Description: How much video/online gaming do you do? Would it surprise you to hear that over half of North American adults and many more children do this regularly? Would it surprise you to hear that people are doing more of this during these times of Covid-19 than ever before? Do you think we should worry… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Clinical Assessment
Increasing Complex Cases for Genetic Counselors
Description: Read the title of the article referenced under the picture below that the link further down will take you to. How would you answer that question (and yes, I realize you likely want more information before responding)? When I talk in class about genetic testing and pre-natal screening, I point out that with the… Read more »
Mental Illness: Beyond the Biomedical Model
Description: Do we (Psychologists and Psychiatrists) know what caused mental illness? When I teach the Psychological Disorders and Treatments sections on my Introductory Psychology course, after talking about the drugs used in treating the symptoms of various mental disorders (like depression or schizophrenia) I will usually ask if people think that because there are drugs… Read more »
Psychosis: Early Identification and Intervention Opportunities are Important
Description: You are no doubt aware of the standard medical observation that the earlier an emerging health challenge is identified the more effectively it can be treated or even prevented from fully emerging. There is also a lot of talk about the sorts of things one can do to contribute positively to one’s mental health… Read more »
Addiction to Heroin, Internet Gaming, or Cats: Where and How to Draw a Line
Description: Answer this question quickly off the top of your head: Is it possible for someone to become addicted to internet gaming? If you said yes, think about whether you mean that it is possible for someone to become genuinely addicted to internet gaming like someone could become addicted to heroin or whether you mean… Read more »
Rapid Onset Gender Dysmorphia: Research Issues and Challenges
Description: Gender Dysphoria is a diagnostic category in the DSM-5. You can find a description and the diagnostic criteria here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/conditions/gender-dysphoria . The question of what sorts of variables contribute to an individual of one sex having feelings that they are actually another sex (and yes, I realize that speaking of sex in a binary… Read more »
The Opioid Crisis: Is a Broader Perspective Needed?
Description: There is an opioid overdose epidemic in North America. In 2017, 4,000 people in Canada and 72,000 people in the United States died of opioid overdoses. I don’t know what you have been hearing or reading about what is behind these astonishing and terrifying numbers, but there is a lot to consider and a… Read more »
Intuition: Magic or Expertise?
Description: Think of something you know a LOT about and/or something that you are very good at or have had a lot of experience with. It could be a job, a hobby, and interest, or a skill or it could simply be related to someone you know a lot about – a loved one, a… Read more »
Should Clinical Psychologists Routinely Assess Client Status’ and Outcomes? Or do they already?
Description: Clinical Psychologists who are involved in providing therapy to people have a number of ethical standards to which they must adhere (you can download the Canadian Psychological Association Code of Ethics here: https://www.cpa.ca/docs/File/Ethics/CPA_Code_2017_4thEd.pdf) . One of those standards states that practicing psychologist should “Strive to provide and/or obtain the best reasonably accessible service for… Read more »
ADHD: Is Some of It Perhaps a Bit Adaptive in Modern Times?
Description: So here is a thought: In psychology we typically talk about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) as an unquestionably undesirable thing. Look at its name, we view it as a deficit and a disorder. There is no doubt that there are many situations and circumstances where ADHD would NOT be adaptive (school usually being one… Read more »
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