



Archive for January, 2011
by Emily Ramshaw |Â Â 11/2/09
AUSTIN – Texas educators forcibly pinned down students with disabilities more than 18,000 times in the last school year, sometimes injuring them in the process.
A Texas Tribune review of state data shows public school educators used so-called “physical restraints†– a tool to control or discipline students with disabilities – roughly 100 times a day during the 2007-08 school year.
That year, school staff restrained four of every 100 special education students, with some students being restrained dozens of times. More than 40 percent of restrained youth suffered from emotional problems like post-traumatic stress disorder; nearly 20 percent were autistic.
Educators say restraints are sometimes the only way to prevent disasters. They point to the September 2009 case of a 16-year-old Tyler special education student who fatally stabbed his music teacher in a classroom.
But disability rights advocates say the numbers point to a crisis in Texas special education. They say teachers are resorting to physical restraints because they aren’t properly trained to manage their students’ disabilities – posing a threat to vulnerable children and to themselves.
Their concerns were echoed in Washington this spring, where a federal agency exposed thousands of restraints – including several deaths – of special education students in schools nationwide. In many cases, the U.S. Government Accountability Office found restraints were performed on children who weren’t physically aggressive, and by teachers who weren’t trained to use them.
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“It’s a dangerous intervention, both for students and for staff,†said Steve Elliot, an attorney for Advocacy Inc., the state’s federally funded abuse watchdog group. “We’ve had students die in Texas because of restraints, and staff members report injuries. There are less intrusive ways to intervene when inappropriate behavior arises.”
Educators say restraints are only used as a last resort, when all other methods to intervene have failed. When properly used, they immobilize students who are a physical danger to themselves or their classmates without injuring them.
But even with proper training, they’re risky. Restraints can easily lead to scrapes, bruises and broken bones, and too much chest pressure can block air to the lungs.
Between 2002 and 2004, a profoundly disabled teenager was restrained 40 times at her Kemp, Texas high school; in one incident, her family says, educators broke a $100,000 device surgically implanted in the girl to prevent seizures.
In 2004, an emotionally disturbed boy trying to leave the classroom for lunch died of suffocation after his Killeen teacher sat on him to restrain him.
The Texas school districts with the highest restraint rates say there’s no crisis: Some say they’ve been over-reporting the numbers; others say they have tougher special education populations than their peers. But many say they’ve been working in the last year to improve training and provide teachers with alternative strategies, and that their restraint numbers are dropping steadily.
“Our numbers were very high,†acknowledged Austin ISD special education director Janna Lilly. The district saw its restraints drop from 1,007 to 790 in the last two years after it hired a full-time student aggression specialist and started focusing on “positive behavior supports†— techniques to calm students without getting physical.
“We’re not out of the woods,†Lilly said, “but our numbers are now lower than other districts with fewer special education students.”
Officials with the Texas Education Agency say they started collecting special education restraint data and training teachers in restraint alternatives in 2004, after the Killeen boy’s restraint death. School districts are not required to track restraints of students in the general education population.
“There wouldn’t have been all of this work done if this wasn’t a concern,†said Kathy Clayton, the state director of special education. “There’s a heightened awareness now.”
But she said there’s no way to tell if Texas’ numbers are low or high. Only three other states record restraint data, and they don’t record it the same way Texas does. And she said even Texas’ numbers may be exaggerated because of inconsistencies in the way districts have reported restraints. The state doesn’t keep data on restraint-related injuries.
“It makes it very difficult to be able to look at any trends,†she said.
Advocates for people with disabilities say the comparison isn’t that tough to make.
California – which has 2 million more public school students than Texas – reported about 14,000 instances of restraint, seclusion, or other emergency interventions during the 2007-08 school year. Texas had 18,000 instances of restraint alone.
Texas’ numbers could also be low. They’re self-reported by the school districts, the advocates say, and don’t account for the many restraints performed by on-campus peace officers and other school district police, who aren’t required to report to the state.
“Because they don’t have to report it, school districts will often call in a police officer to make a restraint, instead of having the teacher do it,†said Deborah Fowler, an attorney with the legal advocacy group Texas Appleseed.
Source:Â http://www.texastribune.org/stories/2009/nov/02/disabled-students-restrained-public-schools/
Awhile back I discussed Eileen Flanagan’s book, The Wisdom to Know the Difference. If you’d like to learn more about her, visit her website at www.EileenFlanagan.com.
Therese: What are five clues you should be letting go of something?
Eileen:
1. You find yourself repeating the same complaint to different people.
We all get frustrated from time to time, but it’s not good for our mental or spiritual health to wallow in frustration. I remember once I got irritated with another mother at my kid’s nursery school after she did something that inconvenienced me. I complained to the first mother I ran into, and then the second. When I heard myself repeating the story for the third time, it hit me that I was making myself more agitated, not less. I was also putting poison in the community well. Someone had made an honest mistake, and I needed to get over it.
2. You’re churning over in your brain what you wish you (or someone else) had done.
You can’t change the past. Period. If you can’t stop thinking about something that has happened, reframe your internal conversation by asking what you have learned from the experience or what you want to do differently next time. Just replaying the same tape isn’t going to get you anywhere.
3. Your body is showing signs of anxiety.
Often our bodies give us clear messages about what is going on inside of us. For some people, anxiety manifests in not being able to sleep. For me, heartburn is a frequent symptom, as well as tight shoulder muscles. If you pay attention to how you feel when you are at peace as well as when you are anxious or angry, you can learn to use your body as a barometer. Awake at 2AM again? That may be your sign that you need to let go of something.
4. You are scheming how to make someone else do something.
Face it: you can’t force anyone else do anything, and the more you try, the more likely you are to push that person away. You can tell them what you want, but if you find yourself imagining ways to get them to do what you want, it’s time to back off and let go. (i.e. “Accidentally†dragging your boyfriend past the diamond store in the mall is not going to make him ready to get engaged, if that’s what you’re hoping.) Focus on making yourself happy, rather than trying to manipulate someone else.
5. You can’t appreciate the life you have because you keep focusing on what could be.
Every one has something to be grateful for, even if it’s just breathing. If it takes you more than several seconds to think of five things you are grateful for, you are probably focusing too much on a picture of how you wish things were. Counting your blessings is a time-tested way to let go of what you don’t have and focus on what you have.
Therese: And in reverse, what are five clues you should be making a change instead of giving up?
Eileen:
1. You can’t let go.
An inability to forget something may be a sign that you need to make a change. If you just can’t accept the fact that your boss doesn’t respect your work, maybe it’s time to polish your resume. If you are still grieving a lost friendship, maybe you need to write the person a letter to repair the relationship or get closure. Sometimes we need to take action before we can let go.
2. The problem will persist if you do nothing.
Forgiving someone for an honest mistake is one thing, but if someone continually does something that you find hurtful or annoying, you probably need to let the person know. Maybe if your neighbor knew that his music was bothering you, he would turn it down. Maybe not, but he won’t turn it down if you never tell him, and you are likely to get a better response if you mention it calmly when it is a minor annoyance, rather than waiting until you are exasperated.
3. You feel jealous of someone else’s accomplishments.
Jealousy can be toxic if we wallow in it, but it can also point us toward our unrealized goals. If you find yourself resentful of a friend who just published her first novel, maybe you should ask what creative venture you have put off. That could be the impetus to look for a writing class or take some other step toward what you want.
4. People you trust believe you should make a change.
We have to be careful about following other people’s advice, but the truth is that sometimes other people see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Psychologists say that depression, for example, is often recognized by loved-ones before the depressed person can see it. Be open to the observations of people who have your best interests at heart, especially if they think you need some kind of help.
5. You angrily deny any problem.
If you get angry when someone suggests that you should be making a change, that’s all the more reason to take the person’s concern seriously. Anger is a typical symptom of denial. One way to break through denial is to look for objective evidence. One man I interviewed for The Wisdom to Know the Difference denied that he had a drinking problem until a counselor gave him a 20 question survey about drinking. When he answered yes to 18 of the 20 questions, he was jolted out of denial, giving him the boost he needed to join AA, a change that transformed his life.
To get to “Living the Serenity Prayer†by Eileen Flanagan, click here. Or visit her website at www.EileenFlanagan.com.
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 13, 2009
An award winning new study from a health economics professor examines the effects of adolescent health on educational outcomes.
Queen’s University researcher Steven Lehrer and Jason Fletcher of Yale University recently published their paper in the journal Forum for Health Economics & Policy.
“Our study shows that poor mental health in children and teenagers has a large impact on the length of time they will stay in school,†says Dr. Lehrer.
He notes a large number of school-based programs have recently been introduced to prevent childhood obesity through lifestyle changes, but suggests the net should be cast more widely.
“It’s important for policymakers to target health conditions that are not the easiest to identify – like inattention – but may have larger impacts on one’s future.”
The findings provide strong evidence that inattentive symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in childhood and depression in adolescents are linked to the number of years of completed schooling.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/13/teen-mental-health-linked-to-educational-success/9550.html
Focused Education For Autism, ADHD
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 13, 2009
Emerging research suggests structured and concentrated teaching can improve literacy and comprehension in challenged school-aged children.
Experts call for teachers and parents to be vigilant in detecting difficulties with language comprehension, reading and spelling in children and young people with autism, Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD.
“It is important that pupils are offered the support to which they are entitled,†says Jakob Asberg in a new thesis at the University of Gothenburg.
“Pupils with these neuropsychiatric disorders are often reported as having problems with spoken and written activities. However, relatively little research has been carried out within the field.
“Considering how important such skills are for coping independently in school and in working life and society in general, it is of great importance that we become better informed about these issues,†Åsberg, who is publicly defending his thesis in psychology, said.
Read in Full: http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/13/focused-education-improves-autism-adhd/9556.html
10 Common Myths About Clinical Depression
Almost every mental illness ends up accompanied by a barrage of myths, misunderstandings, and misconceptions that cloud the minds of the populace and ultimately produces muddied opinions of the true threat. Unfortunately, one of the most marginalized and ridiculed conditions is also one of the most common. An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from some form of clinical depression a year, most of whom end up never seeking psychological assistance due to feeling undermined and discouraged by the perceptions of society at large. Because those suffering from depression run a much higher risk of committing suicide or acts of self-mutilation than their comparatively healthier peers, it is absolutely integral to understand the complexities and widespread influence of the disease. Only by making an earnest effort to combat these negative and patently false perceptions can the depressed begin to realize that no shame or weakness lay in their situation, thereby removing many of the stigmas and reservations still undeservedly attached to entering into therapy.
Read in Full:Â http://onlinepsychologydegrees.org/10-common-myths-about-clinical-depression/
Survey finds big gap in knowledge of depression
NAMI
Americans do not believe they know much about depression, but are highly aware of the risks of not receiving care, according to a survey released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The survey provides a “three dimensional” measurement of responses from members of the general public who do not know anyone with depression, caregivers of adults diagnosed with depression and adults actually living with the illness.
- *Seventy-one percent of the public sample said they are not familiar with depression, but 68 percent or more know specific consequences that can come from not receiving treatment-including suicide (84%).
- *Sixty-two percent believe they know some symptoms of depression, but 39 percent said they do not know many or any at all.
- *One major finding: almost 50 percent of caregivers who responded had been diagnosed with depression themselves, but only about 25 percent said they were engaged in treatment.
- *Almost 60 percent of people living with depression reported that they rely on their primary care physicians rather than mental health professionals for treatment. Medication and “talk therapy” are primary treatments-if a person can get them-but other options are helpful.
- *Fifteen percent of people living with depression use animal therapy with 54 percent finding it to be “extremely” or “quite a bit” helpful. Those using prayer and physical exercise also ranked them high in helpfulness (47% and 40% respectively).
- *When people living with depression discontinue medication or talk therapy, cost is a common reason, but other significant factors include a desire “to make it on my own,” whether they believe the treatment is actually working and in the case of medication, side effects.
“The survey reveals gaps and guideposts on roads to recovery,” said NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. “It tells what has been found helpful in treating depression. It can help caregivers better anticipate stress that will confront them. It reflects issues that need to be part of ongoing health care reform.“
“There are many treatment strategies,” said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth. “What often works is a combination of treatments that fit a person and their lifestyle. Research indicates that the combination of medication and psychotherapy are most effective. But physical exercise, prayer, music therapy, yoga, animal therapy and other practices all can play a role. The good news is that 80 percent or more of the public recognize that depression is a medical illness, affecting people of all ages, races and socioeconomic groups, which can be treated.“
Harris Interactive conducted the survey for NAMI on-line between September 29 and October 7, 2009. Participants included 1,015 persons who did not know anyone diagnosed with depression, 513 persons living with depression and 263 caregivers of a family member or significant other diagnosed with depression.
The full survey results are at: http://www.nami.org/depression.
The survey was made possible with support from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Co. and Wyeth. NAMI does not endorse or promote any specific medication, treatment, product or service.
The Evolution of Depression
November 10, 2009 | By Dirk Hanson, MA
Millions of people around the world suffer from depression, the most common mental disorder of all. Since depression appears to be largely genetic, several long-standing questions continue to bedevil researchers. Have the genes for clinical unipolar depression undergone selective evolution–or is depression a random product of mutation, evolutionary drift, or other non-selective forces? The symptoms of depression are found in every culture and time period, from the ancient Greeks to modern New Yorkers, from the !Kung of southern Africa to ranchers in the American West. Why is depression so much more common than any other major mental illness? Clearly, it is a malfunction, a maladaptation — or is it?
Deep Brain Stimulation For Clinical Depression?
This week on SEED, I’m writing about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a promising new way to treat clinical depression. Here’s a snippet:
In DBS therapy, one or more electrodes the size of a spaghetti strand are precisely positioned in the patient’s brain, then connected by wire around the skull and through the neck to a pacemaker-like device, a neurostimulator, just below the collarbone. The neurostimulator is activated and deactivated by a magnet that the patient carries, so if a tremor is beginning to become disruptive, DBS can be self-administered in an instant, with near-instantaneous results. A video provided by the manufacturer of a DBS device shows how it works in ideal cases.
Now new uses for the treatment are being tested. One observed side effect of DBS for Parkinson’s is excessive happiness, to the point of uncontrollable elation–the sort of unhealthy, personality-changing reaction that everyone fears when they think of electrodes being implanted in their brain. Tuning the device can minimize this side effect, but its very existence suggests that DBS might be a useful therapy for clinical depression.
For more, read the whole article
John Hopkins: Antidepressant Medication “Poop Out”
A reader from Roswell, Georgia asks: “I have been taking 20 mg/day of Celexa (citalopram) for about a year and a half for depression. It was the first medication I tried, and it worked great. For the past two months or so, however, I haven’t been feeling great. I have been sleeping a lot, crying a lot, and feeling antisocial. Is it possible for Celexa to “poop out” and just stop working over time? Should I talk to my doctor about increasing my dosage or changing medications? Or maybe this bout with depression is just extra bad and I should tough it out?†Here’s our advice.
Antidepressant tachyphylaxis — known less formally as the “poop out” effect — was first described in 1984 when researchers observed that some patients experienced relapse of mood symptoms on antidepressants that had previously been effective therapies. There is some suggestion that serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as Celexa, are more prone to tachyphylaxis than other antidepressants, such as tricyclic medications like nortriptyline and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like Effexor.
When antidepressants appear to “poop out,” there are four options available to the physician and patient. The first is to increase the medication dosage in an effort to boost the antidepressant effect, assuming the maximum dose is not already prescribed. For example, the maximum dose of Celexa is 60 mg daily. A common pattern with SSRIs is for there to be an initial response to a lower dose that is not sustained, requiring titration over time to higher doses. Increasing the dosage alone may be sufficient to jumpstart recovery.

Abstract: Trends in prescribing and self-poisoning in relation to UK regulatory authority warnings against use of SSRI antidepressants in under-18-year-olds
Bergen H, Hawton K, Murphy E, Cooper J, Kapur N, Stalker C, Waters K.
Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford; Centre for Suicide Prevention, University of Manchester, Manchester; Derbyshire Mental Health Trust, Derby, UK
AIMS: To assess the impact of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) warning in December 2003 not to prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, except fluoxetine, to under-18-year-olds.
METHODS: Interrupted time series analysis of prescriptions (UK) and general hospital presentations for nonfatal self-poisoning (three centres in England) for 2000-2006.
RESULTS: Following the MHRA warning in December 2003 there were significant decreases in prescribing of SSRI antidepressants (conservative estimate 51%) to young people aged 12-19 years. Surprisingly, this decrease also affected fluoxetine (conservative estimate 20%) and tricyclics (conservative estimate 27%). Nonfatal self-poisoning in this age group following the warning also declined significantly for SSRIs (conservative estimate 44%), but not for fluoxetine, tricyclic antidepressants, or all drugs and other substances. Rates of nonfatal self-harm did not change significantly over the study period.
CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in both prescribing and self-poisoning with SSRI antidepressants (except fluoxetine) following the MHRA warning is in keeping with reduced availability of these drugs. There was some evidence of substitution from other SSRIs to fluoxetine for use in self-poisoning. Importantly, overall rates of nonfatal self-harm and self-poisoning did not change, indicating no substitution of method or increases in self-injury.
Source… © 2009 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Abstract+: A investigation of cognitive ‘branching’ processes in major depression
Nicholas D Walsh , Marc L Seal , Steven CR Williams and Mitul A Mehta
Background: Patients with depression demonstrate cognitive impairment on a wide range of cognitive tasks, particularly putative tasks of frontal lobe function. Recent models of frontal lobe function have argued that the frontal pole region is involved in cognitive branching, a process requiring holding in mind one goal while performing sub-goal processes. Evidence for this model comes from functional neuroimaging and frontal-pole lesion patients. We have utilised these new concepts to investigate the possibility that patients with depression are impaired at cognitive `branching’.
Methods: 11 non-medicated patients with major depression were compared to 11 matched controls in a behavioural study on a task of cognitive `branching’. In the version employed here, we recorded participant’s performance as they learnt to perform the task. This involved participants completing a control condition, followed by a working memory condition, a dual-task condition and finally the branching condition, which integrates processes in the working memory and dual-task conditions. We also measured participants on a number of other cognitive tasks as well as mood-state before and after the branching experiment.
Results: Patients took longer to learn the first condition, but performed comparably to controls after six runs of the task. Overall, reaction times decreased with repeated exposure on the task conditions in controls, with this effect attenuated in patients. Importantly, no differences were found between patients and controls on the branching condition. There was, however, a significant change in mood-state with patients increasing in positive affect and decreasing in negative affect after the experiment.
Conclusions: We found no clear evidence of a fundamental impairment in anterior prefrontal `branching processes’ in patients with depression. Rather our data argue for a contextual learning impairment underlying cognitive dysfunction in this disorder. Our data suggest that MDD patients are able to perform high-level cognitive control tasks comparably to controls provided they are well trained. Future work should replicate these preliminary findings in a larger sample of MDD patients.
Women More Likely Than Men To Suffer Depression After Stroke
Article Date: 11 Nov 2009 – 2:00 PST
Depression occurs in as many as one-third of patients after a stroke, and women are at somewhat higher risk, according to a large new review of studies. Post-stroke depression is associated with greater disability, reduced quality of life and an increased risk of death.
The systematic review appears in the November-December issue of the journal Psychosomatics.
Brittany Poynter, M.D., and colleagues from the University of Toronto looked at 56 studies on stroke and depression comprising more than 75,000 people, about 12,000 of them women. The time between the stroke and onset of depression ranged from less than two weeks to 15 years.
In women, rates of post-stroke depression ranged from about 6 percent to 78 percent, while in men depression rates ranged from 4.7 percent to about 65 percent.
These findings are important, Poynter said, because women who have had a stroke generally do more poorly than men. They tend to have higher rates of disability and longer hospitalization times. The authors say this might be due in part to higher rates of depression. In addition, “women may have less access to care,” Poynter said.
“People think of stroke as a ‘male’ disease and it is slightly more common in men but because it increases with age, more women end up having strokes because they live longer,” said Linda S. Williams, M.D., chief of neurology at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. She is not associated with the review.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170526.php
Psychiatry’s dirty little secret
Scott Mendelson, MD
When I was in medical school, I learned one of psychiatry’s dirty little secrets. That is, that of people prescribed an antidepressant to treat their Major Depression, only about 25% enjoy complete resolution of symptoms, another 50% feel some but not complete relief, and the last unfortunate 25% get no relief at all. This was true 15 years ago and remains true today. As a psychiatrist, I prescribe antidepressants, and I have seen these medications improve and even save lives.
Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
Study finds clear connection between depression and osteoporosis
Jerry Barach
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Research carried out among thousands of people has shown a clear connection between depression and a loss of bone mass, leading to osteoporosis and fractures. according to Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers, Prof Raz Yirmiya, head of the Brain and Behavior Laboratory, and Prof Itai Bab, head of the Bone Laboratory. They further revealed that the relationship between depression and bone loss is particularly strong among young women.
Osteoporosis is the most widespread degenerative disease in the developed world, afflicting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50. Sufferers experience decrease in bone density, which often leads to bone fractures. In many cases, these fractures cause severe disability and even death.
Despite the accumulating evidence for a connection between depression and decreased bone density, official authorities, such as the US National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization, have not yet acknowledged depression as a risk factor for osteoporosis, due to the lack of studies in large samples. To remedy this situation, the researchers assembled the data from all studies on the subject conducted to date, and analyzed them using a special statistical approach called meta-analysis.
The results were recently published in the journal Biological Psychiatry. In the article the Hebrew University scientists assessed data from 23 research projects conducted in eight countries, comparing bone density among 2,327 people suffering from depression against 21,141 non-depressed individuals.
The results, say the researchers, show clearly that depressed individuals have a substantially lower bone density than non-depressed people and that depression is associated with a markedly elevated activity of cells that breakdown bone (osteoclasts).
Yirmiya and Bab found that the association between depression and bone loss was stronger in women than men, especially young women before the end of their monthly period. This connection was especially strong in women with clinical depression diagnosed by a psychiatrist, but not in community studies, in which women subjectively identified themselves as being depressed using self-rating questionnaires.
Based on the present findings, Profs. Yirmiya and Bab propose that “all individuals psychiatrically diagnosed with major depression are at risk for developing osteoporosis, with depressed young women showing the highest risk. These patients should be periodically evaluated for progression of bone loss and signs of osteoporosis, allowing the use of anti-osteoporotic prophylactic and therapeutic treatments.“
Yirmiya R, Bab I. Major depression is a risk factor for low bone mineral density: a meta-analysis. Biol Psychiatry. 2009 Sep 1;66(5):423-32 Â [Abstract]
Having Mental Illness Does Not Make People More Accepting, Research Shows
Article Date: 10 Nov 2009 – 0:00 PST
Having a mental illness does not make people more accepting of others with a similar problem, research says.
Amy Klassen asked 1073 people in Alberta, Canada, about their attitudes generally toward people who had a mental illness.
She found that those among the 1073 who had themselves been treated for a mental illness were no more accepting of others who have a mental illness.
However Ms Klassen, who worked with the Population Research Laboratory and the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta, Canada, found that those questioned were less willing to reject those with a mental illness if they knew someone who had had such a problem.
Those surveyed were given eight statements, including ‘being around a mentally ill person would make me feel nervous’ and ‘even though former mental patients may seem fine, it is foolish to forget that they are mentally ill’ and asked to say how much they agreed or disagreed. From this their desire for ‘social distance’ from those with mental illness – how rejecting or not they were – was calculated.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170321.php
[VIDEO] Guide To Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Authoritative information from the British Medical Journal on CBT, a psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder
View Video:Â http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2009/nov/04/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-guide
TMS As Drug-Free Depression Treatment
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 6, 2009
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a FDA-approved, non-invasive antidepressant device-based treatment clinically proven for treatment of depression.
Rush University Medical Center has opened a clinic that uses the TMS therapy system to deliver highly focused magnetic field pulses to a specific portion of the brain, the left prefrontal cortex, in order to stimulate the areas of the brain linked to depression.
The repeated short bursts of magnetic energy introduced through the scalp excite neurons in the brain.
Depression affects at least 14 million American adults each year. Researchers estimate that by the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/06/tms-as-drug-free-depression-treatment/9392.html
Emotional Resilience: Coping with Life, It’s Tragedies and Its Stresses
I am relatively certain that all of you have heard the saying, “G-d does not give you more of a burden than you are able to hold.” I suppose it is a way to assure people that they can handle anything.
However, all of us know that there are times when it feels like a burden is too heavy to carry.
The sources of these burdens are such things as the death of a loved one, being caught in a war, earthquake, hurricane or tornado. For others, it may be having a spouse suddenly and unexpectedly decide to move away and end the marriage with no explanation. In fact, there are many scenarios that are traumatic and depressing. Another way of thinking about this is that life tests us and our capacity to cope.
As a result of these difficult times it is common to think such things as, “This is not what I bargained for. This is beyond me and who I am. This is beyond the emotional resources that I have. No one else goes through this type of thing. I just want to die!”
In psychology, there is a concept known as “emotional resilience.” The following Mental Help.Net article defines emotional resilience. It can be found at this URL:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=5779&cn=298
One aspect of emotional resilience is:
“to be able to spring back after suffering through difficult and stressful times in one’s life. Stressed people experience a flood of powerful negative emotions which may include anger, anxiety, and depression. Some people remain trapped in these negative emotions long after the stressful events that have caused them have passed. Emotionally resilient people, on the other hand, are quickly able to bounce back to their normal emotional state. In a way, they have learned to wear a “hard hat,” a protective cover that allows them to move on.
Read in Full:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=33772&cn=298
Jan
22
HEADLINES
“Mother charged in murder of her autistic sonâ€:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09103010.html
“Child’s body found in Melbourne’s Yarra Riverâ€:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26286258-1243,00.html
“Family tell of anguish over son’s rail deathâ€:
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Family-tell-of-anguish-over.5789007.jp
“Lancaster couple sentenced for endangering childrenâ€:
“Care home driver jailed for abuseâ€:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8345159.stm
“Ex-aide accused of abuse to face charges … A former middle school teacher’s aide who is accused of abusing an autistic boy by placing his head under water after he dozed off in class has returned to Great Falls to face charges.â€:
“Parents losing children in loaded systemâ€:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8344410.stm
“Woman reportedly jailed over clerical errorâ€:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21490130/detail.html
“Deported mum flees homeland for Ghanaâ€:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=171691
“Council to appeal over ex-teacher’s court awardâ€:
“Charges dropped against man accused of hitting boyâ€:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/updates/story/944238.html
“Support for disabled Carlisle man that social worker wanted arrestedâ€:
http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/support_for_disabled_carlisle_man_that_social_worker_wanted_arrested_1_624592?referrerPath=home
“Court: Video clears coach in autistic child assaultâ€:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/777603.html
“Judge denies mom’s bid to exempt girl from school vaccine requirementâ€:
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/11/vaccine-suit/6137/
“Judge’s ruling allows autism helper dog in classâ€:
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/11/11/ap/regional/us/us_autism_dogs_schools.txt
“Disability Community Letter to The House of Representativesâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/disability_community_letter_to_the_house_of_representatives.htm
“Come help us protest against Autism Speaks in NYC ~ Tuesday November 17â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/come_help_us_protest_against_autism_speaks_in_nyc__tuesday_.htm
“San Jose mom and 2-year-old kicked off Southwest Airlines flightâ€:
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2009/10/30/san_jose_mom_and_2yearold_kicked.htm
“The Government has Got to Get it Rightâ€: A NAS response to the Public Accounts Committee Report on autistic adults, UKâ€:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167539.php
“MPs answer to children at special Question Timeâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/mps_answer_to_children_at_special_question_time.htm
Gary McKinnon Updates “Gary McKinnon’s mother in tears after snub from Alan Johnsonâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/gary_mckinnon_updates_gary_mckinnons_mother_in_tears_after.htm
“Gary McKinnon: amendment to law by peers could prevent repeat of extradition attemptâ€:
“The disability paradoxâ€:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/07/disabled-people-survey-discrimination
“Blind, autistic woman rakes yards to help pay for dental workâ€:
http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_0d0d3038-c9ce-11de-b586-001cc4c03286.html
“I’m blind, but I love the night/Blind Art Exhibition launchedâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/im_blind_but_i_love_the_nightblind_art_exhibition_launche.htm
RESEARCH & HEALTH
“Clinical tests begin on medication to correct Fragile X defectâ€:
“Study shows autistic kids have slower pupil responsesâ€:
http://www.healthcarendiet.com/2009/11/11/study-shows-autistic-kids-have-slower-pupil-responses/
“Gene that ‘switches on’ ability to speak found by scientistsâ€:
“One gene prevents chimps talking … The findings, reported in the journal Nature, may also help scientists understand how certain brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia disrupt speech.â€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20091111/tsc-one-gene-prevents-chimps-talking-4b158bc.html
“Possible triggers for Picaâ€:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=107180
Pica “Kilo of metal found in Peruvian’s stomach: surgeonâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20091111/tod-kilo-of-metal-found-in-peruvian-s-st-7f81b96.html
“Counting Sheep ~ Sleep Issues on the Spectrumâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/counting_sheep__sleep_issues_on_the_spectrum.htm
“Happy in the Land of Nodâ€:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/happy-in-the-land-of-nod/story-e6frg8y6-1225795723029
“Sights and sounds of emotion trigger big brain responsesâ€:
http://www.physorg.com/news176398397.html
“Sula Wolff: Child psychiatrist who made pioneering advances in her fieldâ€:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sula-wolff-child-psychiatrist-who-made-pioneering-advances-in-her-field-1813213.html
“Asperger’s may be dropped from Diagnostic Manualâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/aspergers_may_be_dropped_from_diagnostic_manual.htm
“Virtual game therapy helps child victimsâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/virtual_game_therapy_helps_child_victims.htm
“Fun learning for children – Health Education through Comicsâ€:
http://www.medindia.net/news/Fun-Learning-for-ChildrenHealth-Education-through-Comics-60016-1.htm#at
Letters: “Failing the incapacity testâ€:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/16/incapacity-benefit-autism-mental-illness
“National Stress Awareness Day: A professional approach to mental health at workâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/national_stress_awareness_day_a_professional_approach_to_me.htm
“In Honor of Veterans, 2009â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/in_honor_of_veterans_2009.htm
“PTSD: Genes & Environment may interact toinfluence risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/Associated conditions of PTSDâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ptsd_genes__environment_may_interact_to_influence_risk_for.htm
“PTSD: Forget all about it: Erasing traumatic memoriesâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ptsd_forget_all_about_it_erasing_traumatic_memories.htm
“Synthetic cannabinoids may help PTSD patientsâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/synthetic_cannabinoids_may_help_ptsd_patients.htm
“Research tackles teen depressionâ€:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/research-tackles-teen-depression/story-e6frg8y6-1225794051756
“Coping with Emotions: Treating Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Useâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/coping_with_emotions_treating_borderline_personality_disord.htm
“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotterâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_3.htm
“5 emotional vampires and how to combat themâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/5_emotional_vampires_and_how_to_combat_them.htm
“First Impressions: When first impressions count/First impressions are important for trusting relationshipâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/first_impressions_when_first_impressions_countfirst_impres.htm
“Virtual Hospitalâ€:
http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/
EDUCATION
Will Hadcroft “My visit to More House Schoolâ€:
“Parents tell Hellgate board bullying of special needs students must stopâ€:
http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_0db93d3a-c846-11de-b226-001cc4c03286.html
“Fla. Teacher suspended for autism vote reinstatedâ€:
http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=11482953
Cambridgeshire “Special needs day school to openâ€:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/8353390.stm
“All-boys schools are not the solutionâ€:
http://www.chathamthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2157369
“FACT agency advocates for children with disabilitiesâ€:
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/10/31/stcharles/news/1028stc-fact0.txt
“A haven for Bristol children lost in the systemâ€:
“3D program helps autistic communicate(includes video[2:18]:
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/5895/1173328?cpt=8&title=health&wpid=2057
“The importance of Language Support for autistic childrenâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/the_importance_of_language_support_for_autistic_children.htm
“Study: Children on the autism spectrum have problem with handwritingâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/study_children_on_the_autism_spectrum_have_problem_with_han.htm
“Check out assistive devicesâ€:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091103/Lives/911039935/-1/XML
“Musical fun at schoolâ€:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Musical-fun-at-school.5802586.jp

EMPLOYMENT
[UK] “Tackle work stress, bosses toldâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/uk_tackle_work_stress_bosses_told.htm
Glencraft “Disability firm into liquidationâ€:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8344471.stm
“Workers with disabilities make up 22% of workforceâ€:
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_13682727
“Client of the year: They helped me to find my own voiceâ€:
http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2009-11-02/Front_Page/CLIENT_OF_THE_YEAR_001.html
“Give autistic teen a chanceâ€:
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/4711085._Give_autistic_teen_a_chance_/?ref=rss
“Creative Support Ltdâ€:
http://www.creativesupport.co.uk/
“Autelligent Laboratories
We believe all people have a contribution to make and deserve an opportunity to be productive.
With your caring and excellent help, we are creating jobs for the 40 million people worldwide who are diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Today less than one in five of us are currently employed. We are motivated and competent and we deserve equal employment. Help make this a reality.
Autelligent Laboratories is dedicated to creating a space where autistic software engineers can more than contribute, we can excel.â€:
Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Companyâ€:
http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html
“Auties.orgâ€:
Individuality, Diversity, Equality, Achievement
Auties..org is an Aspie & Autie friendly site for all people on the Autistic Spectrum who are ready to dare reach out to occupation and employment, open the doors to the community and market their abilities directly to the public and for those interested in supporting these pioneers.
“Prospectsâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=473&a=2348
“AutismJobsâ€:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs
http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009
“Current job vacancies within the NASâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=170
For further employment information, please viewâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm
GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST
“Philip Greenallâ€:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/nov/02/philip-greenall-obituary
“Robotics technology future is hereâ€:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/11042009/busimlo184410_32544.shtml
“Secret millionnaire saves special needs projectâ€:
http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/worthing-news/39Secret-Millionnaire39-saves-special-needs.5801783.jp
“Independent living: A disabled man and his personal assistantsâ€:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/04/independent-living-disabled-personal-assistants
“Ian Birrell: Mind your language: words can cause terrible damageâ€:
“Weighted blankets – Full instructionsâ€:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2265.asp
“Bonfire Nightâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bonfire_night.htm
Christmas Cards “Support the NAS this Christmasâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=253&a=20447
MACEDONIA
Macedonian Flag ~Learn more …Â http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Macedonia
Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism
Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation
Faculty of Philosophy, Bull. Krste Misirkov b.b.,
1000 Skopje
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Tel: 389-2-3116520 (Ext.234)
Fax: 389-2-3118143
Email: vladotra@fzf.ukim.edu.mk
Website: http://mssa.org.mk/en/index.php
Skopje – Macedonia’s Capital
PORAKA “Republic Center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disabilityâ€:
http://www.poraka.org.mk/en/declaration.htm
Samuil’s Fortress is in the old part of Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, called the Ohrid Kale. It was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire, during the rule of Samuil in the middle-ages. Today, this historical monument is a major tourist attraction. It was renovated in 2003. According to recent excavations by Macedonian archaeologists, it was alleged that this fortress was built on the place of an earlier fortification, dated to 4th century B.C., which was probably built by king Phillip II of Macedon.
SHARE-SEE “Self-Help & Advocacy for Rights and Equal Opportunities ~ South East Europeâ€:
http://www.share-see.org/infocus.htm
Located in Ohrid’s old town, Plaosnik is an utterly unique phenomenon: it was recently reconstructed, with loving attention to detail, precisely in the style of a Byzantine church, right down to the red bricks and mortar. An early Christian sacral building dating from the 5th century was discovered here, built over the remains of an older antique building whose cistern was found in the atrium of the newly built temple. Today, Plaosnik is one of the most exhilarating Byzantine-style churches in Macedonia. Its floor is covered with mosaics of twenty wave-shaped tassel interspersed with the figures of flowers, birds and animals. The very fact of its reconstruction is evidence of the strong affection Macedonians still feel for their Byzantine heritage. There are ongoing excavations. You’ll find lots of old mosaics with the figures of flowers, birds and animals from the 4th to 6th century. On October 10, 2007, a depot of approximately 2,383 Venetian coins was discovered by archaeologists while excavating the monastery. A prominent archaeologist of the Republic of Macedonian, Pasko Kuzman, stated that the coins are of special significance because they indicate that Ohrid and Venice were commercially linked.
The history of Plaosnik is really interesting:
plaosnik.com/
Heraclea Mosaic – 600 AD
“Macedonia – Facts, Information & Historyâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_macedonia.html
Alexander III of Macedon (356–323 BC), popularly known as Alexander the Great (Greek: ΜÎγας ἈλÎξανδÏος, Mégas Aléxandros), was a Greek king (basileus) of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Learn More …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great
“Map of Macedoniaâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/maps/map_country_macedonia.html
Stobi – Roman Ruins:
Beautiful mosaics at the ancient Roman site of Stobi in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). There are many Roman ruins with beautiful mosaics throughout Macedonia, as well as in Bulgaria. “Stobi” is about 10 km north of Negotino, Macedonia.
Official Tourism Sites …
“Overview of Macedonia’s cities, cuisines, accommodations, restaurants, and more.â€:
http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/
Macedonian Desert
“Information on music, theater, film, the performing arts, visual arts, and more in Macedonia.â€:
The town of Kastoria is a wonderful small town on a peninsula of a lake, with beautiful old othodox churches. It is Macedonia’s most picturesque town. Built on an isthmus on the shores of lake Orestiada and surrounded by mountains, it is a city of old neighbourhoods, narrow lanes, stately mansions and Byzantine churches. The city flourished, both culturally and economically, during the Turkish occupation, particularly in the 17th century. Later, large numbers of Jewish furriers came to the area because of the abundance of beavers. Unfortunately the beaver population was wiped out in the nineteenth century and the Jews not long after that during the Nazi occupation. Since that time, the people of Kastoria have dedicated themselves to working with furs and embroidery. Even today, the city boasts a large number of luxury fur and textile shops and factories. Kastoria has more than 70 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches, dating from as far back as the 9th century up to the 19th. Most of them are as small as a family house and ttheir walls are filled with beautiful frescoes. Very typical is the architecture of the mansions, dating from the 18th and 19th century, usually three-story edifices with large windows, enclosed balconies and projecting ‘sahnisia’. Their interiors are spacious and sumptuously decorated with woodcarving and wall paintings.
Kastoria Village Home
“Entry requirements for Macedonia, tourist contacts, and more.â€:
http://www.macedonianembassy.org/
Lake Ohrid
“Flight schedules and deals from Macedonia’s national airline.“:
Tree talk ~ Yankovi, Aliakmon River
Further Macedonian Sites of Interest …
“Photographs of Macedonia’s places and people.â€:
Music in Macedonia ~ Macedonian dance is a favorite with folk-dancers, with the colourful costumes and lively traditional music creating a festive social atmosphere. This party was held at a local school’s graduation celebration.
“Overview of the history, cultural traditions, politics, cuisines, and religions of Macedonia.â€:
http://bw.balkanweb.com/bw_pasqyra_kryesore.php?IDCategoria=1
Red Fox Pup, Macedonia
“A comprehensive history of Macedonia, including major political events and issues.â€:
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/
Matka
“Examples of antique Macedonian icons, including the Annunciation and the Crucifixion.â€:
http://faq.macedonia.org/the.arts/mk.icons.html
Peacock, Macedonia
“News and current events in Macedonia from a Macedonian news provider.â€:
http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/
First Snow, Klisoura
ADD/ADHD
“ADHD and Girlsâ€:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2377836/adhd_and_girls.html
“Exploring the Upside of ADHDâ€:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=33765&cn=3
“Schools turn a blind eye to ADDâ€:
“Forum focuses on ADHD worriesâ€:
“Campaign launches to sound alarm about the misuse of prescription drugs among teensâ€:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/558330/?sc=rsmn
“New data on attention in children with ADHDâ€:
http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/new-data-attention-children-adhd-8381.html
“ADHD Medications: Neurotransmitters to the Rescueâ€:
http://www.corepsychblog.com/2009/11/adhd-medications-neurotransmitters-to-the-rescue/
“Flint Township college student recognized for overcoming learning disability and ADHDâ€:
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/10/flint_township_student_overcom.html
ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)â€-This website provides patients, doctors, and other medical professionals with a comprehensive examination of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), side effects, and other safety information for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.. Our goal is to allow users of our website make informed decisions when taking (patients) or prescribing (doctors) drugs. We are providing unmatched information and analysis tools.
http://www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/
“adders.orgâ€:
Our objective is to promote awareness to AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free practical help as we can to those affected by the condition, both adults and children, their families in the UK and around the World via this website.
“ADDISS†The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…
http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html
“ADDAâ€:
“hi2u ADHD Pagesâ€:
“CHADDâ€:
http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562
SPORT
“Yoga for kids: New York’s latest trendâ€:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/6454947/Yoga-for-kids-New-Yorks-latest-trend.html
“10-kilometre runsâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1816
“Trek to Everest Base Camp- 5-21 November 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354
“Trek Snowdon – Date TBAâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2524
“Trek the Sahara – 5-25 March 2010 or 29 Oct-8 Nov 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2542
“Trek the Inca Trail – 22-31 May 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863
“Trek Mount Kilimanjaro – 29 Sept-10 Oct 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2200
“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 Oct 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356
“Trek to Everest Base Camp – 5-21 November 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354
“Cycle India – 27 November – 6 December, 2009â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1832
“Cycle Cuba – 14-22 March 2010â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2357
“London to Paris 2010 – 5-8 Juneâ€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2407
“L’Etape du Tour 2010 – 18 July 2010â€
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2404
“Sky Diving – All Year Round”:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726
MUSIC
“DiS meets Gary Numanâ€:
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4138262-dis-meets-gary-numan
“The AutisMusic Projectâ€:
ART
“Autistic artist draws 18ft picture of New York skyline from memoryâ€:
“Autistic artist finds inspiration in New York cityâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20091103/ten-uk-art-wiltshire-3334b85.html
“An eye on autism and artâ€
Art pieces will be sold to raise money to fund two projects the community-funded television and radio station KVCR hopes to have up and running in 2010. “We are hoping to raise enough money to fund a traveling art exhibit for the Inland Empire and to create a video presentation to take into local law enforcement agencies to help officers recognize (autism) on patrol,” said Lillian Vasquez, marketing coordinator for KVCR.â€:
http://www.sbsun.com/living/ci_13687463
This year’s NAS Christmas Cards are now on sale. There’s a selection of cards, two of which are designed by our competition winners. For fans of Thomas and Friends, there’s also a festive Thomas card. For more information, visit http://www.autism.org.uk/christmascards
GLIMPSE – the talents of the autism community
They are painters, sculptors and photographers; poets and storytellers; musicians and creators of amazing video games. They are kids, teens and adults. Last year, a new online publication arose to celebrate the talents of autistic individuals and other developmental disabilities: GLIMPSE, offered by ICDL (The Interdisciplinary Council of Developmental and Learning Disorders). In late 2008, Volume 2 of GLIMPSE was released, and was expanded into a print book and notecards. The works are serious, humourous, deeply personal and illuminating. See it for yourself, share it with others, submit your own/your child’s work for inclusion in Volume 3, to release later this year. Find information and ordering details at www.icdl.com
“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art onlineâ€:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php
MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT
“Theater and education in Autistic Licenseâ€:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20091101-LIFE-911010305
“BBC to focus on modern family life with docs … The Autistic Me, directed by Matt Rudge, was one of the highest rating single documentaries ever on the channel. A follow-up to The Autistic Me has now been commissioned from Matt.â€:
http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k9/nov/nov69.php
“Actors for Autismâ€:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/
BOOKS
“Tim Page on Asperger’s and why he was so absent-mindedâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/tim_page_on_aspergers_and_why_he_was_so_absentminded.htm
“Part 1: Look Me in the Eye; My Life with Asperger’sâ€:
http://www.enotalone.com/article/19932.html
“Autism, Advocates, and Law Enforcement Professionals: recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disordersâ€
Author: Dennis Debbaudt
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781853029806
“Sing, Move, Learnâ€
Author: Jenny Clark rack, OTR/L, BCP, AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics
http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9735.htm
“The Autism Spectrum in the 21st Century: Exploring Psychology, Biology and Practiceâ€
Author: Ilona Roth
With Chris Barson, Rosa Hoekstra, Greg Pasco and Terry Whatson
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050876
“Bereavement, Loss and Learning Disabilities: A Guide for Professionals and Carersâ€
Author: Robin Grey
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050203
“Successful School Change and Transition for the Child with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parentsâ€
Author: Clare Lawrence
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050524
“Writers on the Spectrum: How Autism and Asperger Syndrome have Influenced Literary Writingâ€
Author: Julie Brown
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109136
“The Feeling’s Unmutual: Growing Up With Asperger Syndrome (Undiagnosed)â€
Author: Will Hadcroft
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843102649
“Anne Droyd and Century Lodgeâ€
Author: Will Hadcroft
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843102823
“Anne Droyd and the House of Shadowsâ€
Author: Will Hadcroft
“The Girl Who Spoke With Pictures: Autism Through Artâ€
Author: Eileen Miller
Foreword by Robert Nickel MD
Illustrated by Kim Miller
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108894
“Life and Learning with Autism Spectrum Diffabilityâ€
Author: Wendy Lawson
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109563
MOVIE
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (3D)
- Release Date: Wednesday November 4 2009
http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/d/Disneys-A-Christmas-Carol-in-Disney-Digital-3D/index-6649094.html
Official Site:
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/achristmascarol/
VIDEO GAME
Invizimals – with Camera and Trap (PSP) 7+
Release Date: Nov 13 2009
LIFE
“Clever Fools: Why A High IQ Doesn’t Mean You’re Smartâ€
ENVIRONMENT
“Plan To Pierce Heart Of Urban Monster Volcanoâ€
Next month, geologists will begin to drill into a huge volcano in Italy that has towns on top of it: is that a good idea?
Take care,
Julie
My heart goes out to all who have been affected by the Queensland floods. Many are in shock over the sheer scale of the devastation. Having been born and raised in Brisbane, and with family and friends who are currently directly affected, I am all too familiar with flash floods. Sending my best wishes for the safety of all and of your homes. For those who’ve lost loved ones, my deepest sympathy.
The Queensland Government has set up a Relief Appeal:
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
For those living in Australia who wish to assist, please phone 1800219028.
Be Safe,
Julie
xx
Related Articles
Brisbane Floods – Before & After
(Move mouse over pics to view before and after):
http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm
Queensland Floods:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods
Australia: Thousands leave homes as floods hit Victoria:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12201918
Jan
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Article Date: 15 Dec 2010 – 3:00 PST
Swedes are both happy and content with their lives, reveals a report from the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The factors that contribute most to a sense of wellbeing are good health, family and friends, a good home and personal finances. Clothes and appearance play only a very minor role.
More and more Swedes are describing themselves as happy and content. When the SOM Institute asked: “On balance, how content are you with the life you live?” and “On balance, how happy would you say you are?”, nine out of ten replied that they are both content and happy. Not entirely unexpectedly, there also turned out to be a strong correlation between happiness and contentedness.
Good health is the most important factor for Swedes’ personal wellbeing, followed by family, good friends, having a good (and safe) place to live, and healthy personal finances.
The factors at the bottom of the list include religious faith, political commitment, looking good, an exciting life and wearing nice clothes.
The report also shows that contentment can vary considerably from one area of our life to another we are generally more content with family life than with our work/studies or finances.
The report’s authors are Bengt Brülde, docent in practical philosophy at the University of Gothenburg, and Ã…sa Nilsson, research administrator at the SOM Institute.
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The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) is competing for a $250,000 grant from The Pepsi Refresh Project during the month of December. The winners will be decided by popular vote so CABF needs your vote every day this month! They are currently Number 2 in voting, so every vote counts.
There are over 5 million U.S. youth who live with depression or bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, only a small percentage receive treatment. CABF will use the grant from Pepsi to raise public awareness and help more youth who suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. They also intend to use the money for greater outreach and to expand their website to include more mental health concerns — not just bipolar disorder — that children and teens deal with.
Less than a minute of your day for the rest of December can have amazing long-term benefits for children and teens. Learn more by going to www.bpkids.org/pepsi.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/14/help-the-child-and-adolescent-bipolar-foundation-win-a-pepsi-grant/
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Article Date: 17 Dec 2010 – 0:00 PST
Psychological scientists are faced with the arduous task of identifying distinctions between humans without stigmatizing groups of people based on these differences. In this special section of Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, experts present reasons for why differences in gender, race, sexual orientation, and culture should not be framed as deficits within the field of psychology.
- Stigma From Psychological Science: Group Differences, Not Deficits – Introduction to Stigma Special Section
Morton Ann GernsbacherStigma occurs when individuals are devalued by others for having a different trait or attributes. Gernsbacher introduces this special section on stigma within psychological science research by observing that psychological scientists have a tendency to frame individual and group differences as deficits, which enables stigma and may lead to biased interpretations of research data.
- Venus and Mars or Down to Earth: Stereotypes and Realities of Gender Differences
Susan T. FiskePsychological scientists often think in categorical dichotomies, dividing a broad population into two groups – for example, contrasting men and women and exaggerating differences between the genders. Gender entails two fundamental dimensions that characterize intergroup stigma: perceived warmth and perceived competence. These dimensions identify groups that are viewed with ambivalence and they often force trade-offs (e.g., professional women are seen as competent but cold). The dimensions add a more nuanced view of stigma – groups can be stigmatized even if they are viewed positively on one dimension and, by implication, negatively on the other dimensions.
- Sexual Orientation Differences as Deficits: Science and Stigma in the History of American Psychology
Gregory M. HerekFor much of the 20th century, sexual-orientation differences were treated as deficits by Psychology (defined here broadly to include psychiatry and mental health professions), and it wasn’t until 1973 that homosexuality was removed from the DSM. Although Psychology is now dedicated to challenging sexual stigma through research, teaching, and advocacy, the differences-as-deficits assumption is still evident in public debates about sexual orientation and sexual minorities. Psychology still has an important role to play in eliminating sexual stigma, not only by correcting falsely held beliefs but also by addressing the underlying framework that perpetuates stigma.
- I’m White and You’re Not: The Value of Unraveling Ethnocentric Science
James M. JonesResearch that stigmatizes specific human groups is destructive, but there are numerous historical examples of psychological research that was designed to demonstrate the inferiority of Blacks and Native Americans. Many psychological ideas explored in the lab arise from observations and experiences of the scientists themselves – in this way, having diverse scientists and psychology faculty may result in more diverse research being pursued.
Read in Full: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211611.php
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Article Date: 15 Dec 2010 – 12:00 PST
Fighter pilots’ brains are “wired” differently suggests new research from the UK that used cognitive tests and MRI scans to show there are significant differences in the white matter connections between brain regions of fighter pilots compared to a group of healthy volunteers with no flying experience.
The researchers said they don’t know if the pilots were born with differently wired brains or if their brain wiring changed as they learned their expertise.
The study was the work of senior author Dr Masud Husain, a professor at the Institutes of Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), and colleagues from UCL and the University of Cambridge, and they wrote about it in the 15 Decmber issue of the Journal of Neuroscience
For the study, Husain and colleagues compared the cognitive performance of 11 fighter pilots to a group of healthy controls with similar IQ but no experience of flying aircraft. They also took MRI scans of their brains.
Husain told the press they were interested in pilots because they often have to perform at the limits of human cognitive capability, “they are an expert group making precision choices at high speed”, often in the presence of conflicting clues.
The front-line Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado fighter pilots and the controls completed two cognitive exercises: the “Eriksen Flanker” and “change of plan tasks” to assess the effect of distracting information on speed and accuracy of decisions, and ability to update a response plan in the presence of conflicting visual cues.
In the Flanker test they had to press a right or left arrow key depending on the direction of an arrow on a screen in front of them. The arrow was surrounded by other distracting arrows pointing in different directions.
In the change of plan test they had to respond quickly to a “go” signal, unless instructed to change their plan before making a response.
On the Flanker test, the pilots performed at the same speed but with greater accuracy than their age-matched controls. The pilots demonstrated superior cognitive control, “indexed by accuracy and postconflict adaptation”, and also showed “increased sensitivity to irrelevant, distracting choices”, wrote the authors.
On the second test, the pilots’ ability to “inhibit a current action plan in favor of an alternative response” was no better than that of the controls.
These results led the researchers to suggest that expertise in cognitive control may be more attuned to specific tasks and not generally better overall.
The researchers took brain scans of the participants using a type of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to look at the circuitry connections in the white matter of the brain.
DTI works by sensing how easy it is for water to diffuse along the axons in the microstructure of the brain. This measure is referred to as “white matter diffusivity”. .
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211651.php
