Genetic mutations may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia, according to findings from three research projects published in Nature (30/7/08) and Nature Genetics. Research suggests the risk of schizophrenia is influenced by genetic make-up although scientists believe they are a long way off from really understanding the causes of the condition.
The BBC report (30/7/08) quotes Professor Michael O'Donovan of Cardiff University School of Medicine: "It's very dangerous to say never, but to me, there are so many genes involved, that the idea of predicting whether someone will develop schizophrenia doesn't seem to me very likely."
Quoted also in The Independent (31/7/08), Professor O'Donovan comments: "These findings are impressive leaps towards understanding the origins of schizophrenia. But since only a small amount of the genetic risk of schizophrenia has been accounted for, they are not ready to be applied to genetic testing, an area that has seen fierce controversy as a number of biotech companies have begun offering genetic tests for psychiatric disorders."
www.therapyme.com
Wednesday 30 July 2008
Tuesday 22 July 2008
News: National schizophrenia awareness week launched - Irish Times
Access to talking therapies should be improved in Ireland, says John Saunders, director of Schizophrenia Ireland.
He tells the Irish Times (22/7/08) that provision for counselling and psychotherapy across the country is inconsistent.
Launching National Schizophrenia Awareness Week, John Saunders comments: "The demand for psychological and social therapies and the evidence for their effectiveness has been growing in recent years, and the consensus among users and service providers is that they should be regarded as a routine component of basic mental healthcare services."
He tells the Irish Times (22/7/08) that provision for counselling and psychotherapy across the country is inconsistent.
Launching National Schizophrenia Awareness Week, John Saunders comments: "The demand for psychological and social therapies and the evidence for their effectiveness has been growing in recent years, and the consensus among users and service providers is that they should be regarded as a routine component of basic mental healthcare services."
Sunday 20 July 2008
News: Therapy requires the right type of regulation - Times Online
A recent article in The Times about the UK government's intention to regulate the psychotherapy and counselling industry provokes contributions to the letters page (18/7/08).
Andrew Samuels, of the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex University, says it's time for the government to rethink how it conducts its review.
He concedes that psychotherapists may have brought this on themselves: "We psychotherapists probably do have ourselves to blame for not presenting ourselves well. Caught between unnecessary mystification and bogus science, ravaged by ideological splits and the narcissism of small differences, a profession seemingly open to anyone to practise — it can seem to those who don’t follow these things closely that it has become only too necessary for the Government to act. But the total shambles of the exercises being carried out by Skills for Health and the Health Professions Council mean that it is timely to call a halt."
Andrew Samuels, of the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex University, says it's time for the government to rethink how it conducts its review.
He concedes that psychotherapists may have brought this on themselves: "We psychotherapists probably do have ourselves to blame for not presenting ourselves well. Caught between unnecessary mystification and bogus science, ravaged by ideological splits and the narcissism of small differences, a profession seemingly open to anyone to practise — it can seem to those who don’t follow these things closely that it has become only too necessary for the Government to act. But the total shambles of the exercises being carried out by Skills for Health and the Health Professions Council mean that it is timely to call a halt."
Wednesday 16 July 2008
News: MPs reveal mental health problems - BBC News
Nearly one-fifth of UK MPs have experienced some form of mental health problem, according to a survey published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group of Mental Health.
Widely reported in the press today (16/7/08), this piece on the BBC website quotes joint chairman and Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley: "Greater openness at Westminster about mental health problems would have a significant impact in challenging stigma and discrimination.
"When the former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik publicly disclosed his experience of depression, it did not affect his popularity.
"He went on to be re-elected and proved that people who have experienced mental health problems can recover and manage a challenging job."
Widely reported in the press today (16/7/08), this piece on the BBC website quotes joint chairman and Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley: "Greater openness at Westminster about mental health problems would have a significant impact in challenging stigma and discrimination.
"When the former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik publicly disclosed his experience of depression, it did not affect his popularity.
"He went on to be re-elected and proved that people who have experienced mental health problems can recover and manage a challenging job."
News: Can you regulate psychotherapy? - Times
Andrew Billen for The Times (15/7/08) looks at the UK government's plans to regulate psychotherapy.
The clamour of comment from the industry suggests an uneasy ride towards regulation.
The clamour of comment from the industry suggests an uneasy ride towards regulation.
Saturday 12 July 2008
News: Giving up alcohol can lead to depression - Telegraph
Abruptly giving up alcohol may be linked to depression, according to a study from the University of North Carolina.
Lucy Cockroft's piece in the Telegraph (10 July 2008) quotes Professor Clyde Hodge: "Our work establishes a link between abstinence from alcohol drinking and depression. In mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days, depression-like behaviour was evident 14 days after termination of alcohol drinking.
"This suggests that people who stop drinking may experience negative mood states days or weeks after the alcohol has cleared their systems. This research provides the first evidence that long-term abstinence from moderate alcohol drinking leads to a negative mood state, depression."
The academic study - Abstinence following Alcohol Drinking Produces Depression-Like Behavior and Reduced Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Mice - can be found on nature.com.
An easier read can be found on the NHS Choices site.
Lucy Cockroft's piece in the Telegraph (10 July 2008) quotes Professor Clyde Hodge: "Our work establishes a link between abstinence from alcohol drinking and depression. In mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days, depression-like behaviour was evident 14 days after termination of alcohol drinking.
"This suggests that people who stop drinking may experience negative mood states days or weeks after the alcohol has cleared their systems. This research provides the first evidence that long-term abstinence from moderate alcohol drinking leads to a negative mood state, depression."
The academic study - Abstinence following Alcohol Drinking Produces Depression-Like Behavior and Reduced Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Mice - can be found on nature.com.
An easier read can be found on the NHS Choices site.
News: The pursuit of happiness: it's good to talk... or is it? - Independent
The Independent (8 July 2008) reports on the conference of the World Association for Person Centred and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling held at the University of East Anglia earlier this week.
The UK government's support of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) over other forms of therapy received criticism.
Professor Mick Cooper, from the University of Strathclyde, released a statement on behalf a group of therapists: "It is scientifically irresponsible to continue to imply and act as though CBT is more effective, as has been done in justifying the expenditure of £173m to train CBT therapists throughout England. Such claims harm the public by restricting patient choice and discourage some psychologically distressed people from seeking treatment. We urge our CBT colleagues and Government officials to refrain from acting on this harmful myth and to broaden the scope of access to include other effective forms of psychotherapy and counselling."
CBT is certainly the flavour of the day as far as government policy is concerned, with UK Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, promising an extra 3,600 CBT therapists from 2010. CBT therapy tends to be short term with the emphasis on changing negative thoughts and behaviour.
Many psychotherapists and counsellors recognise the effectiveness of CBT for addressing specific problems but are concerned about its limited scope.
The UK government's increased funding for psychological services is welcomed but does the concentration on CBT rob clients of longer-term gains through other forms of therapy?
See also the Independent leader piece.
The UK government's support of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) over other forms of therapy received criticism.
Professor Mick Cooper, from the University of Strathclyde, released a statement on behalf a group of therapists: "It is scientifically irresponsible to continue to imply and act as though CBT is more effective, as has been done in justifying the expenditure of £173m to train CBT therapists throughout England. Such claims harm the public by restricting patient choice and discourage some psychologically distressed people from seeking treatment. We urge our CBT colleagues and Government officials to refrain from acting on this harmful myth and to broaden the scope of access to include other effective forms of psychotherapy and counselling."
CBT is certainly the flavour of the day as far as government policy is concerned, with UK Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, promising an extra 3,600 CBT therapists from 2010. CBT therapy tends to be short term with the emphasis on changing negative thoughts and behaviour.
Many psychotherapists and counsellors recognise the effectiveness of CBT for addressing specific problems but are concerned about its limited scope.
The UK government's increased funding for psychological services is welcomed but does the concentration on CBT rob clients of longer-term gains through other forms of therapy?
See also the Independent leader piece.
Wednesday 2 July 2008
News: Skunk 'psychosis risk' warning - BBC News
A study of 300 people found that those who suffered an episode of psychosis were 18 times more likely to have used skunk rather than other users of cannabis.
Dr Maria Di Forte of the Institute of Psychiatry, London, conducted the study. She comments: "We should take a cannabis history in a more detailed way like we do when we take a history of cigarette smoking to establish risk of lung cancer. But it would be naive to say that smoking a joint is safe as we do not have enough data to reach such conclusion."
Skunk is three times stronger than other types of cannabis. Other research points to the possibility of a link between schizophrenia and cannabis use.
The BBC News piece (2 July 2008) quotes Richard Colwill from SANE, the mental health charity: "We have daily evidence that it can trigger frightening psychotic episodes, relapse, and in some cases a life-long mental condition such as schizophrenia."
Dr Maria Di Forte of the Institute of Psychiatry, London, conducted the study. She comments: "We should take a cannabis history in a more detailed way like we do when we take a history of cigarette smoking to establish risk of lung cancer. But it would be naive to say that smoking a joint is safe as we do not have enough data to reach such conclusion."
Skunk is three times stronger than other types of cannabis. Other research points to the possibility of a link between schizophrenia and cannabis use.
The BBC News piece (2 July 2008) quotes Richard Colwill from SANE, the mental health charity: "We have daily evidence that it can trigger frightening psychotic episodes, relapse, and in some cases a life-long mental condition such as schizophrenia."
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