Psychology: Science or Religion?

[sherr34]

Thyroid Function
People with bipolar disorder often have abnormal thyroid gland function.4 Because too much or too little thyroid hormone alone can lead to mood and energy changes, it is important that thyroid levels are carefully monitored by a physician.

People with rapid cycling tend to have co-occurring thyroid problems and may need to take thyroid pills in addition to their medications for bipolar disorder. Also, lithium treatment may cause low thyroid levels in some people, resulting in the need for thyroid supplementation.

Medication Side Effects
Before starting a new medication for bipolar disorder, always talk with your psychiatrist and/or pharmacist about possible side effects. Depending on the medication, side effects may include weight gain, nausea, tremor, reduced sexual drive or performance, anxiety, hair loss, movement problems, or dry mouth. Be sure to tell the doctor about all side effects you notice during treatment. He or she may be able to change the dose or offer a different medication to relieve them. Your medication should not be changed or stopped without the psychiatrist's guidance.

Psychosocial Treatments
As an addition to medication, psychosocial treatments—including certain forms of psychotherapy (or "talk" therapy)—are helpful in providing support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Studies have shown that psychosocial interventions can lead to increased mood stability, fewer hospitalizations, and improved functioning in several areas.12 A licensed psychologist, social worker, or counselor typically provides these therapies and often works together with the psychiatrist to monitor a patient's progress. The number, frequency, and type of sessions should be based on the treatment needs of each person.

Psychosocial interventions commonly used for bipolar disorder are cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, family therapy, and a newer technique, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy. NIMH researchers are studying how these interventions compare to one another when added to medication treatment for bipolar disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people with bipolar disorder learn to change inappropriate or negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with the illness.
Psychoeducation involves teaching people with bipolar disorder about the illness and its treatment, and how to recognize signs of relapse so that early intervention can be sought before a full-blown illness episode occurs. Psychoeducation also may be helpful for family members.
Family therapy uses strategies to reduce the level of distress within the family that may either contribute to or result from the ill person's symptoms.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy helps people with bipolar disorder both to improve interpersonal relationships and to regularize their daily routines. Regular daily routines and sleep schedules may help protect against manic episodes.
As with medication, it is important to follow the treatment plan for any psychosocial intervention to achieve the greatest benefit.
Other Treatments
In situations where medication, psychosocial treatment, and the combination of these interventions prove ineffective, or work too slowly to relieve severe symptoms such as psychosis or suicidality, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be considered. ECT may also be considered to treat acute episodes when medical conditions, including pregnancy, make the use of medications too risky. ECT is a highly effective treatment for severe depressive, manic, and/or mixed episodes. The possibility of long-lasting memory problems, although a concern in the past, has been significantly reduced with modern ECT techniques. However, the potential benefits and risks of ECT, and of available alternative interventions, should be carefully reviewed and discussed with individuals considering this treatment and, where appropriate, with family or friends.19
Herbal or natural supplements, such as St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), have not been well studied, and little is known about their effects on bipolar disorder. Because the FDA does not regulate their production, different brands of these supplements can contain different amounts of active ingredient. Before trying herbal or natural supplements, it is important to discuss them with your doctor. There is evidence that St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications.20 In addition, like prescription antidepressants, St. John's wort may cause a switch into mania in some individuals with bipolar disorder, especially if no mood stabilizer is being taken.21
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are being studied to determine their usefulness, alone and when added to conventional medications, for long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.22

[sherr34]

References
1. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27.

2American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1994.

3Hyman SE, Rudorfer MV. Depressive and bipolar mood disorders. In: Dale DC, Federman DD, eds. Scientific American®; Medicine. Vol. 3. New York: Healtheon/WebMD Corp., 2000; Sect. 13, Subsect. II, p. 1.

4Goodwin FK, Jamison KR. Manic-depressive illness. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

5Geller B, Luby J. Child and adolescent bipolar disorder: a review of the past 10 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1997; 36(9): 1168-76.

6NIMH Genetics Workgroup. Genetics and mental disorders. NIH Publication No. 98-4268. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health, 1998.

7Hyman SE. Introduction to the complex genetics of mental disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 1999; 45(5): 518-21.

8Soares JC, Mann JJ. The anatomy of mood disorders—review of structural neuroimaging studies. Biological Psychiatry, 1997; 41(1): 86-106.

9Soares JC, Mann JJ. The functional neuroanatomy of mood disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 1997; 31(4): 393-432.

10Sachs GS, Printz DJ, Kahn DA, Carpenter D, Docherty JP. The expert consensus guideline series: medication treatment of bipolar disorder 2000. Postgraduate Medicine, 2000; Spec No:1-104.

11Sachs GS, Thase ME. Bipolar disorder therapeutics: maintenance treatment. Biological Psychiatry, 2000; 48(6): 573-81.

12Huxley NA, Parikh SV, Baldessarini RJ. Effectiveness of psychosocial treatments in bipolar disorder: state of the evidence. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 2000; 8(3): 126-40.

13Vainionpaa LK, Rattya J, Knip M, Tapanainen JS, Pakarinen AJ, Lanning P, Tekay A, Myllyla VV, Isojarvi JI. Valproate-induced hyperandrogenism during pubertal maturation in girls with epilepsy. Annals of Neurology, 1999; 45(4): 444-50.

14Llewellyn A, Stowe ZN, Strader JR Jr. The use of lithium and management of women with bipolar disorder during pregnancy and lactation. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1998; 59(Suppl 6): 57-64; discussion 65.

15Thase ME, Sachs GS. Bipolar depression: pharmacotherapy and related therapeutic strategies. Biological Psychiatry, 2000; 48(6): 558-72.

16Suppes T, Webb A, Paul B, Carmody T, Kraemer H, Rush AJ. Clinical outcome in a randomized 1-year trial of clozapine versus treatment as usual for patients with treatment-resistant illness and a history of mania. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1999; 156(8): 1164-9.

17Tohen M, Sanger TM, McElroy SL, Tollefson GD, Chengappa KN, Daniel DG, Petty F, Centorrino F, Wang R, Grundy SL, Greaney MG, Jacobs TG, David SR, Toma V. Olanzapine versus placebo in the treatment of acute mania. Olanzapine HGEH Study Group. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1999; 156(5): 702-9.

18Rothschild AJ, Bates KS, Boehringer KL, Syed A. Olanzapine response in psychotic depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1999; 60(2): 116-8.

19U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mental health: a report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

20Henney JE. Risk of drug interactions with St. John's wort. From the Food and Drug Administration. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2000; 283(13): 1679.

21Nierenberg AA, Burt T, Matthews J, Weiss AP. Mania associated with St. John's wort. Biological Psychiatry, 1999; 46(12): 1707-8.

22Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, Rueter S, Zboyan HA, Diamond E, Cress KK, Marangell LB. Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1999; 56(5): 407-12.

23Strakowski SM, DelBello MP. The co-occurrence of bipolar and substance use disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 2000; 20(2): 191-206.

24Mueser KT, Goodman LB, Trumbetta SL, Rosenberg SD, Osher FC, Vidaver R, Auciello P, Foy DW. Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in severe mental illness. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998; 66(3): 493-9.

25Strakowski SM, Sax KW, McElroy SL, Keck PE Jr, Hawkins JM, West SA. Course of psychiatric and substance abuse syndromes co-occurring with bipolar disorder after a first psychiatric hospitalization. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1998; 59(9): 465-71.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Chan

Your use of this passage in this way is evil!

What you're essentially saying is that "Well, it doesn't directly contradict a specific passage of scripture, so that means it must be in harmony with scripture and, thus, it's okay for us to rely on it."

Muahahahaha.......Being the evil person that I am, of course I would use scripture in an evil way! Would you really expect anything less?

And regarding your second statement, for clarification, I stated that if something wasn't contrary to not only scripture, but scriptural principles............and YES, it's OK to rely it if it meets that qualification, as far as I'm concerned. Sorry that tweaks your beak!

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

You must not understand(or probably care to) the origin of psychology. Chan is correct. The 'scientific' basis for it is in serious question.

yes i understand psycholgy VERY WELL!

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I thought I'd peak in...*quietly slipping out*

lol.....join the fun.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

You must not understand(or probably care to) the origin of psychology. Chan is correct. The 'scientific' basis for it is in serious question.

I understand where Chan is coming from on both counts. #1 that Psychology is not a "perfect" science. #2 Why he is calling it a worldly/evil philosophy.

My point is twofold:

#1 There are certainly things in psychology that I believe are contrary to scripture and scriptural principles.

#2 There are certainly things in psychology that are NOT contrary to scripture and scriptural principles.

So the mature and wise Christian simply "eats" the meat and throws away the bones! It really is not that difficult.

Two cases in point would be: Maxell Maltz's "Psycho-Cybernetics, and James Allen's "As A Man Thinketh." There are things in both of these books I don't agree with, but if you read them, it is easy to see (at least for me) that both of these men have some biblical background and many of the things they write are right on target biblically and are VERY helpful.

[MrRight]

If God made our minds, why is it wrong to study and try to undertand it?
Is it wrong to wrtie about what we understand an study?

I guess I don't get the big deal.

[Trouvere]

people who have abused drugs and alcohol have imbalances due to nerve and brain cell death and damage.Certain functions in our bodies need chemical messangers and that is a fact.God can heal this but it doesn't alway happen right away and never happens for some.Sad but true.In these instances I can understand needing things like lithium.Lithium is a salt but is not without side effects.Jail is full of people who have destroyed themselves and others due to
chemical abuse.

[ManOfWord]

Here's my theory, it may be full of hot air, but then again, it may not either:

We are killing ourselves and creating more and more people with chemical imbalances in their brains due the US's food supply being FAR from the natural mineral content etc, and the use of chemicals to enhance growth for profit.

No amount of counselling or scripture will fix a chemical imbalance outside of a miracle, which I fully believe in. In that respect, psychiatry & psychology can help.

I just recieved word tonight that a man committed suicide who was seemed to be an excellent Dad and husband. He even got everything in order in regards to paper work, insurance etc. He had been receiving some counselling, but apparently, too little too late. This is so sad.

If he only could have received some "smarmy" comments about taking two scriptures and everything being OK.

[tv1a]

Chan's philosophy lacks biblical precedence since the Apostle Paul cited pagan poets in messages, and his epistles. Psychology lining up with scripture is no different than quoting pagan poets. If every word in the Bible is divinely inspired by God, than God used a pagan poet on more than one occasion to display a biblical truth. One doesn't have to throw out the baby with the bath water.

BTW, who ever says there is no physical evidence people are bi-polar have'nt looked at pictures of brain activities of bi-polar people. There is a noticable scientific difference.