A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

After first meeting another person, whether for a job interview, a date, or some other purpose, people often attempt to discover how well they’ve performed, though making an accurate assessment can prove challenging. Recently, a research team from Washington University in St. Louis and Wake Forest University conducted a study aimed at measuring how good people are at assessing the perceptions of others after making a first impression. The study was especially notable in that it incorporated a question as to whether the participants felt confident about their scorings. After a study session involving opposite-sex meetings, participants were queried about their own perceptions of success and their idea of the perceptions of their partner, and researchers found that those who reported being confident about their choices were far more likely to be accurate than those who were uncertain.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Longwood Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

One of the most powerful tools in the effort to help treat and support those with psychopathic tendencies and behaviors is to understand the root causes of such issues, a tool that has been investigated and refined in recent years. A major contribution to the evolution of this tool may be found in a recent study performed at Vanderbilt University which looked at the brain’s reward system in participants displaying various traits of psychopathy.

Traditionally, research on psychopathic behavior has focused upon popular ability to disregard fear and dread and to exhibit a poor or weak response to punishment or other common deterrents. Yet the Vanderbilt study looks at elements that may be driving certain behaviors, rather than elements that might fail to prevent them. The researchers administered a dose of amphetamine to participants, who were examined to assess various psychopathic traits. The participants were then given both a PET scan and an MRI scan to obtain imaging of their brains. Those participants exhibiting psychopathic traits had a much more significant reaction in their brains surrounding dopamine release with the drug, likely creating a more intense feeling of reward. Similarly, when psychopathic participants were given a task that they believed could earn them a cash reward, they showed a significantly stronger reaction in dopamine activity than other participants, suggesting that the drive to achieve the reward is especially heightened. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Orlando Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

As criticism has been rising over excessive diagnosis an potentially harmful and unnecessary treatments within the psychiatric field, many professionals are hoping that the publication of the new DSM-V, which is promising to remain open to community critique, will help address the issue. In particular, a group of psychiatrists from Australia are rallying support for the inclusion of “melancholia” in the new edition, a move they hope would allow for more particular and appropriate treatments for various types of depression, rather than a range of blanket treatments they suggest may be less effective. Critics point out that there is little to no biological evidence for the issue, tho others have show their support; whether the concern will make it into the DSM-V remains to be seen.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Miami Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

As issues of access to psychotherapeutic care become more pressing, many professionals and entrepreneurs are devising new ways to bring soothing treatments to potential clients, some of which are necessarily more effective than others. A major trend in alternative treatments has emerged in recent years as online psychotherapy, a practice recently denounced by a professional psychologist who insists that suggesting that such services are simply a “different type of psychotherapy” may be dangerous for clients. The psychologist calls for greater discussion and disclosure for types of care that are, in their essence, an alternative rather than a replacement.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Hollywood Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Feeling down during the winter may be a fairly common experience, yet for many people, the experience is especially pronounced, seemingly uncontrollable, and potentially debilitating. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a major concern among much of the world’s population that lives in areas receiving low levels of sunlight during the winter, and clients facing this challenge have traditionally had to choose between psychotherapy and medications, both of which may be effective yet may also be difficult to access. The easy access and simple format of light therapy for the treatment of SADhas been celebrated, and has also recently been gaining support and popularity among professionals and clients alike.

Consisting of a portable unit, light therapy can help some people affected by SAD avoid the impact of low sunlight levels on neurochemistry, and may also receive a boost from the positive aspects of the light itself, even in as little as three days. Of course, some clients report that simply spending time outside during the day –whether to take a walk or engage in another activity– can have the same benefits. But in areas where sunlight may be especially low, or for those on extremely busy schedules, personal light units may prove invaluable. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Collins Bureau - All Rights Reserved.