Sensponsive Architecture as a Tool to Stimulate the Senses and Alleviate the Psychological Disorders of an Individual.

Sensponsive architecture as a tool to stimulate the senses and alleviate the psychological disorders of an individual.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Cogn Process. 2012 Jul 17;
Liapi M, Linaraki D, Voradaki G

The paper presents an ongoing research project that aims to help individuals with mild psychological disorders, like depression, to reduce the use of medication and escape a possible addiction to drugs by transforming their immediate or broader living space into a sensponsive environment. It is an innovative, multidisciplinary, non-invasive approach through the domains of architecture, computer science, psychology and endocrinology. Initially, the paper presents the connections between space and human behavior, and specifically, the ways in which the spatial qualities of the surrounding environment affect the human senses and consequently the hormonal changes and the production of the corresponding emotions and actions. As a next step, the paper outlines the creation of sensponsive environments that are programmed to sense human discomfort by monitoring changes in facial expression and body movement and respond to them accordingly by transforming their spatial elements in order to make people feel better. The proposed sensponsive spaces are equipped with biomedical monitoring systems, smart materials and sensor-actuator assemblies with programmed re-actions (haptic, olfactory, chromatic and so on) that help people refine their feeling of the surrounding space, guiding its smooth transition to a comfortable-for the body and the mind-place. The paper concludes with the next step of this research initiative, the sensponsive suit, a personalized wearable assembly enhanced with technology to positively affect the psychological health of the wearer.
HubMed – addiction

 

Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol: Pharmacological Properties, Functional Features, and Emerging Specificities of the Two Major Endocannabinoids.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Mol Neurobiol. 2012 Jul 17;
Luchicchi A, Pistis M

Since the discovery of endocannabinoids and their receptors, two major members of the endocannabinoid family, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), have been regarded almost as twin brothers. Pharmacological properties were initially considered to be similar, as these molecules were believed mutually exchangeable and almost indistinguishable in the regulation of synaptic functions, such as long- and short-term synaptic plasticity, and in behavioral aspects, such as learning and memory, reward and addiction, antinociception, and anxiety. In recent years, however, endocannabinoid signaling specificity began to emerge, in particular, due to the production of genetically engineered mice lacking key enzymes in endocannabinoid synthesis or degradation, together with the development of selective inhibitors of AEA or 2-AG catabolic enzymes. Evidence now suggests that AEA and 2-AG possess specific pharmacological properties, are engaged in different forms of synaptic plasticity, and take part in different behavioral functions. In this review, we provide an overview on similarities and specificities of the two endocannabinoids in the CNS and on the unresolved questions concerning their role in synaptic signaling.
HubMed – addiction

 

Chronically ill Canadians’ experiences of being unattached to a family doctor: a qualitative study of marginalized patients in British Columbia.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

BMC Fam Pract. 2012 Jul 16; 13(1): 69
Crooks VA, Agarwal G, Harrison A

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Unattached patients do not have a regular primary care provider. Initiatives are being developed to increase attachment rates across Canada. Most existing attention paid to patient unattachment has focused on quantifying the problem and health system costs. Our purpose is to qualitatively identify the implications of chronically ill patients’ experiences of unattachment for health policy and planning to provide policy-relevant insights for Canadian attachment initiatives. METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted with marginalized chronically ill individuals residing in a mid-sized city in British Columbia who are unattached to a family doctor. We use the term marginalized as a descriptor to acknowledge that by virtue of their low socio-economic status and lack of attachment the participants are marginalized in Canada’s health care system Focus groups were structured as an open conversation organized around a series of probing questions. They were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed. RESULTS: Twenty-six individuals participated in the focus groups. The most common chronic illnesses reported were active drug addiction or recovery (and their associated symptoms), depression, arthritis, and hepatitis C. Participants identified life transitions as being the root cause for not having a family doctor. There was a strong sense that unsuccessful attempts to get a family doctor reflected that they were undesirable patients. Participants wanted to experience having a trusting relationship with a regular family doctor as they believed it would encourage greater honesty and transparency. One of the main health concerns regarding lack of access to a regular family doctor is that participants lacked access to preventative care. Participants were also concerned about having a discontinuous medical record due to unattachment. CONCLUSIONS: Participants perceived that there are many benefits to be had by having attachment to a regular family doctor and that experiencing unattachment challenged their health and access to health care. We encourage more research to be done on the lived experience of unattachment in order to provide on-the-ground insights that policy-makers require in order to develop responsive, patient-centred supports and programs.
HubMed – addiction

 

Criteria for histopathologic diagnosis of aortic disease consensus statement from the SIAPEC-IAP study group of “cardiovascular pathology” in collaboration with the association for Italian cardiovascular pathology.

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

Pathologica. 2012 Feb; 104(1): 1-33
Leone O, Agozzino L, Angelini A, Bartoloni G, Basso C, Caruso G, D’Amati G, Pucci A, Thiene G, Gallo P

Nowadays, the histopathological study of surgical specimens is an essential part of the diagnostic work-up in aortic disease, and not only in characterizing the neoplastic forms. Despite increasing clinico-therapeutic complexity of aortic pathology, the criteria for histopathological diagnosis have not been properly updated over the years, with the result that we find inconsistent terminology and little standardization of diagnostic criteria. In light of this consideration, the SIAPeC-IAP Study Group of “Cardiovascular Pathology”, in collaboration with the Association for Italian Cardiovascular Pathology, has created this consensus document, with the aim of defining the features of histopathological substrates in the main non-neoplastic aortopathies (atherosclerotic, “degenerative”/non inflammatory, and inflammatory) and of systematizing diagnostic criteria even for the rare tumours of the aorta and pulmonary artery. The principal aims of the project are defining histopathological diagnostic criteria, standard nomenclature and classification, methodology and reporting of histopathological study and handling of aortic specimens. In addiction, some current issues and new knowledge emerging from basic aortic research are debated, with the aim of promoting a “modern” and up-to-date view of aortic pathology.
HubMed – addiction

 

Breaking the Cycle of Abuse When Your Parent is An Addict

Filed under: Addiction Rehab

A recent study showed that 80% of people admitted to rehab facilities in New Jersey were under 25. The question kids struggle with is how do they break the cycle of abuse, when their heros are the ones abusing? My mother killed herself after a long …
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