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DavidBransfordMD More on Asperger Girls 05-05-2013
Aspergers – will the term actually be dropped for Autistic Spectrum Disorder? If one accepts the about to be released DSM-5, it will.
However, I will continue to utilize the term clinically and am not along in refusing to adopt this “so called” improvement from DSM IV-R
The Mental Health/Psychiatry Blogs have been ever so busy with concerns about diagnostic inflation and misinformation from the proposed DSM-5
For example-> 1boringoldman.com has had a global impact, for example
And Experts such as Dr Allen Frances MD and Temple Grandin PhD
Dr Allan Frances MD Psychiatrist and principle developer of DSM IV
10 Minutes with Temple Grandin PhD in an interview in Minnespolis 2010
As for Aspie Girls is extremely important, due to the fact that the diagnosis is so often overlooked. A young adult Aspie Maya has done an excellent job of posting videos on YouTube about her life, leading to the the launch of her new album…………very skilled musician.
So examples from Maya can teach us so much !
So many more, including her meeting with Aspie expert Tony Attwood PhD
Aspergers in Females is so often overlooked and there is so much we can learn from brilliant young students such as Maya.
Too Many Clinicians seem to be afraid of the concept and it leads to unnecessary suffering for so many children and young adults
These individuals need the opportunity for empowerment and not pathology
Neuroscience Journalist for the NYTs – Amy Harmon – has been addressing the challenges of relationships with Asperger Couples and just released an eBook on it…Asperger Love at a cost of less than $4.00. Excellent Work, Amy – I still learn from Jack & Kirsten from your research with them. Thank You and your Literary Awards are so well deserved !
NYT Video from Amy Harmon on Jack and Kirsten – so informative !
————————————————————————So do not be afraid to continue addressing the unique needs of individual needs of people with Asperger’s If one falls on the spectrum and is allowed to withdraw completely with only their video games, day after day, they are bound to develop depression, anger, and increased risk of anger – directed both inward and outward.
“Whistle Past the Graveyard, if it helps. But emphasize the need to encourage social interactions and not allow social isolation.
I am not posting Laura Marling as an Aspie, but her lyrics seem most appropriate. Such a gifted, shy, singer/songwriter !
David Bransford MD On “Medical Marketing” and Bad Science
Have been reading Dr Ben Goldacre’s book “Bad Science” and finding it brilliant.
Also go to YouTube and listen to Ben’s presentations–very enlightening !
Before posting one of Dr Goldacre’s most recent TED talks, I will post from YouTube some recent medication ads
The ingredient is the exact same as Ambien – a prescription hypnotic just cited by FDA with warning to reduce recommended dosage by one half. Then there are the non-prescription medical devices to enhance sleep
Now please give a listen to Dr Ben Goldacre’s presentation.
Bad Medicine by Ben Goldacre MD will hopefully be required reading in all med schools
Dealing with our Winter Snowfall before the Plows Come Through.
David Bransford MD Intra-Cranial Surgery for Addiction? Most Alarming !
Thanks to @Maiasz from her article in Healthland.Time.Com on intra-cranial surgery for addiction, I was reflecting on my own undergraduate years in College – before Medical School and Psychiatric Residency Training, There was a great deal of enthusiasm about bypassing chemicals in the brain and using direct electrical stimulation or ablation to “cure disease”
I would guess in early 1970s, Timothy Leary (Turn On, Tune in, Drop Out”) was stating that the next step after chemicals for brain recreation would be direct electrical stimulation.
Maia’s article was particularly important for me, bringing back so many past research experiences.
http://healthland.time.com/2012/12/13/controversial-surgery-for-addiction-burns-away-brains-pleasure-center/
What we really know about how the brain works
During my Junior and Senior years at Macalester College, I spent a great deal of time on research projects in the field of Physiological Psychology – influenced by the works of Dr James Olds – credited with animal research of so called “pleasure centers’ in the brain…clearly one of the Founding Fathers of Neurosciene. (Wiki him for more). Our Department Head at Macalester – Walter Mink, Ph.D. took at least a year from Mac to study with Olds who I think was then at U of Mich in Ann Arbor. Upon Dr Mink’s return to Mac, He was enthused and enlightened.I soon picked up on his enthusiasm and was soon spending endless hours placing mimi electrodes into the brains of Lab Rats..and replicating intra-cranial stimulation of the rates using a modified Skinner Box . The reward was a shock into the “pleasure center”
thought to be in an area of the Limbic System. The rates of bar pressing behaviors were insatiable. (A paradigm for addiction) Then, adding psychotropics to the research became even more important. Amphetamines in the subjects had no effect of Self-Stim rates, barbs would only alter the self stim at points of extreme sedation. But injecting chlorpromazine in even low doses, magically turned off the self stim behaviors…with no observable sedation. Freud had speculated years before the Psychosis was perhaps a Pleasure Center out of control…as in Mania. It was if the phsyiological model of psychosis has been discovered. Subject Brains were later frozen in liquid nitrogen, analyzed histologicaly, and the lesions from the stimulating electrodes were identified. My greatest surprise was the variability..no exact location for the pleasure center, nor other so called centers for hunger, satiety, sexuality, etc.
And now – decades later – we are learning how the human brain can “rewire itself”
The video is so amazing to me and the Neuroscience and Music once again surprise me.
So many songs about addiction that have become classics. Ben Harper with Cannabis – John Prine on Narcotic Addiction. Mark Oliver Everett “E” of the Eels and so many others. I will post them.
Ben Harper with his classic Burn One Down
John Prine on Narcotic Addiction
the Eels – with Mark Everett singing Novacaine for the Soul
Over the past 15+ years, I have observed the effects of the VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulator) for patients with retractable seizure…it is a pacemaker implanted behind the collar bone and attached to the Vagus Nerve. It is supposed to “short circuit” seizures. Then, the Manufactured finally convinced the FDA to approve it for severe depression. I do not believe it is effective and now with the implants of Deep Brain Devices for Depression, I am again very concerned. Dr Walter Freeman MD who performed “Ice Pick Lobotomies’ until 1962…(Suggest reading Howard Dulley’s book “My Lobotomy” a man now in his 60′s who was given a transorbital lobotomy by Dr Walter Freeman at the age of 12 for what I would assume to have been Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Powerful read and inspired by the book “The Lobotomist” by Jack El-Hai of Minneapolis. I fear that the biography of Dr Walter Freeman portrays a procedure that is no different that the procedures highlighted in the article yesterday by @Maiasz in Healthland.Time.Com.
Kudos to Maia for bringing this all out in the light. David Bransford MD
DAVID BRANSFORD MD on DSM-5 aka “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”
As the months fly, by 2013 the probable transition to the DSM-5 seems certain. In spite of the failed field trials and the powerful discussions from experts such as Allen Frances MD, it seems DSM-5 will take effect as of 2013. I will assume APA publishing has been very active with DSM-5 training manuals, etc targeted for not only psychiatrists, but more for the mental health professionals. Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, etc, are receiving reading materials, workshops, and various seminars – all aimed at the DSM-5. Expert psychiatric blogger posted the following earlier today (click here) 1boringoldman.com
To best understand the ‘angst’ I experence with the DSN-5, please view the video from Dr Allen Frances MD Psychiatrist and primary expert with the DSM IV
Many other concerns have been published by Dr Frances and can be read by clicking here ->
Dr Allan Frances MD on DSM-5
The history of Biology has seemed to be that of a “Name and Conquer” mentality. Discover a strange creature, plant, or pathogen and give it a name..then move on. In Mental Health circles, clinicians seem to spend far too much time attempting to give a patient the right diagnosis.
Bipolar, type 2? Maybe, Bipolar, type 1 with Rapid Cycling ? Borderline Personality Disorder? If the ‘correct’ name had a major impact on type of treatment, Accurate/Precise diagnoses would be more important, but I see far too much time wasted on the ‘name and conquer’ process and too little time obtaining comprehensive family, social. and developmental history. Thus, my greatest objection to the DSM-5 is ‘Diagnostic Inflation’ Allen Frances MD addresses this so well at the intro of his Toronto video So if you find yourself struggling with trying to find the best pigeon hole, via DSM-5,
think of the video clip of the 1950s classic- “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” The Pods take over your brain while you are asleep. There is ultimately no escape !
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Dianosis per DSM-5 Would Be ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
DAVID BRANSFORD MD –”WARDS OF THE STATE”–HOW ARE WE DOING?
Introducing What will be a video collage of how – in the States – we care for our children in need of Foster Homes, Group Homes, and residential treatment. Just beginning to gather the videos, but have had decades of professional experience working with psychiatric inpatient children’s hospitals, long term group homes, children foster homes, adoptions from other parts of the world, etc. Will begin with two TED.com videos and then build on this material in the weeks ahead. My inspiration for this series was triggered by this TED video I first viewed early this morning
Robert Olson – Limited Edition Print – (An Ideal Mother and Child Image)
TED.com this morning on a Ward of the State
A Time Magazine Photographer with report on Amerasation Adoption
End of Introduction to this series—I will continue in the weeks ahead
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10-26-2012 Important video clips regarding use of psychotropic meds in Foster Children
More from ABC NEWS Special Report from 2011
DAVID BRANSFORD MD PSYCHIATRY SUICIDE
Just read tweet from Pharmagossip Blog from UK In opening the link, an extremely important post from Martha Rosenberg could be reviewed, addressing the Suicide Epidemic, with the report totally overlooking how psychotropic medications and other prescription medications often cause or worsen suicidal attempts and completions. How could this be overlooked ? Pease click, open, and review her publication at the following
Current Research on Suicide and an alarming increase !<a
Alison Bass’s Book Side Effects is also a must read !
Just today, I downloaded via Kindle Dr Peter Breggin MD most recent release
Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Springer Publishing New York
This is a comprehensive guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients, and their Families
And of course, the Books by Dr David Healy MD with most recent Pharmegeddon. (Blog – DavidHealy.org) Dr David Healy Blog
DAVID BRANSFORD MD 9/11 AND MORE !
With 9/11 a few days away, it seems so important to also recall the many other tragic chapters in our County’s History (USA). 9/11 seems like it was only a few years ago.
More insidious, perhaps, has been overlooking tragic loss of lives from often preventable causes. Given the geographical location of my clinical practice, Mental Health issues of Native-American Youth is so in need of intensive intervention.
At the Headwaters of the Mississippi, at least a half dozen different Reservations exist with large numbers of teens and young adults dying prematurely from alcoholism, drug overdoses, motor vehicle accidents, homicide, and suicide. The usual explanations relate to poverty, lack of educational funding, and lack of adequate Mental Health Services.
But so much of it is cultural ..reviewing the history of how Native Americans were treated since the days of Columbus. Having grown up in the 1950s, Cowboys and Indians were the most popular TV series . The Lone Ranger stands out, because his partner Tonto was a Native American, his principles were sound, ‘White Hat and White Horse’ And his series Theme Song introduced children to classical music with the William Tell Overture !
Then, winding down the Mississippi-from Source to Mouth -New Orleans today still has such great talent of mixes of Native Americans – such as Wild Magnolias – so creative –I have enjoyed them live a Jazz Fest at NOLA, not thinking about the painful histories -past and present.
Photos I captured at Jazz Fest before Katrina in New Orleans
Wild Magnolias on Stage in New Orleans
Wild Magnolias includes talented young children !
But all is not Celebration and great Hollywood Movies !
The book “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” – followed by the HBO Movie,
made so many changes in how one thinks about the plight of Native Americans.
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee HBO DVD available AMZ
Losing Native American Children every day – MPR
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee – DVD HBO movie – 2007 Strongly recommend! dlb
DAVID BRANSFORD MD A WAR ON DRUGS – PER DR FRANCES
Beware ! There is a need for a different type of War on Drugs !
Earlier this week, a Psychiatric News Paper posted and important article by Dr Alan Frances MD about the need for our focus on “War on Drugs” to be not ‘Street Drugs’- but Prescription Drugs – particularly narcotics. Dr Alan Frances’s article should open via Huff Post and well worth reviewing. The Wrong War on Drugs
There are several other important articles by Dr Frances, MD well worth reading. His position on “Bipolar” Children is particularly important -> The False increase in childhood Bipolar 'epidemic'
‘Moody’? Perhaps she has Bipolar? (highly unlikely) BigPharma hopes to promote their Branded, Dangerous, and extremely expensive products
Do You Believe TV Ads? So many must or they would not be marketed
How about this one? Believe it ? Or know it not true?
Back to Diagnosis Inflation. By creating new ‘illnesses’ more med sales
Serious about learning more—take the time to view Dr Alan Frances explain from his talk up in Canada. He was the brains behind the DSM-4 !!
In the world of Marketing, little has changed in the past many centuries !
The Medicine Man — still selling snake oil ??
DAVID BRANSFORD MD SUBSTANCE ABUSE/ADDICTION
Upon receiving and reviewing a medical newsletter from a local county Medical Doctor, it was alarming, but not surprising to see about a 20% increase in the use of Controlled Prescription Drugs over the past year. This was in spite of only a 5 % increase in patient population. It is well known now that more young adults die from drug overdoses than Motor Vehicle accidents. The most common deaths from prescription drugs appear to be accidental narcotics, leading to respiratory failure. If controlled prescriptions are unavailable, then the rise in illegal chemicals such as heroine and methamphetamine is found
In the past four decades, it has been far too easy to attempt to “blame” the drug crises on life style, musicians, gangs, much stronger drugs said to be “more addicting” Many chemicals are given a pass – such as nicotine and alcohol..yet clearly our deadliest over time. Cannabis is forever in debate..as States debate legalizing it.
Ben Harper’s Signature Song for many years now around the world “Burn One Down”
And Peter, Paul, and Mary-With Puff the Magic Dragon–Still insisting to this day, it is merely an innocent childrens’song……Peter Yarrow told me that again this past Spring
Then in the World of Music-things seem to get serious with “E” Mark Everett and his Eels perform their well known to many “Novocaine for the Soul”
But is clearly is not the music driving addictions.Doctors, Please put on you Science Hats and follow Dirk Hanson on Twitter and download his books via Kindle. So much Science about addiction and so many other expert addictionologists Just read one of his reviews to get started Dirk Hanson or @dirk57 on Twitter
And while online, follow the excellent articles on http://www.Healthland.Time.Com
from Science Expert – Maia Szalavitz. She publishing cutting edge information about addiction/mental health – all carefully documented and No BigPharma Ads !!
On Twitter @maiasz She has championed the action to make naloxene available OTC for “First Aide Kits” – which could save thousands of lives. FDA had hearing this past Spring on it (click here)->naloxone needs to be OTC
And also an update here -> Update on naloxone over the counter
And yesterday, maia wrote -> http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/24/could-an-addiction-proof-painkiller-finally-be-on-the-horizon/
On Twitter, she quickly and kindly corrected me, pointing out this is (+)naloxene – not naloxene for O.D. (aka dextro-naloxone, I think.) Imagine a non-addicting narcotic !
Another important read -> “In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts” Gabor Mate’ MD
It is not my intent to strictly be critical of the “Minnesota Model”
But there is so much science-based information to learn – It is not just about “Tough Love”
Joan Baez – Bob Dylan – (Yes. they were Diamonds and Rust)
DAVID BRANSFORD MD MORE ON MUSIC AND MEMORY
A great deal of feedback was received on the Memory and Music post
On YouTube, the entire series has been posted. Very informative !
Such a contrast from ‘snowing’ Seniors with dangerous psychiatric medications!
Dawn or Dusk ? Sundowner Syndrome with the dementias
Music And Memory Series – well worth following
Several Days Ago, My Morning Jacket with Yim Yames posted on Facebook, their support of this series with fundraising,iPods, ect. Kudos to the band !
Thank You, Jim James, and MMJ for your gifts of financial and musical support to this marvelous project
Sound Check Version with Jim James and MMJ
A Very Pleasant Pigeon Lady (not a bag lady) who let me take her photo in NYC
