The Psychological And Psychiatric Aspects Of Cancer
Waiting for a transplantation of body part or a bone-marrow graft, brings things to a sudden realization and has a great impact on mental faculties. The high medical supervision which characterizes the ongoing operations constitutes a series of tests which engage in deep studies to gauge the capacities of physical and psychological resistance of the patients to which these techniques are addressed.
The teams of transplantation scientists gradually took up the practice of joining in with psychiatrists and psychologists, as well to evaluate the feasibility of such a project of care and to try to prevent the various chance mishaps of the type created by behavior or emotions, that would help with specific future grafts and during the most difficult periods of the follow-up.
The unity of the collaboration of the psychiatrists and psychologists extends to further build up the resistance needed by patients being treated for an aggressive cancer or graft and being able to look after them in teams. Indeed, the medical fraternity constitutes also a true support for the family of the patient, who generally has just lived multiple sufferings related to the evolution of a chronic disease towards the final phase.
Even tested, this family preserves a role of stability and strength for the patient, and its active participation in the assumption of responsibility of the patient deserves to be constant.
Lastly, the psychiatrist and the psychologist also assist in the support of the whole team conducting numerous team meetings, primarily looking at the expression of difficulties or assumptions of responsibility towards the patients:
Aiding the medical teams to cope with disappointments during treatments such as:
When a patient does not respond well to the general procedures of the team.
Hostility from patients who do not show themselves co-operating enough.
Difficulties during the mourning of lost patients in the event of death or quite simply at the time of their exit.
Various psychological characteristics raised at the time of the assessment make it possible to predict the survival rate of grafted patients. The initial objective of this evaluation is to highlight the existence of psychiatric counter-indications by specifying the risk of not observing later medications in particular.
This non-observance of proper medication after treatments can then indeed constitute an immediate vital threat; in all the cases it seriously compromises the efforts made up to that point by the medical team tending to them and the patient himself.
In the event of transplantation of a body part for a child it is important to evaluate the parental concerns and involvement in this long-term plan. Changes in the family relations were highlighted in particular when the donor of the body part is a relative.
Little attention was carried to the evaluation donor but some propose it should systematically be taken into account particularly mental stability, the structure of the personality, the degree of motivation of the donor and the existence of family pressures for the gift.
Also frequently observed was the patients exit from hospital and their introduction back into mainstream family life.
Depression was often accompanied by disillusion which can indeed result from long waiting periods between treatment and relational difficulties with family or staff.
In addition even those who exit in favorable conditions are still susceptible to a time of mourning. Mourning of a body function or a body part, the images of a fresh graft this can all lead to depression and emotional mental thoughts, even mourning for the donor who lost his or her life to contribute the new body part has been regularly documented.
The other topic which very frequently appears after transplantation of a body part more precisely relates to the new body being inhabited by the spirit of the donor. The patient can have the feeling sometimes that there are two people in the same body. The sexual identity of the donor is also a source of curiosity with transplant patients. It is particularly the case when the donor is of opposite sex and that the receiver fears he or she will acquire the donors sexual characteristics.
The role of the psychiatrist is not to get the patient physically well but to help the medical teams properly evaluate and adapt treatment as required while emotionally supporting the patient and family..
What Exactly is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a member of the steroid family of hormones called androgens. More and more, this family is derived through chemical conversion from the steroid ring-structure of cholesterol. This hormone plays a vital role in the bodies of both men and women.There are only minor differences between this hormone and others such as estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, cortisone, and androstenedione. They are small molecules, which becomes important when we look at what routes of administration are available.As commonly known, testosterone stimulates the development of the penis and testes, growth of facial and pubic hair, deepening of the voice, changes in body shape, growth of bones, and increased muscle mass and strength in males. It helps maintain sex drive and the production of sperm cells, and it may play a role in balding.
Mood is also affected by testosterone, and low levels of the hormone can cause severe and prolonged depression as well as fatigue, to name a few conditions. High...
What Exactly is Testosterone?
Depression > What Exactly is Testosterone?
Mental Health Stigma -- what can we do about it?
Copyright 2005 Sonia Devine
What is Stigma?
Stigma is the use of stereotypes and labels when describing someone, and it is often attached to people who suffer from mental health issues. We don't fully understand how the brain works yet, but one thing we DO know is that it is an organ. Yet our society doesn't readily accept brain disorders the way we accept other organ disorders. Why is this so?
Stigma is a harsh reality for people who have mental health problems, because it prevents them from enjoying a normal and productive life. So many people today feel uncomfortable about mental health issues, despite the fact that there is growing evidence that more and more people are developing these problems.
In fact, many people are so uncomfortable with the stigma that they would rather suffer in silence than get help they need.
Here are a few of the most common misconceptions about mental health problems:
* Mentally ill...
Depression > Mental Health Stigma -- what can we do about it?
Herbal Acne Solutions
For centuries, acne has been the bane of human beings - especially teens. Acne affects over 40 million Americans. Acne has a far-reaching effect on individuals. Social withdrawal, lowered self-esteem, depression and lack of self-confidence are common among its victims. Hundreds of remedies have been tested over the years.
These fall into three basic categories ? commercial chemical and antibiotic cures, homegrown remedies and commercial herbal treatment. Most people agree that chemical-based formulas provide fairly good results. However, they require time to work, and the chemicals used in these products could damage the skin. However, they require time to work, and the chemicals used in these products could damage the skin.
Homegrown remedies are wide-ranging and at times bizarre. Desperate acne sufferers seeking overnight relief have concocted them.
Most of the remedies recommended in this category use the contents of kitchen and bathroom ingredients and...
Herbal Acne Solutions
Depression > Herbal Acne Solutions
The Formula for Preventing Depression
While it is arguable that depression is not always preventable, there are many cases, when using the following ideas, will keep you in good spirits - most of the time.
Unfortunately, we cannot be happy all of the time, but there is something we can do about it.Working with a variety of clients over the years, I have seen how Yoga and exercise changed, and continue to change, them for the better.
It is a well-known fact that endorphins are produced from a variety of exercise routines, including gentle Hatha Yoga.Endorphins reduce stress and enhance good moods.
Just that information alone is enough to start an exercise program, but weight control, muscle-tone, circulation, flexibility and a variety of other health benefits, should be an incentive to start a mild exercise program.If you have been inactive, I suggest a beginner Yoga class with a very mild-mannered Yoga teacher.
Without pushing this any further, let's look at other options to start, and...
Depression > The Formula for Preventing Depression