Stereospecificity of the prosocial and neurotoxic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in mice

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a substituted phenethylamine that became popular as a recreational drug (ecstasy) and therapeutic tool during the late 1970's and early 1980's. Escalating recreational use led to its prohibition, but scientific interest in the drug has persisted due to its unique prosocial effects. Under clinical observation, volunteers report that MDMA increases feelings of closeness towards others, empathy, and sociability. In addition to these acute effects, there is accumulating evidence that MDMA can have powerful and enduring therapeutic benefits.

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The intrinsic interlinkage between peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support : The International Association for Human Values model of integrated psychosocial peace building

Abstract

 

In view of the evolving discussion on bridging the mental health and psychosocial support and peacebuilding fields, this article proposes that they don’t need to be bridged, but are already intrinsically interlinked. The approach and methodology of the International Association for Human Values is presented as a conceptual and practical model of integrated peacebuilding, both addressing a gap in peacebuilding as well as working complementary to traditional mental health and psychosocial support methods.

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Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience programme : experiential education towards resilience and trauma informed people and practice

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War, genocide, gender based violence, structural oppression and other forms of chronic violence and social upheaval can reveal and cultivate tremendous strength and resilience. They can also gravely harm people in body, mind and spirit, both individually and collectively. These harms can lead people to act in on self and act out against others, entrapping us in cycles of violence. Many strategies can assist in breaking free from cycles of violence and building resilience.

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Exploring the link between trauma and truth in post conflict societies : comparing post conflict Northern Ireland and post apartheid South Africa

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While much has been written in academia about trauma and truth as singular subjects in post conflict societies, there is a lack of research that investigates the relationship between these foci. This project investigated this underexplored link and uncovered themes that emerged through a rigorous literature review of existing research coupled with semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with professionals working in the fields of trauma and truth across Northern Ireland and South Africa.

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Trauma informed restorative justice through community based sociotherapy in Rwanda

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A reflection on narrative based historical memory work in peacebuilding processes

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Peacebuilding and psychosocial intervention : the critical need to address everyday post conflict experiences in northern Uganda

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The complex set of phenomena posed by societies affected by violence has prompted calls for integration and coordination between peacebuilding and psychosocial work. The ways in which psychosocial support interventions are implemented can contribute to, or impede, the peacebuilding process. In northern Uganda, a rise in cases of suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse has pointed to the pressing need to better understand the experiences and stressors of individuals and communities navigating post conflict life.

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Building sustainable peace through an integrated approach to peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support : a literature review

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Posttraumatic world assumptions among treatment-seeking refugees.

Abstract

The clinical relevance of negative changes in cognitions about oneself, others, and the world is reflected in the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-5 and complex posttraumatic stress disorder in the ICD-11. Although such changes in cognition have been posited to be especially relevant for traumatised refugees, few studies have examined this in refugee populations.

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Systematic search of Bayesian statistics in the field of psychotraumatology

In recent years there has been increased interest in Bayesian analysis in many disciplines  Bayesianmethods implement Bayes’ theorem, which states that prior beliefs are updated with data, and this process produces updated beliefs about model parameters.

The prior is based on how much information we believe we have preceding data collection, as well as how accurate we believe that information to be. Within Bayesian statistics, priors can come fromany source; for example, a meta-analysis, a previous study or, even, expert consensus.

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