Psychiatry vs. Antipsychiatry: Facts set against Protests

Psychiatry is, indeed, basically similar to the rest of medicine. It is based upon making reliable diagnoses and applying evidence - based treatments that have success rates comparable with those used in other specialties. Psychiatric syndromes may be defined as disorders that are conventionally treated with treatments used by psychiatrists. The illnesses in which psychiatrists have developed proficiency have tended to be those that either manifest with disordered psychological functioning (thinking, perception, emotion, and memory) or those which have no obviously established organic basis. However, scientific developments are showing us that these so - called psychological ailments are linked with abnormalities of the brain, just as so - called medical illnesses are deeply affected by psychological factors. Modern psychiatry is an evolving field that is becoming less hospital based, more evidence based, and more neuroscience based. Nonetheless, during the last decades, random antipsychiatry attitudes have amalgamated and turned into a conjectural effort, which has a humanistic appearance, too. On the other hand, publicized criticisms by some associates, including known psychiatrists or psychotherapists, have, radically, stirred and reinforced the movement. Anyway, though various criticisms or worries about psychiatry, either as a subdivision in science or as a clinical practice in medicine are understandable due to existing scientific or diagnostic deficits, anti-psychiatry stance, which comprises many historical exaggerations based on happenings and primitive conditions from a century ago, may help to keep us rigorous and honest about what we do and inspiring us to insistently seek better diagnostic prototypes and management standards. In the present article, the said antagonism, in addition to the existing facts and expected responsibilities of psychiatry has been discussed concisely.

Download Full-text

Correlation of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease with psycological factors: A viscous cycle?

10.52768/jjgastro/1023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Akriti Sharma ◽

◽

Garima Singal ◽

Urvi Saini ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Reflux Disease ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

The Other ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

History Of ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Gastro Intestinal Tract ◽

The Brain

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder of the gastro-intestinal tract is often associated with psychological factors such as anxiety and depression. Researchers across the globe are divided in their views about psychological factors being the cause or sequalae of GERD. While some researchers believe that psychiatric disorders contribute to GERD, others suggest that unresolved GERD leads to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Through this article we aim to highlight, that the brain-gut axis acts as a strong link between the central nervous system and Gastrointestinal tract and that there is a likelihood of a viscous cycle of psychological factors leading to symptoms of GERD, and unresolved GERD contributing to further worsening of psychological illnesses. In our opinion, while treating patients for either of the two disorders, history of the other one needs to be excluded and if GERD and psychological illnesses are found to co-exist, the two must be treated simultaneously as the treatment of one maybe incomplete without treatment of the other.

Download Full-text

Dementia, delirium, and other neuropsychiatric disorders

Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry ◽

10.1093/med/9780198747437.003.0014 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 345-390

Author(s):

Paul Harrison ◽

Philip Cowen ◽

Tom Burns ◽

Mina Fazel

Keyword(s):

Head Injury ◽

Cerebrovascular Disorders ◽

Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽

The Other ◽

Organic Basis ◽

Brain Pathology ◽

Regional Brain ◽

Clinical Presentations ◽

Intracranial Lesions ◽

The Brain

‘Dementia, delirium, and other neuropsychiatric disorders’ covers the disorders that share an ‘organic’ basis in the brain. It begins with a discussion of the concept of ‘organic’ in this context. A practical section follows, in which the clinical presentations of regional brain pathology are outlined, and the assessment of the ‘neuropsychiatric patient’ is discussed. Delirium, amnestic disorders, and dementia are then covered in turn. In each case, the causes, pathology, and epidemiology of these syndromes are discussed. Particular weight is given to the major forms of dementia, reflecting their prevalence and the recent advances in their understanding. Treatment of delirium is covered, but treatment of dementia is deferred until Chapter 19. Subsequent sections provide overviews of the other neuropsychiatric disorders, including cerebrovascular disorders, head injury, epilepsy, and intracranial lesions.

Download Full-text

Space Syntax's Relation to Seating Choices from an Evolutionary Approach

Periodica Polytechnica Architecture ◽

10.3311/ppar.14251 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 115-123

Author(s):

Barbara Keszei ◽

Bálint Halász ◽

Anna Losonczi ◽

Andrea Dúll

Keyword(s):

Psychological Factors ◽

Open Space ◽

Space Syntax ◽

The Other ◽

Evolutionary Approach ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Virtual Model ◽

Design Practice ◽

Social Situations ◽

Quantitative Evidence

Space syntax provides information on the probabilities of certain behaviour types (e.g., seating choice, movement) depending on the configuration of space. The evolutionary approach (e.g. Appleton’s prospect-refuge theory) in environmental psychology can help designers in creating spaces by providing a better understanding why certain parts of an open space or a building are avoided or occupied, why good "observation points" or "hiding places” are preferred. Our research aimed to explore how different space syntax variables predict specific behaviours – the seating choices of 216 participants – in a 3D virtual model of a lounge area and how the prospect-refuge theory relates to these predictions. The participants had to choose a seat in simulated spaces in two social situations, which differed in the degree of focused work and concentration: one of the situations implied seeing others and being seen, while the other highlighted focused work and hiding. The results show that there was a variation in the seating choices depending on the goal of the situation (user: trying to be seen or hiding). The expected significant correlations with the space syntax measurements were presented in the situations where being seen was the goal of the participants. However, in the situations where hiding was induced, our results need further clarification. Our future goal is to provide quantitative, evidence-based reflection on the prospect-refuge and space syntax theories, and to investigate the psychological factors (e.g., goal of the user) that need further consideration when applying these theories in the design practice.

Download Full-text

Neuro marketing Role in Individual’s Orientation to Community Participation When Exposing to External Advertising Influences (An Empirical Study): دور التسويق العصبي في توجه الفرد للمشاركة المجتمعية عند التعرض لمؤثرات إعلانية خارجية (دراسة تطبيقية)

المجلة العربية للعلوم ونشر الأبحاث مجلة العلوم الاقتصادية والإدارية والقانونية ◽

10.26389/ajsrp.e040320 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Eman Wadie Abdel Halim Afifi

Keyword(s):

Empirical Study ◽

Community Participation ◽

Educational Level ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Scientific Paper ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

The State ◽

The Other ◽

Marketing Process ◽

The Brain

This scientific paper refers to the importance of neuro marketing and its feasibility in the marketing process. The response of demographic variables to the research sample for alpha waves represent the state of relaxation and rest, and beta represents the state of thinking and meditation in the brain was studied. It is done when watching an advertisement with eight sections to identify the most important section having the greatest impact on the study sample when watching the advertisement. The conclusion is that both social and psychological factors affect the individual’s behavior towards the community participation, which the study considered as median variables. Impact of some of these ads’ sections differs from the relaxation case (alpha) to meditation (beta). The model of relaxation and rest (alpha) was distinguished from that of meditation and reflection model’s results (beta) in interpreting individual's behavior towards his community participation. The results of educational level also clearly differed when watching the advertising sections from the other demographic variables (residency- age), which differences were really limited.

Download Full-text

Placebo controls: historical, methodological and general aspects

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2010.0401 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 366 (1572) ◽

pp. 1870-1878 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Harald Walach

Keyword(s):

Hierarchical Model ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Placebo Effects ◽

Context Sensitive ◽

Research Paradigms ◽

Placebo Controls ◽

Evidence Based Treatments ◽

General Aspects

Control conditions were introduced through the trial of Mesmerism in Paris. Placebo controls became codified standard in 1946. Although seemingly unchallenged, there are various problems with this received view. The notion of a placebo is only defined from the negative. A positive notion proposed that placebo effects are effects owing to the meaning an intervention has for an individual. Thus, placebo effects are individualized, whereas standard research paradigms reveal only grossly averaged behaviour. Also, placebo effects are context sensitive, dependent on psychological factors such as expectancy, relief of stress and anxiety, and hence can generate strong and long-lasting treatment effects. These, however, are not predictable. Such a situation can lead to the efficacy paradox: sometimes, sham interventions can be more powerful than proved, evidence-based treatments. This situation has methodological consequences. Placebo-controlled randomized trials reveal only part of the answer, whether an intervention is effective. This is valuable information for regulators, but not necessarily also for patients and of limited value for providers. Hence, I have argued that we need to complement the hierarchical model of evidence by a circular one, in which various methods are employed on equal footing to answer different questions.

Download Full-text

Refining Evidence-Based Treatments for Late-Life Depression

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000127 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 67-76

Author(s):

Grace C. Niu ◽

Patricia A. Arean

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Late Life ◽

Aging Population ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Evidence Based Treatments

The recent increase in the aging population, specifically in the United States, has raised concerns regarding treatment for mental illness among older adults. Late-life depression (LLD) is a complex condition that has become widespread among the aging population. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions and psychotherapies, few depressed older adults actually receive treatment. In this paper we review the research on refining treatments for LLD. We first identify evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for LLD and the problems associated with efficacy and dissemination, then review approaches to conceptualizing mental illness, specifically concepts related to brain plasticity and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoc). Finally, we introduce ENGAGE as a streamlined treatment for LLD and discuss implications for future research.

Download Full-text