Fundamentals of Neurobiology

2018 ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
S. Nassir Ghaemi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Hepatic Metabolism ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Manic Depressive ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Clinical Pictures ◽  
The Brain

This chapter examines the basic pharmacology of psychotropic drugs. Besides knowing what drugs do to certain chemicals or proteins in the brain, it is important to know where drugs affect those chemicals or proteins. There is some basic knowledge about neuroanatomy that is relevant to the clinical practice of psychopharmacology. It is accepted that neurobiology is an important factor in the etiology and pathophysiology of major psychiatric conditions—like schizophrenia and manic-depressive disease, as well as in other psychiatric clinical pictures. The general summary usually provided is that neurobiology represents a diathesis to psychiatric conditions, which is supplemented by environmental stress to produce observed clinical pictures. This mixture of genetics and environment is oversimplified in the minds of most mental health professionals. In fact, the mix depends on the illness. The biochemical neuroanatomy of the monoamines, glutamate, and GABA in the brain are discussed. Pharmacokinetic aspects of psychopharmacology are reviewed, including hepatic metabolism, drug half-lives, dosing, and tolerance and sensitization.

Psychiatric Ethics

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Child And Adolescent Psychiatry ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Liaison Psychiatry

Ethical issues inherent in psychiatric research and clinical practice are invariably complex and multifaceted. Well-reasoned ethical decision-making is essential to deal effectively with patients and enhance their care. Drawing on the positive reception of Psychiatric Ethics since its first publication in 1981, this highly anticipated fifth edition offers psychiatrists and other mental health professionals a coherent guide to dealing with the diverse ethical issues that challenge them. This edition has been substantially updated to reflect the many changes that have occurred in the field during the past decade. Its 25 chapters are grouped in three sections, as follows: 1) clinical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, psychogeriatrics, community psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry; 2) relevant basic sciences such as neuroethics and genetics; and 3) philosophical and social contexts including the history of ethics in psychiatry and the nature of professionalism. Principal aspects of clinical practice in general, such as confidentiality, boundary violations, and involuntary treatment, are covered comprehensively, as is a new chapter on diagnosis. Given the contributors’ expertise in their respective fields, Psychiatric Ethics will undoubtedly continue to serve as a significant resource for all mental health professionals, whatever the role they play in psychiatry. It will also benefit students of moral philosophy in their professional pursuits.

Smart Phone Applications in Clinical Practice

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Epstein ◽  
Amanda Bequette
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Computing Power ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Future

Smart phone usage has greatly increased in recent years. Not only has the computing power of these mobile devices dramatically improved but so has the variety of functions they can accomplish—an amazing array of tasks that once would have been considered remarkable. Historically, mental health professionals have been quick to embrace smart phone technology and there are now literally hundreds of applications for practitioners and clients alike. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using smart phone technology in clinical practice and considers the implications for the future of clinical practice.

Issues in Planned and Unplanned Disruptions in Clinical Practice

2017 ◽  
pp. 537-547
Author(s):  
A. Steven Frankel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Significant Negative Impact ◽  
Insurance Model

Disruptions in clinical practice that are not adequately planned for can have a significant negative impact on clients, family members, and colleagues. This chapter addresses the problem of unanticipated disruptions in clinical practice due to death, disability, and illness. Challenges associated with each of these situations are illustrated. Proactive and thoughtful ways of preparing for them are presented. Topics include the professional will (with descriptions of needed elements), approaches involving groups of cooperative colleagues, and a “quasi-insurance model” that was developed because many mental health professionals have not embraced the first two approaches. Recommendations for addressing these situations with our clients’ best interests in mind are presented.

scholarly journals Antipsychotic long-acting injections in clinical practice: Medication management and patient choice

2009 ◽  
Vol 195 (S52) ◽  
pp. s51-s56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Gray ◽  
Rosalyn Spilling ◽  
David Burgess ◽  
Tim Newey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Patient Choice ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
Long Acting

BackgroundA patient-centred approach to care, focusing on recovery, demands a reconsideration of how choices are made about treatment, how this affects medication adherence, and the role of long-acting antipsychotics (LAIs) in this process.AimsTo explore the role of the mental health professional (particularly nurses) in helping patients manage their medication, with a specific focus of the use and administration of LAIs.MethodA pragmatic review of the literature.ResultsPatients (by experience) and mental health professionals (by training and clinical practice) are experts in the care and treatment of psychosis. When patients and clinicians make a joint decision both are more likely to adhere to the treatment plan. In this paper we consider good practice in the administration of LAIs that focuses on where and when they should be given and administration techniques. Skills for talking with patients about their medication that include exchanging information, monitoring the effects of medication and making advance choices about treatment in the event of a crisis are also discussed.ConclusionsMental health professionals require a range of competences to help patients manage their medication effectively.

scholarly journals Suicide mitigation: a compassionate approach to suicide prevention

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alys Cole-King ◽  
Gill Green ◽  
Linda Gask ◽  
Kevin Hines ◽  
Stephen Platt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Suicidal Person ◽  
Do So

SummaryThe death of a patient by suicide can severely affect mental health professionals, particularly if it occurs despite major efforts to intervene. Notwithstanding the difficulties faced by clinicians, suicide prevention remains of paramount importance in order to help save lives. This article seeks to promote a pragmatic and compassionate biopsychosocial response using evidence-based interventions to reduce suicide. It introduces practical strategies that psychiatrists can use in everyday clinical practice, in particular the paradigm shift of suicide mitigation to help prevent suicide. We believe that every encounter with a suicidal person is an opportunity to intervene to reduce their distress and, potentially, to save a life. We believe that it is no longer acceptable for clinicians to state that if patients wish to kill themselves they can do so, in the absence of any attempt at a compassionate intervention.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Dinesh Bhugra ◽  
Bruno Paz Mosqueiro ◽  
Alexander Moreira-Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
The Relationship

Both religion and spirituality (R/S) have played a major role in lives of human beings since the dawn of mankind and that remains the case in most cultures. Scientific literature shows a remarkable increase in high-quality research publications in the past decades providing insights and evidence-based information into the relationship between R/S and mental health. However, despite most mental health professionals acknowledging the importance of R/S issues in clinical practice, there has a been a large gap in translating this knowledge to clinical practice and professional training in mental health. Based on these unmet needs and on the robust available evidence, this book presents a comprehensive and sensitive review and summary of evidence and recommendations regarding R/S and mental health to inform clinical practice. Then a brief summary of the three sections (Theory, General principles of religions and relationship with mental health, and Clinical practice) and of the 25 chapter is presented.

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