Friday, March 31, 2017
Want More Positivity in the People Around You? The First Step Starts With You
You're reading Want More Positivity in the People Around You? The First Step Starts With You, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
- referencing a specific situation or event
- recognizing a specific action or behavior
- coming from genuine appreciation
- expressing what it meant to you or how it made you feel
- offering it without any expectations of reciprocation
You've read Want More Positivity in the People Around You? The First Step Starts With You, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you've enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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March 31, 2017 at 04:31PM
UM professor studies hypnosis effects on March Madness brackets - KTVH
KTVH |
UM professor studies hypnosis effects on March Madness brackets
KTVH MISSOULA – The March Madness NCAA basketball brackets are for most people a guessing game, but participants in a University of Montana study peered into the future before selecting their final four. That's at least the belief of some study participants ... and more » |
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March 31, 2017 at 01:23PM
8 HOURS Mindfulness Meditation Healing Music with Relaxing Binaural New Age Sounds
Hypersexuality in Bipolar Disorder
The need to be desired, it is a topic many women will avoid. They think it shows weakness to express the need to have a man find them attractive. I don’t. Maybe it was the many years of being overweight, but I love when I get hit on by a man. Being bipolar I admit that my need for a man to flirt with me takes on a life of its own. I love it! I crave the attention, and don’t feel as good about myself when it isn’t happening on a regular basis. Being told I am pretty, sexy, hot all makes me feel wanted and, after feeling like the ugly duckling for most of my life, I find nothing more thrilling.
Since I long for the feeling of feeling attractive I do certain things that make some women question me. I always have elaborate makeup on. I take a lot of time to do my makeup before leaving the house each day. It is something I am known for. I am often asked about the products I use, as well as the techniques I use to apply my makeup. I never feel unqualified to give the advice because I did have a cosmetology license, even though it has lapsed now. I also did makeup backstage for theatre even on traveling Broadway shows and for many community theatre shows, so I know my skills are there. I use it to my advantage to give myself a flashy look.
I also make sure to do my hair and have it styled nice as well as put on a fashionable outfit. Being known for my style and flare makes me proud to have bipolar because I know that the bipolar is part of why I have my creative style and flare. It gives my personality a complete persona, and I always enjoy when a gentleman can appreciate the time I put into looking nice.
Then on top of the makeup and the hair and the perfect outfit. I make sure I exercise and go to the gym. I know it seems like not a big deal but as I mentioned I was overweight most my life and now that I am not it is nice to continue to maintain my weight loss. I enjoy jogging and being fit. I like being able to wear sexy clothing that make me feel attractive and yes they are normally provocative and turn heads but that is the way I like it.
I know now that hypersexuality is a symptom of bipolar disorder and I know that my need to be desired probably stems from that. I don’t always like that I care so deeply what others think of me and sometimes it is the one thing that will send me deep into a depression. I may over think why no one has flirted with me recently or why my husband of almost 20 years hasn’t tried to have sex with me lately, however a good night out dancing is the one thing when I am feeling confident again that can knock that depression out of me too. It is always amazing to me what a night of feeling like a sexy woman can do for my self-esteem. For me it is a rush like nothing else, better than any drug that I could even imagine is out there.
I know bipolar has some symptoms that are a pain in the bottom and many of them I don’t care for. This symptom however is not one that I am looking to correct anytime soon. I don’t mind needing the reassurance from others that I am attractive. Maybe, that’s because I am finally okay with who I am. It won’t happen every day that a man finds me attractive and I am okay with that. I am happily married and I would never change that. I love my husband but I do love to flirt, hyper-sexuality must be controlled but can be by staying on your wellness bipolar wellness plan. I am lucky to have an understanding husband who understands when it happens it isn’t something he isn’t doing but something that is because of my disorder. Bipolar, it’s a beast!
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March 31, 2017 at 11:33AM
No Worries Vegetarian Restaurant in 360°
On 21 January 2017, we spent a pleasant afternoon lunch and chat at No Worries Vegetarian Restaurant (無憂蔬食) by a lake in Taipei . . . myself, my wife, and mother. You can check out http://ift.tt/2oj8ypV for or more about the restaurant. In any case, watch the 360° video and enjoy. This 360° experience was…
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March 31, 2017 at 11:19AM
Abraham Hicks - Just because others think it doesn't make it right
Abraham Hicks - How can you avoid unwanted manifestations
Revealed: The Type of Music That Makes You Feel Most Powerful
If you want to get pumped up before a big event, what type of music should you choose?
Music has already been shown to have all kinds of effects on the mind, like making you happier, reducing pain and bringing people together.
Now a new study finds that music of the right kind can transform the listener’s sense of power.
The study, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, was inspired by the pre-game routines of athletes (Hsu et al., 2014).
Dennis Hsu, who led the study, explains:
“When watching major sports events, my coauthors and I frequently noticed athletes with their earphones on while entering the stadium and in the locker room.
The ways these athletes immerse themselves in the music — some with their eyes steely shut and some gently nodded along to the beats — it seems as if the music is mentally preparing and toughening them up for the competition about to occur.”
But which type of music is best for boosting your power and what is it about that music that makes you feel powerful?
To investigate they first had to identify some pieces of music that made people feel powerful.
After testing 31 clips they found that songs rated the most powerful were:
- Queen’s “We Will Rock You”
- 2 Unlimited’s “Get Ready for This”
The least powerful songs were:
- Fatboy Slim’s “Because We Can”
- Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out”
Through a series of experiments they ruled out the effects of some components of the music on feelings of power.
For example, the lyrics seemed to have little effect on how powerful people felt.
Hsu explained:
“Because participants did not report increased powerful feelings after reading the lyrics, we can rule out the semantic priming effect of lyrics in the selected songs.”
The happiness or sadness of the music was also taken into account.
Feel the bass
Eventually they homed in on a factor that seemed to have a strong effect on feelings of power: the bass-line.
Using a new piece of music with digitally enhanced levels of bass, they found that participants reported feeling most powerful after listening to the more bass-heavy music.
They were also given an implicit test which tests unconscious effects: this also found that the bass-heavy music led to feelings of greater power.
Bass levels are likely not the only aspect of music that affects how powerful you feel, but it is pretty universal.
So, time to get pumped up. Lights down, system up.
First here’s 2 Unlimited’s “Get Ready for This”:
And now Queen’s “We Will Rock You”
Image credit: Thomas Hawk
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March 31, 2017 at 07:16AM
Abraham Hicks - Choose what you prefer and nevermind what you don't prefer
5 quick brain teasers to sharpen two key cognitive skills: attention and working memory
Looking for some fun–and free–cognitive stimulation over the weekend? Here you have a few quick brain teasers to challenge your attention and your working memory (working memory is the capacity to keep information in your mind while working on processing and integrating it)
Please give them a try…they are not as easy as they may seem
- 1. Say the days of the week backwards, then in alphabetical order. (Speak other languages? Try doing the same in Spanish, French, Mandarin…)
- 2. Say the months of the year in alphabetical order. Easy? Well, why don’t you try doing so backwards, in reverse alphabetical order.
- 3. Find the sum of all the digits in your date of birth, mm/dd/yyyy. Want a tougher mind teaser? Do the same with your spouse’s or best friend’s date of birth (without looking it up…)
- 4. Name two objects for every letter in your first name. Work up to five objects, trying to use different items each time.
- 5. Within two minutes, look around wherever you are and try to find 5 red things that will fit in your pockets, and 5 blue objects that are too big to fit.
PS: If you want even more, check out these 50 brain teasers, games and visual illusions. Free, and fun for adults of any age!
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March 31, 2017 at 07:06AM
How to Be Empathetic Towards Someone with an Eating Disorder
Watching a loved one fight a disease is heartbreaking. The best thing that you can do is to be there for them. But, it can be difficult to be empathetic when you do not see what they see. To help you care for them, here are some of the best ways to stay understanding.
- Inform yourself. There are so many forms of eating disorders and it can become overwhelming. Researching the disease can help you feel connected and recognize what may have caused the feelings to start. The first step to helping a loved one is understanding what they are going through.
- Don’t place blame. Don’t place blame on yourself, a significant other, or the individual. This will only lead to more hurt and separation of the family in this time. This is easier to avoid if you constantly remind yourself that an eating disorder is a disease and not a choice.
- Ask them how they are feeling. Instead of approaching them with direct questions about their disorder, ask them a general question to get them talking. Eating disorders are usually caused by an underlying issue. Try to find that issue so that it can be resolved.
- Talk to someone. Your feelings are important too so don’t forget to express them. Whether it is a friend or a therapist, it is good to talk through what is on your mind so that you are able to handle the stress of being someone’s support system.
- Make them feel safe and supported. To help someone with an eating disorder, you should create a judgment free discussion. Build a trusting relationship so that they feel safe coming to you with their problems.
On the other hand avoid being their only savior in a bad situation. They will probably text or call you when they feel uncomfortable, but if you are not there one time to answer, they need to have another option. Teach them to deal with things themselves without immediate gratification and then facilitate a conversation afterwards.
- Care for yourself. This seems obvious, but it is easy to forget. In order to help someone, you need to be healthy and happy. Make sure that all of your needs are being met because it is easy to get caught up with helping someone else. But this could lead to you losing your job, neglecting other relationships, or developing your own mental health issues without even noticing that you are changing.
- Don’t allow lies or cover ups. People with this disease tend to have a habit of lying in order to accomplish what they want. Do not let them manipulate you into covering for them. Also, if you feel like they are lying to you, call them out.
- Don’t praise their appearance. Essentially, make the conversation about something other than their body. You might seem like you are giving them a compliment, but if you say they look great and they just starved themselves for a week, you are reinforcing bad behavior. On the flip side, do not tell them they look frail or too skinny, they have enough negativity in their own mind.
- Leave suggestions to professionals. Dieting suggestions or any other suggestion should be left to the professionals. Although you may feel like you know nutrition or psychology, you are their friend, not their doctor. Stay on that side of the fence so that the individual can have both. You also do not want to give them the wrong information for their particular body and end up making something worse.
Don’t expect treatment to solve all problems
Eating disorders are complex. It is not feasible to go into a program for a few months and come out completely healthy. This will be an ongoing disease that this person will fight for their whole life. Just hope that treatment resonates well enough so that the disorder doesn’t continue to take over their life.
The most important thing to remember when trying to help someone with an eating disorder is that you can be there for them, but do not let it take over your life. It is best to make sure that they have a therapist and other friends or family to talk to so that the pressure is not all on you. When you are the only one that they feel comfortable with, it can lead to an unhealthy relationship where you will hold resentment.
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March 31, 2017 at 06:50AM
Magnets Can Improve Your Memory
Magnets Can Improve Your Memory
Magnets could eventually be used to compensate for memory problems caused by dementia.
Scientist have used magnetic stimulation to improve people’s memory, new research reports.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, helped people remember things they had heard more accurately.
The magnetic stimulation worked when it matched the natural theta waves of the brain.
Dr Sylvain Baillet, one of the study’s authors, explained:
“For a long time the role of theta waves has been unclear.
We now know much more about the nature of the mechanisms involved and their causal role in brain functions. For this study, we have built on our strengths at The Neuro, using MEG, EEG and TMS as complementary techniques.”
The results suggest that magnetic stimulation could have all kinds of uses, said Dr Philippe Albouy, the study’s first author:
“Now we know human behavior can be specifically boosted using stimulation that matched ongoing, self-generated brain oscillations.
“Even more exciting is that while this study investigated auditory memory, the same approach can be used for multiple cognitive processes such as vision, perception, and learning.”
The study was published in the journal Neuron (Albouy et al., 2017).
Image credit: Saad Faruque
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March 31, 2017 at 06:20AM
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KXLH.com | Helena, Montana - KXLH Helena News
KXLH Helena News |
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KXLH.com | Helena, Montana
KXLH Helena News The March Madness NCAA basketball brackets are for most of us a guessing game, but participants in a University of Montana study peered into the future before selecting their final four. That's at least the belief of some study participants, who ... and more » |
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March 31, 2017 at 05:50AM
DEEP OM Mantra with STUNNING Nature Scenes ➤ THETA Binaural Beat | Raise Vibration & Positive Energy
Next: Increasing neuroplasticity via neuroimaging-enhanced brain stimulation
– Illustrative image from U.S. Patent No. 7,756,584
Today we highlight a very thought-provoking (pun intended) patent by Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. (As mentioned, we are featuring a foundational Pervasive Neurotech patent a day, from older to newer by issue date)
U.S. Patent No. 7,756,584: Methods and apparatus for effectuating a lasting change in a neural-function of a patient
- Assignee(s): Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
- Inventor(s): W. Douglas Sheffield, Andrew D. Firlik, Katrina S. Firlik
- Technology Category: Transcranial Stimulation
- Issue Date: July 13, 2010
SharpBrains’ Take:
The ‘584 patent discloses techniques for identifying stimulation sites of the brain to facilitate plasticity that can aid in rehabilitation of dysfunction resulting from a stroke, traumatic injury, etc. In an extensive specification (with 23 illustration sheets and 15 pages of written material), the ‘584 patent discloses identifying one or more regions that, if stimulated, will benefit the patient despite those region(s) neither being a directly damaged brain region nor being normally associated with the body part controlled by the damage brain region. By discerning additional stimulation areas, the ‘584 patent takes advantage of the brain’s ability to recruit and re-purpose various brain structures for a variety of brain functions. The valuable teaching to the field of stimulation-based rehabilitation, along with a substantial number of dependent claims covering likely treatment uses such as detecting novel stimulation sites using fMRI, are amongst the factors making the ‘584 patent a key non-invasive neurotechnology patent.
Abstract:
The following disclosure is drawn to methods of electrically stimulating areas of the brain in which neuroplasticity are occurring. The stimulation site may be different than the region in the brain where neural activity is typically present to perform the particular neural function according to the functional organization of the brain. The disclosure provides methods of identify the location in which neuroplasticity is occurring, not occurring or expected to occur.
Illustrative Claim 1. A method of effectuating a neural-function of a patient, comprising:
- selecting a stimulation site by (a) generating an intended neural activity by triggering a neural signal from an impaired body part affected by neural dysfunction of the patient’s brain, wherein triggering a neural signal includes moving, stimulating or moving and stimulating the impaired body part, (b) detecting a cortical region of the brain in which a response to neural activity occurs in reaction to the neural signal, the detected cortical region being at a cortical location of the brain different than a normal cortical location of the brain where neural activity typically occurs to carry out a function of the impaired body part, and (c) selecting the stimulation site to be within the detected cortical region;
- positioning at least a first electrode at the stimulation site; and
- applying an electrical potential to pass a current through the first electrode.
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March 31, 2017 at 04:01AM
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KPAX.com | Continuous News | Missoula ... - KPAX-TV
KPAX-TV |
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KPAX.com | Continuous News | Missoula ...
KPAX-TV The March Madness NCAA basketball brackets are for most of us a guessing game, but participants in a University of Montana study peered into the future before selecting their final four. That's at least the belief of some study participants, who ... |
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March 31, 2017 at 03:49AM
Are you an NLP Practitioner - Master Practitioner -Trainer? is this you?
Spring Equinox: Spring Music with Nature Sounds and Soft Peaceful Songs for Awakening
What I am experiencing in Personal Development by Bernardo Moya
Radio Station Staff Minds Hijacked by Master Hypnotist Dr Lenny Moore
Abraham Hicks 2017 - Are you depriving yourself from the things you could have
Project Semicolon Founder Amy Bleuel Dies at 31
Amy Bleuel wanted to honor her father’s passing, after he died due to suicide. She settled on a potent symbol to help express the hope when a life is saved — the semicolon. It is a symbol of the perseverance that comes from grappling with mental illness.
Sadly, Bleuel lost her own battle with depression last Thursday, March 23. She was 31.
In 2015, Bleuel told The Mighty in an interview, “In literature, an author uses a semicolon to not end a sentence but to continue on. We see it as you are the author and your life is the sentence. You’re choosing to keep going.”
The hope shared by Project Semicolon’s founder is captured by the organization’s reminder, “Your story isn’t over.” The semicolon represents the continuation of your life after struggling with thoughts of suicide and death, which are a common component of clinical depression.
Bleuel hailed from Green Bay, Wisconsin and started Semicolon Project in 2013, as a faith-based nonprofit organization. Its mission is to inspire and encourage people who live with mental health concerns, fostering hope and empowerment. The project was a strong testament to the significant impact a single person with vision and hope can have on others.
Bleuel’s own battle with depression began at an early age, when she was 8 years old, and included grappling with anxiety and self-harm. In addition to depression, she also lived through sexual assault and abuse growing up, contributing to a life-long battle with clinical depression.
As she wrote on the Project Semicolon website:
“Despite the wounds of a dark past I was able to rise from the ashes, proving that the best is yet to come. When my life was filled with the pain of rejection, bullying, suicide, self-injury, addiction, abuse and even rape, I kept on fighting. I didn’t have a lot of people in my corner, but the ones I did have kept me going. In my 20 years of personally struggling with mental health I experienced many stigmas associated with it. Through the pain came inspiration and a deeper love for others. God wants us to love one another despite the label we wear. I do pray my story inspires others. Please remember there is hope for a better tomorrow.”
As a part of the project’s goals to help raise awareness of mental health concerns, people draw or tattoo semicolons on their bodies as a reminder to themselves (and a sign to others) that their story isn’t yet over. Since its inception, thousands of people across the world have donned a semicolon in support of the project.
You can learn more about and donate to Project Semicolon here.
From her obituary:
Amy graduated from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in December 2014 where she earned a degree in graphic design and a certificate in printing. Amy founded Project Semicolon. Her work following graduation was centered on raising awareness of mental illness and suicide prevention. She gave presentations on behalf of the Project to groups throughout the country.
Amy loved to travel. She and her husband especially enjoyed photography and photographing their many adventures together. She was an active member of Spring Lake Church in Green Bay.
Continue reading: Amy Elizabeth Bleuel’s Life Legacy
Leave your remembrances and condolences: Amy Bleuel on Legacy.com
Bleuel is one of those shining stars in life that reminds you that there is hope — even in our darkest hours. While her own candle has sadly ended, she lit a thousand candles of hope for millions who suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts.
May she rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who mourn the loss of Amy.
Feeling suicidal?
If you’re suicidal, we recommend contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 800-273-8255. You can also try one of these free crisis chat services:
Crisis Text Line (on your smartphone)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
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March 31, 2017 at 03:17AM
Balance Test Improves Insight into Illness in Schizophrenia Patients
More than half of patients with schizophrenia have poor insight into their condition, meaning that they do not believe they are ill. This lack of insight is a primary reason why many patients refuse to seek treatment or regularly take medication. The result is poorer health as well as a higher likelihood of being hospitalized or experiencing housing instability.
A new study at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that a balance test that stimulates part of the brain — using cold water through the left ear — can temporarily alleviate this lack of insight.
Dr. Philip Gerretsen, a clinician-scientist in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute devised the idea of using this test for schizophrenia based on promising results among paralyzed patients with stroke damage who lacked awareness of their paralysis.
The test, called caloric vestibular stimulation, involves irrigating the ear canal with water at varying temperatures. The test is commonly used to assess the body’s vestibular or balance system. The procedure can stimulate different areas of the brain, including specific regions associated with lack of insight, a connection which has been confirmed by brain imaging studies.
In stroke patients with right hemisphere damage, cold water led to a temporary awareness of their paralysis. The new new findings of using the procedure among people with schizophrenia were promising.
“Cold water in the left ear significantly increased patients’ insight and awareness of their schizophrenia, which we measured 30 minutes after the test, compared with the sham or placebo treatment using room temperature water,” said Gerretsen. Shortly after the treatment was administered, however, this insight had diminished.
In the right ear, the cold water treatments appeared to have the opposite effect — they worsened insight in people with schizophrenia.
The researchers used the water procedure on 16 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, who had moderate to severe lack of insight into their illness. The participants were given, in a random order, one of three conditions: cold water at 39.2°F (4°C) in their left ear, cold in their right ear, and a sham procedure in which the water was at body temperature.
Patients’ insight into their illness was assessed at 30 minutes after the test, using the VAGUS Insight into Psychosis Scale, a measure designed to capture subtle changes in insight over a short period of time.
“With these promising results, we’re embarking on new research aiming to make the period of awareness last longer, using a new device that makes the procedure much more convenient,” says Dr. Gerretsen.
Gerretsen is testing a new device, a vestibular stimulation headset with temperature-controlled earpieces. Unlike the water test, this device was designed for home use and doesn’t require water or a trained specialist to administer. Study participants will use the procedure for several consecutive days to see if it leads to a sustained improvement in illness insight.
The study was published in the journal Psychiatry Research.
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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March 31, 2017 at 02:16AM
Why People Trophy Hunt: Unpacking the Psychology of Status—and Shame. Human beings are the only predator that kills large, rare and dangerous animals—with often no interest in eating them.
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March 31, 2017 at 01:57AM
Nature Sounds Seem to Help Body Relax
New research provides scientific support that nature sounds — such as the gentle burbling of a brook, or the sound of the wind in the trees — can change our body physiology, helping us relax.
Investigators at Brighton and Sussex Medical School found that ‘natural sounds’ affected the bodily systems that control the flight-or-fright and rest-digest autonomic nervous systems. They discovered the nature sounds enabled resting activity of the brain.
While naturalistic sounds and ‘green’ environments have frequently been linked with promoting relaxation and wellbeing, until now there has been no scientific consensus as to how these effects come about.
“We are all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching-off’ which comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and the body which helps us understand this effect,” said lead author, Dr Cassandra Gould van Praag, explaining the study’s findings.
“This has been an exciting collaboration between artists and scientists, and it has produced results which may have a real-world impact, particularly for people who are experiencing high levels of stress.”
The innovative study placed medical school researchers with audio-visual artist Mark Ware. They created an experiment where participants listened to sounds recorded from natural and artificial environments, while their brain activity was measured in an MRI scanner, and their autonomic nervous system activity was monitored via minute changes in heart rate.
The team found that activity in the default mode network of the brain (a collection of areas which are active when we are resting) was different depending on the sounds playing in the background.
For example, when listening to natural sounds, the brain connectivity reflected an outward-directed focus of attention. However, when listening to artificial sounds, the brain connectivity reflected an inward-directed focus of attention, similar to states observed in anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
There was also an increase in rest-digest nervous system activity (associated with relaxation of the body) when listening to natural compared with artificial sounds, and better performance in an external attentional monitoring task.
Interestingly, the amount of change in nervous system activity was dependent on the participants’ baseline state. That is, individuals who showed evidence of the greatest stress before starting the experiment showed the greatest bodily relaxation when listening to natural sounds.
Those who were already relaxed in the brain scanner environment showed a slight increase in stress when listening to natural compared with artificial sounds.
The study of environmental exposure effects is of growing interest in physical and mental health settings, and greatly influences issues of public health and town planning. This research is thought to be the first to present an integrated behavioral, physiological and brain exploration of this topic.
The study appears in Scientific Reports.
Source: University of Sussex/EurekAlert
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March 31, 2017 at 01:26AM
Blood Test Can Help Determine Best Medication for Depression
A new blood testing procedure appears to give physicians the ability to determine which antidepressant medication is more likely to help a person overcome clinical depression.
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers believe their findings will help the medical field move beyond what has essentially been a guessing game of prescribing antidepressants.
“Currently, our selection of depression medications is not any more superior than flipping a coin, and yet that is what we do. Now we have a biological explanation to guide treatment of depression,” said Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, Director of the Depression Center, a cornerstone of UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. Standard practice has been for a physician to choose a particular psychiatric medication heavily based on results from a patient questionnaire.
Researchers discovered that a blood test measuring a patient’s C-reactive protein (CRP) levels through a simple finger-prick blood test can help doctors prescribe a medication that is more likely to work.
Utilizing this test in clinical visits could lead to a significant boost in the success rate of depressed patients who commonly struggle to find effective treatments.
The finding is significant as up to a third of depressed patients don’t improve during their first medication, and about 40 percent of people who start taking antidepressants stop taking them within three months.
“This outcome happens because they give up,” said Dr. Trivedi, whose previous research established widely accepted treatment guidelines for depressed patients.
“Giving up hope is really a central symptom of the disease. However, if treatment selection is tied to a blood test and improves outcomes, patients are more likely to continue the treatment and achieve the benefit.”
The new research only compared two antidepressant medications, among the dozen or so available for prescription to treat depression. Published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, the study measured remission rates of more than 100 depressed patients prescribed either escitalopram alone or escitalopram plus bupropion.
Researchers found a strong correlation between CRP levels and which drug regimen improved their symptoms:
- For patients whose CRP levels were less than 1 milligram per liter, escitalopram alone was more effective: 57 percent remission rate compared to less than 30 percent on the other drug.
- For patients with higher CRP levels, escitalopram plus bupropion was more likely to work: 51 percent remission rate compared to 33 percent on escitalopram alone.
Dr. Trivedi noted that these results could readily apply to other commonly used antidepressants.
“These findings provide evidence that a biological test can immediately be used in clinical practice,” he said.
Dr. Trivedi identified CRP as a potential marker for depression treatments because it has been an effective measure of inflammation for other disorders such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
While previous research to establish CRP as an antidepressant marker used levels three to five times higher than the latest study, “my theory was that you don’t need that high of an inflammation to experience the sickness of depression,” Dr. Trivedi said.
“Even a little inflammation may be sufficient for the patients to experience some of these symptoms of depression.”
Researchers say the next step is to conduct larger studies to verify CRP’s role with other antidepressants and find alternative markers where CRP does not prove effective. Trivedi believes these studies could lead to additional useful biological tests that can be used in practice.
“Both patients and primary-care providers are very desperately looking for markers that would indicate there is some biology involved in this disease. Otherwise, we are talking about deciding treatments from question-and-answer from the patients, and that is not sufficient,” said Trivedi.
The data reviewed for the study came from the CO-MED trial, which was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The work was also supported through UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care and The Hersh Foundation.
“With advances in technology and our understanding of the biology of depression, our ongoing work with additional biomarkers is likely to yield tests for other subtypes of depression,” said Dr. Jha, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry.
Source: UT Southwestern/EurekAlert
Photo: Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, Director of UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care. Credit: UT Southwestern.
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March 31, 2017 at 12:44AM
Staying Connected with Friends Helps When You are Sick
Researchers have discovered that feeling lonely when sick can make the symptoms seem worse.
Investigators from Rice University found that people who feel lonely are more prone to report that their cold symptoms are more severe than those who have stronger social networks.
“Loneliness puts people at risk for premature mortality and all kinds of other physical illnesses,” explains psychologist Chris Fagundes, who lead the study with graduate student Angie LeRoy.
“But nothing had been done to look at an acute but temporary illness that we’re all vulnerable to, like the common cold.”
The researchers drew a distinction between feeling lonely and actual social isolation. Moreover, the perception of being lonely is key.
“This paper is about the quality of your relationships, not the quantity,” LeRoy said. “You can be in a crowded room and feel lonely. That perception is what seems to be important when it comes to these cold symptoms.”
Carrying out this task meant finding lonely people, isolating them — and giving them a cold.
For the study, a total of 159 people age 18-55, nearly 60 percent of them men, were assessed for their psychological and physical health, given cold-inducing nasal drops and quarantined for five days in hotel rooms.
The participants, scored in advance on the Short Loneliness Scale and the Social Network Index, were monitored during and after the five-day stay. After adjusting for demographics like gender and age, the season, depressive affect, and social isolation, the results showed those who felt lonely were no more likely to get a cold than those who weren’t.
But those who were screened in advance for their level of loneliness and became infected — not all of the participants did — reported a greater severity of symptoms than those recorded in previous studies used as controls. The size of the participants’ social networks appeared to have no bearing on how sick they felt.
“Previous research has shown that different psycho-social factors like feeling rejected or feeling left out or not having strong social bonds with other people do make people feel worse physically, mentally and emotionally,” LeRoy said. “So we had that general framework to work with.”
The effect may be the same for those under other kinds of stress, Fagundes said. “Anytime you have an illness, it’s a stressor, and this phenomenon would probably occur,” he said.
“A predisposition, whether it’s physical or mental, can be exaggerated by a subsequent stressor. In this case, the subsequent stressor is getting sick, but it could be the loss of a loved one, or getting breast cancer, which are subjects we also study.
“What makes this study so novel is the tight experimental design. It’s all about a particular predisposition (loneliness) interacting with a particular stressor,” he said.
“Doctors should take psychological factors into account at intake on a regular basis,” Fagundes said. “It would definitely help them understand the phenomenon when the person comes in sick.”
“We think this is important, particularly because of the economic burden associated with the common cold,” LeRoy added. “Millions of people miss work each year because of it. And that has to do with how they feel, not necessarily with how much they’re blowing their noses.”
The findings are also an incentive to be more socially active, she said. “If you build those networks — consistently working on them and your relationships — when you do fall ill, it may not feel so bad.”
The study is the subject of a paper that appears in the journal Health Psychology.
Source: Rice University
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March 30, 2017 at 11:47PM
Best of Our Blogs: March 31, 2017
My inbox and podcast are filled with beauty, and health and wellness tips. People who take care of their physical health are cool. I want to drink smoothies and eat acai bowls with them.
But don’t you wish we could talk about emotional health in the same way?
Wouldn’t it be nice if discussing things like medication, therapy and other forms of emotional self-care were treated with the same acceptance and ease with which we talk about our physical well-being?
While it may never be sexy to talk about our emotional wellness, we can work on talking about it without fear and judgment.
Let’s start by reading, sharing and talking about our top posts this week!
Toxic Cocktails: Stonewalling and Gaslighting
(Knotted) – It’s the two strategies your parents used to control you as a child and now it’s affecting you. Are you guilty of using stonewalling and gaslighting in your own relationships?
Growing Up With A Depressed Parent
(Narcissism Meets Normalcy) – This is how untreated depression hurts your kids.
5 Relationship Myths that Seem Reasonable at First
(NLP Discoveries) – Are you falling for these common relationship misconceptions? It could be hurting your relationship.
Depression vs. Avoidance Personality Disorder
(Tales of Manic Depression) – Avoiding social situations describe both depression and avoidance personality disorder. How do you know which one you’re suffering from? Read this.
Trying To Overcome Trauma? You Might Be Going About It The Wrong Way
(Leveraging Adversity) – Before you try talk therapy, there’s something you need to do to heal from a traumatic experience.
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March 30, 2017 at 11:30PM
This could be the best case yet for why hypnotised people aren't faking it - ScienceAlert
This could be the best case yet for why hypnotised people aren't faking it
ScienceAlert While hypnosis is often regarded as little more than a clever party trick, new research suggests that some of us really do feel we've lost control over our own actions after being hypnotised. Using an established test designed to measure self-agency ... |
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March 30, 2017 at 09:17PM
Climate Change May "Wreak Havoc" on Mental Health, Say Experts
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March 30, 2017 at 08:40PM
The Hidden Costs of Segregation
Source: CNN - Top Stories
It's pretty well established that racial segregation limits access to jobs, education, public services and other resources for people in high-poverty neighborhoods. But how does economic and racial segregation in a handful of neighborhoods affect the rest of a metropolitan area?{ All Hypnosis Feeds
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March 30, 2017 at 08:40PM
"Let's Talk," WHO Says, As Depression Rates Rise 18% in a Decade
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March 30, 2017 at 08:40PM
2020 U.S. Census to Ignore Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Source: Yahoo News - Top Headlines
The U.S. Census Bureau apparently has abandoned plans to count LGBTQ Americans in the 2020 Census. Census officials submitted to Congress a list of topics it plans to cover in the decennial survey that dashes hopes of the LGBTQ that the federal government would obtain a clearer picture of what it looks like.{ All Hypnosis Feeds
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March 30, 2017 at 08:27PM
Britain's Young Royals Promote Conversation on Mental Health
Source: U.S. News and World Report
Prince William, his wife Kate and his brother Prince Harry are spearheading a campaign to encourage people to talk openly about mental health issues.{ All Hypnosis Feeds
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March 30, 2017 at 08:27PM
Anti-Transgender Bus Sparks Protests As It Visits U.S. Cities
Source: U.S. News and World Report
Anti-transgender activists are generating protests as they drive through the northeastern United States in an orange bus emblazoned with the words "boys are boys" and "girls are girls.".{ All Hypnosis Feeds
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March 30, 2017 at 08:21PM
A Little Nudge May Provide a Big Boost to Flu Vaccination Rates
Source: ScienceDaily
Currently, only 44 percent of adults in the United States receive an annual flu vaccination. But, a new study suggests that a simple behavioral economics technique may be able to help. In the study, researchers programmed electronic health records (EHR) to alert care providers when a patient was eligible, and prompt them to choose to "accept" or "decline" a flu vaccination order. Results showed a 37 percent relative increase in vaccinations from...{ All Hypnosis Feeds
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March 30, 2017 at 08:21PM
10 Ways to De-stress Your Mind and Body
You're reading 10 Ways to De-stress Your Mind and Body, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
You've read 10 Ways to De-stress Your Mind and Body, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you've enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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March 30, 2017 at 06:48PM
Thursday, March 30, 2017
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KTVQ.com | Q2 | Continuous News Coverage ... - KTVQ Billings News
UM prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Mad - KTVQ.com | Q2 | Continuous News Coverage ...
KTVQ Billings News A Billings hospital notified patients on Monday that a nurse has been exchanging narcotic medication for saline (sterile salt water), according to a press release Tuesday. A Billings hospital notified patients on Monday that a nurse has been exchanging ... and more » |
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March 30, 2017 at 01:14PM
MSU prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Ma - KTVQ.com | Q2 | Continuous News Coverage ... - KTVQ Billings News
KTVQ Billings News |
MSU prof. researching effect of hypnosis on accuracy of March Ma - KTVQ.com | Q2 | Continuous News Coverage ...
KTVQ Billings News The March Madness NCAA basketball brackets are for most of us a guessing game, but participants in a Montana State University study peered into the future before selecting their final four. That's at least the belief of some study participants, who ... |
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March 30, 2017 at 11:13AM
The Politics of Talking Politics at Work
Politics is already a sensitive subject at the office. The touchiness has been amplified recently. Yet whether it’s in the office, during happy hour or even on social media, politics will likely come up.
Although it’s easier said than done, plenty of experts maintain you should never discuss politics at work under any circumstances. After all, it can be divisive. You’re talking about people’s world views, how they believe the country should be run and in many cases the best ways for people to live their lives.
Here’s what to do and what not to do when it comes to discussing political issues with colleagues.
DO ask for permission.
It’s an easy step to forget: always ask for permission before launching into a touchy topic. Everyone has different boundaries around discussing sensitive issues. Don’t make the mistake of getting caught up in rigid thinking and assume your co-workers have the same broaching the topic of politics as you do.
To set the groundwork for a healthy, productive dialogue, you might say, “I’m not trying to change your mind. I see this issue very differently and I’d like to understand. Would it be okay to spend a few minutes talking through our perspectives?”
DO know your facts (and admit when you don’t).
In the heat of the moment, you might feel an urge to spit out some compelling sound bites you saw online while scanning the headlines without relevant information to back it up. But blustering through an ill-informed argument will only do damage to future conversations. It certainly won’t win you points in the current one.
There’s nothing wrong with admitting you aren’t up to speed on a particular issue. Try saying, “Wow, interesting! I’d like to do more research on this today after work. Can we pick this conversation up tomorrow?”
DO know your triggers — and watch for them.
Politics can be personal for many people, maybe even for you. You might have strong feelings about a woman’s right to choose. Perhaps your family was affected by immigration policies firsthand.
Whether it’s around certain issues or the candidates themselves, be mindful about where your own triggers are. This type of self-awareness can help you regulate your emotions rather than lose control and do something unprofessional that you’ll regret, like yelling or saying something nasty to a colleague.
It’s also easier than you might think to use a discussion of politics to project other problems you have with a colleague. Don’t let a discussion of U.S. political news slip into a discussion of office politics instead.
If you do find yourself feeling frustrated, don’t place ownership of your frustrations onto your co-workers by saying, for instance, “You’re making me frustrated.” If you feel like you need to express that idea, reword it to take more responsibility when you say something like, “I feel frustrated.” This takes away the accusatory tone and opens it up for your colleague to empathize.
DO frame it as a learning opportunity.
If you decide to enter into a political conversation with a colleague, think of it as a chance to learn from one another, not change each other’s views. Being interested in someone else’s thought process can be a great reason to engage in a political discussion.
Try saying something along the lines of, “I know what I think about healthcare, but I’m curious why you feel so differently. Would you be open to sharing your position with me?” Just make sure that in the back of your mind you’re not secretly hoping you’ll convert your co-worker.
DON’T stand for disrespect.
It’s completely possible for people to have opposing viewpoints without stooping to derogatory comments.
When emotions are running high, a disagreement over political philosophies can deteriorate into personalized attacks. Before that happens, the best option is to agree to disagree — and then get back to work.
If you can sense a discussion going south, try saying, “The tone of this conversation is not appropriate for work. It’s not heading in a good direction, so let’s agree to drop it” After that, either excuse yourself to another conversation or leave the room.
You can also redirect the conversation by saying something like, “I’m honestly overwhelmed by all this election coverage. Let’s talk about something else.”
DON’T assume you’re off the clock when you’re on social media.
Social media is a powerful tool to keep in touch and maintain connections, and it’s become an important aspect of today’s working relationships.
Though you’re (hopefully) not at work when you’re using social media, make sure you do a quick check-in with yourself before you post or comment on anything political. Picture your coworkers seeing it. Imagine it possibly serving as a catalyst to an in-person office discussion. Are you okay with that? If so, post away.
In the end, agree to disagree if need be.
It can be very tricky to navigate this politics at work. But when handled correctly, these discussions with your colleagues can be enlightening — no matter which side of the political aisle you’re on.
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March 30, 2017 at 09:34AM
Meditation's Calming Effects Pinpointed in Brain
A new mouse study reveals a set of neurons that may point to physiological roots for the calming effects of breathing control
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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March 30, 2017 at 09:08AM