The Telegraph (25 March 2009), like many other media outlets, jumped on this story about a "significant minority" of mental health professionals who said they had tried to help their clients change their sexual orientation.
The research conducted by Annie Bartlett, Glenn Smith and Michael King is published in the open access journal, BMC Psychiatry (26 March 2009). Surveying 1400 healthcare professionals, 17% reported treating clients to help them reduce or change their homosexual or lesbian feelings.
Quoted in the Telegraph, Professor Michael King, of University College London, said: "There is very little evidence to show that attempting to treat a person's homosexual feelings is effective and in fact it can actually be harmful. So it is surprising that a significant minority of practitioners still offer this help to their clients. The best approach is to help people adjust to their situation, to value them as people and show them that there is nothing whatever pathological about their sexual orientation.
"Both mental health practitioners and society at large must help them to confront prejudice in themselves and in others."
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
News: Cash for 'recession depression' - BBC News
The UK Government has announced an extra £13million to help people who experience mental health problems during the recession.
The BBC News story (8 March 2009) quotes Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind: "Redundancy and money worries put strain on family relationships, cause sleepless nights, trigger stress and increase the risk of developing depression. When it comes to the scale of the current recession we are in uncharted territory about how many people could be affected.
"We must learn from the mistakes of past recessions where people lost their job, their confidence and their self esteem leaving them unable to return to the workforce."
The BBC News story (8 March 2009) quotes Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind: "Redundancy and money worries put strain on family relationships, cause sleepless nights, trigger stress and increase the risk of developing depression. When it comes to the scale of the current recession we are in uncharted territory about how many people could be affected.
"We must learn from the mistakes of past recessions where people lost their job, their confidence and their self esteem leaving them unable to return to the workforce."
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
News: Stroke post-traumatic stress risk - BBC News
UK researchers say stroke victims are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The team of researchers from Durham University, James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough, and Newcastle General Hospital assessed patients 13 months after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
More than a third of those who took part in the research reported flashbacks and painful memories of when their brain haemorrhage occurred.
Professor Allan House of the Stroke Association said: "Doctors do realise this type of stroke is stressful for the patient, but they do not always ask the patient about anxiety and depression. Someone needs to. Some patients undoubtedly have PTSD, while others might have depression or anxiety after a subarachnoid haemorrhage and it is understandable why."
Researchers say PTSD is under reported because clinicians focus more on physical recovery.
More than a third of those who took part in the research reported flashbacks and painful memories of when their brain haemorrhage occurred.
Professor Allan House of the Stroke Association said: "Doctors do realise this type of stroke is stressful for the patient, but they do not always ask the patient about anxiety and depression. Someone needs to. Some patients undoubtedly have PTSD, while others might have depression or anxiety after a subarachnoid haemorrhage and it is understandable why."
Researchers say PTSD is under reported because clinicians focus more on physical recovery.
Monday, 5 January 2009
News: Survey reveals depressed youths - BBC News
A survey by The Prince's Trust found that one in 10 young people in Scotland are wrestling with depression. Nine per cent of young people who answered the survey said life was not worth living.
BBC News (5 January 2009) quotes Peter Kellner of YouGov, who conducted the research: "Most young people have a positive outlook on life, but the Youth Index reveals a significant core of unhappy people aged under 25.
"Their concerns need to be addressed, and not only for the sake of the youngsters themselves; for if we ignore their concerns, we shall be storing up big problems for the future."
The survey results found that 23% of respondents said they were 'often' or 'always' down or depressed and 48% said they were regularly stressed.
Geraldine Gammell, director of the Prince's Trust Scotland, comments: "This is an increasingly vulnerable generation. There has never been a greater need for programmes which help steer young people away from false support systems such as gangs, drugs and alcohol, whilst giving them new direction."
BBC News (5 January 2009) quotes Peter Kellner of YouGov, who conducted the research: "Most young people have a positive outlook on life, but the Youth Index reveals a significant core of unhappy people aged under 25.
"Their concerns need to be addressed, and not only for the sake of the youngsters themselves; for if we ignore their concerns, we shall be storing up big problems for the future."
The survey results found that 23% of respondents said they were 'often' or 'always' down or depressed and 48% said they were regularly stressed.
Geraldine Gammell, director of the Prince's Trust Scotland, comments: "This is an increasingly vulnerable generation. There has never been a greater need for programmes which help steer young people away from false support systems such as gangs, drugs and alcohol, whilst giving them new direction."
Sunday, 4 January 2009
News: Psychiatrists Revise the Book of Human Troubles - New York Times
The American Psychiatric Association are working on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). This article in the New York Times (17 December 2008) highlights the challenge of defining and classifying mental illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, binge eating, Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism and bipolar disorder amongst others.
Contributors to the DSM-V have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Amendments to the book are often hotly debated and contentious. The previous edition sold more than 830,000 copies.
Contributors to the DSM-V have been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Amendments to the book are often hotly debated and contentious. The previous edition sold more than 830,000 copies.
Friday, 21 November 2008
News: Counselling doubles chances of surviving breast cancer by cutting stress levels - Telegraph
Researchers from Ohio State University found that attending fortnightly counselling groups helped women with breast cancer.
This Telegraph article (18 November 2008) reports on the study from the Comprehensive Cancer Centre which found that interventions boosted survival rates for breast cancer patients.
Barbara Andersen, who led the research, comments: "The results suggest that we can help breast cancer patients make positive steps that may help them live longer. Many of the strategies learned in the intervention programme, such as stress reduction, may have had benefits against heart disease and other causes of death."
You can find out more about this research by visiting the press pages for the Ohio State University.
www.therapyme.com
This Telegraph article (18 November 2008) reports on the study from the Comprehensive Cancer Centre which found that interventions boosted survival rates for breast cancer patients.
Barbara Andersen, who led the research, comments: "The results suggest that we can help breast cancer patients make positive steps that may help them live longer. Many of the strategies learned in the intervention programme, such as stress reduction, may have had benefits against heart disease and other causes of death."
You can find out more about this research by visiting the press pages for the Ohio State University.
www.therapyme.com
Saturday, 1 November 2008
News: Binge-drinkers 'risking dementia' - BBC News
Britain could be heading for a dementia epidemic following a doubling of alcohol consumption since the 1960s, warns this BBC News article (1 November 2008).
Reporting on research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, Alcohol-related dementia: a 21st-century silent epidemic, the BBC piece quotes Dr Susanne Sorensen, of the Alzheimer's Society: "Binge drinkers hitting the town on a Saturday night are becoming a familiar sight, but we don't yet understand how it will affect the numbers of people with dementia."
"As drinking habits change, it is vital we understand more about the relationship between alcohol and this devastating condition."
The research authors, Dr Susham Gupta and Dr James Warner, comment: "Given the neurotoxic effects of alcohol and the inexorable increase in per capita consumption, future generations may see a disproportionate increase in alcohol-related dementia."
Reporting on research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, Alcohol-related dementia: a 21st-century silent epidemic, the BBC piece quotes Dr Susanne Sorensen, of the Alzheimer's Society: "Binge drinkers hitting the town on a Saturday night are becoming a familiar sight, but we don't yet understand how it will affect the numbers of people with dementia."
"As drinking habits change, it is vital we understand more about the relationship between alcohol and this devastating condition."
The research authors, Dr Susham Gupta and Dr James Warner, comment: "Given the neurotoxic effects of alcohol and the inexorable increase in per capita consumption, future generations may see a disproportionate increase in alcohol-related dementia."
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