Animals are conscious?

Animals are conscious? Really and officially? Pretty big news huh. http://mindhacks.com/2012/08/20/animals-conscious-say-leading-neuroscientists/

Get Psychologising Again!

I'm back. I promise. I've started trawling the web for new sources of accessible psychology-related pieces to refill my blog now I've got my grades (yay! I can finally move on with my life, knowing my ambitions are still possible and even, dare I say it, probable!). So sit back, relax and prepare for a stream of psychology MADNESS. Oh and, if you like, share with your friends :)

First up, a very interesting article on the possible effects of having lights on at night, and possible links to clinical depression: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/07/24/keep-the-tv-or-computer-on-at-night-youre-at-greater-risk-for-depression/42184.html

Secondly, a little bit of tumblr mayhem for your delectation, on the theme of mental health and filled with discussion, interesting articles and of course memes: http://fiuactiveminds.tumblr.com/page/2

An interesting debate on whether healthcare systems have a right to deny major operations (here, a heart transplant) to individuals with autism, or any mental issue, due to concerns over the effect that drugs such as steroids may have on behaviour: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/after-adult-autistic-son-denied-heart-transplant-pennsylvania-woman-seeks-to-reverse-decision/2012/08/17/db4778aa-e834-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html
and check out the real debate on the national autistic society's facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/NationalAutisticSociety

That's all for now folks! For anyone interested, keep an eye on news on the NAS (National Autistic Society), BPS (British Psychological Society) and Mind (Mental Health Charity) websites. Be aware of all things psychological, give me a share if you like my thinking and don't forget - I'm always up for discussion: comment,ask me a question or simply reblog. It's good to be back and psycholo-geeking!

Growing Children

Great new programme on BBC 4 exploring childhood development. Starting with autism, it's well-made, well-researched and well-worth-a-watch!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01lyczl

Did you see it? Let me know your thoughts!

A Leavers' Ball

Busy preparing for our leavers' ball tonight. My nails are pink, ablutions have been taking place since this morning, new make-up has been purchased, new shoes ready...and the dress, hanging clothed in it's plastic protector, ready to be bundled into the waiting taxi with trepidation and excitement.
Why is so much emotion pinned on that 'leavers' prom' that has taken over every American High School? Why are even we, in rural England, convinced we have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and even really act a certain way on our 'prom' night? For us, the American traditions have certainly been toned down - I doubt any limos will pull into the drive of the venue, people other than those in relationships have not fallen over themselves to find dates, and there will be minimal matching of ties and corsages...or corsages at all. But there's still something about that last bash as a school group, that last party our parents get us ready for, that last night of limbo - half a child, half an adult.

 It's been several years since alcohol was introduced into the minds and livers of most of the year, so it's not like tonight is the first opportunity for a drunken loss of inhibitions. No, a leavers' ball is something beyond all that. It marks an end, and a new beginning. It marks a celebration, and a goodbye. It is a night spent with all those people we really love, and all those we kinda hate but may never see again. It's the end of 2, or 7 or even 15-odd years with the same people. And that's strange. But to cover up all the emotion that could be wrapped up in that one night, to mask the fear of the future and the regret of losing our safety net, our security and our home for the last years - we dress head to toe in gorgeousness, we curl and straighten and spray our hair, we dress, and dance and drink so we can't think about what tonight really represents....

Goodbye everything we've ever known.

Hello big scary future.


That's gotta be psychology, right?

another autism breakthrough?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18577327

OCD, think again?

It is probably fair to say that OCD is a mental disorder not often talked about. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say it is often talked about, but not as a serious and potentially disabling mental disorder. Taunts of 'stop being so OCD' or 'that's a bit OCD' are common amongst many groups of young people, especially when someone of a somewhat anxious or precise disposition is present.
So what is OCD really? Mind describe it as an anxiety disorder which combines 'obsession' - a repeated unwanted thought or urge, with 'compulsion' - a repetitive activity you feel you have to do. Common obsessions include fear of contamination, imagining doing harm and excessive doubts. Common compulsions include ordering and arranging, washing and focusing on a number. Far from being very clean or organised in the way you go about day to day life, OCD can be a frightening and intrusive disorder than controls day-to-day living.
The treatment? Well, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) has been seen to have significant positive effects, and some medication including particular antidepressants, but these can have unpleasant side-effects and withdrawal symptoms.

Here's an interesting article from our friends at the BPS on the condition:
http://www.bps.org.uk/news/dr-heather-sequeira-cpsychol-ocd

So far from being a playfully tossed around adjective describing the tidy, anxious or precise, OCD is a real and significant part of people's lives. From the fictional Emma Pillsbury on the programme Glee to the 2% of British people living with the condition - it's real and scary and something perhaps we should appreciate a little more before we retort 'stop being so OCD' quite so loudly...

BPS and the DSM

The British Psychological Society has more to say on the matters being debated to do with the publishing of the DSM-5. For more information, check out my article on The Periodical: http://theperiodical.info/2012/06/10/the-dsm-5-stop-ignoring-mental-illness/ - do leave a comment if you have any thoughts, it is important that such issues provoke debate.

Dr David Murphy, Chair of the Society’s Professional Practice Board, says:

The Society applauds the American Psychiatric Association for engaging in this level of public consultation, and we welcome some of the changes from the previous iteration, such as the deferment of the decision to include the category of ‘attenuated psychosis syndrome’  and to recommend further research.

However we continue to have serious concerns about many aspects of the framework. In our response we have argued that the categorical framework of DSM-V is flawed in that it fails to take account of the evidence for the dimensional spectrum of psychiatric symptoms such as low mood, hearing voices, unusual beliefs etc in the general population.

We have also highlighted significant concerns about lowering of diagnositic thresholds and the validity ‘catch all’ diagnostic categories that exist within DSM-V such as ‘ADHD not elsewhere classified’, which we are concerned have poor inter rater reliability.

We are concerned that both of these aspects lead to the risk of overdiagnosis and thereby potentially unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment with medication.

Autism in Pictures

The beautiful photos of the shortlist and winners of the National Autistic Society photographic competition. They are all amazing, they all have a story - and they all encapsulate such dignity, adventure and promise.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18489694

To be fair...

With all this talk of mental illness and its lack of helpful or truthful publicity, I think it is important to note that on Thursday, the Commons was filled with debate on the very issue. And very interesting it looks too, at superficial first glance (cannot wait until I have time to actually *read* and *appreciate* these things!)
Be sure to check out the actual debate, by clicking the link 'commons debate on mental health' on the BPS link below :)

Enjoy, readers with freedom, time and thirst for knowledge on your hands. I'll be joining you soon!
http://www.bps.org.uk/news/society-president-welcomes-mps-new-openness-about-mental-health-problems

No more humdrum natureVsnurture!

For all of you interested in epigenetics, the links between our environment and the expression of our genome, and the factors shaking up our ever so ancient and hum-drum natureVsnurture debate, check out something new from KCL - they've developed software (which apparently is freely available...I'm intrigued) which, through use of classic twin-studies, maps places in the country where different traits are effected more by the environment or genetics. It's pretty complex - but one thing this great report from KCL talks of is how classroom behavioural problems showed an 'environmental hotspot' in London - there the trait was caused far more by the environment than by genes when compared to other regions. There could be many explanations but one that makes sense is the great variation of household income in London - this could well have an impact on the appearance of genetically controlled behavioural issues. Check out the link - it's fascinating!