Using Robot Science to Model Advanced Cognitive Disorders in Humans

Besides a physical impairment of the body originating from a physical injury to the human brain, we have also become able to infer that it is also possible for a mental impairment to originate from a mental trauma to the human brain. The famous controversy between Sigmund Freud and Pierre Janet over the condition of hysteria is an example of such a mental impairment. 

Also, during World War I, soldiers who were helplessly trapped in their trenches with artillery shells bursting around them suffered the trauma which later came to be known as shell shock. There is a theory that this condition occurred due to the fact that their brains were subjected to some sort of psychological damage. Severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported among soldiers who were stationed in Vietnam and Iraq.   Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Increased Autism Incidence: Is there a Single Cause?

The dramatic increase in the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) over the past several decades has provoked widespread attention to potential causes of this disturbing trend. Two decades ago, autism was detected in 1 in 1000 children; as of 2014 an estimated 1 in 88 children has been identified with ASD. 

Most importantly, this increase cannot be fully accounted for by the refinement of detection and diagnostic procedures. Recent statistics indicate that only about 50% of the observed increase in autism incidence can be accounted for by changes in diagnostic criteria, public awareness or other non-causal parameters. Given these alarming statistics, it is essential to identify the causes of this trend that is approaching epidemic proportions affecting many countries worldwide. Kanner was the first to identify the neurological disorders associated with language and social impairments defined as “autism”.  Read more>>>>>>

Mother and new born infant suffer from long term complication with tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is harmful especially at the time of pregnancy and it is associated with many complications and has serious long-term health implications for both the mother and new born infant. 

Gynecological risks such as; placental abruption,abortion, infertility and early menopause are the complications associated withpregnant who smoke. In infant adverse effects include preterm delivery, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome.

This study was embedded within a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility of a multiple component intervention (motivational interviewing, a non-smoking buddy and Carbon Monoxide monitoring), to assist young pregnant women to cease smoking and assess the longer term impacts on their smoking status six weeks post birth. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Human Dignitas, Dignity in Care

We speak too often about dignity. We defend it and teach it. However... The concept of dignity was always one of the central aspects of medicine. To think about the modern concept of dignity - inits many different aspects - is an imperative of modern medicine. 

It brings us closer to those who suffer, closer to the whole and unique person. Though these approaches may often be fragmented, they nevertheless bring us specifically closer to humanity. We speak too often about dignity. We defend it and teach it. However... The concept of dignity was always one of the central aspects of medicine. To think about the modern concept of dignity - in its many different aspects - is an imperative of modern medicine. It brings us closer to those who suffer, closer to the whole and unique person. Read  more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Healthy Diet a Tool to Reduce Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety is a subjective sense of restlessness, distress, trepidation or fearful worry along with a host of autonomic and somatic manifestations. It is a regular,emotional, rational and predictable response to real or potential danger. 

However, if the symptoms of anxiety are continued, illogical, erratic and/or severe and occur in the absence of stressful events or intervene with everyday events, then these are called anxiety disorders. Depression is a common disorder; characterized by misery, loss of interest of desire, low self-esteem, uneasy sleep, poor appetite, feelings of tiredness and reduced concentration. Presently, antidepressants are widely recognized as the favored choice to treat depression in the first instance, specifically selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors are now among the most broadly prescribed.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Workaholism: An Addiction or a Quality to be Appreciated

Work-related addiction can be considered one of the “new behavioral addictions” as no addictive substance is taken by the individual. From the second half of the twentieth century onwards, researchers have focused their attention on various forms of behavioral addictions such as physical exercise, compulsive shopping, playing computer games, gambling, excessive internet use and even addiction to the Rubik Cube. 

Over the past few decades there has been great interest in an addiction related to work with various descriptions such as workaholism, work addiction, excessive work, being used interchangeably. The DSM-IV makes no mention of workaholism, but in the section devoted to the obsessive compulsive personality disorder, it refers to excessive devotion to work and productivity leading to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (Criterion 3).  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Critical Excerpts (Critiques) On Children’s Behavioral Development (CBD)

The seminal research regarding the contemporary Children’s Behavioral Development (CBD), specifically Children’s Private Speech (CPS) and Self-Regulation Learning (SRL), began in 1920s with the early work of Vygotsky and Jean Piaget1950s. Since that time, the research came up with different and various outcomes associated with many and various critiques that the new research should take into account. Those critiques may lead the future work of CBD.

 Vygotskyian’s vs. Piagetian Research:  Vygotsky viewed CPS as a function that directly connected to thought, problem solving, increases linearly with task difficulty and success, and represents a stage in the gradual internalisation of interpersonal linguistic exchanges whose final ontogenetic destination is inner speech or verbal thought. Vygotsky also believed that Self- Regulation Learning (SRL) is behavioral appearing after and as a result of regulation by others in a specific task and promoted by external regulators. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Admission Policy Analysis of the Ideal Unit in the National Center for Mental Health

Decision of hospital admission is a clinical decision; it is a clinical process that will be carrying out in concordance with each hospital’s policies, operating procedures, protocols, and guidelines. Admission to mental health hospitals may be planned (voluntarily) or against the desires of the patient (involuntarily), that may increases source of burden on health system resources locally and internationally. 

Health policy is defined as a set course of action carried out by governments or health care organizations to attain desired consequences. The policy formulation is a technical phase in which specialists gather information on the issue, analyze the options, and formulate the draft of the policy. Health policy analysis is a multi-disciplinary approach. However it targets to clarify the interaction and collaboration between institutions and interests in the policy process. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Current Status of the: Recent Empirical Findings and Treatment Considerations

Anger is often been viewed as a maladaptive response to distress. Yet in actuality, the emotion serves an adaptive function, as its basic purpose is to prepare individuals to respond to real threats within the environment.

While the experience of anger itself is not a problem, concerns can arise when the experience of anger is excessive or is generalized to situations beyond those in which it is useful. In such circumstances, anger can result in chronicheightened levels of arousal and can be often accompanied by dysfunctional behavioural tendencies. For many people, this heightened duration, intensity, and frequency of anger, which has previously been referred to as clinical anger, is associated with violent behaviour, and often culminates in interpersonal, health, occupational, and legal difficulties. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>

Fear of Heights and Visual Height Intolerance in Children 8-10 Years Old

Acrophobia or fear of heights is a specific phobia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Its life-time prevalence rangesfrom 3.1 to 6.4%. There is a continuum of severity ranging from acrophobia to a less distressing visual height intolerance (vHI), to which the categorical distinction of a specific phobia does not apply, but which may also cause medically relevant restrictions.

In a cross-sectional epidemiological study on 3,517 individuals representative of the general populationthe lifetime prevalence of vHI was found to be 28%. It was higher in women (32%) than in men (25%) and increased with age. The main symptoms of vHI are fearfulness, a queezy-stomach feeling, subjective postural instability with to-and-fro vertigo, inner agitation, and vegetative symptoms as well as weakness in the knees, palpitations, sudden sweating, light-headedness, and tremor.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Development of a Structure-Validated Nightmare Experience Questionnaire in Chinese University Students

Nightmares are repeated occurrences of extended, extremely dysphoric, and well-remembered dreams usually involving efforts to avoid threats to survival, security, or physical integrity, andusually being accompanied by fear or panic which results in immediate awakening.

An individual generally has a nightmare during the rapid eye movement sleep, and quickly becomes oriented and alert on waking from the dream; however, the nightmare might leave the individual negative emotions and cause obvious distress, emotional deregulation, or impairment in social, occupational, or other functioning. The life-long nightmare experience happens in almost every healthy individual , especially in adolescents and young adults, or in women. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Addicted Mind: A Plea for a More Scientific Psychopathology

Beginning with the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), substance related addictions are now summarized as “substance use disorders.” DSM-5 simplified the diagnosis, as the previous clinically-intuitive differentiation between abuse and dependence did not hold up to scientific evidence. 

That said, the diagnostic criteria changed very little. At first glance this may seem to support the notion that addictions are well-established disorders. Substance use disorders clearly constitute a public health priority. Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug addictions and their sequelae top the list of preventable causes of mortality, of suffering, and of public spending. At the same time, underlying biological brain mechanisms of addiction have been delineated on a faster pace than for other mental disorders. Given the public health significance and the scientific leads provided by preclinical research, one might expect addictions to be a major focus of clinical practice and clinical research. Read more>>>>>>>>>>