Internet and Psychiatry

Internet has become an integral part of the life of millions of people in the Western countries and in the developing world. Millions of people search for mental health information on the Internet, and there is a lot. Multiple web sites offer a plethora of information on different topics. Recent research suggests that Internet may play a role in suicide prevention. At the same time, there is an increasing concern that Internet may promote suicidal behavior. Some authors call Internet a double-edge tool. Internet providers try to seek a balance between preventing Internet-arranged suicides and safeguarding freedom of expression. The relationship between Internet and suicide is perplex. Understanding the impact of Internet on suicidal behavior is an important challenge for future research. We hope that this book will contribute to this goal. We believe that this book will be of interest to clinicians, researchers, and the general public.

Immigrants' voyages to a new land have been among the most exciting and noble of human endeavors. It is the amazing courage to flee oppression, to leave behind everything that is familiar, and to chance the hostility of a completely alien culture in order to find freedom, opportunity, and a better life. Immigrants are moving to a new country for the best of motives: the desire to improve their lives; the urge to leave countries whose governments they could not abide; and the willingness to work for another country where individuals can live in freedom and dignity. Many and many immigrants and refugees, including Albert Einstein, Ernst Boris Chain, Selman Abraham Waksman, Enrico Fermi, Sigmund Freud, Eric Fromm, Bertold Brecht, Jean Gabin, Charles de Gaulle, Thomas Mann, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), and Victor Hugo have made a remarkable contribution to the welfare and happiness of mankind.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and severe psychiatric disorder precipitated by exposure to a psychologically distressing event. PTSD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. PTSD is characterized by the presence of three distinct, but co-occurring, symptom clusters. Reexperiencing symptoms describe spontaneous, often insuppressible intrusions of the traumatic memory in the form of images or nightmares that are accompanied by intense physiological distress. Avoidance symptoms involve restricting thoughts and distancing oneself from reminders of the event, as well as more generalized emotional and social withdrawal. Hyperarousal symptoms reflect more overt physiological manifestations, such as insomnia, irritability, impaired concentration. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans is about 8%, with women (10%) twice as likely as men (5%) to have PTSD at some point in their lives.

Suicidal behavior is a critical problem in the military, among civilians during a war and among returning war veterans. Millions of people around the world were involved in many wars and military conflicts during the past 100 years. Nowadays, suicidal behavior is a critical problem among Soldiers and Marines deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and returning war veterans. The U.S. Army's top Medical Officer has been reported as saying that commanders are seeking ways to address the alarming increase in suicides, including looking to their counterparts in the Air Force and in civilian agencies (Associated Press, September 4, 2008). This book is dedicated to the relationship between war and suicidal behavior. The relationship between war and suicide is perplex. Understanding the impact of war on suicidal behavior in the military, among civilians and war veterans is an important challenge for future research. This book will be of interest to physicians, psychologists, other clinicians, experts in public health management, military people and war veterans.

Terrorism is a form of warfare that has become a global concern in the contemporary world. Terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations for furthering their objectives. Terrorism has existed since the beginning of the history of mankind. Terrorist attacks took place practically in every country in the world. Terrorism is usually a planned, purposeful and premeditated, man made violent act, which is in fact a form of psychological warfare to intimidate people. Terrorist attacks are carried out in such a way as to maximize the severity and length of the psychological impact. This book is mostly dedicated to suicidal terrorism. The impact of terrorist attacks on suicidal behavior in the general population is also discussed. This book will be of interest to physicians, psychologists, other clinicians, and experts in public health management.

Suicidal behavior is a major medical and social problem. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that alcohol and drug abuse is associated with suicidal ideation, attempts and suicides. Next to depression, alcoholism and drug abuse are the psychiatric conditions most strongly associated with suicide attempts and completed suicides. Alcohol and drugs are involved in about 50 percent of all suicide attempts. About 25 percent of completed suicides occur among individuals with alcoholism or drug abuse. Acute substance use makes suicide more likely. Nearly all alcoholic suicides occur among active drinkers, and alcohol consumption often immediately precedes the suicide. Individuals who drink a significant amount of alcohol before a suicide attempt make more serious suicide attempts.