Bimodal distribution of fatty acids in recurrent major depressive disorder.

Bentsen et al. (1) recently tested the hypothesis that red blood cell (RBC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are bimodally distributed in schizophrenia and related psychoses. In their study, sums of total, ?3, and ?6 PUFA concentrations were indeed bimodally distributed, as opposed to one normal distribution for sums of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs).

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Art on trial : art therapy in capital murder cases

This book describes the role of the arttherapist as an expert witness in a murdercase, the way to use art as evidence, and the conclusions and assessments that professionals can draw from a defendant's artworks. It examines the effectiveness of expert testimony as evaluated by the prosecution, defense, and court, and weights the moral, ethical and legal consequences of relying of such evidence. It presents an account of the ability of art to reflect a damaged and dangerous psyche.

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Adulthood trauma and HPA-axis functioning in healthy subjects and PTSD patients: a meta-analysis

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis dysregulation has inconsistently been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, trauma exposure rather than PTSD may be responsible for HPA-axis dysregulation. In two meta-analyses, we assessed the association of adulthood trauma exposure and HPA-axis functioning in healthy subjects with and without PTSD. A literature search in Pubmed and PsychInfo, using keywords and MeSH terms such as cortisol, emotional trauma, and PTSD, was performed.

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Affect Regulation and HIV Risk Among Youth in Therapeutic Schools

The acquisition of affect regulation skills is often impaired or delayed in youth with mental health problems but the relationship between affect dysregulation and risk behaviors has not been well studied. Baseline data from adolescents (N-á=-á417, ages 13GÇô19) recruited from therapeutic school settings examined the relationship between affect dysregulation, substance use, self-cutting, and sexual risk behavior.

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Acculturation and post-disaster mental health problems among affected and non-affected immigrants: A comparative study

BackgroundIt is unknown to what extent acculturation among disaster-affected immigrants is associated with mental health problems (MHP) compared to non-affected immigrants.MethodsWe examined the associations between acculturation and post-disaster MHP among affected and non-affected immigrants in The Netherlands.ResultsAmong the affected group, keeping norms and values of original culture and limited skills to cope with the demands of the new society were independently associated with PTSD-symptomatology, anxiety, depression, hostility, and somatic problems at 18 months post-event.

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Adult attachment representations predict cortisol and oxytocin responses to stress

There are many factors contributing to individual variations in the response to stressful experiences. The present study evaluated the patterns of stress responses according to attachment representations in 28 adults from a community sample, plus 46 subjects expected to be particularly sensitive to stress, having been exposed during childhood and/or adolescence to traumatizing events such as abuse or potentially lethal illnesses.

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A meta-analysis of imagery rehearsal for post-trauma nightmares: affects on nightmare frequency, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress

This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of imagery rehearsal as a treatment for nightmares, general sleep disturbance, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Bibliographic databases and cited references were searched to identify clinical trials of imagery rehearsal in individuals with post-trauma nightmares. Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria and reported sleep and post-traumatic stress outcomes in sufficient detail to calculate effect sizes.

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A parricidal memory: Flanders' memorial universe as product and producer of Belgian history

This article examines how the Belgian patriotic collective memory in Flanders during the 20th century was supplanted by a Flemish Nationalist counter memory. The article starts with a semiotic analysis of some concrete commemorative practices and discourses surrounding the brothers Van Raemdonck, two Flemish soldiers who died during the First World War and were venerated as Flemish heroes. Next, these cases are situated in some larger themes and tendencies dominating the intellectual construction of Flemish National collective memory during the 19th and 20th centuries.

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A Phenomenological Analysis of Disaster-Related Experiences in Fire and Emergency Medical Services Personnel

This article explores the experiences of fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel during and immediately after a technological event using a phenomenological approach. Personnel engaged in the rescue operations during and immediately after the Ghislenghien gas explosion reflected upon their experiences in their responses to a specially designed, self-reporting questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Firefighters reported more perceived threat and direct exposure to death than did EMS personnel.

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A Quarter of cases of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is with delayed onset

This month’s guest post is by Geert Smid. Geert is a psychiatrist with Foundation Centrum ’45, the Dutch national institute for specialized diagnosis and mental health treatment after persecution, war and violence. He is also a researcher at Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group. Geert completed his PhD on Delayed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 2011 with a number of beautiful publications. He’ll make your brain work a little on this very topic:

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