"A leader is a dealer in hope. "


Posts tagged with 'prevention'

Recent research: seven studies on diet, supplements & smoking

27th November 2008

Here are a couple of studies on smoking, a couple on B vitamins, a couple on vitamin D, and an intriguing study on iron. The smoking papers underline the varieties of damage this habit produces. So the Pasco et al study shows that, for women, being a smoker is associated …

Recent research: half a dozen studies on cognitive therapy

20th November 2008

Here are half a dozen recent studies involving cognitive therapy (CBT). The first by Craigie et al explores the use of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Although, as one would expect, MBCT helped GAD sufferers, it was noteworthy that results "fall well short of outcomes …

Recent research: half a dozen depression & anxiety papers on CBT, telephones, exercise, relaxation, prevention and more

2nd October 2008

Here are half a dozen recent papers on aspects of depression and anxiety. They include an interesting overview on brain-psychology connections by Aaron Beck, one of the originators of CBT; a meta-analysis of studies on psychotherapy delivered by phone, internet & videoconferencing; details of a free database of studies on …

Draft SIGN non-pharmacological depression treatments guideline, 6th post: effectiveness of psychological therapies 1b

23rd September 2008

This is the 6th in a series of blog posts about the recent day seminar introducing a Scottish draft guideline for "Non-pharmacological management of depression." In my last post I discussed Gary Morrison's initial presentation of the day's second session on "Effectiveness of Psychological Therapies in Depression 1". Gary talked …

Draft SIGN non-pharmacological depression treatments guideline, 5th post: effectiveness of psychological therapies 1a

22nd September 2008

This is the 5th in a series of blog posts about the 10th September SIGN draft guideline day on "Non-pharmacological management of depression." On the day, the second session was entitled "Effectiveness of Psychological Therapies in Depression 1". Dr Gary Morrison, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist from Dumfries, gave the first …

Recent research: acute stress disorder & CBT, ‘life skills’ for medical students, and borderline personality disorder prevalence

14th August 2008

Bryant, R. A., J. Mastrodomenico, et al. (2008). "Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Arch Gen Psychiatry 65(6): 659-667 [Abstract/Full Text] Context Recent trauma survivors with acute stress disorder (ASD) are likely to subsequently develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive behavioral therapy for ASD may prevent …

A successful community approach to tackling increasing overweight in children

10th August 2008

The 8th August edition of the BMJ (Moynihan 2008) reports "The small town of Colac in rural Australia is attracting national and international attention for its approach to fighting childhood obesity, and reducing health inequalities." The news item goes on to say "Two hours west of Melbourne, with 11,000 inhabitants, …

Recent research: OCD, writing & rumination, trauma & eating disorder, internet depression treatment, and sleep & PTSD

3rd July 2008

Simpson, H. B., E. B. Foa, et al. (2008). "A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Augmenting Pharmacotherapy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." Am J Psychiatry 165(5): 621-630. [Abstract/Full Text] Most OCD sufferers treated adequately with antidepressants will continue to have clinically significant symptoms. This study shows that adding exposure and …