This thoughtful and enlightening ten minute programme, edited and narrated by consultant psychiatrist Dr Mark Salter, explores the causes and consequences of stigma against mental illness and challenges us to rethink our attitudes towards people with mental health problems. The style is a montage of still images with music and commentary. Powerful and thought-provoking. Stigma because we don't understand mental illness.....No related posts. ..read more »

Now, addiction is not Dr Shock's specialty but I have attended a lecture on this subject a few years ago by one of the authors Robin M. Murray and was very impressed by the subtlety of his research and reasoning. Moreover, I've often been questioned about this subject by our med students just before starting their clerkship psychiatry. The size of the problem: The global number of people in the world who used cannabis at least once in 2007 was between 143 and 190 million persons Highest use in North America, Western Europe, West and Central Africa and Oceania the concentration of psychoactive .....read more »

During clerkship or residency individuals new to psychiatry find it hard to accommodate. Psychiatry rotation is still not compelled for GP's and emergency medicine while these are probably the first to encounter psychiatric patients in different forms of distress. For those starting a rotation of psychiatry being it clerkship or otherwise here are a few tips to get you started. Treat the patients with dignity and respect at all times. You will never regret it. Try not to be afraid of psychiatry or psychiatric patients, you cannot catch madness. Mental health stigma and prejudice is real and widespread. Make sure you are not .....read more »

[blackbirdpie id="106733188298186752"]   I don't think the situation is different in The Netherlands compared to the authors observations from the literature. More involuntary admissions of shorter duration, what do you think?Related posts: In Australia no ECT for involuntary patients, says New Mental Health Bill Shrink Rap: L.A. E.R. Tragedy . . . Emergency Mental Health Care E-Mental Health Summit and Health 2.0 Conference ..read more »

A short animated film on the image of psychiatrists - written, directed and narrated by Dr Kamran Ahmed. In short it also explains the work of a psychiatrist. Entertaining and it really captures most of what psychiatry in our modern days really is. Thanks Mind HacksRelated posts: What happens when you see a psychiatrist Should a Psychiatrist Wear a White Coat? Beauty Queen is a Psychiatrist ..read more »

Please participate with this survey, especially European citizens. Let your voices be heard on this important topic. Results will be presented during the upcoming annual meeting of The American Psychiatric Association in Honolulu, Hawaii. It's up at ShrinkRap Please help us get a sense of the public sentiment towards psychiatry, psychiatrists, and psychiatric patients. We will be including this information in our presentation on The Public Face of Psychiatry at this year's annual meeting of The American Psychiatric Association. Please read all of the answers for all of the questions, then choose all that apply. If you choose "other," please type .....read more »

Once in a while some really clinical relevant results in research is published. Picture this: first time psychoses, recovered with antipsychotics. Still stable after one year. Should we discontinue the antipsychotic medication? Nope, discontinuation of the antipsychotic in first time psychotic patients after one year increases the risk of relapse. After one year patients were gradually withdrawn from medication (n=11) and 9 patients continued their antipsychotic regimen. Due to the amount of patients relapsing after discontinuation the tial was ended prematurely. During the trial it appeared that, in contrast with continuation, gradual withdrawal from antipsychotic medication was almost invariably followed .....read more »

Oxytocin is not the social panacea, it's not a universal prosocial enhancer that can render all people social-cognitive experts. In my previous post Oxytocin was only of benefit to less socially proficient individuals not in more socially proficient individuals. So can it be useful for patients with schizophrenia or autism. Patients with schizophrenia with negative symptoms often have inappropriate social skills or lack of interest or ability to socialize with other people. It's often hard for them to make friends or keep friends, or they're not caring to have friends. Patients with autism spectrum disorders often fail to pick up .....read more »

At the end of the year bloggers tend to summarize their most read posts of the previous year. Another type of post is lists, mostly the best blog they've come across or the best blogs based on your votes. Some of these are just plain simple link baits. You can read more about the dangers of these lists at Laika's MedLibLog. One exception is the TWIM Awards. The TWIM awards are the best in mental health blogging, as voted by Mental Nurse readers. Each category includes a winner and up to two runners-up. To qualify as a runner-up, at least .....read more »

Impressive fine art on psychiatry, obviously someone who knows it from the inside and out. I am a biologist and PhD. In addition I studied at the Academy of fine Art, Academy Minerva, in Groningen, the Netherlands. Extremes in behavioural and emotional expressions have always had my interest. I observed psychiatric patients and did research on their behaviour. Now, this fascination is a source of inspiration for my fine art. Related posts: Fine Line raising awareness of mental illness About To Have ECT? Fine, but Don’t Watch It in the Movies: The Sorry Portrayal of ECT in Film Shrink Rap Survey on Attitudes Towards Psychiatry ..read more »