Doctors & Clinics Article Directory
Recent Articles
Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails
Jeffrey kleis of Jeffrey Kleis, DPM Inc
There is a new laser treatment for fungal nails (onychomycosis). More…
Does a Desire for Fame and Success in a Bipolar Patient Indicate An Emerging Manic Episode?
Dr. Jeffrey Speller of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Mental health professional have long debated the relationship between manic episodes and the desire for fame. An article published in Medical News Today, March 2, 2009, examines this issue. The article reports on a study published online today, 2nd March 2009, in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology.The researchers studied, “….manic and depressive levels of 103 people including 27 people with diagnosed manic depression (also known as bipolar disorder), and compared with the results of questionnaires designed to assess their ambitious life goals, such as a desire for fame, material success or recognition. Participants rated the likelihood of various things happening to them, such as; ‘You will appear regularly on TV’, ‘You will have 20 million dollars or more’.” The results were very interesting. Th researchers found “…that the people who had experienced episodes of mania during their lives had the highest expectations of achieving popular success and financial success. This pattern suggests that people with manic or bipolar tendencies are drawn to focus on success, money and popular fame…mania, along with all of its costs, may also drive people to set higher goals. In some cases they achieve them, giving…a glimpse into the advantages that can accompany this highly painful disorder.” There are several implications of this study. First, this study confirms what mental health professionals who treat bipolar patients have seen clinically, i.e., that manic episodes are typically associated with a strong belief in the importance of achievement, recognition by peers and the public, and an expectation of future success. Second, bipolar patients must remain vigilant about the emergence of a manic episode by monitoring their day to day desires for fame and recognition. Third, mental health professionals who treat bipolar patients should use the patient’s increasing desires for fame as a maker for an emerging manic episode. And, fourth, public health professionals should increase their efforts to educate the public about the link between manic episodes and desires for fame in bipolar patients.
The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that increasing desires for fame and success in bipolar patients may be marker for an emerging manic episode.
This article is reprinted with permission from Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s blog at: http://drjeffanddrtanya.typepad.com/
Source: Original Article
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Do Defective Genes Cause Cocaine Dependence and Cocaine Induced Paranoia?
Dr. Jeffrey Speller of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Mental health professional have long wondered about the relationship between cocaine addiction and genes. More…
Do What Teens Wear Influence Their Drinking Behavior?
Dr. Jeffrey Speller of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Mental health professional have long been concerned about impact of alcohol advertising on teens’ drinking behavior. More…
Do Defects in How Brain Cells Communicate Cause Schizophrenia?
Dr. Jeffrey Speller of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Mental health professional have long debated what defects in brain cells cause schizophrenia. More…
Does a Defective Brain Protein Impair the Ability to Deal With Stress?
Dr. Jeffrey Speller of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Mental health professional have long wondered about the role of the brain in one’s ability to deal with stress. An article published in Medical News Today, March 4, 2009, examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the March 1st 2009 online edition of Nature Neuroscience.The researchers “…Using a rat model, …discovered that neurons in the hypothalamus, the brain’s command center for stress responses, interpret ‘off’ chemical signals as ‘on’ chemical signals when stress is perceived….Normally, neurons receive different chemical signals that tell them to either switch on or switch off. The off signal or brake only works if the levels of chloride ion in the cells are maintained at a low level….This is accomplished by a protein, known as KCC2….stress turns down the activity of KCC2, thus removing the ability of the brake, a chemical known as GABA, to work properly. A loss of the brain’s ability to slow down may explain some of the harmful, emotional consequences of stress.” The implications of this study are significant. First, the results of the study open up new thinking about the theories of the stress response and new avenues of research of how to best adapt and prevent and the harmful effects of stress. The researchers note that “..Chronic stress takes a physical and emotional toll on our bodies and scientists are working on piecing together a medical puzzle to understand how we respond to stress at the cellular level in the brain. Being able to quickly and successfully respond to stress is essential for survival.” Second, the results of the study show that one’s inability to successfully respond to stressful situations is not just a psychological weakness or failing but a biological inability to adapt to stressful situations.
The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that a defective brain protein impairs the ability to deal successfully with stress.
This article is reprinted with permission from Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya’s Blog at: http://drjeffanddrtanya.typepad.com/
Source: Orginal Article
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Diabetic Foot Care
gerard kerbleski of Podiatry Associates of New Mexico, LTD
The question often arises, “why do patients with diabetes have to be so concerned with their feet?” Many people understand that it is critical for patients with diabetes to have their feet checked on a regular basis, but are uncertain as to the reasons. More…
The Basics of Herbology
The Herbal Spot Lisa Gerardi, RH, AHG
I am an herbalist and aromatherapist, and I would like to help others learn about my field of work and the wonders of our planet. More…
Nursing Home information for beginners
Bradford McCoy of Twinbrook Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Placing a loved one in a nursing home can be a very stressful and confusing process. This article is intended to give you some basic facts about long term care. More…
Fibromyalgia: Relieving Pain and Fatigue
Robert Schwartz of Piedmont Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, P.A.
A great deal of the pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia can be relieved by obtaining a complete diagnosis that emphasizes finding those conditions that can be treated, and then reducing the total number of things that interfere with getting well. More…