Harvard Mental Health Letter articles from August 2005

Harvard Mental Health Letter archives from August 2005

Conversion disorder.
August 1, 2005... A woman collapses at home and is brought to a hospital, apparently paralyzed and numb on her right side. But her reflexes are normal, and sensation is lost only in the right arm and right leg -- not the usual pattern resulting from a stroke....

Magnetic stimulation of the brain: An update.
August 1, 2005... In recent decades, scientists have developed electrical and magnetic devices for observing the brain in action -- remembering, deciding, experiencing emotion -- in ways that were once unimaginable. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)...

What is the problem, and who says?(evaluating patients)
August 1, 2005... In deciding how to evaluate the problems of their clients and patients, therapists inevitably rely largely on what they say about themselves in interviews, on questionnaires, and in standard psychological tests. But we don't always know...

In brief; How advertising affects prescriptions.
August 1, 2005... Advertising prescription drugs directly to the public on television has become big business, and its effects are being contemplated with apprehension or satisfaction. Advocates say the ads are educational and encourage the use of effective...

Questions & Answers: What are methamphetamine's risks?
August 1, 2005... Q. What are the dangers of methamphetamine? A. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that can be snorted, smoked, or injected. It is less expensive and possibly more addictive than cocaine or heroin. It first became popular as a recreational drug...