Case notes

Practitioner: Mark Sloman, a social worker in a community mental health team

Field: Mental health

Location: Somerset

Client: Derek*, 61, lives alone.

Case history: Derek has not left his house for more than 40 years. After the death of his brother, who lived with him and was his main carer, the family GP became concerned that Derek now lives alone may be unable to care for himself.

Dilemma: Following up the doctor’s initial concerns, the social worker assesses Derek. However, Derek is adamant that he does not wish to receive outside support.

Risk Factor: Derek is a vulnerable man who lives alone. He receives some support from his sister but the social worker is unsure whether this is enough and would like to arrange external services for him.

Outcome: The social worker takes into account Derek’s wishes, his functioning and the family support. After careful consideration he decides to abide by the client’s wishes and does not arrange additional support.

* Not his real name

 

Social workers never know what to expect when they meet a client for the first time. In this case, the referral from a GP to social worker Mark Sloman had scant information because the referrer himself had never met the client, writes Mark Drinkwater.

The doctor feared that Derek would be unable to cope alone after the death of his brother, his main carer, who had been a patient at his surgery. He had concerns that Derek might be agoraphobic because he was said to never leave the house.

Sloman, an approved mental health practitioner (AMHP), called at Derek’s home several times but received no reply. He left a note on each occasion which prompted a relative to respond. “Eventually I got a call from his sister who lives nearby,” says Sloman. “I explained my concerns and she arranged for a time for me to meet Derek.”

During the house visit, he assessed Derek’s mental state by getting him to talk about his memories of the world outside. “He told me that he had attended mainstream education, but had never had a job after leaving school and never left the house,” Sloman says.

He tried various approaches to establish why Derek never left the house. “I asked him questions about why he didn’t leave the house, using open and closed questions,” says Sloman. “He said, ‘I can’t see the point. I don’t see the point of going out’. He said that hadn’t been out of the house since 1966.”

Derek was given some short mental tests to assess his mental capacity for making informed decisions. When asked how he managed day-to-day, Derek said that each day was roughly the same. “He had fixed patterns,” says Sloman. “He got up at eight each morning and watched TV. And he had a bath on a Tuesday.

“I did suspect that he was on the autistic spectrum, but he was not anxious in any way. He was not suffering from any other form of mental health problems. He was not depressed and was not psychotic. I did not think it appropriate to use the Mental Health Act because he was not a risk to himself or to others.”

From discussion with Derek and his sister, Sloman established that Derek was totally reliant on his sibling. She went shopping for him and sorted out his paperwork and bills. Neither Derek nor his sister saw why there was any need to consider outside support.

Sloman found no evidence to substantiate the doctor’s initial fears that Derek had agoraphobia. In his assessment he found Derek to be in appropriate accommodation, with adequate support from his family and not showing any signs of distress.

Sloman was convinced that Derek would benefit from support services, but Derek steadfastly refused to consider any form of help. “He had [mental] capacity to make decisions and chose not to engage with us. He made it very clear that he didn’t want further involvement from us and didn’t want me to come back,” he says.

Back at his office, Sloman shared his findings with colleagues, who concurred with the decision-making. He then contacted Derek, his sister and the GP once more to explain that the case was now closed. “We are limited with what we can do with a case like this,” Sloman says. “There is a need to respect an individual’s self-determination. I left it open for him to get back in contact if he changed his mind.”

Weighing up the risks

Arguments for taking risk

● Mental capacity

Derek has shown that he has the mental capacity to make decisions about his own social care needs. The assessment also established that he has no mental health problems.

● Person-centred approach

The social worker would be respecting Derek’s views and wishes. This person-centred approach is guided by social work values that support service users’ rights to control their lives.

● Support from family

There is significant support being provided by his sister. Families are often resourceful and resilient. To undermine this could create an unnecessary dependence on support services .

 

Arguments for taking the risk

● Vulnerable person

Derek is a vulnerable person and the risks have increased since his brother died. Providing additional support could safeguard him from danger or harm.

● Possibility of autism

There may be more to this case than is apparent. Schools in the 1960s would have been unlikely to have known about the autistic spectrum and it may be that Derek has undiagnosed autism.

● Overly dependent

Derek is only just managing, and his welfare is wholly dependent on his sister. If that support breaks down his welfare may be at risk.

Independent comment

It is extremely difficult for social care workers to assess risks and needs when the client is reluctant to participate. Service user engagement is key to everything we do in social care. Because Derek’s brother has recently died, this engagement is more complicated.

The risks have undoubtedly increased. Consideration should be given to a longer-term engagement plan. There is a balance between being able to show that you have tried a number of ways to engage Derek and being seen as harassing him.

Voluntary sector workers often successfully engage service users where statutory services struggle and this possibility should be explored.

The team was right to ascertain his mental capacity to choose to decline help and stay at home. This assessment is key for the team to decide whether or not to continue to work with him, although should not be the only consideration.

It would appear that the decision not to use the Mental Health Act was the correct one, although this should be reviewed if the client’s situation deteriorates. It is also important that Derek and his sister are easily able to gain help should the need arise in the future.

Lance Carver, service ­manager, Herefordshire

This article is published in the 22 April issue of Community Care magazine under the heading “I decided to do nothing”

Source:  http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/04/22/114304/risk-factor-a-vulnerable-adult-who-lives-alone-rejects-services.htm

 

 Speaks4Me was developed for a non-verbal, autistic boy

Friday, 23 April 2010 11:05 UK

By Geoff Adams-Spink
Age & disability correspondent, BBC News website

The father of a child with severe autism has developed technology to help him communicate.

Stephen Lodge said the idea for his Speaks4Me system came to him years ago but has been waiting for technology to catch up in order to make it a reality.

His eleven-year-old son, Callum, is non-verbal and uses his father’s invention to speak.

Speaks4Me was on show at Naidex 2010 – the annual disability exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.

Mr Lodge’s system runs on any device that can run the Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating system.

It uses the concept of dragging and dropping images from one area of the screen to another to form sentences.

The user then presses a speech button to “verbalise” the sentence.

“Callum has been using Speaks4Me for some time now and he has already been able to create some very expressive sentences,” Mr Lodge told the BBC.

Examples include, “I want a drink of juice”, “I want to go outside”, and “I feel tired”.

Mr Lodge – who lives in South Yorkshire – has 20 years’ experience in technology and developed Speaks4Me after deciding that other products on the market were unsatisfactory for Callum.

He cashed in his savings and raised money on his property in order to finance the venture.

Speaks4Me is currently sold on a portable, touch screen media player imported from the Far East.

But the company is finalising a “software only” price which will mean that it can run on any Windows laptop, desktop or even an interactive plasma white board in schools.

Mr Lodge says that several people have already tried the system.

“It’s fabulous to see how such an exciting but simple concept is well understood by the children that have been introduced to it,” he said.

Mr Lodge estimates it takes half an hour or less to be able to understand and use the system.

He is also hoping that it will prove useful to stroke survivors – about a third of whom lose the ability to speak, either temporarily or permanently.

“Imagine waking up in hospital, not being able to speak: how would you ask for the toilet?” he said.

Speaks4Me currently retails for about £2,000.

Mr Lodge says his future plans include being able to put his software on other portable devices such as mobile phones and gaming handsets.

On call

Also having its UK launch at Naidex was a French product called the Minifone.

The device can summon help and take incoming calls

It is being sold in the UK by Essex-based PivoTell which describes the product as the world’s smallest digital cordless phone.

Designed with older and disabled people in mind, the Minifone is worn like a wrist watch.

It can be used to summon help from three pre-programmed numbers and has the additional option of being connected to a call centre.

Provided that the landline has caller line identification (CLI) enabled, the Minifone will also display the date and time and the name or number of an incoming caller.

The Minifone uses a built-in speaker and microphone.

“The experience in France has been that – unlike alarm pendants which have a certain stigma attached – people find these quite attractive and so are more likely to be wearing them,” said Adrian Milne of PivoTell.

The device costs £150 and a subscription to the call centre is £10 per month.

Naidex 2010 is at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from April 20 – 22.

Source:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8634607.stm

 

Facing extradition: Liz Prosser with her daughter Tamara, who is now 18

Desperately ill mother to be extradited for ‘abducting’ her daughter in U.S.

By James Slack and Michael Seamark
Last updated at 10:09 AM on 23rd April 2010

Alan Johnson is allowing a gravely ill woman to be extradited to the U.S. on 12-year- old charges of ‘abducting’ her daughter.

The Home Secretary says Liz Prosser can face trial in America despite fears the bedbound 59-year-old could kill herself.

The case has chilling similarities to that of Gary McKinnon – the Asperger’s sufferer who is fighting removal on hacking charges, and who is also considered a suicide risk.

Mrs Prosser, who now lives in Wales, moved to the U.S. in 1990 and had a daughter, Tamara.

But 12 years ago she fled the country with Tamara, who was then aged six, to avoid them being separated.

Mrs Prosser had been told her visa would not be renewed and that she must leave Tamara behind with her father, with whom Mrs Prosser was no longer in a relationship.

After fleeing the U.S., Mrs Prosser moved to Scotland with Tamara.

But eight months later, the U.S authorities caught up with them and returned Tamara to America, where she has been living since with her father.

Mrs Prosser was was told she would be charged with kidnapping and extradited.

She spent six months on remand in Holloway prison in London and has been on bail since her release.

Since then, she has been fighting extradition. A previous attempt to remove her in 2005 was refused.

She also denies a second charge of obtaining money by deception, relating to time she spent working for a U.S. magazine.

Since the abduction, Mrs Prosser’s health has seriously deteriorated. Her illnesses include Crohn’s disease, acute fibromyalgia (a condition that causes fatigue and muscle pain), epilepsy and depression.

She can barely travel short distances, requires chemotherapy once a week to alleviate the Crohn’s symptoms, and is unable to sit up for more than ten minutes at a time.

Her lawyers argued at the High Court that a combination of severe physical and psychiatric illnesses meant extradition would cause her ‘extreme pain’ and put her at high risk of suicide.

Read in Full:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268108/Home-Secretary-Alan-Johnson-accused-second-Briton-facing-extradition-U-S.html?ITO=1490

HEADLINES

“Girl, 8, found hanged at home was locked in squalid, filthy bedroom for 12 hours a night”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1264851/Girl-8-hanged-home-locked-squalid-filthy-bedroom-12-hours-night.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo

“Gigi Jordan, accused of killing autistic son, may have faked suicide attempt”:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/04/09/2010-04-09_attys_she_killed_autistic_son_may_have_faked_suicide_bid.html

“Nadia Bloom: Found Alive/Lost girl’s ordeal described”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/nadia_bloom_found_alive.htm

“Babysitter in Glasgow abandoned disabled girl outside”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8618305.stm

”Officials mum on how Abington Heights pays $5 million settlement … Former teacher Susan Wzorek, employed by the NEIU and working in a classroom at Clarks Summit Elementary, abused seven autistic students during the 2001-2002 school year.”:

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/officials-mum-on-how-abington-heights-pays-5-million-settlement-1.731972?localLinksEnabled=false

“Grandparent alleges abuse at Blountstown Elementary”:

http://www.newsherald.com/news/blountstown-83072-school-elementary.html

“Judge rules on Google bully video”:

http://news.uk.msn.com/world/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=153007420

“4 year old special needs child abandoned on bus”:

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12287675

“Village autistic man will not face assault complaint charges(Includes video)”:

http://newsok.com/village-autistic-man-will-not-face-assault-complaint-charges/article/3453470

“Autistic boy, aged 6 receives bravery award for saving mother’s life”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autistic_boy_aged_6_receives_bravery_award_for_saving_mothe.htm

“Families upset over closure of Mo. Facility”:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36402634

“NAS – Election 2010: ask your candidates to stand up for autism”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2294&a=21275

“UK Prime Ministerial debates launched/New Labour’s families speak out”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/uk_prime_moinisterial_debates_launchednew_labours_families.htm

“Glowing tribute to Carers in Leaders TV Debates”:

http://www.24worldnews.com/glowing-tribute-to-carers-in-leaders-tv-debates/6612/

“Autism campaigner praises leaders for carers comments”:

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/rbnews/8105085.SOUTH_WOODFORD__Autism_campaigner_praises_leaders_for_carers_comments/

“Scottish Autism Bill gets new support from MSPs”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2621&a=21466

“Gary McKinnon Updates: Janis Sharp to battle Straw”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/gary_mckinnon_updates_janis_sharp_to_battle_straw.htm

“Channel 10 apologises for Good News Week autism joke”:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/channel-10-apologises-for-good-news-week-autism-joke/story-e6freuyi-1225856095004

HEALTH & RESEARCH

“Fwd: Please Take Action: The DSM-V – An Opportunity For Improved Practice”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fwd_please_take_action_the_dsmv__an_opportunity_for_impr.htm

“Discrete epigenetic changes of DNA found in a certain subgroup of twins and autistic siblings”:

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=184974

“The World Link: Evidence lacking for feeding special diets to autistic children”:

http://bellasangels.newsvine.com/_news/2010/04/12/4149607-the-world-link-evidence-lacking-for-feeding-special-diets-to-autistic-children

“Nutritional risks of picky eating may be higher in autism”:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE63F4SF20100416

“Experts say autism bowel disease may not exist”:

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1103ap_eu_britain_autism_disease.html

“Dual approach gives a more accurate picture of the autistic brain”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/dual_approach_gives_a_more_accurate_picture_of_the_autistic_.htm

“First direct recording of mirror neurons in human brain”:

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_first-direct-recording-of-mirror-neurons-in-human-brain_1370935

“Drug company to collaborate with Rett Syndrome Research Trust”:

http://www.craegmoor.co.uk/industry-news/article/19711073/drug-company-to-collaborated-with-rett-syndrome-research-trust/

“Brain development steered by newly discovered RNA”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/185564.php

“Gene linked to schizophrenia”:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/gene-linked-to-schizophrenia-canadian-study-1947710.html

“Broadly used seizure meds may increase suicide risk”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/broadly_used_seizure_meds_may_increase_suicide_risk.htm

“Language dysfunction in children may be due to epileptic brain activity”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/language_dysfunction_in_children_may_be_due_to_epileptic_bra.htm

“Selective Mutism: Speaking up for silent treatment”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/selective_mutism_speaking_up_for_silent_treatment.htm

Williams Syndrome “When social fear is missing, so are racial stereotypes”:

http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=10041346-when-social-fear-is-missing-so-are-racial-stereotypes

“Test for genetic risk of Bipolar/How long is a typical Bipolar episode?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/test_for_genetic_risk_of_bipolarhow_long_is_a_typical_bipol.htm

“PTSD: Army troop in Iraq to hold 5K Run to promote PTSD Awareness and ending stigma of mental illness”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ptsd_army_troop_in_iraq_to_hold_5k_run_to_promote_ptsd_awar.htm

“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotter”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_10.htm

“New brochure helps parents find services for autistic children, Australia”:

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=186019

“Internet advice may not be reliable for your kid’s health”:

http://www.themedguru.com/20100413/newsfeature/internet-advice-may-not-be-reliable-your-kid-s-health-study-86133985.html

“Kids with Oppositional Defiance Disorder respond to frequency but not intensity of consequences”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/kids_with_oppositional_defiance_disorder_respond_to_frequenc.htm

“Child & Adolescent Health & Behavior: Spanking Promotes Aggression In Kids, Hardship & Health, Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders & Streptococcal Infections, Adolescents & Inhalants, The Teen Years & More …”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/child__adolescent_health__behavior_spanking_promotes_aggr.htm

“OCD: Hoarders”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/hoarders.htm

“Medical criteria for eating disorders miss the mark”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/medical_criteria_for_eating_disorders_miss_the_mark.htm

“Johns Hopkins Health Alerts: CBT for Phobias, Virtual Reality Treatments, How the Brain Stores Memories of Specific Fears”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/johns_hopkins_health_alerts_cbt_for_phobias_virtual_realit.htm

“Multitasking has its limits”:

http://www.healthgrades.com/cms/health-news/article.aspx?id=tcm:5-11514

“Work/Life balance evades UK female academics”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/worklife_balance_evades_uk_female_academics_uk.htm

“ACCEPTANCE – Even Less Than Meets The I!”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/acceptance__even_less_than_meets_the_i.htm

“New Research on Suicidal Behavior”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/new_research_on_suicidal_behavior.htm

“Pocket Therapy: Mental Health to go!”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/the_pocket_therapist_mental_health_to_go.htm

“Are kids overprescribed psychiatric medications?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/are_kids_overprescribed_psychiatric_medications.htm

Headache Factor “Migraine gives woman foreign accent”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/headache_factor_migraine_gives_woman_foreign_accent.htm

“Latest Depression Studies: Depression, Anxiety Underlie Frequent Indoor Tanning, Meds Side Effects May Be Missed, Children & Teens Meds Safety, Smoking, Medication & Intimacy”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/latest_depression_studies_depression_anxiety_underlie_freq.htm

“Secrets To Happiness, Depression Among Oldest Of Old”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/secrets_to_happiness_depression_among_oldest_of_old.htm

“Shy People Experience The World Differently”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/shy_people_experience_the_world_differently_study.htm

“Relationships: ADHD & Relationships, Family Tree Research May Cause Rifts, Affairs of the Mind, Forgiveness, Loss Of A Spouse, Seniors & Loneliness, Darwin’s Theory of Sexual Selection & More …”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/relationships_adhd__relationships_family_tree_research_ma.htm

“Relationships: 5 Secrets For Successful Long-Term Relationships, Online Dating, Hooking Up vs Dating, Sex Without Romance, Finding Long Lost Friends & More …”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/relationships_5_secrets_for_successful_longterm_relationsh.htm

“Virtual Hospital”:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/

EDUCATION

“$5 Million settlement over abuse of autistic students/Special needs students lose out in budget cuts”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/education_5_million_settlement_over_abuse_of_autistic_stud.htm

“Victor School District: Autistic student incident investigation underway, changes coming”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/victor_school_district_autistic_student_incident_investigat.htm

“NAS in groundbreaking partnership with Exchange Chambers”:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=253&a=21464

“NAS Successes in Children, Schools and Families Bill”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=253&a=21435

“The Boy In The Corner: Why do children with SEN still get such a raw educational deal?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/the_boy_in_the_corner_why_do_children_with_sen_still_get_su.htm

“National Geographic Bee State Qualifier: 8^th Grader with Asperger Syndrome wins competition”:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-talk-state-geography-bee-0410-20100409,0,1973942.story

“The boy in the corner: Why do children with special needs still get such a raw educational deal?”:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/the-boy-in-the-corner-why-do-children-with-special-needs-still-get-such-a-raw-educational-deal-1938286.html

“Is Cy-Fair unfair to special needs students?”:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/education/100415-cypress-fairbanks-special-needs-students

“Should teachers be allowed to use physical restraint?”:

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/news/996094/Vox-Pop-teachers-allowed-use-physical-restraint/

“Mother’s call for special school”:

http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/content/yarmouthmercury/news/story.aspx?brand=GYMOnline&category=news&tBrand=GYMonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED08%20Apr%202010%2011%3A52%3A40%3A100

“Prairies View embracing inclusion”:

http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/local/article_f2b0459c-4455-11df-ba96-001cc4c03286.html

“For the second year in a row, Pine Hill School, San Jose’s Premier 36 year old non-profit, non public Special Education School has been selected as a NASET School of Excellence!”:

http://www.medindia.net/health-press-release/For-the-Second-Year-in-a-Row-Pine-Hill-School-San-Joses-Premier-36-Year-Old-Nonprofit-Non-Public–66681-1.htm

“Dog helps autistic boy in school”:

http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=12300274

“No Dark Sarcasm In The Classroom/Video Training Program Helps Teachers Handle Behavior Problems”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/no_dark_sarcasm_in_the_classroomvideo_training_program_help.htm

“Kindle e-reader motivates less enthusiastic readers”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/kindle_ereader_motivates_less_enthusiastic_readers.htm

EMPLOYMENT

“Autistic numbers whiz thrives in Brooklyn store”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autistic_numbers_whiz_thrives_in_brooklyn_store.htm

“Job would be a dream”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_job_would_be_a_dream.htm

“Creative Support Ltd”:

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.”:

http://www.autlabs.com/

Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Company”:

http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html

“Auties.org”:
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.

http://www.auties.org/

“Prospects”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=473&a=2348

“AutismJobs”:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs

http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009

“Current job vacancies within the NAS”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=170

For further employment information, please view”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST

“On the Spectrum: Autistic children don’t just disappear … Temple Grandin nominee for TIME 100 Poll on World’s Most Influential People”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/on_the_spectrum_autistic_children_dont_just_disappear_t.htm

“Mum raises autism awareness .. Sam Russell, six, was born with Down’s syndrome, but he has recently been diagnosed with autism”:

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Mum39s-autism-warning-to-parents.6210133.jp

“Bond of brothers”:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2927016/Bond-of-autistic-brothers-Daniel-and-Scott-Fisher.html

“Loveland group harnesses a love for helping others”:

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100413/LOVELAND01/100412033

Rett Syndrome “Riding back to happiness at the Pegasus Centre”:

http://morpeth.journallive.co.uk/2010/04/riding-back-to-happiness-at-th.html

“Flintshire folk rally to buy Steven new car”:

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/87253/flintshire-folk-rally-to-buy-steven-new-car.aspx

“Attention-grabbing antics for autism”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/apr/07/autism-campaign-wonderbra-posters

HUNGARY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary

Autisták Érdekvédelmi Egyesülete
Hungarian Autistic Society (HAS)
H-1066 Budapest
Jókai utca 2-4 II/8
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 301 9067/354 1073
Fax: +36 1 302 1094
Email: autist@interpont.hu or info@esoember.hu
Website: http://www.esoember.hu or http://www.autista.info.hu

The Royal Palace, Buda Castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buda_Castle

Budapest 1089
HUNGARY
tel: 36 1 11 42 859
fax: 36 1 210 4364

Balaton Lake

“Disability Rights Advocates – Hungary”:

http://www.icdri.org/legal/disability_rights_advocates-hungary.htm

A portion of Fishermen’s Bastion (Halászbástya) on Castle Hill (Várhegy) in the Buda section of Budapest, Hungary.

“ANED -Hungary”:

http://www.disability-europe.net/en/countries/Hungary?jsEnabled=1

Jaszbereny

“Hungary Guide”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/hungary-guide/

Lake Heviz(2nd Largest Thermal Lake in the World):
This lake is not so big , but has thermal source and is very deep. The temperature of the water is around +33 C degrees and 38 meters deep. Lake Hévíz is located close to Hévíz, Hungary, near the western end of Lake Balaton, five miles from Keszthely. It is the largest thermal lake in Europe (47,500 square metres in area). The flow of water is very strong and the lake is believed to be completely replenished each day. The waters are reputed to have curative effects, and there is a thriving health tourism industry in the area.

The oldest Hungarian regional open-air museum is connected to Zalaegerszeg, namely the Göcsej Village Museum (Falumúzeum). The buildings representing the heritage of the region’s vernacular architecture are erected around the still branch of the River Zala and an old water mill. Zala is a densely forested region.

“Hungary Facts”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/hungary-facts/

Hungarian Houses of Parliament

“Budapest, Hungary Travel Guide”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/budapest-hungary/

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Franz Liszt [Hungarian: Liszt Ferenc] was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer. He studied and played at Vienna and Paris and for most of his early adulthood toured throughout Europe giving concerts. His virtuosity earned him approbations by composers and performers alike throughout Europe. His great generosity with both time and money benefited the lives of many people: victims of disasters, orphans and the many students he taught for free. He also contributed to the Beethoven memorial fund. Read more …  http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Liszt-Franz.htm

Liszt Website: http://www.d-vista.com/OTHER/franzliszt.html

Classical Archives:  http://www.classicalarchives.com/liszt.html

ADD/ADHD

ADHD/Future Employment “Educators must embrace change”:

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Educators+must+embrace+change/1701010/story.html

“ADHD mechanisms probed”:

http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/health/behind-the-headlines/adhd_mechanisms_probed_1_618494

“ADHD linked to interaction of genetics and psychology”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/adhd_linked_to_interaction_of_genetics_and_psychology.htm

WSJ “ADHD: Why more adults are diagnosed”:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304620304575165902933059076.html?mod=WSJ_hp_editorsPicks

“ADHD linked to interaction of genetics and psychology”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/adhd_linked_to_interaction_of_genetics_and_psychology.htm

ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)”- 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.org”:
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.

http://www.adders.org/

“ADDISS” The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…

http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html

“ADDA”:

http://www.add.org/index.html

“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

http://www..adhd..org.uk/

“CHADD”:

http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562

SPORT

“Sports and exercise for autistic children can improve social and cognitive skills”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-43538-DC-Autism-Examiner~y2010m4d12-Sports-and-exercise-for-children-with-autism-can-improve-social-and-cognitive-skills

“Street surfing: the PE teacher’s secret weapon”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/13/street-surfing-schools

“Erin and Donnie’s winning strokes draw smiles”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/erin_and_donnies_winning_strokes_draw_smiles.htm

“Father of four in sky dive for autistic charity”:

http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/hamilton-news/2010/04/08/father-of-four-in-sky-dive-for-autistic-charity-51525-26194446/

“Support Phil Packer at this year’s London Marathon”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=253&a=21391

 

“Swimming Challenges ~ Includes Great Swim Series 2010(June – September 2010)”:

The Great Swim series is taking place at various locations during summer 2010. There will be four televised one-mile outdoor swims, staged in lakes, lochs and docks around the UK.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2551

“10-kilometre runs”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1816

“Trek the Sahara – 5-25 March 2010 or 29 Oct-8 Nov 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2542

“Trek the Inca Trail – 22-31 May 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863

“Trek Snowdon – 11–3 June 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2524

“Trek the Jurassic Coast – 16-18 July 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2525

“Trek Mount Kilimanjaro – 29 Sept-10 Oct 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2200

“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 Oct 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356

“Trek to Everest Base Camp – 5-21 November 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354

“Cycle Cuba – 14-22 March 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2357

“London to Paris 2010 – 5-8 June”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2407

“L’Etape du Tour 2010 – 18 July 2010”

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

“Piano teacher hits right note with autistic students”:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Piano-Teacher-Hits-Right-Note-for-Autistic-Children-90435069.html

“China: Solo in the key of autism”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/china_solo_in_the_key_of_autism.htm

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART

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 online”:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT

“New autism documentaries on BBC and Channel 4(UK):

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2122&a=21470

“Young, Autistic & Stagestruck on Channel 4 Television”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/young_autistic__stagestruck_on_channel_4_television.htm

“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

“My New School: A Workbook to Help Students Transition to a New School”

by Melissa L. Trautman, Ms. Ed.

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9054.htm

“Friendly Facts: A Fun, Interactive Resource to Help Children Explore the Complexities of Friends and Friendship”

by Dr. Margaret-Anne Carter and Josie Santomauro

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9052.htm

“Amazingly … Alphie: Understanding and Accepting Different Ways of Being”

by Roz Espin, Illustrated by Beverley Ransom

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9927.htm

“Oliver Onion – The Onion Who Learns to Accept and Be Himself”

by Diane Murrell

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9939.htm

“The Kaleidoscope Kid”

by Elaine Larson, Illustrated by Vivian Strand

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9977.htm

“This is Asperger Syndrome”

by Elisa Gagnon and Brenda Smith Myles

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9903.htm

“1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders”

by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_O109.htm

“Activity Schedules for Children with Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior”

by Lynn E. McClannahan

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_A103.htm

“Embracing Autism: Connecting and Communicating with Children in the Autism Spectrum”

by Robert Parish(Editor)

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_E109.htm

Audio CD “Indigo Dreams: Garden of Wellness Stories and Techniques to Decrease Stress, Anger, Anxiety While Promoting Self Esteem(ages 5-10)

by Lori Lite

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_I403A.htm

Audio CD “Indigo Dreams: Relaxation and Stress Management Bedtime Stories for Children

Improve Sleep, Manage Stress and Anxiety

by Lori Lite

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_I401A.htm

CINEMA

“Karate Kid”

Release Date: June 11, 2010

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpHEBZSrFws

“Cemetary Junction” (15+)

Release Date 14^th April

Teaser Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ESq-Z8Vqc

http://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/3333

“3D-TV Health Warning: Tuning In Can Cause Confusion, Nausea And Even Fits, Says Electronics Giant”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266351/3D-TV-health-warning-Tuning-cause-confusion-nausea-fits-says-electronics-giant.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo

VIDEO GAME

“Blur” 7+

Release Date: May 28, 2010.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ACTIVISION-Blur-Xbox-360/dp/B002A9JGWW/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__54?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, details”:

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/10101/

TECH

“iPad Drawing Interest As Device For Disabled”:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=nw20100418113714900C458523

“iPad is Child’s Play But Not Quite Magical”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18756-innovation-ipad-is-childs-play-but-not-quite-magical.html

“GM To Build Astronaut-Replacing Robots”:

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/15042010/36/gm-build-astronaut-replacing-robots-0.html

SPACE

“Rings of Fire Erupt From Sun In NASA Probe’s First Videos”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18805-rings-of-fire-erupt-from-sun-in-nasa-probes-first-videos.html

“Barack Obama Unveils New Vision For NASA Spaceflight”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/15/barack-obama-nasa-space-programme?CMP=AFCYAH

Take Care,

Julie

Danube Sunset, Budapest

 

April 22, 2010

By Divya Mathur, PhD 

Shyness is a unique trait and all of us experience it in various degrees when faced with performance situations or new social surroundings. However, many people go through life dreading such encounters and exposure to the feared social situation provokes anxiety, or possibly a panic attack. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) or social phobia is a common anxiety disorder in which individuals shun all forms of interpersonal contact or undergo extreme physical or mental discomfort in social settings. Until recently, this condition was dismissed as ascribing pathology to a normal variant of human personality in order to sell treatments. However, most psychiatrists now believe that social phobia is not a pathological label for shyness. Shyness neither is a prerequisite for nor can be considered as synonymous with social anxiety disorder.

Patients with SAD crave for company but fear social interactions because they are afraid of being ridiculed and perceived as unlikable, stupid or boring. They suffer from low self esteem and SAD is also associated with an increased risk of comorbid conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse.

Clinically it is not difficult to diagnose SAD but its causes are not yet clearly understood. The cortico-limbic and cortico-striatal circuits are composed of the temporal brain structures such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. They are responsible for a range of cognitive and affective processes regarding attention, memory, judgment and interpretation about self and others. It is believed that in people suffering from SAD, these circuits send distorted assumptions in response to random images of human faces, suggesting a system sensitive not only to harmful stimuli but also to stimuli that are considered affectively neutral. At a molecular level, patients with SAD exhibit increased glutamate content in the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain along with some striatal dopamine and serotonin abnormalities when compared to healthy controls.

Read in Full …  http://brainblogger.com/2010/04/22/the-neurobiology-of-social-anxiety-disorder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GNIFBrainBlogger+(Brain+Blogger)

Depression, Anxiety Underlie Frequent Indoor Tanning

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on April 21, 2010

New research suggests we have moved beyond simply going to a tanning salon to prepare for a vacation at the beach.

Researchers believe individuals who have used indoor tanning facilities may meet criteria for addiction, and may also be more prone to anxiety symptoms and substance use.

“Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about the health risks associated with natural and non-solar UV radiation, recreational tanning continues to increase among young adults,” the authors write as background information in the article.

“In addition to the desire for appearance enhancement, motivations for tanning include relaxation, improved mood and socialization.”

Given these reinforcements, repeated exposure to UV light may result in behavior patterns similar to those observed with substance-related disorders, the authors note.

Catherine E. Mosher, Ph.D., of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and Sharon Danoff-Burg, Ph.D., of University at Albany, State University of New York, in 2006 recruited 421 college students.

Two written questionnaires typically used to screen for alcohol abuse or substance-related disorders were modified to evaluate students for addiction to indoor tanning. Participants were also assessed using standardized measures of anxiety, depression and substance use.

Among 229 participants who had used indoor tanning facilities, the average number of visits during the past year was 23. A total of 90 (39.3 percent) met criteria for tanning addiction on one measure and 70 (30.6 percent) met criteria on the other measure.

Students who did meet these criteria were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and use of alcohol, marijuana and other substances than those who did not meet these criteria.

“If associations between affective factors and indoor tanning behavior are replicated, results suggest that treating an underlying mood disorder may be a necessary step in reducing skin cancer risk among those who frequently tan indoors,” the authors write.

“Researchers have hypothesized that those who tan regularly year round may require more intensive intervention efforts, such as motivational interviewing, relative to those who tan periodically in response to mood changes or special events.”

“Further research should evaluate the usefulness of incorporating a brief anxiety and depression screening for individuals who tan indoors. Patients with anxiety or depression could be referred to mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment.”

The report is found in the journal Archives of Dermatology.

Source: JAMA and Archives Journals

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/21/depression-anxiety-underlie-frequent-indoor-tanning/12999.html

Related News Articles

• A Tanning Addiction
• Seizures Linked to Psychiatric Disorders
• Teen Self-Cutting Linked to High Risk Sex
• Frequent Weighing Not Linked to Depression
• Depression as Deadly as Smoking

Depression Medication Side Effects May Be Missed By Doctors

Article Date: 21 Apr 2010 – 1:00 PDT

A study from Rhode Island Hospital shows that patients report side effects from medication for the treatment of depression 20 times more than psychiatrists have recorded in the charts. The researchers recommend the use of a self-administered patient questionnaire in clinical practice to improve the recognition of side effects for patients in treatment. The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Volume 71, No. 4, now available online ahead of print.

One of the most frequent reasons for the discontinuation of medication to treat depression is the side effects that patients may experience. The premature discontinuation of medication is also associated with poorer treatment outcomes. In his recent study, lead researcher Mark Zimmerman, MD, director of outpatient psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital, notes that despite the clinical importance of detecting side effects, few studies have examined the adequacy of the detection and documentation methods currently in use among clinicians.

Zimmerman and his colleagues asked 300 patients in ongoing treatment for depression to complete a self-administered version of the Toronto Side Effects Scale (TSES). The patients rated the frequency of the 31 side effects and the degree of trouble they experienced. Those patients’ charts were then examined to extract side effects information recorded by the treating psychiatrist.

The findings indicate that the mean number of side effects reported by the patients on the TSES was 20 times higher than the number recorded by the psychiatrist. When the self-reported side effects were limited to “frequently occurring” or “very bothersome” the rate was still found to be two to three times higher than recorded in their charts.

Zimmerman, who is also an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, says, “Despite the importance that side effects have on premature medication discontinuation, there is some evidence that clinicians may not do a thorough job of eliciting information regarding their presence. This study finds that clinicians do not record in their progress notes most side effects reported on a side effects questionnaire..”

While there may be several explanations for this, Zimmerman says, “Our research found that the only specific side effect that was regularly inquired about by clinicians was on sexual dysfunction, presumably because of concerns that some patients may be too embarrassed to spontaneously report that without prompting.” The researchers also suggest that patients stop reporting to psychiatrists the side effects that they have grown accustomed to, but patients reported these side effects in the self-report scale because there were specific questions about them.

The researchers also question whether side effect frequencies reported in industry-sponsored studies may underestimate the prevalence of side effects from medication. As a result, clinicians may not be accurately informing patients of the potential likelihood of such side effects, and that lack of adequate preparation may result in patients prematurely discontinuing their medication.

Zimmerman says, “As a result of this study, we believe that ongoing dialogue about side effects during treatment will help to reduce premature medication discontinuation and would help reduce depression relapse rates. Incorporating a self-report questionnaire like the TSES may be helpful to adopt into clinical practice for the treatment of depression.”

Other researchers involved in the study along with Zimmerman include Janine Galione, BS, Naureen Attiullah, MD, Michael Friedman, MD, Cristina Toba, MD, and Moataz Rahgeb, MD, all of Rhode Island Hospital the Alpert Medical School.

Source:
Nancy Jean
Lifespan

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186072.php

Antidepressant Safety for Children and Teens

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on April 15, 2010

Numerous studies have shown that suicidal thoughts and behaviors may accompany use of antidepressants by children and adolescents. However, variations in risk among individual medications are unknown.

A new study compared various selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications and found no significant differences among them in the risk of suicide attempts or suicides.

The article, “Comparative Safety of Antidepressant Agents for Children and Adolescents Regarding Suicidal Acts,” will be published in the May issue of Pediatrics.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors were not investigated because of the small number of exposed subjects.

A total of 20,906 children between the ages of 10 to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of depression were observed over a 9-year period.

During the first year of use, study authors identified 266 attempted and 3 completed suicides, but no meaningful differences between SSRI antidepressant agents.

This analysis supports the decision of the Food and Drug Administration to include all antidepressants in the black box warning regarding increased suicide risk for children and adolescents after initiation of antidepressant medication use.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/15/antidepressant-safety-for-children-and-teens/12860.html

Depressed People More Likely To Smoke, US Survey

Article Date: 15 Apr 2010 – 2:00 PDT

Depressed people are more likely to smoke and more likely to smoke heavily than people without depression, says a new US government report that concludes special cessation programs are needed to help people with depression quit smoking.

These are the findings of a report published on 14 April that is based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2005-2008.

The report, published by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), does not prove that smoking causes depression or vice versa, but it shows there is a strong link between smoking and depression among adults aged 20 and over in the US.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/185499.php

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: The Challenge of Antidepressant Medication and Intimacy

 

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on April 21, 2010

A sure-to-be-controversial new study suggests psychotropic medications are overused in children.

James P. Morris, Ph.D. and George Stone, LCSW contend that one in every 50 Americans is now considered permanently disabled by mental illness, and up to eight million children take one or more psychotropic drugs.

They state that there is little evidence available to warrant the widespread use of psychotropic drugs for children, and little data regarding its long-term impact on development.

According to the authors, the mental health field is currently designed to treat adults with psychotropic medications, but they are often misused in the case of children and adolescents,

“This presents an ethical challenge to marriage and family therapists, who should be very cautious about these medications as an option for children. The long-term research on their safety for children is uncertain.”

The article is found in found in the Journal of Marital & Family Therapy.

As an example, the diagnosis of early-onset bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has climbed drastically in the past decade.

Drugs designed to treat the above two disorders show a fair short-term risk-benefit ratio, but a poor long-term benefit.

Morris and Stone indicate, “If the psychiatric community has been misled by pharmaceutical companies in thinking that these drugs are safe for their children, the parents of these children have been in turn deluded into putting their children in harm’s way.”

The authors continue that the pharmaceutical industry is largely influenced by the desire for economic profit, and the marketing muscle behind the industry, and leniency of institutions such as the FDA, tout benefits that are not yet properly evaluated for pediatric use.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/21/are-kids-overprescribed-psychiatric-medications/12996.html

By Therese J. Borchard

Imagine a GPS navigational system that said something like this: “In approximately 30 minutes, you will run into your old boss, who will want to make you feel like a worthless pile of feces. Erect personal boundaries immediately…. I said, Get in your bubble, Woman … Are you listening? She’s approaching you on your left. Lock up all childhood tapes now (the ones that convinced you that were weak, ugly, and pathetic) and DO NOT, I said DO NOT play them for her. Remember, their messages are no longer valid. Proceed carefully. You will speak to her in approximately 3, no 2, no 1 second.”

Me? I would like one of those.

So I made one. In book form.

You see, I am an obsessive-compulsive woman who has recorded, in her journals, 12 years of therapy sessions, 21 years of twelve-step support-group jargon, nice get-a-hold-of-yourself tips from hospital inpatient psych programs, and oodles of insights from her wise friends and mentors. I then asked readers on a few different websites — The Huffington Post, Beliefnet.com, and Psych Central — to tell me the most significant lesson or mental health tool that they learned in therapy. I plucked the gems and added those to my pile of darlings. Then I stared at them. I dreamt about them. I obsessed about them. And ultimately I organized them into a handsome, compact volume of pointers that I could carry around without drawing too much attention to myself.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/04/21/the-pocket-therapist-mental-health-to-go/

 

BROOKLYN, April 19, 2010

Brooklyn Hardware Store Doesn’t Require Computer; Austistic Savant Has All the Inventory Memorized

By Steve Hartman

(CBS)  I came to Kramer’s hardware in Brooklyn, N.Y., to meet a man name George, who everyone said would give me an interview unlike any I’d ever done before.

His responses to questions about when customers starting coming in and what the store was like in the old days didn’t result in much of a response.

Then I realized I was asking the wrong questions.

George’s boss, Isaac Abraham, says I should have started out by asking him something like – what’s the inventory control number on this random set of faucet handles?

“99-0163, they’re Centrals,” George quickly responded.

He’s right. And he can do it with just about every part in the place.

Abraham compares George’s incredible memory and ability to track endless numbers and quantities of inventory to that of Dustin Hoffman’s character in the film “Rain Man.” Hoffman won an Oscar for his portrayal of an autistic savant.

“He qualifies to be Rain Man number two,” says Abraham.

Born with what doctors said back then was a developmental disability, George started working at his father’s hardware store in 1951.

When Abraham bought the place 30 years later, he kept George on – partly as a promise to George’s dad — but mostly because Isaac realized that the place would fall apart without George.

When asked what George does for the store, Abraham said, “Basically everything.”

The store doesn’t need a computer, he says. George keeps track of all this inventory – in his head.

He also knows the phone numbers of all the suppliers, and can even tell you how to get there. Never mind that he doesn’t drive and has never even been there himself.

No one can say for sure how he does it or why genius would manifest itself through hardware parts.

But one thing is obvious — it gives his life order — and order, for all of us, is comfort.

Source(Includes Video):  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/19/assignment_america/main6412367.shtml

 

ScienceDaily (Apr. 17, 2010) — To help children become better readers, a Kansas State University professor thinks they may ‘need to spend less time with their noses stuck in books.

Lotta Larson, a K-State assistant professor of elementary education, is finding that electronic readers allow children to interact with texts in ways they don’t interact with the printed word.

Since fall 2009, Larson has been using the Amazon Kindle in her work with a pair of second-graders. The e-reader has features that make the text audible, increase or decrease font size and let readers make notes about the book.

“It’s interesting to see the kinds of things these kids have been able to do,” Larson said.

She said sometimes they make comments summarizing the plot, therefore reinforcing their understanding of the book. Other times they ponder character development, jotting down things like “If I were him, I’d say no way!”

“As a teacher, I know a student understands the book if she’s talking to the characters,” Larson said. “If you take a look at those notes, it’s like having a glimpse into their brains as they’re reading.”

She said the ideal outcome would be for teachers to improve reading instruction by tailoring it to each student. Tests already have shown improvement in the students’ perceptions of their own reading ability. Larson said the next step would be to gather quantitative data on how reading scores are affected.

Larson will present the work April 25-28 at the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago. She also presented in December 2009 at the National Reading Conference, and the work will appear in the journal The Reading Teacher this year. Now, Larson is working with e-readers for students who have special needs.

“I think that’s where we’ll really be able to make a big difference,” Larson said.

She’s also talking with middle school teachers about how downloadable e-books might appeal to young teen boys who are reluctant readers. Based on the elementary students’ reactions to the e-readers, Larson expects that gadget-savvy teenagers will be equally interested in reading if it’s done on their computers.

 

Journal Reference:

1. Lotta C. Larson. Digital Literacies e-Reading and e-Responding: New Tools for the Next Generation of Readers. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 255%u2013258 DOI: 10.1598/JAAL.53.3.7

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100416144546.htm