Academic turns city into a social experiment
The outgoing mayor of Bogota - Antanas Mockus - has been running some fascinating social psychology experiments with the 6.5 million inhabitants of the city. His unusual methods of instilling civics values have already brought about dramatic changes in public life.
> From the Harvard Gazette
> From the Harvard Gazette
Exploding the self-esteem myth
"Boosting people's sense of self-worth has become a national preoccupation. Yet surprisingly, research shows that such efforts are of little value in fostering academic progress or preventing undesirable behavior."
> From Scientific American
> From Scientific American
Psychology and sometimes a slap
"How does a government gain information from a terrorist? The question is of more than academic interest to the United States- which, in places like Abu Ghraib prison, outside Baghdad, and the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, has been trying to ferret out the secrets of suspected terrorists."
> From The New York Times
> From The New York Times
Reality of a heavy thinker
"It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then -- to loosen up.
Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true.
Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.
That was when things began to sour at home."
> Read the rest at Idiolect.org.uk
Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true.
Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.
That was when things began to sour at home."
> Read the rest at Idiolect.org.uk
Books replace antidepressants in pilot scheme
A lecturer at Plymouth University has set up a pilot scheme for treating those with mild to moderate depression that does not involve antidepressants. Patients on the scheme will be prescribed with a self-help book from the local library instead of mood regulating drugs.
Paul Farrand, lecturer in health psychology, argues that an actual prescription for a book will encourage the patient to obtain and read the book. The most obvious advantage of this scheme is that it allows the patient to take control of their future. In psychological research it is the control factor that is often closely associated with changes in behaviour.
> From BBC News
Paul Farrand, lecturer in health psychology, argues that an actual prescription for a book will encourage the patient to obtain and read the book. The most obvious advantage of this scheme is that it allows the patient to take control of their future. In psychological research it is the control factor that is often closely associated with changes in behaviour.
> From BBC News
Antidepressants overprescribed but useful
After all the recent negative press about SSRI antidepressants, it is easy to forget the important role they continue to play in many people's lives. Dr Thomas Stuttaford, who writes in The Times, is an experienced GP and generally a voice of moderation. In his column today he points out that SSRI antidepressants can be extremely useful when correctly prescribed.
> From The Times
> From The Times
Left-handers better in a fight
"The endurance of left-handedness has puzzled researchers, because it is linked to disadvantages including an increased risk of some diseases. But University of Montpellier experts, writing in Proceedings B, say it could be because they do well in combat."
Small sample size but some provocative results.
> From BBC News
> More on the puzzle that is being left-handed
Small sample size but some provocative results.
> From BBC News
> More on the puzzle that is being left-handed
Curb on the happy pills
It seems that the tide of opinion is beginning to turn against SSRI anti-depressants, the most well-known of which are Prozac and Seroxat. The UK Government announced today that doctors should, in most cases, prescribe them at their lowest doses.
This is one of the first official steps back that the government has been prepared to make on this difficult issue. Many argue that this is not enough, especially in the case of children where the evidence is questioning their suitability. Indeed, the prescription of all SSRI anti-depressants except Prozac to those under eighteen has already been banned.
The real cause of these problems is the number of people presenting at their GPs complaining of depression. Psychological interventions have been shown to be just as effective as anti-depressants, but without the side-effects. Unfortunately their cost has so far been prohibitive.
> From The Guardian
> USA Today reports that the latest American research indicates that even (the relatively safe) Prozac increases suicidal thoughts in some children.
> The London Times reports that 3.5 million people are currently on SSRI anti-depressants in the UK.
> The New York Times picks up the new UK recommendations, noting that US health authorities have previously followed British guidelines.
This is one of the first official steps back that the government has been prepared to make on this difficult issue. Many argue that this is not enough, especially in the case of children where the evidence is questioning their suitability. Indeed, the prescription of all SSRI anti-depressants except Prozac to those under eighteen has already been banned.
The real cause of these problems is the number of people presenting at their GPs complaining of depression. Psychological interventions have been shown to be just as effective as anti-depressants, but without the side-effects. Unfortunately their cost has so far been prohibitive.
> From The Guardian
> USA Today reports that the latest American research indicates that even (the relatively safe) Prozac increases suicidal thoughts in some children.
> The London Times reports that 3.5 million people are currently on SSRI anti-depressants in the UK.
> The New York Times picks up the new UK recommendations, noting that US health authorities have previously followed British guidelines.
Blind to the face
Recognising other people by decoding the subtle contours of their face is a complicated task that we take for granted. But imagine if all faces looked the same and you couldn't tell whether someone was a stranger or your mother. Welcome to the world of the face-blind.
Prosopagnosia, the technical term for face-blindness, is an unusual condition the neurologist Oliver Sacks described in his bestselling book: The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat.
Those with this condition are often no different from the rest of us in every other way. Because of this it is easy for people to go through life without realising there is an aspect of their perception that is quite unusual.
> To find out what it is like to be face blind visit Cecilia Burman's site for a simple demonstration.
> Go to the FaceBlindGirl blog
Prosopagnosia, the technical term for face-blindness, is an unusual condition the neurologist Oliver Sacks described in his bestselling book: The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat.
Those with this condition are often no different from the rest of us in every other way. Because of this it is easy for people to go through life without realising there is an aspect of their perception that is quite unusual.
> To find out what it is like to be face blind visit Cecilia Burman's site for a simple demonstration.
> Go to the FaceBlindGirl blog
Cannabis link to psychosis in younger users
"Half of regular smokers of cannabis who are psychologically vulnerable to its effects may end up needing treatment for psychosis, scientists said yesterday."
> From The Independent
> From The Independent
Health toll of anti-gay prejudice
"The survey found that 42% of the gay men, 43% of lesbians and 49% of bisexual men and women had a clinically recognised mental health problem."
> From BBC News
> From BBC News