Therapist Unlimited Blog

 

The Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC) is an academic society that promotes rigorous research directed toward understanding the nature, function, and underlying mechanisms of consciousness.
The ASSC includes members working in the fields of cognitive science, medicine, neuroscience, philosophy, and other relevant disciplines in the sciences and humanities.

 

Membership
 

 

There are three categories of membership. Please note the minimal requirements for membership in each of the categories when submitting your application.

    * Student Member - The applicant is a student currently enrolled in a degree in an accredited program. The applicant’s research interests and major project matches with the general research areas promoted by the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness. In addition to the member benefits below, student members are eligible for various ASSC programs and scholarships, including student activities at annual meetings and such.
    * Regular Member - without voting privileges - The applicant has a degree from an accredited University and an interest in the promotion or pursuit of the scientific study of consciousness as defined by the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.
    * Full-Voting Member - The applicant has a graduate degree in a relevant discipline and at least two articles published in internationally recognised peer reviewed journals or the equivalent in scholarly output particular to the applicant’s discipline. These articles should relate to the scientific, clinical, or philosophical study of consciousness. In addition, members meeting these criteria will be entitled to vote on official ASSC matters such as Board elections and other issues presented to the membership as they arise.

 

 

Get to know more the organization by visiting their official website at http://www.theassc.org/.

Those women who wish to get pregnant should strive hard not to become obese during this important moment in a women’s life.
This developed after a recent medical findings has shown that obese women are as much as 28 percent less likely to become pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.
The findings was discovered by a Michigan State University professor who even earned a national award for her research.
To get the significant data, Barbara Luke, a researcher in the MSU College of Human Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, studied nearly 50,000 women using assisted reproductive technology.
Based on her study, she found out that women who are simply overweight have a 14 percent less chance of a successful pregnancy.
Luke explained the results are not surprising; obesity is a state of inflammation and is not a good environment for conception or fetal development.

 

 

Those women who wish to get pregnant should avoid getting obese.

 

 

She added the key message is to lose weight, prior to conception, and focus on pre-conception health issues.
Recently Luke was awarded the 2009 Scientific Program Prize Paper for her presentation on maternal obesity research at the 2009 American Society of Reproductive Medicine international meeting in Atlanta.
More than 5,000 experts from around the world attended the meeting, which featured nearly 900 abstracts.
Only two were selected as program prize papers.
As part of the research, Luke’s team looked at the effect increasing body mass index had on a woman’s ability to become pregnant using assisted reproductive technology and how obesity affects pregnancy outcomes. They compared outcomes to women with normal body mass index
(BMI of 18.5-24.9). Women were classified as overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9), Class 1 obesity (30-34.9), Class 2 (35-39.9) and Class 3 (40 or greater).

 

Among her important findings were:

* Women at Class 3 obesity were 35 percent less likely to become pregnant; Class 2 resulted in a 28 percent less chance; 9 percent for Class 1; and 3 percent for overweight women.
* Of the obese women who were able to become pregnant, the odds of stillbirth were increased more than twofold.
* Among live births, the odds of premature birth significantly parallelled increasing obesity: from 16 percent for overweight women to 34 percent for women at Class 3.
Moreover, Luke said those who are thinking about starting a family, must get into the best physical shape possible.
Luke added controlling the factors such as drinking alcohol and smoking can also keep women fit during pregnancy.

 

The American Association of Community Psychiatrists (AACP) has been working since 1984 as the only national organization that solely represents community psychiatrists.
The AACP had developed guidelines for practice adopted by the American Psychiatric Association.
The AACP had developed a model community psychiatry training curriculum for psychiatric residents.
The AACP promotes community psychiatry issues to the APA, the Mental Health Task Force of JCAHO, the National Community Mental Health Care Council, and other national organizations.

The mission of the AACP is to encourage, equip, and empower community and public psychiatrists to develop and implement policies and high-quality practices that promote individual, family and community resilience and recovery.
It does so through four key activities:

1.Advocating for and partnering to implement resiliency and recovery-oriented services and continuously improving systems for the people we serve, especially children, elderly, and other underrepresented groups.
2.Ceating and sustaining a network of collegiality and support for community and public sector psychiatrists, many of whom work in challenging and nontraditional service settings.
3.Developing and disseminating a foundation of knowledge relevant to community psychiatric practice and community health care based on effective clinical practice and relevant humanitarian and social values.
4.Actively advocating to influence a wide array of health and social welfare policies across all levels of government and service systems, including delivery system design, reimbursement, research, and treatment guideline policies.

The official website of the organization is http://www.comm.psych.pitt.edu/.

 

 

There are now more reasons why people should avoid drinking liquor heavily.
A recent study has shown that binge drinking weakens the body’s ability to fight off infection for at least 24 hours afterwards.
Based on the study made by medical experts they discovered that acute alcohol exposure prevents the body from producing certain key-inflammatory cytokines.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines are signalling molecules that launch the inflammatory response to infection.

 

 

 

Better avoid heavy drinking now since it could weaken the body’s immune system.

 

The researchers noted that the "The time frame during which the risk of infection is increased might be at least 24 hours.
The team of experts revealed a persistent effect of ethanol on cells is indicated, such that inhibition of the response of some cytokines occurs even after the ethanol is cleared.
With this new discovery, it is now high time for binge drinkers to stop their habit or go slow in drinking.
Life is precious it should not be wasted by heavy drinking.

To make sure the public will have a competent psychologist that will serve them, the American Board of Professional Psychology is here to offer selfless service to all.
The American Board of Professional Psychology issues board certification (awarding of a Diploma in a specialty) that assures the public that specialists designated by the ABPP have successfully completed the educational, training, and experience requirements of the specialty, including an examination designed to assess the competencies required to provide quality services in that specialty.
The American Board of Professional Psychology was incorporated in 1947 with the support of the American Psychological Association.

The ABPP is a unitary governing body of separately incorporated specialty examining boards which assures the establishment, implementation,and maintenance of specialty standards and examinations by its member boards. Through it’s Central Office, a wide range of administrative support services are provided to ABPP Boards, Board Certified Specialists, and the public.
A Specialty is a defined area in the practice of psychology that connotes special competency acquired through an organized sequence of formal education, training, and experience.  In order to qualify as a specialty affiliated with the ABPP, a specialty must be represented by an examining board which is stable, national in scope, and reflects the current development of the specialty. A specialty board is accepted for affiliation following an intensive self-study and a favorable review by the ABPP affirming that the standards for affiliation have been met. These standards include a thorough description of the area of practice and the pattern of competencies required therein as well as requirements for education, training, experience, research bases of the specialty, practice guidelines, and a demonstrated capacity to examine candidates for the specialty on a national level.
The mission of the American Board of Professional Psychology is to increase consumer protection through the examination and certification of psychologists who demonstrate competence in approved specialty areas in professional psychology.

 

To know more about the services offered by the group and other matters pertaining to the organization you can visit their website at http://www.abpp.org.

 

Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.
The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people?s lives.

 

APA Vision Statement
 

 

The American Psychological Association aspires to excel as a valuable, effective and influential organization advancing psychology as a science, serving as:A uniting force for the discipline;The major catalyst for the stimulation, growth and dissemination of psychological science and practice;The primary resource for all psychologists;The premier innovator in the education, development, and training of psychological scientists, practitioners and educators.
The leading advocate for psychological knowledge and practice informing policy makers and the public to improve public policy and daily living.
A principal leader and global partner promoting psychological knowledge and methods to facilitate the resolution of personal, societal and global challenges in diverse, multicultural and international contexts.
An effective champion of the application of psychology to promote human rights, health, well being and dignity.
Psychologists and students need support in a variety of ways. So APA offers a wide range of services that benefit both individuals and the field of psychology.

APA provides direct services to its members through insurance programs, financial services, education loans and student loan consolidation, discounts on computers and electronics, electronic payment processing, career services and many additional discounts on a wide range of products and consumer goods and services.
And APA protects you and your field through advocacy programs, information resources, and many other ways it supports psychology.
APA also strives to bring psychologists of similar interests together through its divisions, state and provincial associations, regional associations, and Annual Convention.
APA offers membership categories to include the wide range of people who dedicate themselves to psychology.
Whether you’re a doctoral degree holder, a psychology student, or a psychology teacher, you’ll find a membership category that’s right for you.
Doctoral degree holders can qualify for the APA Member category. Or if you live outside the U.S. or Canada, you can become an International Affiliate.
If you’re a student, APA has many options for you. Graduate and undergraduate students in psychology can become Student Affiliates. And if you’re in high school, there is an affiliate program just for you.
Those with 2-years of graduate school training can also become a part of APA as an Associate.
And recognizing the importance of early training to the profession, APA has an affiliate program for both High School and Community College teachers of psychology.

Those who wish to know more about the American Psychological Organization you can visit their website at http://www.apa.org/.

 

 

Parents better keep their children away from television sets at an early age.
This developed after a recent study has shown that three-year-old children who are exposed to more TV appear to be at an increased risk for exhibiting aggressive behavior.
Based on the study, early childhood aggression can be problematic for parents, teachers and childhood peers and sometimes is predictive of more serious behavior problems to come, such as juvenile delinquency, adulthood violence and criminal behavior.
The researchers on their study has discovered various predictive factors for childhood aggression that include parents’ discipline style, neighborhood safety and media exposure.
The researchers revealed after music, television is the medium children aged 0 to 3 years are exposed to the most.
The researchers added although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen media for children younger than age 2, studies have found consistent use of television in that age group.
To get the result, Jennifer A. Manganello, Ph.D., M.P.H., of University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, and Catherine A. Taylor, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H., of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, analyzed data from 3,128 mothers of children born from 1998 to 2000 in 20 large U.S. cities to examine associations of child television exposure and household television use with aggressive behavior in children.

 

 

 

Watching television should be avoided by children to keep them away from aggressive behavior.

 

 

Parents were interviewed at the time of the child’s birth and at one and three years.
At three years, they were asked to report time the child spent watching TV directly as well as household TV use on a typical day. Aggression also was assessed at 3 years of age using a 15-item aggressive subscale for 2- and 3-year-old children. Demographic information and other risk factors for aggression were also noted.
About two-thirds (65 percent) of mothers reported that their 3-year-old child watched more than two hours of television per day. On average, children were exposed to an additional 5.2 hours of household TV use per day.
Direct child TV exposure and household TV use were both significantly associated with childhood aggression, after accounting for other factors such as parent, family, neighborhood and demographic characteristics. "One explanation that could link both child and household TV measures with aggression involves the parenting environment," the authors write. Households with higher rates of TV use may have fewer restrictions on children’s viewing habits such as exposure to unregulated television content. Increased household television use may also affect daily routines such as eating and communication patterns and may decrease time spent on other activities.
"Current American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations mainly suggest limitations for direct child exposure to TV and other media; however, our findings suggest that additional household TV use may also be an important predictor of negative childhood outcomes, such as
early childhood aggression," the authors conclude. "Future research in this area should consider inclusion of both of these TV variables along with additional parent-child interaction assessments, observational assessments when possible, quality and/or content of TV programs and longitudinal analyses."

 

 

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is a medical professional membership association representing the majority of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States.
Established in 1953, the AACAP is the leading national medical association dedicated to the advancement of medical contributions to the knowledge, diagnosis and treatment for the estimated 7—12 million American youth under 18 years of age who are affected by emotional, behavioral, developmental and mental disorders.
In addition to providing print resources to mental health professionals and the general public, the AACAP also works with government agencies and mental health groups to improve mental health care and influence public policy.
The Academy publishes the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry monthly.

Federal Advocacy
 

 

Despite treatment advances and better early identification, most youth with mental illnesses do not receive treatment. Some of the barriers to treatment include: a sever shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, lack of adequate coverage of services within health care systems, lack of research funding, lack of community mental health services. The AACAP has a legislative agenda to help eliminate these barriers.

 

Member Benefits
 

 

The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by far the most prestigious in its field, the monthly Journal is a primary source for the latest research and studies in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Members also have access to the complete Journal online archive as well as articles published online ahead of print.
 

 

To learn more about the organization you can visit their official website at http://www.aacap.org/.

 

Those frequent users of acetaminophen, a known pail reliever should avoid getting hooked with the medicine.
A new study has shown that acetaminophen may be associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in both children and adults exposed to the drug.
The data was taken from a recent study made by researchers from the  University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, who conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of 19 clinical studies (total subjects=425,140) that compared the risk of asthma or wheezing with acetaminophen exposure.

Based on the study, the pooled odds ratio (odds ratio for all studies combined) for asthma among users of acetaminophen was 1.63.
The risk of asthma in children who used acetaminophen in the year prior to asthma diagnosis or in the first year of life was elevated to 1.60 and 1.47, respectively.
Moreover, the study revealed a slight increase in the risk of asthma and wheezing with prenatal use of acetaminophen by mothers.
With the relevant data they gathered, the researchers speculate that acetaminophen’s lack of inhibition of cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme involved in the inflammatory response of asthma, may be one explanation for the potential link between acetaminophen use and asthma.

 

Are you a frequent user of amphetamine in your adolescence?
Well it is time for you to stop such addiction since too much intake of amphetamine could result in memory loss upon reaching adulthood.
The findings was taken on a study conducted by medical experts on a group of rats exposed to high doses of amphetamine.
Based on the study, the experts discovered that The declines in short-term or "working" memory are most pronounced when the rats are exposed during adolescence, rather than as adults.
"Animals that were given the amphetamine during the adolescent time period were worse at tasks requiring working memory than adult animals that were given the same amount of amphetamine as adults," said psychology professor Joshua Gulley, who led the study with graduate student Jessica Stanis. "This tells us that their working memory capacity has been significantly altered by that pre-exposure to amphetamine."
Gulley and his colleagues presented their findings at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago.
The researchers tested two types of amphetamine exposure: intermittent (a steady dose every other day) and "binge-escalation," in which increasing amounts of the drug were given over a period of four days, followed by a simulated binge a high dose every two hours for eight hours on the fifth day.
 

 

 

Too much intake of amphetamine should be avoided since it could lead to memory loss upon reaching adulthood.
 

 

 

The findings reveal some of the potential long-term consequences of amphetamine abuse by adolescents and also may be relevant to those taking amphetamines for therapeutic purposes, such as for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Gulley cautions that the doses given to the rats are on the high end of what an older, larger adolescent might receive as a therapeutic dose, and that further study is needed to tease out the implications for human health.
The concerns are most robust for adolescents who abuse amphetamines, Gulley said, as they may use much higher doses than those who are prescribed drugs that contain amphetamines.
"Adolescence is a time when the brain is continuing to develop into its mature form, so drug exposure during this critical period could have long-lasting, negative consequences," he said. "Our findings reveal that adolescents are particularly sensitive to the adverse effects of amphetamine on cognitive function and that these effects can persist well after drug use is discontinued."