Treatment
Tiger Woods Sheds Light on Sex Addiction
Tiger Woods’ admission that he is undergoing therapy after having adulterous affairs has focused attention on the issue of sex addiction, a condition some experts say is becoming much more common.
Reuters reports that sex addiction is a controversial concept not currently recognized as an official diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is considered the definitive word on psychological disorders.
Stimulating the Brain’s Pleasure Center to Treat Depression
Even with the best of available treatments, over a third of patients with depression may not achieve a satisfactory antidepressant response. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a form of targeted electrical stimulation in the brain via implanted electrodes, is now undergoing careful testing to determine whether it could play a role in the treatment of patients who have not sufficiently improved during more traditional forms of treatment.
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Excess Serotonin Receptors May Explain Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Some Patients
An excess of one type of serotonin receptor in the center of the brain may explain why antidepressants fail to relieve symptoms of depression for 50 percent of patients, a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center shows. The study is the first to find a causal link between receptor number and antidepressant treatment and may lead to more personalized treatment for depression, including treatments for patients who do not respond to antidepressants and ways to identify these patients before they undergo costly and ultimately futile therapies.
Hoarders: Not Just “Packrats”
“Makeover” shows can be very entertaining—they usually involve making over the appearance of someone who may have low self-esteem, or building a new home for a family devastated by loss. Some shows offer cleaning services to families who households are disorganized and chaotic. These shows can teach, instill kindness, or even be beneficial or rewarding for its viewers. But there is a much darker reality that is not prevalent in these reality entertainment shows; some people who are characterized as “packrats” may actually have a serious underlying mental disorder. These aren’t the people who pride themselves as collectors or admit to being unorganized or a shopaholic. People who habitually collect and never discard items are compulsive hoarders.
Using EEG Biofeedback to Treat Children with ADHD
A new thought-operated computer system that can reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children will be rolled out across the UK this month. Professor Karen Pine at the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Psychology and assistant Farjana Nasrin investigated the effects of EEG (Electroencephalography) biofeedback, a learning strategy that detects brain waves, on ten children with an attention deficit from Hertfordshire schools.
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Deep Brain Stimulation Successfully Treats Severe Depression
A team of neurosurgeons at Heidelberg University Hospital and psychiatrists at the Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim have (for the first time) successfully treated a patient suffering from severe depression by stimulating the habenula, a tiny nerve structure in the brain. The 64-year-old woman, who had suffered from depression since age 18, could not be helped by medication or electroconvulsive therapy. Since the procedure, she is free of symptoms for the first time in years.
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Few Americans with Major Depression Receive Treatment
Many adults in the U.S. with major depression do not receive treatment or therapy based on treatment guidelines, and some racial and ethnic groups have even lower rates of adequate depression care, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
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Series Examines Treatment Gap for Disorders in Low and Middle Income Countries
Treating mental and neurological disorders and substance abuse is imperative if an individual hopes to lead a productive life. For those living in low and middle income countries, as many as 90 percent of these disorders go untreated, creating a “treatment gap.”
Science Daily recently posted a release highlighting a new series by PLoS Medicine that aims to help close this gap. A six-part series, it explores the best ways to treat disorders in low- and middle-income countries. The series also examines how treatments should be scaled up and how they should be delivered.
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An Interview with Kimberly Mitchell: Residential Manager at Promises
“This is the first time in my life that I actually enjoy going to work every day,” said Kimberly Mitchell, Residential Manager of Promises in West Los Angeles. “I get to move around and help people, and every day I’m inspired by the staff and the clients,” she added.
Nearly four years ago, Kimberly was working at an architectural firm and realized that her career wasn’t fulfilling to her because she wasn’t helping people in need. Her boss agreed that she needed to switch careers, so they searched for jobs together, which led her to apply for an office manager position at Promises. When she interviewed, she was recommended for a different position—a Tech (short for Rehabilitation Technician) —because she would be more hands-on with the clients. After working as a Tech for about two years, Kimberly was promoted to Residential Manager, and she now supervises a team of about 17 Techs.
“A Tech gives support and direction to the clients at all times, making sure they’re following the rules and upholding the integrity of the program,” Kimberly explained. “Techs are the eyes and ears of the clinical team, always reporting back the events of the day; they also spend the most amount of time with the clients, and they are always there to fulfill any need.”
Kimberly explained that in her role as Residential Manager, she ensures that the Techs are completing their assignments, that the clients are monitored properly during detox, and that the simple things—like having coffee available first thing in the morning—are taken care of. “Part of my role is not only managing Techs and clients but also making sure that clients are getting their needs met,” she said. “I also help the clinical team individualize treatment plans, making sure clients are getting exactly what they need.”
When asked to describe a typical day for clients, Kimberly said that clients perform morning chores, attend a meditation group, go to the gym, and attend group and individual meetings and therapy sessions, followed by a 12-step meeting and a 10-step meeting at the end of the day.
“Clients are asked to think of an intention every morning, which is a goal for the day, such as maintaining a positive attitude,” Kimberly explained. “At the end of the day in 10th-step, clients talk about how they did with their intention—did they follow through, or did they struggle? Clients talk about any resentment they felt throughout the day and write them down, and they also write a gratitude list to remind them that although they may have had a rough day, they have many things in their lives to be thankful for,” she said.
One of the things Kimberly likes most about working at Promises is the staff. “It can be scary to be a new client, but the staff is so warm and welcoming that we make the transition easier for them,” she said. “It’s also great when clients come back—for instance, we just had someone who was here as a patient three years ago apply to work for Promises. Her experience at Promises was so great that she wanted to continue to be a part of it,” she continued. “I also love the clients. I’m a recovering addict with a little over 8 years of sobriety, so I’ve been in their shoes, and I think they’re amazing.”
“We have a client who has only been here for three days, and he’s already telling people that Promises is the best place to be. When asked why, he says that whenever you turn around there’s a staff member, so your needs are always met, and that the atmosphere is amazingly warm and welcoming,” she recounted.
“It’s all about the staff; we do what we say we’re going to do,” Kimberly said when asked what makes Promises stand out from other treatment centers. “The majority of people who work here have been in similar situations as the clients, so we have a better understanding of what they’re going through,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s one person at Promises who is just here to collect a paycheck—everyone here loves what they do. It’s about helping clients get back on their feet, helping them to be children, friends, husbands, and wives again.”
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Promises Professionals’ Program Offers High-Quality, Confidential Addiction Treatment
Promises’ addiction treatment program for doctors, attorneys, and other professionals offers recovery in a supportive and highly effective environment, and works with boards and other licensing bodies to ensure successful integration back into their practice or career.
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