Psychology Update — USE/MISUSE OF MEDICATIONS IN ADHD TREATMENT

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

3 ARTICLES ON THE USE/MISUSE OF MEDICATIONS IN ADHD TREATMENT

 

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ARTICLE #1:    Generation Adderall

 

DESCRIPTION

This is an extensive first person account on using and abusing Adderall beginning in the author’s college life.  She provides the history of prescribing drugs for ADHD, the biological mechanisms of how the drugs affect the brain, body, and cognition.  In the article the author provides the actual statistics from a number of surveys about the drug use.  “Adderall has now become ubiquitous on college campuses, widely taken by students both with and without a prescription. Black markets have sprung up at many, if not most, schools. In fact, according to a review published in 2012 in the journal Brain and Behavior, the off-label use of prescription stimulants had come to represent the second-most-common form of illicit drug use in college by 2004. Only marijuana was more popular.”   Students who are interested in a “case study” approach will find this extremely interesting and informative.

 

SOURCE

New York Times, October 12, 2016, by Casey Schwartz

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

 

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jhxyb83

 

 

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ARTICLE #2:  Misuse of Stimulants by College Students

 

DESCRIPTION

The author discusses a recent study that looked at students who misuse stimulants (not medically prescribed) vs those who did not abuse these drugs (control group); the methodological problems of the study are discussed also.
“Prescription stimulants are often helpful in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are a significant number of college students not being treated for this disorder who obtain and misuse these drugs….Some students misuse these drugs to get an added boost of energy in order to help them study longer. Some use these drugs purely for recreational purposes.”  The user group was found to also qualify for a DSM -IV diagnosis of alcohol abuse as well as showing undiagnosed symptoms of ADHD and had a higher incidence of conduct disorders as reported.

 

 

SOURCE

Psychology Today, October 24, 2016, by Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D.

 

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/demystifying-psychiatry/201610/misuse-stimulants-college-students

(Tiny URL)   http://tinyurl.com/zdmw49p

 

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ARTICLE #3:    Misuse Of ADHD Drugs By Young Adults Drives Rise In ER Visits

 

DESCRIPTION

This NPR health news report discusses the “misuse” of stimulant drugs.  Several studies are briefly discussed regarding the problems of using the drugs.
“A common scenario is this: A person who has been prescribed ADHD drugs gives or diverts pills to a friend or family member who may be looking for a mental boost, perhaps to cram for a final or prepare a report.….Overall, the study found that nonmedical use of Adderall and generic versions of the drug increased by 67 percent among adults between 2006 and 2011. The findings are based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.”  The report concludes with stating that many young adults who end up in an emergency room claim not to have known the serious side effects of the drugs.

 

 

SOURCE

Shots Health News From NPR, February 16, 2016, by Allison Aubrey

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/02/16/466947829/of-adhd-drugs-linked-to-increased-er-hospital-visits-study-finds

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jo3ngn9

 

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

*Begin with a brief discussion of ADD and ADHD including medications used for treatment of these conditions.

•Ask the students if they know someone who takes the medications as prescribed for the conditions.  Ask if they know of  individuals who take the drugs without a prescription.  NOTE:  Preamble before this discussion and have the students not self-identify but rather say something like “I know someone who…”

•What are the problems and side effects of the stimulant drugs?

•Is it possible that abusers are actually self-medicating?   (non diagnosed ADHD)

•Are there alternatives to the use of the medications to treat ADD and/or ADHD?

 

Psychology Website of the Week — Treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

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PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

TITLE

Treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

URL      

http://psychcentral.com/lib/treatment-for-attention-deficit-disorder-adhd/

DESCRIPTION

This is an informative site that focuses on ADHD and provides a resource for those interested in the facts as relate to Psychology.  This site can be used in conjunction with the Psychology Update articles of November 14, 2016.

Psychology Update — Genetic test pinpoints best treatment for mental illness — but many reluctant to try it

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Genetic test pinpoints best treatment for mental illness — but many reluctant to try it

 

DESCRIPTION

The article  briefly focuses on new technology of doing a genetic assay (a saliva test) to determine whether there is a best medication for treating both physical problems and for mental illness such as depression.  “People are generally enthusiastic about undergoing genetic testing to find out which medications could help treat their heart disease or diabetes.  But when asked specifically if they would take a genetic test recommended by a doctor to help determine the best treatment plan for mental illness, respondents were less enthusiastic.”  It is most likely the issue of “STIGMA” that influences the decision to have the genetic test.  In addition to the text, this is a public radio broadcast of approximately 2 minutes that can easily be played in class.

SOURCE

Newsworks, October 12, 2016, by Anne Hoffman

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/97952-many-reluctant-to-try-genetic-test-pinpointing-best-treatment-for-mental-illness?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:WHYY/featuredstories

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jtkz4dk

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Briefly discuss genetics and mental illness as biological rather than as heredity/inheritance.

 

•According to the article, what is the promise of genetic testing in treating mental illness?  What examples are given?

 

•What is “STIGMA” and how does it play out in the field of mental illness?

Psychology Update — 20 Things Students Say Help Them Learn

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20 Things Students Say Help Them Learn

 

 

DESCRIPTION

Have you ever had a discussion with students about what would help them learn?  Often this is done either on the first day of the semester after giving out a syllabus or just before an exam or after when many have failed.  This article from the Chronicle discusses both what students say would help them and some tips for the professor.  The author, Ann Curzan states, “I wondered: What would happen if you asked undergraduate students not about how to please the professor but about what promotes good learning, for all of us, together, as participants in a learning community?”  Having students read the article at the beginning of the semester and leading a discussion would be useful.

 

SOURCE

Chronicle of Higher Education, October 11, 2016, by Ann Curzan

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2016/10/11/20-things-students-say-help-them-learn/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=ea6c06fb2e7e40fd8a76716340bcd147&elq=20355c6443b64c5c99ef7430f61ab6df&elqaid=11068&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=4247

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/hsod3v7

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Have the students read the article then put them in small groups to discuss the 10 items recommended for better learning.  Do they agree with the list?  Can they add other items?

 

•In the same manner, have them discuss the 10 items recommended for the Professor.  Do the students agree with the list?  Can they add other items?

 

•When doing this, ask each group to choose a spokesperson to provide a summary of the group discussion.  Then open up the class to full discussion.  While we, as professors, often feel that there is so much content that we don’t have time for these types of activities, it should be seen as part of what makes for good instruction overall.

 

•Note:  for large sections of students, this activity might be better completed in a recitation section rather than a lecture hall.

 

Psychology Update — How Kids Learn Prejudice

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How Kids Learn Prejudice

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a great article for use with either the child development chapters and most certainly Social Psychology chapters in the text book.  It briefly discusses the “Trump Effect” of the current election but most importantly points out that attitudes are developed early in childhood.   “Developmental psychology research has shown that by the time they start kindergarten, children begin to show many of the same implicit racial attitudes that adults in our culture hold. Children have already learned to associate some groups with higher status, or more positive value, than others.”

 

SOURCE

New York Times, October 21, 2016, by Katherine D Kindler

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

 

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/gkrzwnj

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•How does the author of the article describe the formation of attitudes in children?

•The author mentions media:  How do attitudes derive from watching media such as TV and movies?   (Ask the students to link this to Observational Learning)

•After reading the article and the social Psychology chapters:   how are attitudes formed according to Social Psychologists?  Similarly, ask the same question about social norms.

•Ask the students to differentiate the concepts of “attitude” and “prejudice.”

 

 

Psychology Update — 3 ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC OF PARENTING

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3 ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC OF  PARENTING

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ARTICLE #1:  What the New Screen Time Guidelines For Kids Really Mean

DESCRIPTION

The American Academy of Pediatrics has made a number of recommendations regarding the amount of screen time (phones, tablets, and computers) that parents should permit for their children.  The recommendations highlighted focus on two groups:   18 months up to 5 years old and those older than 5.  The advisory recognizes what is happening in the culture and rather than stating “less is more” attempts to reorient parents to what might work best.  For the young child (and elementary/lower school age, the Academy really believes:   “What is clear is that time spent engaged with parents and adults is crucial for kids’ emotional and cognitive development. Simply watching a parent cook dinner or clean the house—especially if the parent is explaining to the child what he’s doing and why—can be powerful … From boosting your child’s vocabulary to helping form his ability to read faces and emotions, this sort of interaction is crucial.”  For the later ages, parental monitoring of what the child is watching, sites visited, and social media is most important.
The link to the AAP recommendations (and video) are listed below.

 

SOURCE

Time, October 21, 2016 by Markham Heid

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

What the New Screen Time Guidelines For Kids Really Mean

 

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jkvdwpf

Link to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation and video:

http://tinyurl.com/zue2avz

 

 

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ARTICLE #2:  Opioids May Interfere With Parenting Instincts, Study Finds

 

DESCRIPTION

The study examined whether opioid addiction and subsequent treatment affected social cognition of the faces of children in comparison to a non addicted population of “healthy” adults.  Utilizing brain scans, the researchers found that the “baby schema” registering in addicts was distinctly different than the non addicts comparison.   The researchers further hypothesized that opioid addicted parents put their children at risk having both attachment and parenting issues.  Cited research in this article demonstrates that the “neurocircuitry” of of addiction and attachment overlap.  “When the participants were given an opioid blocker, their baby schema became more similar to that of healthy people,” said Dr. Daniel D. Langleben, one of the researchers. … The data also raised in question whether opioid medications may affect social cognition in general.”  The article cites many instances, from the news, regarding risky parenting by addicts.

SOURCE

New York Times, October 13, 2016, by Donna De La Cruzoct

LINK TO RESOURCE

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jpqmhnn

 

 

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ARTICLE #3:

 

How cultures around the world think about parenting

 

DESCRIPTION

This is an excellent article that covers various aspects of parenting.  It is a cross cultural perspective that examines differences in a number of countries around the world across different aspects of child rearing.   It is an excellent, easy to read article, for the discussion of child development, diversity, and culture.

SOURCE

ideas.TED.com, July 15, 2014, by Amy S. Choi

LINK TO RESOURCE

How cultures around the world think about parenting

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/zxlgg4g

 

 

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Ask the students to first define parenting.  Compare and contrast their views to how a professional Psychologist defines parenting and parenting styles.

•The three articles focus on different aspects of parenting.  Here are some questions to ask:

How might addiction affect parenting?

What are the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics in regard to parenting children and “screen time” on electronic devices.”

What are the different recommendations for the under 5 years old children as compared to older children and teens?

IMPORTANT:   in getting answers in a discussion, guide the students to provide information from the articles not simply their own anecdotal stories.

•After reading Article #3, have the students discuss the differences across cultures that are cited in the article.   There can be room, but guided, for personal stories from the students’ own backgrounds.

 

Psychology Website of the Week — APA PARENTING RESOURCES

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PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK — APA PARENTING RESOURCES

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URL      

http://www.apa.org/topics/parenting/

DESCRIPTION

The APA provides a wealth of resources based upon research studies.  This site can be used in conjunction with the three articles in the Psychology Update of October 31, 2016 or in connection with the textbook chapters on child development.

Psychology Website of the Week — For The Professor

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WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

FOR THE PROFESSOR

This site from the Chronicle of Higher Education is specifically for you, the professor.  This week’s entries feature two articles from the Chronicle Of Higher Education section VITAE.  This section of the CHE is aimed at a sympathetic understanding of what, you the professor, must deal with on a week-to-week basis.   The two chosen for this week focus on what happens in the interaction between professor and student around student excuses.  This is informative and entertaining.

The first looks at faculty reactions and strategies regarding students who have not purchased their textbooks at least four weeks into the semester.  The second looks at student excuses for missing the midterm:  the passing of their grandmother (again and again).  Though somewhat dated, about this time of the semester, we, the professorate, need a bit of humor.

#1   Dear Student: It’s February and You Still Don’t Have Your Textbook?

Date:  February 6, 2015

 

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/898-dear-student-it-s-february-and-you-still-don-t-have-your-textbook?cid=VTEVPMSED1

 

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/mo8jj4m

 

#2   Dear Student: Should Your Granny Die Before The Midterm

 

Date:   January 29, 2015

 

https://chroniclevitae.com/news/886-dear-student-should-your-granny-die-before-the-midterm

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/llrl6wm

Psychology Update — Childhood Suicide

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

3 ARTICLES COVERING THE RECENT STUDIES OF SUICIDE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

 

 

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ARTICLE #1:  Pediatricians can help identify suicidal teens

 

DESCRIPTION

“Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in adolescents ages 15 to 19 and the third-leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14, [according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey].”  This article is a straight forward Q&A about teen suicide, prevalence, problems with social media, and identifying potential adolescents who are contemplating suicide.   The focus is on how pediatricians might approach an adolescent patient in bringing up the subject.  Also, advice to parents is highlighted in the article.

 

SOURCE

Baltimore Sun, August 24, 2016, by Andrea K. McDaniels

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-expert-pediatric-suicide-20160824-story.html

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/h8334m2

 

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ARTICLE #2:  Why Young Children Are Dying by Suicide

 

DESCRIPTION

A recent study of child suicide researched “two age groups: 5-11, which accounted for children in elementary school, and early adolescents ages 12-14.”  The study found commonalities in both groups:  mostly male, suicide happened at home, and one-third had been diagnosed with a mental disorder.  Further, it was found that the younger group were more likely diagnosed with ADD and ADHD as well as having significant family problems while the older group were found to have a higher rate of depression and issues with peers and other relationships.  A significant finding was that “Younger children who died by suicide were far more likely to be black than early adolescents—a surprising finding, since suicide rates for young people are consistently higher in white Americans, but one that bolsters recent data finding a rise of suicides in black children and a drop in white children.”
See article #3 below for the actual full study.

 

SOURCE

Time, September 19, 2016, by Mandy Oaklander

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

 

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/zjxqhl6

 

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ARTICLE #3:  Suicide in Elementary School-Aged Children and Early Adolescents

 
DESCRIPTION

This is the actual study that has been summarized by the Time Magazine article above.

It is provided for the purpose understanding how science can provide answers through research.   The study can be used in many ways that include the beginning of the semester when the text covers research methods, as a topic in child development, and also under the abnormal/psychopathology topic in the text book.

The link below opens a pdf of the entire Pediatrics study.

 

SOURCE

 

PEDIATRICS Volume  138 , number  4 ,  October 2016 :e 20160436

Sheftall, A et al (October 2016, VOLUME 138 / ISSUE 4)

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/138/4/e20160436.full.pdf

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/gwvp9dt

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is SUICIDOLOGY?   (study of suicide)

•What are the known statistics for suicide in children and adolescents as compared to the adult population in general?

•What are the demographics for those who attempt suicide?

•What are the findings of the recent Pediatrics study comparing children (elementary school age) to adolescents?

•What is comorbidity?   How does comorbidity play a role in child suicide?

•Why does the article suggest that pediatricians may be on the front line for prevention of suicide in children and adolescents?

 

Psychology Website of the Week —

Posted by & filed under Psychology Website of the Week.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

TITLE

http://edtechteacher.org/apps/

Have Technology:   What do you want your students to do?

URL      

http://edtechteacher.org/apps/

DESCRIPTION

This is a fabulous site!  It offers a multitude of ways to use computers and particularly apps on tablet to complete tasks from presentations, video recording, record keeping, story telling, and so on.

For instructors seeking ways to flip the classroom by having the students develop projects, this site helps provide the tools in terms of devices, apps, and tasks.
Further, this site is a must for high school teachers of Psychology who may see their students 4 or 5 times per week.  The site is an invaluable resource.