I admit, that this takes it to a new extreme though - what's next, censoring science fiction because the physics in the book violate the sci-fi laws that the government approved of?
I wonder if because the game is banned, will it push it underground, and make it more popular. (In that case, start hosting torrent files, people!;) )
The thought didn't come to me initially, but couldn't he have been hospitalized (unfortunately, against his will) and medicated because he was a danger to his own well-being? Of course, the treatments for both cancer and schizophrenia can be argued as dangerous to his well-being as well. A tricky ethical issue to be sure.
You know, you're absolutely right. I anticipated, somewhat cynically, that the majority of highly moderated responses would revolve around misinformed remarks about mental illness in general. I have been pleasantly surprised by the majority of responses. Thanks for being an optimist.
Disorganized behavior is pretty easy to recognize - like hoarding junk mail, and not being able to throw it out, to the point that the pile covers your bed, and you're unable to use it. (true story, one schizophrenic patient I saw was evicted from their apartment because it was a health hazard, despite their physical abilty to get rid of the mail and clean up...) You can see some other examples in the stereotyped "crazy homeless person" - having a routine that has no discernable purpose.
Disorganized thought is easy to spot, hard to describe. If someone would talk "gibberish" to you - that's kind of what it's like.
If you really want to see it though, there are a variety of places that you can volunteer at, and I'm sure they'd appreciate your help.
I'll concede that the article was focused on depression. Here is one that states that Family Therapy can help reduce the chances of a person with schizophrenia needing to be re-admitted to a psychiatric hospital. (3rd bullet point, reference on the link) Again, I'll stand by a statement previously made - the most effective therapy is both psychotherapy and drug therapy. (The webpage is the American Psychoanalytic Association, so you can take some of their statements with a grain of salt - it looks like most of the research is from reputable sources)
From the webpage, citing "Zients A: Presentation to the Mental Health Work Group, White House Task Force for National Health Care Reform, April 23, 1993" The expansion of psychotherapy coverage (accompanied by utilization review) for the U.S. military dependents by CHAMPUS resulted in a net savings of $200 million over 3 years through reductions in psychiatric hospitalization. For every $1 spent on psychotherapy, $4 were saved.
It's a discipline mechanism. Nothing more. The goal is to discipline the recipient with "don't even think about trying that."
It's not a disciplinary mechanism (or at least, it should not be practiced that way!). From the FAQ at Emory University - "The most widely accepted theory about how ECT works is that ECT acts as an anticonvulsant - that is, ECT actually raises the seizure threshold or decreases the tendency of the brain to seize. ECT may, therefore, quiet many of the overactive neurotransmitters in the brain. This theory is known as the anticonvulsant hypothesis. The anticonvulsant effects cause brain changes that lead to the antidepressant effects that are observed after ECT." It doesn't say anything about using it as a disciplinary or behavioral modification technique at all.
Apparently, the only reading you did was of the title of the links. In particular, the "healthyplace.com" site talks about the problems with ECT that you mention! They cite the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. Read here.
Of course, you're going to say something again along the lines of "No organization in their right mind would publish anything bad about themselves." which leads me to wonder if any objective evidence will persuade you either way.
I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. When a person undergoes ECT (ElectroConvulsive Therapy) they are sedated, given a muscle relaxant, and NOT shocked like a frog in a high-school biology lab. Please inform yourself about the process. There are people who will argue about the benefits of the process, and the potential side-effects of temporary memory problems. But many people find it to be a good treatment for depression.
The sucess rate for so called "talking cures" is ~30% the sucess rate for drugs is ~60%. I call bullshit - I'm pretty positive you're making those numbers up on the spot. This is an article about the efficacy of drugs versus therapy. What's more useful is the two therapies (drugs and psychotherapy) combined.
Also "talking cures can take years to reach that sucess rate, most drugs take weeks. Also "talking cures" are billed at $100 per hour, drugs, even expense ones are far far cheaper.
That might be true, about the drugs having an effect sooner - however, most psychotherapy is time-limited. Drugs often are prescribed for a lifetime. 24 weeks of psychotherapy once a week for an hour at $100 an hour begins to sound like a bargain in comparison to a lifetime of drugs. And more importantly, drugs have significant side effects.
While I'm not likely to change your high opinion of the field of psychology, you have several misunderstandings about psychology in general.
I sat in on an undergrad psych presentation at Lehigh a few years back and was amazed to hear one of the presenters talking about the 'blood/brain barrier'. It was the most logical, scientific thing i'd ever heard anyone say in a psych forum. Fluff is the norm.
First off: sitting in an undergrad psych class once doesn't mean you understand a thing about it. So just stop right there.
Second:
If psychology is so effective, why do women go to shrinks and get drugs rather than undergo Freudian psychoanalysis? I've sat in on several sessions for an agoraphobic individual - with multiple shrinks, mind you - and saw no actual psychoanalysis attempted.
Freudian psychoanalysis is vary rarely used, as another poster mentioned - Other forms of therapy, such as Bevahioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Most modern psychotherapies (not psychoanalysis, which is different) are short-term, and effect treatment for a variety of problems. People go to "shrinks" (more acurrately, psychiatrists) for drugs either to supplement therapy, or because they aren't always informed about all the options.
The shrinks are drug dispensers, basically. Moreover, in many cases the drugs dispensed are inappropriate. Agoraphobia has no known treatment.
Read a few testimonial books on conquering agoraphobia in particular and you find that they basically tell people to 'overcome their fears, and just do what you are afraid to do'. Well, doh. I never would have figured that out. The amazing part is that this actually works...i've witnessed an agoraphobic become productive by being forced by circumstances to go out and get a job and function like a real mother.
It's funny, because that's pretty much what a psychologist would have someone do in therapy (who do you think writes those books about recovering from anxiety and depression?). It sounds like you're more upset with psychiatry, and the medication of people who don't always need it. Two totally separate issues.
I wonder what version of the DSM you are using - Multiple Personality Disorder (referred to in the DSM-IV as "Disassociative Identidy Disorder") is an Axis 1 disorder. But at least you got Three Faces of Eve right....
Well, I'm probably more qualified than some (almost have the PhD in Clinical Psychology, and have been working in that field for years). You can go check out my previous comment on this thread.
I'm finishing up my PhD in Clinical Psychology. Here is my previous post to this thread. And I agree with Tyro - be careful about the smart-remarks and the Anonymous Cowards, but it seems there are a few genuinely experienced people out there that might be able to offer some advice.
I want to start by agreeing with many other slashdot posters - You came to the wrong place in general to ask questions about medical health and/or mental health.
That said, I am a not a doctor, yet. (I'm finishing my PhD in Clinical Psychology) I've worked on a locked inpatient unit with people who have had schizophrenia, and in an outpatient community clinic with a variety of people. So here is my starting advice: You may want to investigate The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, for further information regarding support groups for mental illness, and make sure that you get supported while you go through this process of learning and working with family and relatives who have a serious mental illness.
The bad news is: There is not a cure for schizophrenia. The good news is: It's a chronic illness that can be treated using medication (Some people understand better if they draw comparisons to diabetes, or other chronic physical illnesses). The bad news again is: Medications are still in need of improvement, because a lot of side effects (weight gain, lowered energy and libido) can certainly drive a person away from treatment. The best things that you can do are to provide a stable and caring environment for your relative, encourage them to stay on their medication (even when they're doing well).
For others of you interested, the "usual" symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations (a person sees or hears things that other people do not, usually hearing voices, but it can be anything), delusions (a person believes something illogical or bizarre, like they are under surveillance of the police), and disorganized thinking or behavior. Medications help mostly with the hallucinations, and sometimes with a persons mood; new medications can also help clear their thinking. Psychotherapy with schizophrenic patients can really range, from simple problem-solving and health management (which could cover taking medication or even just taking a shower), to learning how to interpret the emotions and gestures of other people so they get along better with family and friends.
Again, schizophrenia is a chronic illness, but it is treatable. When a person recieves proper treatment, a person can lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Well, the Unreal series have Linux binaries, and if the rumor mill is true, then Doom3 may have a Linux port as well. So I wouldn't hit the panic button on Linux yet, but sales will have to be shown to be worth the investment of capital.
Which makes me wonder - when is someone gonna take this code and turn it into a Denial-of-Service kind of program? Either Domino's competitors could DOS them, or you could do an in-real-life DOS of some poor bastard by having their computer order a pizza every 10 minutes.;)
Slashdot Mirror
... And this surprises anyone because...?
;) )
I admit, that this takes it to a new extreme though - what's next, censoring science fiction because the physics in the book violate the sci-fi laws that the government approved of?
I wonder if because the game is banned, will it push it underground, and make it more popular. (In that case, start hosting torrent files, people!
yeah, this method also strikes me as being power-consuming, and impractical for that reason... although, the idea itself is pretty cool.
The thought didn't come to me initially, but couldn't he have been hospitalized (unfortunately, against his will) and medicated because he was a danger to his own well-being? Of course, the treatments for both cancer and schizophrenia can be argued as dangerous to his well-being as well. A tricky ethical issue to be sure.
Well XP won't respect an existing Linux install, if you install it after Linux then you can guarantee there won't be a Linux entry in your boot menu ;)
That's why I dual-boot with Win98.
Plus, since it seems like all the new viruses are focusing on XP, not the older versions - MS security is like wine: Better with age...
Hint: They're jokes, people. laugh.
Does this mean that just when I figured out how to whistle at 2600 hertz, it's become useless? ;)
the Peter Gunn Theme Song... remixed by some crap rap-metal band. =P
You know, you're absolutely right. I anticipated, somewhat cynically, that the majority of highly moderated responses would revolve around misinformed remarks about mental illness in general. I have been pleasantly surprised by the majority of responses. Thanks for being an optimist.
Disorganized behavior is pretty easy to recognize - like hoarding junk mail, and not being able to throw it out, to the point that the pile covers your bed, and you're unable to use it. (true story, one schizophrenic patient I saw was evicted from their apartment because it was a health hazard, despite their physical abilty to get rid of the mail and clean up...) You can see some other examples in the stereotyped "crazy homeless person" - having a routine that has no discernable purpose.
Disorganized thought is easy to spot, hard to describe. If someone would talk "gibberish" to you - that's kind of what it's like.
If you really want to see it though, there are a variety of places that you can volunteer at, and I'm sure they'd appreciate your help.
I'll concede that the article was focused on depression. Here is one that states that Family Therapy can help reduce the chances of a person with schizophrenia needing to be re-admitted to a psychiatric hospital. (3rd bullet point, reference on the link) Again, I'll stand by a statement previously made - the most effective therapy is both psychotherapy and drug therapy. (The webpage is the American Psychoanalytic Association, so you can take some of their statements with a grain of salt - it looks like most of the research is from reputable sources)
From the webpage, citing "Zients A: Presentation to the Mental Health Work Group, White House Task Force for National Health Care Reform, April 23, 1993" The expansion of psychotherapy coverage (accompanied by utilization review) for the U.S. military dependents by CHAMPUS resulted in a net savings of $200 million over 3 years through reductions in psychiatric hospitalization. For every $1 spent on psychotherapy, $4 were saved.
Check the timestamps:
Mad_Rain on Friday May 21, @09:55AM
Uber Banker on Friday May 21, @12:06PM
It's a discipline mechanism. Nothing more. The goal is to discipline the recipient with "don't even think about trying that."
It's not a disciplinary mechanism (or at least, it should not be practiced that way!). From the FAQ at Emory University - "The most widely accepted theory about how ECT works is that ECT acts as an anticonvulsant - that is, ECT actually raises the seizure threshold or decreases the tendency of the brain to seize. ECT may, therefore, quiet many of the overactive neurotransmitters in the brain. This theory is known as the anticonvulsant hypothesis. The anticonvulsant effects cause brain changes that lead to the antidepressant effects that are observed after ECT." It doesn't say anything about using it as a disciplinary or behavioral modification technique at all.
Apparently, the only reading you did was of the title of the links. In particular, the "healthyplace.com" site talks about the problems with ECT that you mention! They cite the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. Read here.
Of course, you're going to say something again along the lines of "No organization in their right mind would publish anything bad about themselves." which leads me to wonder if any objective evidence will persuade you either way.
I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. When a person undergoes ECT (ElectroConvulsive Therapy) they are sedated, given a muscle relaxant, and NOT shocked like a frog in a high-school biology lab. Please inform yourself about the process. There are people who will argue about the benefits of the process, and the potential side-effects of temporary memory problems. But many people find it to be a good treatment for depression.
The sucess rate for so called "talking cures" is ~30% the sucess rate for drugs is ~60%.
I call bullshit - I'm pretty positive you're making those numbers up on the spot. This is an article about the efficacy of drugs versus therapy. What's more useful is the two therapies (drugs and psychotherapy) combined.
Also "talking cures can take years to reach that sucess rate, most drugs take weeks. Also "talking cures" are billed at $100 per hour, drugs, even expense ones are far far cheaper.
That might be true, about the drugs having an effect sooner - however, most psychotherapy is time-limited. Drugs often are prescribed for a lifetime. 24 weeks of psychotherapy once a week for an hour at $100 an hour begins to sound like a bargain in comparison to a lifetime of drugs. And more importantly, drugs have significant side effects.
While I'm not likely to change your high opinion of the field of psychology, you have several misunderstandings about psychology in general.
I sat in on an undergrad psych presentation at Lehigh a few years back and was amazed to hear one of the presenters talking about the 'blood/brain barrier'. It was the most logical, scientific thing i'd ever heard anyone say in a psych forum. Fluff is the norm.
First off: sitting in an undergrad psych class once doesn't mean you understand a thing about it. So just stop right there.
Second:
If psychology is so effective, why do women go to shrinks and get drugs rather than undergo Freudian psychoanalysis? I've sat in on several sessions for an agoraphobic individual - with multiple shrinks, mind you - and saw no actual psychoanalysis attempted.
Freudian psychoanalysis is vary rarely used, as another poster mentioned - Other forms of therapy, such as Bevahioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Most modern psychotherapies (not psychoanalysis, which is different) are short-term, and effect treatment for a variety of problems. People go to "shrinks" (more acurrately, psychiatrists) for drugs either to supplement therapy, or because they aren't always informed about all the options.
The shrinks are drug dispensers, basically. Moreover, in many cases the drugs dispensed are inappropriate. Agoraphobia has no known treatment.
Agoraphobia has a variety of treatment options.
Read a few testimonial books on conquering agoraphobia in particular and you find that they basically tell people to 'overcome their fears, and just do what you are afraid to do'. Well, doh. I never would have figured that out. The amazing part is that this actually works...i've witnessed an agoraphobic become productive by being forced by circumstances to go out and get a job and function like a real mother.
It's funny, because that's pretty much what a psychologist would have someone do in therapy (who do you think writes those books about recovering from anxiety and depression?). It sounds like you're more upset with psychiatry, and the medication of people who don't always need it. Two totally separate issues.
I wonder what version of the DSM you are using - Multiple Personality Disorder (referred to in the DSM-IV as "Disassociative Identidy Disorder") is an Axis 1 disorder. But at least you got Three Faces of Eve right....
Well, I'm probably more qualified than some (almost have the PhD in Clinical Psychology, and have been working in that field for years). You can go check out my previous comment on this thread.
I'm finishing up my PhD in Clinical Psychology. Here is my previous post to this thread. And I agree with Tyro - be careful about the smart-remarks and the Anonymous Cowards, but it seems there are a few genuinely experienced people out there that might be able to offer some advice.
I want to start by agreeing with many other slashdot posters - You came to the wrong place in general to ask questions about medical health and/or mental health.
That said, I am a not a doctor, yet. (I'm finishing my PhD in Clinical Psychology) I've worked on a locked inpatient unit with people who have had schizophrenia, and in an outpatient community clinic with a variety of people. So here is my starting advice: You may want to investigate The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, for further information regarding support groups for mental illness, and make sure that you get supported while you go through this process of learning and working with family and relatives who have a serious mental illness.
The bad news is: There is not a cure for schizophrenia. The good news is: It's a chronic illness that can be treated using medication (Some people understand better if they draw comparisons to diabetes, or other chronic physical illnesses). The bad news again is: Medications are still in need of improvement, because a lot of side effects (weight gain, lowered energy and libido) can certainly drive a person away from treatment. The best things that you can do are to provide a stable and caring environment for your relative, encourage them to stay on their medication (even when they're doing well).
For others of you interested, the "usual" symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations (a person sees or hears things that other people do not, usually hearing voices, but it can be anything), delusions (a person believes something illogical or bizarre, like they are under surveillance of the police), and disorganized thinking or behavior. Medications help mostly with the hallucinations, and sometimes with a persons mood; new medications can also help clear their thinking. Psychotherapy with schizophrenic patients can really range, from simple problem-solving and health management (which could cover taking medication or even just taking a shower), to learning how to interpret the emotions and gestures of other people so they get along better with family and friends.
Again, schizophrenia is a chronic illness, but it is treatable. When a person recieves proper treatment, a person can lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Wow, if only I had mod points - you just answered a forgotten, long-lost mystery (at least to me). Thanks.
And now to work the phrase "reticulating splines" into my next conversation... =)
Well, the Unreal series have Linux binaries, and if the rumor mill is true, then Doom3 may have a Linux port as well. So I wouldn't hit the panic button on Linux yet, but sales will have to be shown to be worth the investment of capital.
Which makes me wonder - when is someone gonna take this code and turn it into a Denial-of-Service kind of program? Either Domino's competitors could DOS them, or you could do an in-real-life DOS of some poor bastard by having their computer order a pizza every 10 minutes. ;)
About your sig: I half expected you to link to MCI at the end of it (goddammit, they ruined that song for a fucking phone commercial!).
just had to vent a moment.
Heh, how about the roar of a TIE fighter? ;)
errr, well, aside from it's space, and it wouldn't make any noise.
errr, well, aside from it's a movie. In fact, nevermind.
Let me guess - Back Door Sluts 9?