Psychology Update — The Case Of Larry Hogue

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The Case Of Larry Hogue

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NOTE:  This article can be used as a case study to integrate the chapters on Psychological Disorders and Forensic science.

Though this is a well known case in the New York area, others may not know how one man, Larry Hogue, terrorized a neighborhood for years.  It is a tragic case in that Mr. Hogue, a veteran, became drug addicted and most likely suffered from PTSD in addition to psychosis.  In and out of hospitals yet refusing treatment and, more than just an annoyance, terrorized and threatened the people in the area.  Questions arise from the case regarding veterans, PTSD, drug abuse, civil commitment, and forensic (law and psychology) issues.  “The case of Larry Hogue, the “wild man” of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, seems at first glance to raise a profound conflict between civil liberties and public safety.”  The third reference from City Journal details another similar case.

The case works really well for class discussion and an extra credit writing assignment as well.

SOURCE

a – New York Times, The ‘Wild Man’ and the Law, Published: August 29, 1992
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/29/opinion/the-wild-man-and-the-law.html

b – Heather Mac Donald
Have We Crossed the Line?
The Human Cost of Deinstitutionalization

Winter 1993
http://www.city-journal.org/story.php?id=1148

c – ‘Wild Man’ of SoHo Haunts the Neighborhood’s Streets, Locals Say

City Journal, A quarterly magazine of urban affairs, published by the Manhattan Institute, By Andrea Swalec | June 6, 2013 7:33pm

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130606/soho/wild-man-of-soho-haunts-neighborhood-streets

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is civil commitment?
•What is deinstitutionalization?
•In terms of the “mentally ill,” what is the conflict between public safety issues and civil liberties?
Could anything be done in advance to stop him from taking action given the warning signs?
•How would that diagnosis be viewed today according legal and psychological standards?
•In terms of forensics (Law and Psychology):  What do the terms “sane” and “insane” mean?
•Have the students discuss the use of the “case study” as a method in Psychology.

 

Psychology Update — Washing Dishes Is a Really Great Stress Reliever, Science Says

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Washing Dishes Is a Really Great Stress Reliever, Science Says

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Can a simple task bring stress relief?  Researchers divided students into two groups with the task of just washing dishes.  One group read a descriptive paragraph about dish washing while the comparison group read a passage about dish washing as a mindfulness activity.  Post dishwashing measures found that the mindfulness group significantly increased scores on feelings of positive affect (labeled “inspiration”) and lower scores on negative affective (stress and (nervousness”) measurements than the other group.  “It appears that an everyday activity approached with intentionality and awareness may enhance the state of mindfulness.”

SOURCE

Time Magazine, September 30, 2015, by Alexandra Sifferlin

Original source:  Hanley, A.W. and others, (2015), Washing Dishes to Wash the Dishes: Brief Instruction in an Informal Mindfulness Practice, Mindfulness, 6(5), 1095-1103.

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4056280/washing-dishes-stress-relief-mindfulness/

Link to original:  http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-014-0360-9

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is stress? (describe in both biological, psychological, and emotional terms)
•How does stress affect both physical health and psychological health?
•What does “mindfulness” purport to do?  Are their empirical studies to prove these claims?
•How can doing simple manual tasks offer stress relief?  Ask the students to discuss, anecdotally, their own experiences as a “student engagement” activity.

TAGS

Mindfulness, Stress, Stress Management, Dish washing, Activities and Stress Management, Meditation

Psychology Website of the Week — EMDR Institute

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WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

EMDR Institute

URL    

http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

DESCRIPTION

From the site:   Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories (Shapiro, 1989a, 1989b).

NOTE:  This particular technique has gained traction in the treating of PTSD.   It is used with clients suffering PTSD (soldiers and other types of trauma victims) and has shown to be efficacious through studies.

This technique and site could be useful in a class discussion of PTSD and techniques of Psychotherapy for PTSD.

Psychology Update — Climb In, Tune In: A Renaissance for Sensory Deprivation Tanks

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Climb In, Tune In: A Renaissance for Sensory Deprivation Tanks

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In the 1950s, John Lilly writing, on issues of “altered states of consciousness,” experimented with sensory deprivation via a large tank filled with mineral salts that enabled the user to literally float on water.  Low or no lighting and little in the way of  sounds, added to the sensory deprivation experience.  Individuals reported that they would go into an altered state of high relaxation, clarity, and even hallucinate just by floating.  Many even stated that the experience was similar to being on a psychedelic drug.  D.O. Hebb did many classic experiments on sensory deprivation and also warned that such experiences (such as solitary confinement) could be damaging.

The article points out that around the country, the floating tanks are making a comeback at centers, where for a fee, anyone can enjoy the experience.  While the main benefit maybe be a relaxing de-stressing experience, many are making unfounded claims that the experience can be useful for all sorts of physical and emotional ills.   A number of issues are discussed in the article including “sanitary” concerns.  For teaching, the article is best coupled with the chapters on sleep and consciousness.

SOURCE

New York Times, October 17, 2015, by Julie Turkewitz

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/us/climb-in-tune-in-a-renaissance-for-sensory-deprivation-tanks.html?emc=eta1

(shortened URL)   http://tinyurl.com/ptsc9ao

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is the meaning of “states of consciousness?”
•What is sensory deprivation?  What are the results of the original studies by Hebb?
•After reading the article:   how do these floating tanks induce a so-called altered state?
•Critical thinking question:  What kind of research would need to be conducted to actually determine whether there is any beneficial consequence of floating in a tank?

TAGS

States of Consciousness, Sensory Deprivation, Floater Tanks, D.O. Hebb, John Lilly

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK — Sleep Paralysis and Dreams

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WEBSITES OF THE WEEK

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Sleep Paralysis and Dreams

URL  

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis

http://www.dreamsnightmares.com/sleepparalysis.html

http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolinekee/sleep-paralysis-is-scary-af#.ycvAokpE6

DESCRIPTION

Frequently during discussing stages of sleep and especially when the topic of REM sleep and Dreaming come up in class, a student will ask questions about sleep paralysis.  The student may not use the term but will allude to something like an imp or “witch is riding on their back.”   These are three interesting sites that discuss the phenomenon.  The first from WebMD is more authoritative and accurate, while the other two sites are fun for students to view.  This works well for student engagement.  It is speculated that those claiming being the victim of an  “alien abduction” may actually have experience the sleep paralysis state also know as the “Incubus Dream.”

Psychology Update — MDMA Psychotherapy Could Be Legal In Just Five Years FDA approval of the treatment for PTSD is on the horizon

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MDMA Psychotherapy Could Be Legal In Just Five Years
FDA approval of the treatment for PTSD is on the horizon.

DESCRIPTION

Currently, some researchers are studying whether MDMA, also known as Molly and Ecstasy, can be used in a psychotherapeutic setting.   The current research in its first phase has shown promising results according to the researchers.  This Huffington Post article briefly discusses the use of MDMA and also includes an interview with researcher Rick Doblin.   From the article:  “Here’s how it works: MDMA is an empathogen, which means it stimulates areas of the brain associated with feelings of love, connection and empathy. When used under the guidance of trained clinicians, it can allow patients with PTSD to explore traumatic memories in a safe, nonthreatening way.”  Following FDA approval protocols, the research must continue through two further experimental phases before MDMA usage can be approved along with psychotherapy protocols for training clinicians — the earliest date for approved use would be 2021.

SOURCE

Huffington Post, October 20, 2015, by Carolyn Gregoire

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mdma-psychotherapy-may-be-legal-in-just-five-years_56266075e4b08589ef4902ca?ir=Science%253Fncid%253Dnewsltushpmg00000003

(shortened URL)    http://tinyurl.com/nkez6g8

The government’s drug facts site for MDMA:

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/mdma-ecstasy-or-molly

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is MDMA?
•How is it used as the recreational drugs ecstasy and Molly?
•What are the reported effects of the drugs (both positive and negative)?
•What is being “claimed” as the positive effects in the psychotherapy realm?
•The article briefly discusses the FDA experimental phases for approval:   ask the students to read the brief section and explain how this integrates with the scientific method.

TAGS

MDMA Therapy, Ecstasy, Molly, Psychedelics Pharmacology, Empathogens

Psychology Update — The Story of the First Mass Murder in U.S. History

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The Story of the First Mass Murder in U.S. History

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NOTE:  This article can be used as a case study to integrate the chapters on Psychological Disorders and Forensic science.

This is the horrifying story of Howard Unruh who might be considered the truly first mass murderer in the United States.  The case dates back to 1949 in Camden, NJ, when Unruh went on a shooting spree killing at least 13 people.  The story, detailed in the Smithsonian blog, fairly well elucidates the events leading up to the events.  The reader (students) will find it fascinating.  The case explores Unruh’s psychological, emotional, and mental state leading up to the event.  Further, it examines the issue of diagnosis and the sanity/insanity plea as understood by the courts at the time.

From the article:  “On Oct. 20, 1949, a Camden County judge signed a final order of commitment based on a diagnosis of “dementia praecox, mixed type, with pronounced catatonic and paranoid coloring.” In standard parlance, he was declared a paranoid schizophrenic. Unruh was considered too mentally ill to stand trial, although the murder indictment remained if ever he were “cured.” Unruh’s initial diagnosis may have been wrong, and that today, he would have been found “legally sane” to stand trial.  The article speculates on the issue of the diagnosis as seen through today’s nosology.

SOURCE

Smithsonian Magazine, smithsonian.com, October 14, 2015, by Patrick Sauer

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-first-mass-murder-us-history-180956927/?utm_source=smithsoniantopic&no-ist

(shortened URL)   http://tinyurl.com/npsyxo4

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Who was Howard Unruh?  According to the case, what did he do?
•What were the events leading up to the mass murder?
•Could anything be done in advance to stop him from taking action given the warning signs?
•According to the article, what was his diagnosis based on the 1949 understanding?  How would that diagnosis be viewed today according to the article?
•In terms of forensics (Law and Psychology):  What do the terms “sane” and “insane” mean?
•How does the Howard Unruh case foreshadow the tragic events in today’s mass violence and murders?
•Have the students discuss the use of the “case study” as a method in Psychology.

 

Psychology Update — How Safe is Hypnosis?

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How Safe is Hypnosis?

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After a recent lawsuit in Florida (http://tinyurl.com/pog3btt) wherein the principal of a high school hypnotized three students who subsequently died (2 suicide and one auto accident), the question of the safety and validity of hypnosis has come into question. “Dr. Andrew Weil, a physician and leading expert in integrative medicine, says hypnosis is safe and effective, adding that the practice would benefit from more study.”  Hypnosis is often portrayed negatively in  the media, yet has been used for centuries by practitioners in positive healthful ways.  As the legal case settled, there was no final determination as to culpability in that no ruling was made as to whether hypnosis played a role in the deaths of the three students.

SOURCE

Time, October 9, 2015, By Alexandra Sifferlin

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4068201/how-safe-is-hypnosis/

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is hypnosis?  What are the realities and myths of how it functions?
•How is it explained in Psychology textbooks as a “state of consciousness??
•Is hypnosis a valid therapeutic tool?
*If yes to the last question:  for what types of problems has it been show to be effective?
•If possible, discuss the history of hypnosis in Psychology in terms of the work of Charcot and Freud.

 

Psychology Update — When Girls Compulsively Text, Their Grades Suffer

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When Girls Compulsively Text, Their Grades Suffer

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This study examined texting behaviors in boys and girls in 8th to 11th grade in a rural Midwestern American town.  The study found that there were no gender difference in the frequency/amount of texting.  However, girls self-reported more compulsive texting and experiencing more negative emotions if texting were prevented.  “Compulsive texting is more complex than frequency of texting,” said lead author Kelly Lister-Landman…It involves trying and failing to cut back on texting, becoming defensive when challenged about the behavior, and feeling frustrated when one can’t do it.”  Further, there was more evidence that girls’ rather than boys’ grades were negatively affected by compulsive texting.

SOURCE

Time, October 13, 2015, by Tanya Basu

Original Source:

Lister-Landman, K. M., Domoff, S. E., & Dubow, E. F. (2015, October 5). The Role of Compulsive Texting in Adolescents’ Academic Functioning.
Psychology of Popular Media Culture. Advance online publication.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000100

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4061560/compulsive-texting-boys-girls/

Original Source:

http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/ppm-ppm0000100.pdf

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Discussion:  begin with a class survey (for engagement) of how many? and how often the students text?
•Discussion:  how many would have negative feelings if prevented from texting?
•How many have difficulty actually turning off their phones?  (not simply silent or vibrate)
•How many feel (self-report) that their texting behavior interferes with their studying?
•Discuss the difference between “compulsion” and “addiction.”

 

Psychology Update — Expectant Dads Get the Blues, Too

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Expectant Dads Get the Blues, Too

DESCRIPTION

A small study surveyed behavioral issues in men comparing symptom patterns that differentiated the first two trimesters of pregnancy from patterns during the third trimester.  Researchers asked the men “…to rank their mood, physical activity, sleep quality, financial stress, and marital dynamics over the six months prior to birth. The result: 13.3% of dads reported symptoms of depression.”  The rankings on each of the scales were higher for these men.  This suggests that fathers-to-be get screened prior to the birth of the child as a means of prevention just as the women would be screened.  The researchers plan to examine the postnatal period for depression in the fathers in a future study.

SOURCE

Time, October 6, 2015, by Tanya Basu

Original:   Da Costa, D and others, (September 18, 2015) Dads Get Sad Too: Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Expectant First-Time Fathers, Am J Mens Health  1557988315606963

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4062761/expectant-dads-depression/

Original:

http://jmh.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/09/16/1557988315606963

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Discussion:  how is depressive affect in men characterized behaviorally?
•What types of symptoms are measured in men in the study? (listed in article)
•What might be hypothesized/projected for those rating higher depression during the postnatal period?
•Though not in the article, can the students suggest preventative health steps that might be taken for these men to ameliorate any postnatal effects?

TAGS

men and prenatal (antenatal) depression, fathers-to-be psychological issues, men and postnatal depression, men and behavioral symptoms in depression