An example of disclosure is written in a comment on a recent post by Vicarious Therapy (see comments on empathy). Her pdoc tells her he has Multiple Sclerosis. Apparently the pdoc figured that in this treatment on this moment disclosing his illness was appropriate. Several apparent reasons might contribute to the disclosure. MS has an unpredictable course, symptoms might become visible, his patient was worried. Another example was from a GP, talking to a patient. The patient was asking how he was doing. The GP disclosed his concerns about his son suffering from Hodgkin Lymphoma. The patient comes up with .....read more »

The current study is the largest clinical trial to date of the efficacy of DBS as a treatment for severe depression. Between May 2003 and November 2006, Andrez M. Lozano and his colleagues implanted electrodes into the brains of a total of 20 patients (9 men and 11 women) with major depressive disorder, all of whom were referred to the researchers from hospitals or community psychiatrists, after failing to respond to antidepressants, psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy. On Neurophilosophy a post about this new trial with this new treatment for treatment resistant depression. 12 out of the 20 patients reported significant long-term improvements .....read more »

I wasn't to keen on a Cases Journal. Since recent their are two cases journals. But I have to admit that some of these cases are very informative. I didn't know what the Ekbom syndrome was until I read: A postmenopausal woman presenting with Ekbom syndrome associated with recurrent depressive disorder: a case report, (full text pdf available). Ekbom syndrome is a rare psychiatric disorder that can manifest as a delusion, overvalued idea or hallucination of parasitic infestations. Hallucination of parasitic infestation is that the patient feels, believes or considers that they are infested by parasites or insects. They mostly .....read more »

Another Grand Round is up on GruntDoc. It is a concise and easy to scan list of excellent posts. Thanks for including my post: Patient Doctor Relationship: EmpathyRelated posts: Grand Rounds: Being Thankful Grand Rounds 5.47 is up: Cost Containment In Healthcare Grand Rounds 4#49 at Rural Doctoring ..read more »

No I don't think so. For several reasons. Empathy is a process with different steps. Especially feeling what the patients feels is a quality not every doctor has. And if they do it is not always appropriate nor possible to be sensitive enough to use it. Moreover this process not only needs the quality it is also costs energy, depends on the relationship with the patient, and needs experience. Along with their education medical students loose some of their humanistic attitudes such as empathy especially during their medical clerkship, often they become more cynical during their clinical training. Empathic feelings are .....read more »

Manipulating photos is of all times. Back 1976 the Chinese removed the gang of four as you can see on the picture above. They were protected by Mao Zedong but after his death in 1976 quickly removed from the communist party and from a picture in 1976. The manipulation of a photograph of four missiles being fired by Iran is of more recent. It ratcheted up the tensions between the Islamic state and the US and Israel. But now it appears that Tehran may have enhanced the pictures. More innocent and clumsy photoshops mistakes can be seen on Cybernet News Related posts: Free Photos Photos .....read more »

Instead of hiking I went biking in the rain. Also visited one of the nicest museum of The Netherlands: Kroller Moller Museum.With a beautiful sculpture garden. You can see some of them on Flickr. The one with this post is a depressed soldier? Related posts: Dr Shock went Hiking Dr Shock is in Dresden Germany Dr Shock went Ice Skating ..read more »

True cyberbullying, these practices must meet several criteria. They should be intended to hurt (by the perpetrator) and perceived as hurtful (by the victim); be part of a repetitive pattern of negative offline or online actions; and be performed in a relationship characterized by a power imbalance (based on “real-life” power criteria, such as physical strength or age, and/or on ICT-related criteria such as technological know-how and anonymity) We need some clear definitions for ICT mischief. Often used forms of “deviant” cyber activities, such as cyber harassment, flaming, hacking, and cyberstalking, is often very vague. Time for some research for .....read more »

Saw this movie again, for the third time. Why do I like this movie so much? Mainly because it is about attachment. Homer growing up in an orphanage, Dr Larch taking care of him. He was sent to different foster parents but "rescued" or returned because they didn't take good care of him. Growing up in this secure environment is followed by his trying to escape his destiny. Homer Wells had to have an authentic encounter with society if the boy was going to have a chosen life at all. What Larch dreamed of was that Homer would venture out .....read more »

Consolation calms recipients of aggression and it is more likely to be offered by valuable partners. Consolation can be an alternative to reconciliation as a stress-alleviation mechanism. In chimpanzees, but why shouldn't it be also applicable to humans. My gut feeling says it can. Moreover the results of this recent study could easily be applied to humans, what do you think, let me know in the comments. The next post in this series will be on Wednesday, July 23rd. Previous post in this series: Patient Doctor Relationship: Empathy Quarrels happen and escalation of a conflict can even escalate in a aggressive conflict. This .....read more »