 
Continuing on the topic of attachment and Personality Disorders, a paper by Fonagy and Bateman published in the Journal of Personality Disorders in 2008 recently caught my eye. As mentioned previously, to date, we still don’t quite know what causes Personality Disorders. On several occasions, I have mentioned the fact that a large number of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) have experienced childhood abuse or trauma, but that not everyone who had these adverse experiences necessarily develops BPD.  In an attempt to formulate a model of how Borderline Personality Disorder develops, Fonagy and Bateman use attachment theory and the concept of mentalization in order to bring together insights from biological as well as psychological research on the topic. Â
The main idea posited by Fonagy and Bateman is that people with BPD have weaknesses in their ability to mentalize, that is, to understand their own and others’ internal states and motivation. This capacity to mentalize, according to the authors, develops within the context of early attachment relationships. Fonagy and Bateman emphasize that any successful treatment of BPD has to stimulate the capacity to mentalize in one form or another.
Read in Full:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39073&cn=8
 
4 August 2010 Last updated at 07:00Â
A project in Scotland to create up to 50 IT jobs for people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) has been awarded £700,000 in grant and loans.
The Scottish government cash will help the Specialisterne project, set up by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS), to recruit and train staff.
The Glasgow project is based on a Danish model which employs people with ASD as software testers.
Only 13% of adults with ASD in Scotland are thought to be in full-time work.
Specialisterne Scotland, which was set up with the help of The National Autistic Society Scotland and the Autism Resource Centre, will spend the next six months recruiting the first 12 potential trainees.
They will undergo a four-month training programme using Lego Mindstorm sets and robotics to identify and match their skills to work tasks.
To ensure the trainees achieve their full potential, Specialisterne aims to create a highly-planned and predictable working environment to minimise stress.
CEiS chief executive Gerry Higgins said: “We know from the experience in Denmark that Specialisterne Scotland has the potential to change lives for the better by providing mainstream employment at the market rate for people with autism, while transforming recruitment attitudes and business practices.
“The company will commence commercial testing in early 2011 following recruitment and training of the workforce.
Read in Full:Â http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-10857029
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4 August 2010 Last updated at 07:00Â
A project in Scotland to create up to 50 IT jobs for people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) has been awarded £700,000 in grant and loans.
The Scottish government cash will help the Specialisterne project, set up by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS), to recruit and train staff.
The Glasgow project is based on a Danish model which employs people with ASD as software testers.
Only 13% of adults with ASD in Scotland are thought to be in full-time work.
Specialisterne Scotland, which was set up with the help of The National Autistic Society Scotland and the Autism Resource Centre, will spend the next six months recruiting the first 12 potential trainees.
They will undergo a four-month training programme using Lego Mindstorm sets and robotics to identify and match their skills to work tasks.
To ensure the trainees achieve their full potential, Specialisterne aims to create a highly-planned and predictable working environment to minimise stress.
CEiS chief executive Gerry Higgins said: “We know from the experience in Denmark that Specialisterne Scotland has the potential to change lives for the better by providing mainstream employment at the market rate for people with autism, while transforming recruitment attitudes and business practices.
“The company will commence commercial testing in early 2011 following recruitment and training of the workforce.
Read in Full:Â http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-10857029
 
By Nick Collins
Published: 8:26AM BST 03 Aug 2010
Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear presenter, has become embroiled in a row with disability campaigners after using the term “special needs” to describe a car.
His comments came during an episode of the BBC Two show broadcast on Sunday when he compared two Ferraris to each other, arguing that the new model made its forerunner look like a “simpleton”.
The older car, the 430 Speciale, ought to be rebranded the “430 Speciale Needs”, he concluded, to the horror of some viewers.
Last year the presenter was forced to apologise for offending the Scottish and the disabled after referring to Gordon Brown, then the prime minister, as a “one-eyed Scottish idiot”.
Clarkson said at the time: “I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled.
“But the idiot bit – there is no chance I’ll apologise for that.”
Read in Full:Â http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7923681/Jeremy-Clarkson-in-special-needs-row.html
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By Nick Collins
Published: 8:26AM BST 03 Aug 2010
Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear presenter, has become embroiled in a row with disability campaigners after using the term “special needs” to describe a car.
His comments came during an episode of the BBC Two show broadcast on Sunday when he compared two Ferraris to each other, arguing that the new model made its forerunner look like a “simpleton”.
The older car, the 430 Speciale, ought to be rebranded the “430 Speciale Needs”, he concluded, to the horror of some viewers.
Last year the presenter was forced to apologise for offending the Scottish and the disabled after referring to Gordon Brown, then the prime minister, as a “one-eyed Scottish idiot”.
Clarkson said at the time: “I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled.
“But the idiot bit – there is no chance I’ll apologise for that.”
Read in Full:Â http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7923681/Jeremy-Clarkson-in-special-needs-row.html
 
August 3, 2010
The way the brain reacts differently to the sense of touch in people with Autism will be examined as part of an innovative Cardiff University study designed to create better understanding of the condition.
Dr David McGonigle from Cardiff University’s Schools of Psychology and Biosciences will use the latest brain imaging techniques to create a clearer picture of how touch is processed differently.
Sensory dysfunction is known to affect the quality of life of people with Autism. Certain qualities of touch, sound or movement are known to be distracting and unpleasant in some sufferers, while others may not even notice a particular sound or colour, which can make everyday activities difficult.
Dr McGonigle, who leads the two-year study, said: “It’s common for work on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to focus on the communicative or social aspects of the disorder.
“However, there are also high incidences of sensory symptoms in people with ASD. With an estimated 80 percent of those diagnosed suffering from some aspect of sensory dysfunction this is something that we need to understand better to provide a fuller picture of the disorder.”
The study will, for the first time, combine traditional experimental tests of touch, such as the ability to feel and distinguish between different sorts of vibrations delivered to the fingers, with images of the brain from the latest state-of-the-art neuroimaging equipment.
Read in Full:Â http://www.physorg.com/news200060724.html
Â
August 3, 2010
The way the brain reacts differently to the sense of touch in people with Autism will be examined as part of an innovative Cardiff University study designed to create better understanding of the condition.
Dr David McGonigle from Cardiff University’s Schools of Psychology and Biosciences will use the latest brain imaging techniques to create a clearer picture of how touch is processed differently.
Sensory dysfunction is known to affect the quality of life of people with Autism. Certain qualities of touch, sound or movement are known to be distracting and unpleasant in some sufferers, while others may not even notice a particular sound or colour, which can make everyday activities difficult.
Dr McGonigle, who leads the two-year study, said: “It’s common for work on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to focus on the communicative or social aspects of the disorder.
“However, there are also high incidences of sensory symptoms in people with ASD. With an estimated 80 percent of those diagnosed suffering from some aspect of sensory dysfunction this is something that we need to understand better to provide a fuller picture of the disorder.”
The study will, for the first time, combine traditional experimental tests of touch, such as the ability to feel and distinguish between different sorts of vibrations delivered to the fingers, with images of the brain from the latest state-of-the-art neuroimaging equipment.
Read in Full:Â http://www.physorg.com/news200060724.html
Jan
22
 
True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose –
Helen Keller
What’s the use of happiness? It can’t buy you money – Henny Youngman
This is an age old question that has been debated over dinner tables for centuries. First we need to define happiness. Miriam Webster got it right when they declared that the definition of happiness as good fortune is becoming obsolete. The modern definition includes both positive feelings (such as ecstasy and comfort) and positive activities that are absorbing and engaging. Thanks in part to modern technology; happiness is no longer an abstract concept. Guillaume Duchenne, an early happiness researcher, looked at the quality of people’s smiles and found that truly happy people had a smile that not only turned up the corners of their mouths, but also crinkled the skin around their eyes. Happiness can also be defined by our physiology. Researchers can identify happy people by their brain waves, their predominant hormones, and by the chemical make up of their cells.
 New research conducted by Gallup World Poll, published in the July 2010 issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, analyzed findings from a study of 136,000 people in 132 countries. Their findings concluded that life satisfaction rises with income, but income has small correlation with positive feelings and enjoying yourself. The pollsters asked people questions on a wide range of topics, and found that positive feelings are much more associated with factors such as whether they feel respected, have autonomy, and if their jobs are fulfilling.
Among the poll findings:
- The United States had the highest income but ranked 16th in life satisfaction and 26th on positive feelings.
- Denmark ranks high across categories. The country ranked No. 1 on life satisfaction, seventh on positive feelings, and fifth in income. Danes are happier mainly for two reasons — social trust is very high, and corruption is considered low. Also, people in Denmark are more satisfied with “their economic safety net†than people in the U.S., Ed Diener, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois and a senior scientist with the Gallup Organization.
- Extremely impoverished countries in Africa generally scored low on various categories, but no nation came in lowest in all types of happiness.
- Israel ranks high on life satisfaction (11th) but much lower in positive feelings.
- Some nations such as Costa Rica and New Zealand are happier than their income levels would suggest. Costa Rica ranks 41st in income but fourth in positive feelings, while New Zealand ranks 22nd in incomes but first in positive feelings.
- Self-esteem is more important to happiness in the U.S. than in “traditional†cultures.
- In studies of poor people, researchers find that some are happy, in part because their needs are met.
- Money makes a bigger difference to happiness among poor people, but it takes a lot more additional money to change the happiness of a person who is well-off, Diener says.
Read in Full: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39118&cn=110
Jan
22
Â
True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose –
Helen Keller
What’s the use of happiness? It can’t buy you money – Henny Youngman
This is an age old question that has been debated over dinner tables for centuries. First we need to define happiness. Miriam Webster got it right when they declared that the definition of happiness as good fortune is becoming obsolete. The modern definition includes both positive feelings (such as ecstasy and comfort) and positive activities that are absorbing and engaging. Thanks in part to modern technology; happiness is no longer an abstract concept. Guillaume Duchenne, an early happiness researcher, looked at the quality of people’s smiles and found that truly happy people had a smile that not only turned up the corners of their mouths, but also crinkled the skin around their eyes. Happiness can also be defined by our physiology. Researchers can identify happy people by their brain waves, their predominant hormones, and by the chemical make up of their cells.
 New research conducted by Gallup World Poll, published in the July 2010 issue of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, analyzed findings from a study of 136,000 people in 132 countries. Their findings concluded that life satisfaction rises with income, but income has small correlation with positive feelings and enjoying yourself. The pollsters asked people questions on a wide range of topics, and found that positive feelings are much more associated with factors such as whether they feel respected, have autonomy, and if their jobs are fulfilling.
Among the poll findings:
- The United States had the highest income but ranked 16th in life satisfaction and 26th on positive feelings.
- Denmark ranks high across categories. The country ranked No. 1 on life satisfaction, seventh on positive feelings, and fifth in income. Danes are happier mainly for two reasons — social trust is very high, and corruption is considered low. Also, people in Denmark are more satisfied with “their economic safety net†than people in the U.S., Ed Diener, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois and a senior scientist with the Gallup Organization.
- Extremely impoverished countries in Africa generally scored low on various categories, but no nation came in lowest in all types of happiness.
- Israel ranks high on life satisfaction (11th) but much lower in positive feelings.
- Some nations such as Costa Rica and New Zealand are happier than their income levels would suggest. Costa Rica ranks 41st in income but fourth in positive feelings, while New Zealand ranks 22nd in incomes but first in positive feelings.
- Self-esteem is more important to happiness in the U.S. than in “traditional†cultures.
- In studies of poor people, researchers find that some are happy, in part because their needs are met.
- Money makes a bigger difference to happiness among poor people, but it takes a lot more additional money to change the happiness of a person who is well-off, Diener says.
Read in Full: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39118&cn=110
 
Close relatives of people with autism often have subtle differences in the way they move their eyes, researchers said in a finding that might help doctors better diagnose and treat the condition.
The differences would not be noticeable in everyday life but they strongly suggest that many components of autism are inherited, the University of Illinois at Chicago team said. “What we hope these tests do is to identify subgroups of individuals or subgroups of families that have some sort of risk for autism,” Matthew Mosconi, who worked on the study, said in a telephone interview.
“The eye movement differences are the same as the ones that we saw previously in the kids with autism. It is a way to get at the functioning of these specific brain systems that we think are part of the development of autism.”
Read in Full:Â http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Eye-movement-tests-show-family-autism-link/articleshow/6251020.cms