AAAS: Mapping the brain – Only connect | The Economist

Are psychiatric disorders, which leave no visible trace in the brain, caused by connectopathies? The American Association for the Advancement of Science: mapping the brain: Only connect | The Economist.

Madness or sadness? Local concepts of mental illness in four conflict-affected African communities (Abstract)

http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/7/1/3/abstract

Madness or sadness? Local concepts of mental illness in four conflict-affected African communities

Conflict and Health 2013, 7:3 doi:10.1186/1752-1505-7-3

Published: 18 February 2013

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Concepts of ‘what constitutes mental illness’, the presumed aetiology and preferred treatment options, vary considerably from one cultural context to another. Knowledge and understanding of these local conceptualisations is essential to inform public mental health programming and policy.

Methods

Participants from four locations in Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were invited to describe ‘problems they knew of that related to thinking, feeling and behaviour?’ Data were collected over 31 focus groups discussions (251 participants) and key informant interviews with traditional healers and health workers.

Results

While remarkable similarities occurred across all settings, there were also striking differences. In all areas, participants were able to describe localized syndromes characterized by severe behavioural and cognitive disturbances with considerable resemblance to psychotic disorders. Additionally, respondents throughout all settings described local syndromes that included sadness and social withdrawal as core features. These syndromes had some similarities with nonpsychotic mental disorders, such as major depression or anxiety disorders, but also differed significantly. Aetiological concepts varied a great deal within each setting, and attributed causes varied from supernatural to psychosocial and natural. Local syndromes resembling psychotic disorders were seen as an abnormality in need of treatment, although people did not really know where to go. Local syndromes resembling nonpsychotic mental disorders were not regarded as a ‘medical’ disorder, and were therefore also not seen as a condition for which help should be sought within the biomedical health-care system. Rather, such conditions were expected to improve through social and emotional support from relatives, traditional healers and community members.

Conclusions

Local conceptualizations have significant implications for the planning of mental-health interventions in resource-poor settings recovering from conflict. Treatment options for people suffering from severe mental disorders should be made available to people, preferably within general health care facilities. For people suffering from local syndromes characterized by loss or sadness, the primary aim for public mental health interventions would be to empower existing social support systems already in place at local levels, and to strengthen social cohesion and self-help within communities.

How virtual science communities are transforming academic research | Elsevier Connect

How virtual science communities are transforming academic research | Elsevier Connect.

Nature Neuroscience: Focus on Memory

This special focus includes reviews by Daniel Schacter & Elizabeth Loftus (memory and law) and Ryan Parsons & Kerry Ressler (ptsd and fear disorders):

Editorial

Focus on Memory

Focus on Memory pp111

doi:10.1038/nn0213-111

top

Commentary

Focus on Memory

Memory and law: what can cognitive neuroscience contribute? pp119–123

Daniel Schacter & Elizabeth F Loftus

doi:10.1038/nn.3294

top

Perspectives

Focus on Memory

Epigenetics and persistent memory: implications for reconsolidation and silent extinction beyond the zero pp124–129

K Matthew Lattal & Marcelo A Wood

doi:10.1038/nn.3302

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Reviews

Focus on Memory

Implications of memory modulation for post-traumatic stress and fear disorders pp146–153

Ryan G Parsons & Kerry J Ressler

doi:10.1038/nn.3296

Cornelia Bargmann, Judith Rapoport on Charlie Rose Brain Series 2: Schizophrenia

The show includes Danny Hurley, who shares his first-person experiences with the disorder (link to video).