food and Drug Administration, young adults and children exhibited the same increase in such thoughts and behaviors as those not taking the medications. The research supports the need for greater inquiries into the efficacy of anti-depressants, particularly for children and adolescents.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The benefits of being outdoors have often been documented in terms of the healthy effects of sunlight. Despite concerns over too much sun exposure, a reasonable amount of regular sunshine can help boost Vitamin D levels and support a greater mental well-being, leading many mental health professionals to recommend that their clients enjoy more time outdoors. Adding a new dimension to this piece of advice recent research about the potential of soil elements to boost mood are breaking into the mainstream.

Based on original research that introduced cancer patients to a mycobacterium, a naturally occurring and harmless element present in many types of soil around the world. The participants subsequently reported feeling an overall boost in mood and outlook, a result that may not have been expected, but which has prompted a great body of research to date. As the facts and figures recorded in the lab continue to surface, ideas about the evolutionary role of dirt in human existence have sprung forth to support the notion that with our modern aversion to getting dirty and an increasing tendency to stay inside, our modern brain chemistry may be greatly skewed from that of our ancestors’. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

The fast pace of modern life along with tense war-time environments and a growing financial crisis might be natural precursors to mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, but along with these sometimes difficult conditions, possibly inadequate treatment deliveries are in the increase, as well. Though a staggering body of research continually suggests that psychotherapy is able to deliver effective results for a range of mental health issues, often with better results than pharmaceuticals, psychiatric drug use is on the rise in the US. In fact, a recent study has found, the rates of prescription and subsequent sales have doubled since 1996.

The study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, investigated data based on psychiatric prescriptions –over 164 million of which were doled out in 1998– and expenditure records, concluding that by 2005, 27 million people, or ten percent of the US population, had been taking Prozac, Paxil, and other drugs, up from 13 million people in 1996. Additionally, the study found that while pharmaceutical firms’ marketing funds did not show a similar increase, the amount allotted to direct-to-consumer advertising, such as plugs in magazines, on television, at bus stops, and other public venues, quadrupled. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

A recent edition of the popular science and technology publication Scientific American begins its in-depth article on the possibility of a link between mental health concerns and biological agents with a fairly simple observation: “Schizophrenia is a devastating illness.” What the article fails to introduce as readily is the fact that this mental health concern, which does indeed present a challenge for many people around the world, is also one of the least understood mental difficulties ever studied. Nevertheless, the article goes on to present what it calls a growing body of research suggesting that the common flu may be responsible for the appearance and spread of schizophrenia.

Psychologists and other mental health care professionals with an interest in schizophrenia may be hotly divided as to the potential of such a claim to hold true, and may also contend amongst themselves as to the possibility of mental health concerns stemming from purely biological causes. The article suggests that it is not a biological agent itself that might hold the power to generate mental health concerns in people, but rather the precise response of the immune system. While bodies of evidence supporting such theories may indeed seem to link rates of pregnant mothers afflicted with agents such as the flu and the subsequent emergence of schizophrenia in their children, conclusive support is far from being provided. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In the medical professions, making an exact diagnosis can sometimes be a difficult task. But a team of researchers from the University of Leicester has recently stumbled upon a remarkable fact: general practice doctors mis-diagnose cases of depression more frequently than they correctly identify it in their patients. While feelings of depression traditionally present a challenge for health professionals in terms of diagnosis, the study, which worked with over fifty thousand patients, shows that a close attention to the diagnostic process is crucial to ensure that people get the help they need –and that they aren’t medicated unnecessarily.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The rates of anti-depression and related pharmaceuticals is on the rise, as psychotherapists strive to reach clients with deep and meaningful change many, especially those in the medical establishment, choose to treat issues solely with medications. Recently, a research team in Spain sought to discover the relationship between medication use and established family dysfunction. While the team’s research did not return any significant correlation between dysfunctional family relationships and medication use, it did reveal that an alarming 24% of Spain’s women take anti-depressants, and that over 30% take tranquilizers. Though the mental health professions are gaining popularity and credibility in Spain as in many other parts of the world, a clear need for more quality psychotherapeutic care exists.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Over the past several decades, the emergence of powerful new drugs has made recovery possible for many people who had previously struggled with other methods. While there are advocates of medication for use in mental health treatments as well as fervent opponents, however, the prevalence of these drugs tends to be collectively understood as inordinately high, especially in wealthy Western societies. Stressing the need for quality, comprehensive therapy for clients intent on resolving their issues, many professionals have jumped on the bandwagon of educating the public about their range of choices when it comes to seeking mental health treatment. Recently, famed writer/psychologist Richard Bentall, who has previously published award-winning books on the mental health fields, has released a tome which underscores the need for a collective makeover of the psychiatric landscape, a book which has firmly ensconced itself in the effort to bring about more therapy and less drug dependency. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

It’s no secret that a lot of modern insurance companies harbor a preference for what they view as the most cost-effective measures when it comes to addressing emotional well-being and health in general. In relation to therapy, this attitude has often lead to a hasty endorsement of short-term therapies, especially in conjunction with various medicines. But Falk Leichsenring, a professor of Psychotherapy Research at the University of Giessen in Germany, has long suspected that this hasty endorsement is a departure from understanding which types of therapy are most effective.

Based on the extensive review of a collection of twenty three in-depth studies involving over a thousand participants, Leichsenring set out to pinpoint the therapies that clients found most beneficial, and with which therapists themselves were most satisfied. What he found was that while short term therapies usually had some degree of impact on the lives and prosperity of clients, in-depth courses of therapy involving psychodynamic elements and techniques were responsible for greater rates of achievement. Over the course of several months or even a few years, long term therapy embracing the person as a whole and taking the time to look at their backgrounds, memories, relationships, and personal observations is capable of serving as the foundation for profound change, the study suggests, while less involved treatments can fail to address deep-rooted feelings and ideas. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

It is the cry of many seasoned psychotherapists and potential patients alike that the United States is becoming alarmingly dependent on medication for a wide variety of issues that can be addressed with healthier alternatives. The medical industry in particular is riddled with professionals who seem keen on providing a pill for every complaint, and with patients who simply swallow their worries away. Some may have suspected that certain individuals in the psychiatry business have been promoting and over-prescribing medications for a more pernicious reason than simple difference of opinion. The idea that some medical providers achieve financial gain through their promotion of drugs has been around for a while, but has lacked concrete and widespread evidence. This month, the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics will include a fairly definitive, and fairly shocking, study of this precise issue, revealing how serious the problem really is.

The study was performed by a trio of academics from the University of Massachusetts Boston, Tufts University, and Harvard Medical School, and delivers solid evidence of professionals using their financial ties with pharmaceutical companies to push the industry’s agenda. The study focuses on those panel members of the American Psychological Association who helped to write the guidelines for treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The researchers poured through publicly-accessible information sources to discover financially-based relationships between the panelists and pharmaceutical companies. They found that eighteen of the twenty members had at least one financial link, whether in the form of direct payment for research, speaking fees, special grants, consulting, or stock ownership. Though the APA now requires panelists to publish their financial ties, the rule was not in effect when the guidelines for these three disorders — which bring in over $25 billion per year for pharmaceutical companies — were written and published. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a condition that affects some one to three percent of the American population. Most commonly associated with intrusive thoughts, unrealistic fears, and a repetitive behavior of some type, OCD can be a debilitating condition for people in all professions and in all walks of life, detracting from everything from family and romantic relationships to daily productivity and self-expression. While the overt symptoms of the disorder are somewhat widely known, one fact about OCD in particular tends to stay hidden: at least eighty percent of cases begin in childhood. These early instances of OCD can have a major impact on a child’s quality of life, and the search for causes –and improved treatment– for the condition has been in full swing for quite some time.

Recently, a major development in this search occurred for a collaborative team hailing from Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the University of Toronto, and the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, Ontario. A remarkably large and diverse set of mental health professionals, the team sought to identify possible chemical indications for OCD in children. Using a combination of brain imaging and genetic studies, the researchers were able to isolate the chemical glutamate, as they reported in the
March issue of Brain Imaging and Behavior. David Rosenberg, a lead authority in the research, explains that glutamate helps to regulate the brain’s production of and access to serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and that an excess of this chemical logically has an adverse effect on the brain’s operation. The study is likely to have a significant impact on treatment methods for OCD, incorporating new glutamate-conscious medicines, which can be helpful in combination with effective psychotherapy.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

The United States experiences a significant number of self-inflicted deaths each year. In 2004, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 32,439 deaths. Especially troublesome is the number of young adults who attempt suicide in conjunction with symptoms of depression. In 2004, suicide was the third leading cause of death for children, teens and young adults ages 10 to 24. While treatments vary, with some mental health professionals opting for prescription medications and others relying more upon the strength of intensive psychotherapy or residential treatment, the desire to understand how such thoughts and tendencies are formed remains universal. For with greater understanding of the roots of such ideas and behaviors comes the chance to discover and employ preventive measures to help spare youths from the psychological hardships of suicidal ideation.

The American Association of Suicidology, with members spanning from mental health professionals to leading academics and researchers, was founded precisely for this reason. The association has held its annual meeting on April the 17th, and has proved an enlightening and productive medium for the presentation of new studies and ideas, as well as open discussion and networking. Read the rest of this entry

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