بایگانی برچسب برای: Psychiatry

Computational.Neurology.and.Psychiatry.[taliem.ir]

Computational Neurology and Psychiatry

The mysterious ways of the brain and mind have eluded great thinkers and scientists for centuries now . Indications of early, albeit vague, understanding of the intricate connections between the brain and the mind can be traced back to the Indo-Aryan settlers in the central Asian region, who would depict a third eye on the mid-forehead of figurines , an area that is now known to be the seat of the medial pre-frontal cortex (a brain structure that “reaches its greatest complexity in the primate brain” and is thought to play a central role in cognitive behaviour ). Such depictions convey a deep reverence and fear of the unknown realms of the mind, perhaps implying a belief in the superiority of ‘beings’ who can control the brain and the mind to foresee or predict. Indeed, early history is littered with evidence of many a battle won by the virtue of (superior) foresight and prediction capabilities of kings, queens and warlords. Fast forward to the 20th Century: Jeff Hawkins in “On Intelligence” argues that prediction is the basis of human intelligence . The term ‘intelligence’ is used here in context to the neocortical structure that is much larger in humans, making them ‘superior’ to all other creatures. The neocortex, in association with the sub-cortical structures, stores environmental and experiential information, termed as ‘memory’, which allows humans to learn and recall, and thus make predictions in time and space; this in turn facilitates fine skills such as language and art. Hawkin’s theory provides an integral mutual dependency between the evolved advancement in brain structure (large neocortex) and the advancement of memory and prediction, both of which are representations of the mind (intelligence).
Psychiatry.and.Neuroscience.Update.Vol.II.A.Translational.[taliem.ir]

Psychiatry and Neuroscience Update – Vol. II

The general crisis of individualism is reflected in the conflicts generated by human beings themselves in different parts of the planet: fundamentalism, xenophobia, gender violence, wars, genocide, and exploitation of human beings. Politically, individualism is presented under the form of extreme Manichean positions: left or right, capitalism or socialism, liberalism or communism. However, human society is much more complex; these simplifcations are no longer possible. Neither the left nor the right will provide paradise, even less if their exponents think themselves to be possessors of absolute truth. On the other hand, respect for the diversity of the other view is not exhausted in the development of critical thinking. The purpose of this review is to schematically describe the viewpoint of Tischner, based on the notion of encounter to refer to the original experience with another human being where the other takes the highest level of persuasion. The encounter with another is the agathologic horizon of the interpersonal experience, and opens up the possibility of meeting with oneself in a new way. By impotence or ignorance many tragedies are possible, and in fact they have taken place in the darkest periods of mankind when evil apparently killed good, resulting in the most sadistic forms of selfshness. Finally, the present review tends to demonstrate that on the agathologic horizon, the manifestations of the other and oneself are developed in a true sense of the good and the bad, the different logos that ft the drama or tragedy in interpersonal relationships.
Big.Book.of.Emergency.Department.[taliem.ir]

Big Book of Emergency Department Psychiatry

Te ideas in this chapter are my own experiences and opinions on different topics within the arena of emergency psychiatry. My frst experience working in an emergency department (ED) in America was a claustrophobic one. Te ED that I frst worked in by New York City standards was small, and therefore by every other standard was tiny. Te psychiatric ED was simply a small room flled with nurses, psychiatry residents, medical students, psychiatric technicians, and a few attending psychiatrists. Te space was so small that we only had one square yard to walk around in. In the middle of this small room was an ominous and intimidating secretary who yelled at anyone who asked her for something. Calling her “scary” would be an understatement. Over time, as I became used to the smallness of the psychiatric ED, psychologically it felt larger. Tere appeared to be more room to move around than I initially thought, and I was not afraid to respond when the phone was ringing. Ultimately, even the scary secretary became less terrifying and we became a functional team that worked well together. Before I knew it, my frst year of psychiatry residency training had come to an end. Years passed, and toward the middle of my third year of residency, I was asked to be the chief of the psychiatric ED. At that hospital, it was called the psychiatric observation suite (POS). I accepted the offer of that position, mostly because no one had offered me any other position. I also happened to look up to the director of the ED, as he is one of the best ED psychiatrists I have ever known.
Psychiatry.[taliem.ir]

Psychiatry and the Law

As a student, trainee, or mental health practitioner, one may already have some inclination that understanding the law matters in the practice of psychiatry. But what is it exactly that makes the law so important? And why in psychiatry in particular ?State and federal laws have a signifcant impact on the practice of medicine. The practice of psychiatry is particularly affected as it is the most heavily legally regulated of all medical specialties . The reason is relatively simple: far more than any other medical discipline, the law grants psychiatrists the ability to deprive people of their civil liberties. Psychiatrists may force interventions on patients against their will—including hospitalization, medication, or even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Further, in a variety of settings, psychiatrists are tasked with determining whether patients lack the capacity to make certain decisions for themselves —including decisions related to medical care, fnances, and estate planning—and are in need of surrogate decision-makers. In some states, any physician may enact such privileges; however, in practice, psychiatrists are most often called upon to make these determinations . Thus, the privilege to override individuals’ rights to autonomy is subject to careful legal oversight and protections. So how does the law impact the practice of psychiatry? State and federal laws delineate the limited circumstances within which psychiatrists may deprive patients of their civil liberties. Patient autonomy is generally protected except in cases involving serious concerns about safety or well- being.