Miscellaneous

Demystifying the workings of the brain have proven to be a far more daunting task for pharmaceutical companies whose bread and butter rely upon the research and development of new psychotropics. As a result, nine major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pool data on drug trials in an effort to streamline the methodology for formulating new medications to treat psychiatric disorders. This collaboration, which unites Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Roche and others, will co-mingle findings on 67 trials regarding 11 [...]

Individuals who engage in regular physical activity – regardless of intensity – are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, according to new research published in the November issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Of particular importance, researchers studying this issue found that this physical activity needs to be taken in people’s leisure time if they are to reap the benefits. The study demonstrated that those who exert themselves during working hours, by doing lots of walking or lifting [...]

On July 4, two hundred thirty four years ago, influential members of the Continental Congress, affectionately referred to as our founding fathers, were hard at work pursuing the arduous process task of declaring independence from the abusive, arrogant and autocratic governance of King George III. What I find strikingly poignant was how painful this ordeal was for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence was subjected to more than 80 changes during the period that the Continental Congress [...]

Non-medical clinicians train and practice in a world that is considerably different from that of physicians. With the employment of the medical model and the liberal use of psychotropic medications to correct the biochemistry of certain mental health syndromes on the rise, knowledge and appreciation of medical culture is more important than ever before in strengthening collaborative relations with physicians. Therapists are at times reluctant to pursue collaboration with physicians who are intimidating, boorish, insulting, controlling or egotistical. Physicians also [...]

The placebo effect is likely as old as the healing professions themselves. Three hundred years ago, doctors purposely used inactive substances when they had no suitable medications to treat certain medical maladies. Placebos account for the successful treatment of depression, pain, asthma, arthritis, hypertension, insomnia and other conditions. In the classic placebo effect, a person consciously believes that a substance is therapeutic, and this belief generates a positive effect on medical or psychological symptom improvement. For several decades however, scientists [...]