A Monongraph Series Devoted To The Understanding of Medicine, Mental Health, Mind , Man And Their Maxtrix
Abstract Contrary to the widely-held view that our conscious states are necessarily private (in that only one person can ever experience them directly), in this paper I argue that it is possible for a person to directly experience the conscious states of another. This possibility removes an obstacle to thinking of conscious states as physical, […]
Mindmelding: Connected Brains and the Problem of Consciousness Read More »
Abstract Covert treatment raises a number of ethical and practical issues in psychiatry. Viewpoints differ from the standpoint of psychiatrists, caregivers, ethicists, lawyers, neighbours, human rights activists and patients. There is little systematic research data on its use but it is quite certain that there is relatively widespread use. The veil of secrecy around the
Covert Treatment in Psychiatry: Do No Harm, True, But Also Dare to Care Read More »
Abstract Spiritual practices have been proposed to have many beneficial effects as far as mental health is concerned. The exact neural basis of these effects is slowly coming to light and different imaging techniques have elucidated the neural basis of meditative practices. The evidence though preliminary and based on studies replete with methodological constraints, points
Neurobiology of Spirituality Read More »
Abstract This paper proposes that eight positive emotions: awe, love (attachment), trust (faith), compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, joy and hope constitute what we mean by spirituality. These emotions have been grossly ignored by psychiatry. The two sciences that I shall employ to demonstrate this definition of spirituality will be ethology and neuroscience. They are both very
Positive Emotions, Spirituality and the Practice of Psychiatry Read More »
Abstract The debate about “race” and “intelligence” seems to be never ending. The “special nature” of the intelligence ascribed to “Jews” has recently reappeared in an essay by one of the authors of the notorious study of race and intelligence – The Bell Curve. How this debate is constructed and what its implications are for
Are Jews Smarter Than Everyone Else? Read More »
Abstract For centuries medicine was predominantly a tradition-based “trade” until the introduction of science transformed it into an intellectually rigorous discipline. That transformation contributed heavily to the dominance in medical education of the learning of biomedical concepts (“knowing that”) over learning how to translate that knowledge into clinical performance (“knowing how”). The recent emergence of
Focus on Performance: The 21st Century Revolution in Medical Education Read More »
To be unbiased and represent best practice, medical guidelines should be free of industry influence, carefully vetted among experts in the field and encompass treatments widely accepted based on difficult to refute evidence (Shaneyfelt, Mayo-Smith and Rothwang, 2006; Grilli, et al., 2000; Grissom, 2000). These requirements are even more important if individual guideline recommendations are to be grouped
Introduction Recent years have seen the emergence of values-based practice as the “philosophy into practice” cutting edge of the new interdisciplinary field of philosophy of psychiatry. In this editorial I start with a brief outline of the relationship between values, values-based medicine, and values-based practice in clinical decision-making. I then describe a number of key
Introduction Perspectives that lead to war, greed, and divisive propaganda dominate the world stage at present. Despite this, there is hope for greater well-being if people begin to express what we now know about the sources of peace, love, and happiness. For many years the science of well-being was limited by uncertainty about valid measures
On Well-Being: Current Research Trends And Future Directions Read More »
Psychiatrist, Teacher, Mentor,… Quietly Effulgent I have to record with deep sorrow and grief the demise in June 2007 of one of the doyens of clinical psychiatry in India, Prof. N.S. Vahia. Sharply arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, soft spoken and gentle demeanour, excellent clinical skills, abiding interest in all branches of psychiatry, and a keen
In Revered Memory of Prof. N.S. Vahia, M.D Read More »