Internet and Psychiatry

Mora-Ripoll R.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2010 Nov-Dec;16(6):56-64.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to identify, critically evaluate, and summarize the laughter literature across a number of fields related to medicine and health care to assess to what extent laughter health-related benefits are currently supported by empirical evidence.

Paratz ED, Katz B.
Med J Aust. 2011 Feb 21;194(4):194-7.

In recent years, a phenomenon of "late effects of the Holocaust" has emerged, with impacts on the psychological and physical health of ageing Holocaust survivors. As Holocaust survivors age, they may experience heightened anxiety around normal processes of ageing, worsened post-traumatic stress disorder with cognitive decline, and fear of the medical system. Holocaust survivors are at increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiometabolic disease due to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, cancer, and sequelae of Nazi medical experiments. From existing medical literature on this topic, practical principles of management are derived to create a framework for sensitive medical management of Holocaust survivors in Australia. The issues discussed are also relevant to the wider geriatric refugee or prisoner-of-war experience.

Douse J, Derrett-Smith E, Dheda K, Dilworth JP.
Postgrad Med J. 2004 May;80(943):284-6.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the views of doctors and patients on whether doctors should wear white coats and to determine what shapes their views.
METHODS: A questionnaire study of 400 patients and 86 doctors was performed.
RESULTS: All 86 of the doctors' questionnaires were included in the analysis but only 276 of the patients were able to complete a questionnaire. Significantly more patients (56%) compared with their doctors (24%) felt that doctors should wear white coats (p<0.001). Only age (>70 years) (p<0.001) and those patients whose doctors actually wore white coats (p<0.001) were predictive of whether patients favoured white coats. The most common reason given by patients was for easy identification (54%). Less than 1% of patients believed that white coats spread infection. Only 13% of doctors wore white coats as they were felt to be an infection risk (70%) or uncomfortable (60%).

Ablin JN, Cohen H, Eisinger M, Buskila D.
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2010 Nov-Dec;28(6 Suppl 63):S51-6.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency of fibromyalgia among a population of Holocaust survivors in Israel as well as the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and concurrent psychiatric symptoms, including depression and anxiety among survivors.
METHODS: Eighty-three survivors of the Nazi Holocaust and 65 age-matched individuals not exposed to Nazi occupation were recruited. Physical examination and manual tender point assessment was performed for the establishment of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and information was collected regarding quality of life (SF-36), physical function and health (FIQ), psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) and PTSD symptoms (CAPS).

Warren AE, Hamilton RM, Bélanger SA, Gray C, Gow RM, Sanatani S, Côté JM, Lougheed J, LeBlanc J, Martin S, Miles B, Mitchell C, Gorman DA, Weiss M, Schachar R.
IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Can J Cardiol. 2009 Nov;25(11):625-30.

Regulatory decisions and scientific statements regarding the management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) raise questions about the safety of medications and the appropriate pretreatment evaluation to determine suitability for treatment with medication.

King NA, Caudwell PP, Hopkins M, Stubbs JR, Naslund E, Blundell JE.
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Oct;90(4):921-7.

BACKGROUND: Exercise could contribute to weight loss by altering the sensitivity of the appetite regulatory system.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 12 wk of mandatory exercise on appetite control.