There Is No Cure for Existence: On the Medicalization of Psychological Distress

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Albarracin ◽  
Alain Ducousso-Lacaze ◽  
David Cohen ◽  
François Gonon ◽  
Pascal-Henri Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Biological Psychiatry ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Institutional Discourse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Ethical Commitment ◽  
Diagnostic Thresholds ◽  
And Control ◽  
Positive Effect

The current model of biological psychiatry assumes that mental suffering results from cerebral/neuronal disturbances yet to be identified. Under this model, the lowering of diagnostic thresholds or the invention of new disorders are surprising given that there have been no major etiological findings for decades. No clinical or epidemiological research demonstrates biological causes for problems defined as mental disorders, no more than research validates the numerous categories that supposedly describe them.The diagnostic spiral leads to the increasing prescription of drugs, sometimes for life, even if they have not been shown to have any substantial positive effect on any measure of “morbidity” for mental disorders. Today, the lives of children and adults are punctuated by the consumption of psychotropic drugs prescribed by physicians who are pushed to diagnose, treat, and control their symptoms.We aimed at showing that, despite these inarguable failures, the scientific and media discourse gives the public a warped view of reality where progress in biological psychiatric research is unceasing. Therefore we call for a paradigm shift in mental health: critical thinking, openness of mind, and analysis of the scientific and institutional discourse must be encouraged among all practitioners because their ethical commitment to their patients demands it.

scholarly journals Determinan Pembiayaan Musyarakah Pada Perbankan Syariah Di Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Teguh Permana ◽  
Andriani Puspitaningsih
Keyword(s):  
Profit Sharing ◽  
Third Party ◽  
The Public ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
And Control ◽  
Positive Effect

The results showed that third party funds, profit sharing rates, and problematic financing had a significant effect on musharaka financing, while inflation was not significant. Third party funds have a positive effect, while the profit sharing rate and problematic financing have a negative effect on musyarakah financing. Research also shows that there are different interceptions between BUS / UUS and BPRS where the BPRS intercept is greater than the BUS / UUS intercept. This shows that BPRS are more attractive to the public than BUS / UUS. The findings of this study imply that to increase the capacity of musharaka financing, efforts to increase community savings in third party funds are needed, promote a fair / appropriate profit sharing rate, and control problematic financing.Keywords: musharaka, dpk, profit sharing, financing problems, inflation.

The Future of Biological Psychiatry

CNS Spectrums ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 18-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Van Praag
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Biological Psychiatry ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
The Past ◽  
Diagnostic Approaches ◽  
Functional Psychopathology

AbstractProgress in biological psychiatry is contingent upon progress in neurobiology and progress in research of proper characterization and assessment of abnormal behavior. Advances in neurobiology are rapid and steady; however, advances are few and far between in psychopathology. In many ways, developments over the past two decades run counter to what I believe to be diagnostic pre-requisites for fruitful biological research in psychiatry. I presume this to be a major reason why thus far biology has made no significant contributions to the diagnoses of mental disorders.For progress to occur in biological psychiatry, the traditional diagnostic philosophies and attitudes must be reevaluated and alternative diagnostic approaches put into practice. This and the diagnostic method of functional psychopathology are reviewed in this article, with a focus on how the functional psychopathological approach could contribute to the advancement of the diagnostic process in psychiatry, and the opportunities it provides for biological psychiatric research.

An experimental investigation on the perception of depression among the public

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 685-685
Author(s):  
M. Schmoeger ◽  
A. Schosser ◽  
S. Jantscher ◽  
E. Auff ◽  
U. Willinger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Lay Beliefs ◽  
Mental Health Settings ◽  
Case Vignettes ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depressive Patients

Studies on beliefs regarding mental disorders take an interest in the question what beliefs about the causes are prevalent among the public. Studies using case vignettes concluded that lay beliefs about the causes of mental disorders clearly differ from the results of psychiatric research in view of the fact psychosocial factors are predominating in comparison with biological factors (Angermeyer & Dietrich, 2006). The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the impact of causal labels (biological/genetic, psychological/environmental or cause unknown), sex of the person described in a case vignette and sex of the participants on the perception of depression. The sample consists of 312 non-clinical participants (47.10% men, 52.90% women; mean age ± SD: 29.17 ± 12.76) who are not involved in mental health settings. To identify participants’ attitude towards depressive patients the experimental design of Lam et al. (2005) was modified and adjusted. A three way ANOVA was conducted to examine effects of causal labels, type of case vignette and sex of the participants on the attitude towards depressed patients. Simple main effects analysis only showed a significant main effect concerning sex of the participants (F = 5, 148, df = 1, p = 0,024).The results of the current study suggest that in comparison to men, women believe that depressive patients are more affected by the symptoms of the disorder. Neither the information about the aetiology of the disorder, nor sex of the person described in the case vignette seems to have an impact on the beliefs of the participants.

Information Seeking in a Global Context. The Creeping Influence of Economic Globalization & Corporatization: Neoliberal Discourse in Canadian Academic Libraries

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Waugh
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Economic Globalization ◽  
Institutional Discourse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Institutional Values ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Key Sites

Strategic planning documents are "key sites to institutional discourse" and reflect the public face of the library. This research explores the extent to which Neoliberal discourse permeates the strategic plans of three Canadian academic libraries, and examines how they are responding to global economic and political pressures. Through content analysis, the tension between libraries as a public good versus libraries as commodity is examined. Within this context, the disconnect between librarian core values and changing institutional values is also explored.Les documents de planification stratégique sont des « sites clés pour tout discours institutionnel » et reflètent le visage public d’une bibliothèque. Cette recherche tente de prendre la mesure dans laquelle le discours néolibéral imprègne les documents de planification stratégique de trois bibliothèques universitaires canadiennes, et examine comment ces institutions répondent à la montée et à la diversification des pressions économiques et politiques mondiales. En utilisant l'analyse de contenu et un regard critique, cette recherche exploratoire examine la tension entre la conception de la bibliothèque comme bien public et sa conception comme produit de marchandisation.

Suicidality and Treatment Experience Among Young People Who Inject Drugs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti ◽  
Lawrence J. Ouellet
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
The Past

Background. We examined correlates of past year suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) and described past year treatment experiences among young people who inject drugs (PWID). Methods. Participants were 570 adults (18-25 years) who injected primarily heroin. Interviews were conducted at field stations operated by Community Outreach Intervention Projects in Chicago, Illinois (USA). Interviewers administered the Psychiatric Research Instrument for Substance and Mental Disorders. Substance use and mental disorders were based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Past year STB was based on multiple questions. Results. Sixteen percent of men and 25% of women reported STB in the past year. In multivariable analysis, STB was associated with non-heterosexual orientation, foster care, and being raised by two parents. Primary major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, and borderline personality disorder had independent effects on suicidality. Among those reporting past year STB (n=111), 83% ever received mental health treatment, while 44% did so in the past year. While 24% of respondents indicated that at least one treatment matched their needs very well, 30% reported treatment that did not match their needs at all. The most common reason for ending treatment was program completion (about 50%) while getting better was endorsed by about 25%. Nearly half reported ending treatment due to a bad experience, logistical issues, or expense. Conclusions. Young PWID are at high risk for suicidal behavior and their mental health treatment experiences often do not meet their needs. There is a pressing need for more integrated substance use and mental health treatment.

Accounting and Control as Mechanisms for Solving Economic Problems as Viewed by Russian Citizens of the Perestroika Era (Based on the Analysis of Letters to the Authorities)

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-28
Author(s):  
Ol’ga D. Popova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Soviet Economy ◽  
Mikhail Gorbachev ◽  
The Public ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Cooperative Movement ◽  
Administrative Reforms ◽  
Regulatory Measures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Boris Yeltsin

This article deals with the public attitude toward the economic reforms of 1989–1990, specifically, the citizens’ suggestions on how to improve the country’s economy. The author analyses previously unpublished letters written by Russian citizens and addressed to the country’s leaders (Boris Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev) or sent to Soviet newspapers. To investigate people’s mental attitudes, the article focuses not only on social polling, but also on emotions, feelings, and thoughts shared by the letterwriters. The author of this article maintains that many citizens feared that the country would be swept away by the avalanche of capitalism and were prejudiced against perestroika-induced innovations. Habitual mental attitudes were undermined by the cooperative movement and private entrepreneurship. Various unrealistic and paradoxical suggestions were not infrequently made by the letter-writers who knew very little, if anything, about market economy. The majority of people suggested that command economy with its bureaucratic flavour should be improved. The analysis shows that Russian citizens’ mental attitudes were predominantly shaped by the notion of a bipolar world, as well as by Vladimir Lenin’s teaching about the socialist state and its role in the accounting and control over the Soviet state. The letters demonstrate that Russian citizens hoped to upgrade the Soviet economy through improvements introduced into the system of accounting and control, through harsher regulatory measures imposed on the economic system, as well as through rationing and strictly supervised distribution of goods. Many people believed that socialism was inviolable and that the Soviet economy could be improved by means of administrative reforms.

Extremes of Temperature

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M. Krake
Keyword(s):  
Control Measures ◽  
Temperature Extremes ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Assessment And Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Extreme Cold ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Extremes Of Temperature

This chapter covers extremes of temperature conditions, physiological effects, and prevention. All deaths caused by exposure to hot and cold temperature extremes are preventable when proper measures are taken. Described in this chapter are the effects of extreme heat and extreme cold on the health of members of the public, particularly older people and young people, and workers employed in various workplace settings. The differences between heat stress and heat strain are also discussed, as are various regulations governing exposure to temperature extremes. The nature and magnitude of heat- and cold-related conditions and symptoms are described in detail. Final sections of the chapter address various assessment and evaluation tools as well as prevention and control measures. In addition, an appendix describes the hazards related to hyperbaric and hypobaric environments and adverse health effects.

scholarly journals Quantifying Media Effects, Its Content, and Role in Promoting Community Awareness of Chikungunya Epidemic in Bangladesh

Epidemiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-94
Author(s):  
Mst. Marium Begum ◽  
Osman Ulvi ◽  
Ajlina Karamehic-Muratovic ◽  
Mallory R. Walsh ◽  
Hasan Tarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Media Outlet ◽  
And Control

Background: Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease, mostly present in tropical and subtropical regions. The virus is spread by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitos and symptoms include high fever to severe joint pain. Dhaka, Bangladesh, suffered an outbreak of chikungunya in 2017 lasting from April to September. With the goal of reducing cases, social media was at the forefront during this outbreak and educated the public about symptoms, prevention, and control of the virus. Popular web-based sources such as the top dailies in Bangladesh, local news outlets, and Facebook spread awareness of the outbreak. Objective: This study sought to investigate the role of social and mainstream media during the chikungunya epidemic. The study objective was to determine if social media can improve awareness of and practice associated with reducing cases of chikungunya. Methods: We collected chikungunya-related information circulated from the top nine television channels in Dhaka, Bangladesh, airing from 1st April–20th August 2017. All the news published in the top six dailies in Bangladesh were also compiled. The 50 most viewed chikungunya-related Bengali videos were manually coded and analyzed. Other social media outlets, such as Facebook, were also analyzed to determine the number of chikungunya-related posts and responses to these posts. Results: Our study showed that media outlets were associated with reducing cases of chikungunya, indicating that media has the potential to impact future outbreaks of these alpha viruses. Each media outlet (e.g., web, television) had an impact on the human response to an individual’s healthcare during this outbreak. Conclusions: To prevent future outbreaks of chikungunya, media outlets and social media can be used to educate the public regarding prevention strategies such as encouraging safe travel, removing stagnant water sources, and assisting with tracking cases globally to determine where future outbreaks may occur.

scholarly journals Agro-Environmental Determinants of Leptospirosis: A Retrospective Spatiotemporal Analysis (2004−2014) in Mahasarakham Province (Thailand)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Jaruwan Viroj ◽  
Julien Claude ◽  
Claire Lajaunie ◽  
Julien Cappelle ◽  
Anamika Kritiyakan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
The Public ◽  
Additive Modeling ◽  
The One ◽  
And Control ◽  
Northeastern Thailand

Leptospirosis has been recognized as a major public health concern in Thailand following dramatic outbreaks. We analyzed human leptospirosis incidence between 2004 and 2014 in Mahasarakham province, Northeastern Thailand, in order to identify the agronomical and environmental factors likely to explain incidence at the level of 133 sub-districts and 1,982 villages of the province. We performed general additive modeling (GAM) in order to take the spatial-temporal epidemiological dynamics into account. The results of GAM analyses showed that the average slope, population size, pig density, cow density and flood cover were significantly associated with leptospirosis occurrence in a district. Our results stress the importance of livestock favoring leptospirosis transmission to humans and suggest that prevention and control of leptospirosis need strong intersectoral collaboration between the public health, the livestock department and local communities. More specifically, such collaboration should integrate leptospirosis surveillance in both public and animal health for a better control of diseases in livestock while promoting public health prevention as encouraged by the One Health approach.

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