PsychOdyssey.net

While researching material on the internet the other day, PsychOdyssey came across an encouraging post from 2006 on the site of the U.S. chapter of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. Brian Koehler, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at New York University, posted information about long-term recovery prospects for those with schizophrenia that he gleaned from a review of “Beyond dementia praecox: findings from long-term follow-up studies of schizophrenia” by Joseph Calabrese and Patrick Corrigan, published in Recovery in Mental Illness: Broadening Our Understanding of Wellness, edited by Ruth O. Ralph and Patrick W. Corrigan in 2005 for the American Psychological Association. Several long-term studies have now proven that anywhere between 33% and 67% of all those with schizophrenia can have robust and even full recoveries over time. Families of loved ones contending this difficult disease should take heart.

See Koehler’s heartening post here.

WFMH is an international membership organization founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. The Federation, through its members and contacts in more than 100 countries on six continents, has responded to international mental health crises through its role as the only worldwide grassroots advocacy and public education organization in the mental health field. Its organizational and individual membership includes mental health workers of all disciplines, consumers of mental health services, family members, and concerned citizens. The organization’s broad and diverse membership makes possible collaboration among governments and non-governmental organizations to advance the cause of mental health services, research, and policy advocacy worldwide.

To visit WMFH’s site, click here. To see all of PsychOdyssey’s international links, click here.

Families with loved ones who have dual diagnoses (a severe mental illness and a substance abuse problem) need more help when trying to chart a rehabilitation course. Studies show better outcomes for such loved ones when both illnesses are treated together, an evidence-based practices called Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT). Another resource is the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). ASAM is a professional society representing close to 3,000 physicians (including some some psychiatrists) dedicated to increasing access and improving quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addictions. ASAM also sets the generally accepted criteria for addiction classificaitions, an important consideration for financing treatment, since most insurance companies fund on the basis of the “ASAM criteria”. ASAM has an online directory that family members can search for ASAM certified physicians in their area.

To see ASAM’s website, click here. To see all of PsychOdyssey’s national links, click here.

Families in the maelstrom are no strangers to addictions. Nearly 50% of all those with psychiatric disabilities self-medicate with substance abuse at some point. Families may need to find a psychiatrist who also specializes in addictions, The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) is an international professional membership organization founded in 1985 with approximately 1,000 members. Membership consists of psychiatrists working with addiction, faculty at various academic institutions, medical students, residents and fellows, and related health professionals making a contribution to the field of addiction psychiatry. The AAAP website has a national locator of addiction psychiatrists.

To visit AAAP’s website, click here. To see all of PsychOdyssey’s national links, click here.

The American College of Neuropsycho-pharmacology (ACNP), founded in 1961, is the nation’s premier professional society in brain, behavior, and psychopharmacology research. The field of neuropsychopharmacology involves the evaluation of the effects of natural and synthetic compounds upon the brain, mind, and human behavior. The principal function of the ACNP is to further research and education in neuropsychopharmacology and related fields by:

1. promoting the interaction of a broad range of scientific disciplines of brain and behavior in order to advance the understanding of causes, prevention and treatment of diseases of the nervous system including psychiatric, neurological, behavioral and addictive disorders;
2. encouraging scientists to enter research careers in fields related to these disorders and their treatment; and
3. ensuring the dissemination of relevant scientific advances in these disorders.

ACNP also publishes an extraordinary book called Neuropsychopharmacology – 5th Generation of Progress, which looks like one of most extensive and detailed references on all things of the brain. From its website:

Thoroughly updated and completely reorganized for a sharper clinical focus, the Fifth Edition of this world-renowned classic synthesizes the latest advances in basic neurobiology, biological psychiatry, and clinical neuropsychopharmacology. The book establishes a critical bridge connecting new discoveries in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and neuroimaging with the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the full spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Nine sections focus on specific groups of disorders–disorders of development; schizophrenia and related disorders; anxiety and stress disorders; affective disorders; Alzheimer’s and other dementias; substance use disorders; impulsive and compulsive disorders; movement disorders and paroxysmal disorders; and chronobiology and sleep disorders. Each group of disorders is discussed in detail, including clinical course, genetics, neurobiology, neuroimaging, and current and emerging therapeutics. Four sections cover neurotransmitter and signal transduction, emerging methods in molecular biology and genetics, emerging imaging technologies and their psychiatric applications, and drug discovery and evaluation.

This is not exactly light summer-beach reading. But it is massively authoritative and will interest family members who want (or need) to get all the information possible about the organ of the brain. The entire compendium is available by chapters online and free here.  Megawonks can get the hard copy (for nearly $200!) on Amazon.

Tina Champagne M.Ed., OTR/L, is a Massachusetts-based occupational therapist doing interesting things in mental health. “Occupational Therapy”, she writes, “has grown significantly as a profession since its conception in mental health. The work of many dedicated practitioners and those of the next decade promise an explosion of information, which will impact our theoretical frameworks, practices and perspectives on mental illness altogether.” Miss Champagne has developed a website of interesting resources that can benefit loved ones and their families. She has particularly interesting information about sensory modulation and the role it can play in psychiatric rehabilitation, including even reducing the traumatizing use of seclusion and restraints. It is well worth a look: www.OT-Innovations.com.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Réadaptation Psychosociale (RPS) Canada is an association of individuals and organizations committed to the provision and growth of psychosocial rehabilitation services to support the recovery of persons with serious mental health issues. It came into being when the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) split into the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada.

Click here for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada.

Click here for all of PsychOdyssey’s links.

“I’m a recovering [fill in the blank].” The word “recovery” is so much in the press these days. Long associated with the addictions movement, recovery is used today to describe almost any form of personal progress from challenging circumstances.

The mental health movement has adopted the term to describe the process of evolving or redefining one’s life and self after the onset of a serious mental illness. In the course of a literature search PsychOdyssey uncovered a very helpful article from 2001 by Nora Jacobson and Dianne Greenley that gives a quick and complete conceptualization of recovery. Recovery refers to both internal and external conditions. Internal conditions include hope, healing, empowerment, and connection. External conditions include human rights, healing culture, and recovery-oriented services.

Families with loved ones who have psychiatric disabilities must know, understand, and live the concept of recovery. Jacobson and Greenley’s article is a good place to start. To see the article, click here.