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Volumen 2, Ausgabe 2 (2016)

Forschungsartikel

The African Burden of Mental Health

Faustin Armel Etindele Sosso and Philippe Kabore

Mental disorders and associated illnesses are the main etiology of death in the world, according the last review of literature. The present study report the economic burden assumed by African countries since the last ten years. We also show the costs engaged by the African countries in specifically Alzheimer Disease (AD), Parkinson Disease (PD) and Dementia. The present research finds that despite the lake of funds, a government doesn’t have accurate planning for mental disorders. We also found that some areas of Africa invests significant money for general mental illnesses compared to other, but fewer than 5 per cent of this investments is engaged for neurodegenerative diseases

Forschungsartikel

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Mental Health and Psychiatric Clinical Experience and Their Career Choice in Nursing: Perspectives from the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Izibeloko O Jack-Ide, Felicia E Amiegheme and Kingsley E Ongutubor

Background: Recruiting young nurses into mental health and psychiatric nursing in Nigeria is difficult and limited. The study aimed to explore undergraduate nursing students' mental health and psychiatric clinical experience and their career choice in nursing. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in classroom settings, using a standardized instrument Attitude towards Psychiatry questionnaire (ATP), explored the attitude of undergraduate nursing students after their mental health/ psychiatric nursing clinical experiences using a chi-square test to compare their positive and negative responses. Results: 122 undergraduate students participated, of whom 90% were female and 10% male, with an overall response rates of 95.6 percent. The majority 59.8% showed positive attitude, while 40.2% showed negative attitude towards psychiatric nursing, indicating that the clinical experience provides positive experiences for some of the participants. Conclusion: Clinical experience in mental health nursing can positively influence perceptions, reduce stigma, and attract nurses to mental health and psychiatric nursing practice.
Forschungsartikel

Dopamine: Receptors, Functions, Synthesis, Pathways, Locations and Mental Disorders: Review of Literatures

Getinet Ayano

Dopamine is monoamine neurotransmitter. Dopamine is produced in the dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the substantia nigra, midbrain and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. In the periphery, dopamine is found in the kidney where it functions to produce renal vasodilation, diuresis, and natriuresis. Dopamine neurons are more widely distributed than those of other monamines and it is found in hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, the midbrain substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area and in the periaqueductal gray and retina. There are five subtypes of dopamine receptors, D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5, which are members of the large G-protein coupled receptor super family. The dopamine receptor subtypes are divided into two major subclasses: types 1 and 5 are similar in structure and drug sensitivity, and these two receptors are referred to as the "D1like" group or class of receptors. Dopamine receptor types 2, 3, and 4 are called the "D2like" group. Dopamine plays central role in pleasurable reward behavior, inhibition of prolactin production (involved in lactation), sleep, mood, attention, learning, behavior, control of nausea and vomiting and pain processing. In addition it also involved in controlling movement, emotion and cognition. Due to extensive localization of dopamine receptor to brain areas and its role in wide range of functions, dopaminergic dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tourette's syndrome, substance dependency, Parkinson's disease and other disorders.
Forschungsartikel

Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Professionals Following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Gertie Quitangon, Kate St. Cyr, Charles Nelson, Steven Lascher, Lea DiFrancisci and Spencer Eth

Introduction: Some research evidence has suggested that mental health clinicians who provide services following massive disasters are at risk for developing symptoms of vicarious trauma (VT). This pilot study was conducted following the unprecedented terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001. Objectives: 1) To identify risk and protective factors of VT in a sample of mental health professionals who provided services to victims of 9/11. 2) To compare and contrast the findings of the survey with other published studies. Method: A group of mental health professionals who provided services to New York City residents affected by 9/11 were surveyed on the first year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Risk and protective factors of VT were identified using correlation and chi-squared analyses. Findings of this survey were compared with other published studies on VT in mental health clinicians who worked with 9/11 survivors. Results: History of personal trauma, fewer years of professional experience, fewer hours of individual supervision, and larger caseloads were identified as probable risk factors for VT. Conclusions: An increased risk of VT was associated with a number of work-related and personal variables. Enhanced professional and social supports may decrease the risk of VT in mental health professionals who provide services in the context of disasters and mass psychological trauma.
Forschungsartikel

Introduction of a New, Contemporary, and Developmentally Flexible Mindfulness Metaphor

Matthew Mychailyszyn

Mindfulness is described as an experiential state and an intentional practice aimed at enhancing attention to and acceptance of the broad range of human experience. The use of figurative language occupies a central role in the psychotherapy process. This article introduces a new analogy, not currently represented in the literature, with therapeutic utility across age groups for enhancing understanding of and appreciation for the nature of thoughts, their manifestation, and role in psychological functioning. A description is offered, along with instructions for applying it as a mindfulness exercise in a therapy context. Limitations to applicability are discussed.
Rezensionsartikel

Intermittent Fasting as a Novel Treatment Approach for Patients Treated with Atypical Antipsychotics

Ajmal Razmy and Brian Hallam

Meta-analyses often find similarities in tolerance between first and second generation antipsychotics. In terms of major barriers to treatment adherence, the extrapyramidal symptoms associated with the first generation antipsychotics have be replaced by the devastating association of weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Dietary and exercise prescriptions are currently being recommended for patients beginning treatment with atypical antipsychotics, although the details of this intervention are often left unclear. Intermittent fasting through time-restricted feeding windows is a practical lifestyle modification that has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, prevent obesity and decrease risk of type II diabetes, thus making it a useful tool in the prevention of common metabolic issues surrounding atypical antipsychotics. In this review, we have combined the findings from the CATIE and CUtLASS trials with recent research on intermittent fasting and submit that the effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics may be enhanced via reductions in metabolic abnormalities associated with their usage. Our aim is to highlight intermittent fasting as a supplemental protocol to combat the metabolic consequences most prevalent with antipsychotics and to outline a prescription of how to utilize intermittent fasting in this patient population.

Forschungsartikel

Academic Stress and Internet Addiction among Adolescents: Solution Focused Social Interest Programme as Treatment Option

Afusat Olanike Busari

This study investigated effects of Solution - Focused Social Interest programme (SFSI) on academic stress and internet addiction among older adolescents. 120 (One Hundred and Twenty) Older adolescents from three polytechnic participated in this study. The research design adopted for this study was pre- post experimental design. Four research hypotheses were raised and answered in this study. One screening and two other instruments were used for data collection. Data collected in this study were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The results obtained shows that there existed statistical significant main effect of treatment as evident in the post-test score of the participants. Again, the findings indicated that there was a significant interaction effect of gender on participants' academic stress and internet addiction. Moreover, the result revealed that there was a significant interaction effect of treatment of age on independent variables. The results obtained also shows statistical significant interaction effects of socio-economic status on independent variables. The implication of the findings indicated that Solution - Focused Social Interest programme was an effective therapy for the management of academic stress and internet addiction among older adolescents.

Forschungsartikel

The Role of Healthy Narcissism in Relating Emotionally to Familiarity andthe Unknown

Solan R

Narcissism is a greatly maligned human characteristic. It’s understandable. Narcissists tend not to consider others’ feelings. They think only of themselves, and use those who care for them without giving anything in return. In psychological literature, narcissism is predominantly discussed within a pathological context. The focus is on helping the narcissist see past his own self and learn to relate to others more openly. Within this, the evolutionary need for narcissism tends to be ignored. In this paper I intend to elaborate on the other side of narcissism that elicits attraction to the familiar and triggers resistance/rejection of the alien or unknown. What is this function of narcissism? We know that all personality traits, whether they're perceived as healthy or pathological, have an evolutionary basis. They exist in order to ensure our survival as individuals and as a species. So, what about narcissism? What is it that narcissism ensures or preserves? Why do we have this trait, and do we need it?

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