Phenomenological Psychology

A 29-year-old single woman presents for psychotherapy.  She states she has been under stress due to a chaotic work environment, which sometimes prevents her from finishing her work.  She says she is experiencing insomnia, fatigue and irritability, feels overwhelmed and “can’t enjoy anything.”  She adds she has withdrawn from family and friends and sometimes feels [...]

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1.            Dr. Z. is a licensed psychologist in private practice.  He is approached by his ex-wife’s friend who wants to see him for psychotherapy.   Discuss whether it would be ethical for Dr. Z. to accept this person as a patient. ANSWER:            Dubious and depends on whether Dr. Z. will be able to use independent judgment.  [...]

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Review of Banta, J., Wiafe, S., Soret, S. & Holzer, C. (2008).  “A Spatial Needs Assessment of Indigent Acute Psychiatric Discharges in California.”  J. Behavioral Health Services and Research, 35(2), 1556 – 3308. California’s basic mental health law is the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (the “Act”), Cal. Welfare & Institutions C. §5000 et seq. A person may be [...]

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Review of Ball, W. (2007).  “Mentally ill prisoners in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: strategies for improving treatment and reducing recidivism.”  J. Contemp. Health Law Policy, 24(1), 1 – 42. Law enforcement is given a stark choice when dealing with the mentally ill criminal: place in an in-patient psychiatric facility, or send to [...]

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Review of Kovnick, J., Appelbaum, P., Hoge, S. & Leadbetter, R. (2003).  “Competence to Consent to Research Among Long-Stay Inpatients with Chronic Schizophrenia.”  Psychiatric Services, 54(9), 1247 – 1252. As set forth at DSM-IV-TR §295 (p. 312) persons with schizophrenia experience a variety of cognitive impairments, including: hallucinations, bizarre delusions and thought disorders.  Hallucinations are auditory, [...]

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Review of Perlis, R., Perlis, C., Wu, Y., Hwang, C., Joseph, M. & Nierenberg, A. (2005).  “Industry Sponsorship and Financial Conflict of Interest in the Reporting of Clinical Trials in Psychiatry.”  Am. J. Psychiatry 162(10), 1957 – 1960. For many years the issue of medical professionals accepting remuneration from pharmaceutical firms in consideration for testing [...]

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