Health Behaviors More Important than Socioeconomic Status
Many studies have reported that socioeconomic status is a predictor of morbidity and mortality. Now, a large-scale, longitudinal study asserts that the association may be more related to health behaviors than socioeconomic status. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), reports that assessment of health behaviors over time lessens the association between socioeconomic status and mortality. … [visit site to read more]
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Pulling The Plug Too Soon?
The findings of the new study show that, even when no physical movement or observable response to stimuli are present, means exist to permit some individuals to respond sufficiently to prove that they understand their condition and may wish to continue treatment. … [visit site to read more]
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Closing the Window of Fear
Excessive fear is the cause of many psychopathologies. Although pharmacological interventions can help in preventing the retrieval of fear memories, they are toxic and involve a lot of side-effects. Till now, non-pharmacological interventions were only effective in suppressing the memory of fear for a short period. A new technique developed by scientists at the Center for Neural Science and New York University has generated a lot of interest in the in the field of psychological therapy.
According to a hypothesis called the reconsolidation theory, fear memories are consolidated every time they are recalled. Following an episode of fear stimuli, it’s memory becomes unstable for some time which allows it to be updated. This window period of reconsolidation has provided scientists with a tool to modify it. … [visit site to read more]
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Lawsuits Shed Light on Seasonal Depression
Many people get a little melancholy as the winter months take away sunshine and warm weather. But, for some, the winter blues become a serious case of depression. Recent lawsuits have designated this recurrent seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as a disability that requires accommodation by employers. However, these rulings are provoking renewed questions about the validity of the disorder entirely. … [visit site to read more]
Be Mindful to Maintain Job Satisfaction
Physician burnout and job dissatisfaction are concerning as physicians in the United States have more patients to see in less time with fewer resources. Physician burnout is associated with job absenteeism, leaving the profession altogether, poor quality of care, and medical errors. Now, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that meditation and mindfulness can decrease physician burnout. … [visit site to read more]
Be Mindful to Maintain Job Satisfaction
Physician burnout and job dissatisfaction are concerning as physicians in the United States have more patients to see in less time with fewer resources. Physician burnout is associated with job absenteeism, leaving the profession altogether, poor quality of care, and medical errors. Now, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that meditation and mindfulness can decrease physician burnout. … [visit site to read more]
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Screening for Postpartum Depression Not Worth the Time or Money
More than 10% of women experience either major or minor depression six weeks after giving birth. Postpartum depression (PPD) leads to significant biological, social, psychological, and economic consequences for the mother, the child, and the family. Clinically and cost-effective treatments are available for PPD, but less than half of PPD cases are ever diagnosed. Unfortunately, a new British Medical Journal (BMJ) report concludes that formal screening tools for PPD are not cost-effective. … [visit site to read more]
Survive the A-Bomb, Die Prematurely from Stroke and Heart Disease
The survivors of the World War II atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki may have considered themselves lucky, at least at first. Shortly thereafter, however, those who didn’t die from radiation poisoning learned that the radiation from the bombings placed themselves and their children at increased risk of cancer. Now, they can add heart disease and stroke to their list of potential medical problems. … [visit site to read more]
Empathy – How Much is Too Much?
The physician-patient relationship is the cornerstone to quality medical care. A key component to this relationship is physician empathy — the ability to understand the patient’s experiences and feelings and view the world from the patient’s perspective. Empathy is so important in this day and age that medical and other health care professional schools are instituting empathy training programs and establishing empathy-related learning objectives. But, a recent study reveals that physicians might benefit from decreasing their empathy response and improve clinical outcomes. … [visit site to read more]
Let the Matches Begin!
Today is Match Day, the day when fourth-year medical students across the country learn their fate for the next three to five years, and possibly their lifetimes. It’s the day that the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) announces the assignments of the students to their residency training programs that will develop the pluripotent medical student into a specialized professional. In short, it is one of the most important days in a medical student’s career. … [visit site to read more]
