Women's Psych-E Newsletter
March 2012
On February 1, 2012, the APA Women’s Programs Office, the Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training Office and the Neighborhood Opportunities for Volunteer Activities (NOVA) Committee hosted a brown bag lunch for APA staff in recognition of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month featuring Tina Frundt, Founder and Executive Director of Courtney’s House.
Frundt, also a survivor of domestic sex trafficking, discussed the importance of providing programs and services for domestic victims. “Trafficking of American children is often not heard about. The focus is often on foreign trafficking, she says. Due to a lack of funding for programs for trafficking victims, minors are all too often arrested, charged with child prostitution and placed in juvenile detention centers which are unsafe.” She is currently working to get legislation that will prevent children from being arrested and charged with child prostitution and to will allow them to receive services. Dr. Marsha Liss, PhD, member of the newly formed APA Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls, also in attendance, emphasized the importance of services and supports that prevent survivors from being sent into situations where they're at risk.
The entire article can be found here.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Five Doctors Settle SEC Insider Trading Charges
Reuters Health Information
Originally published July 10, 2012
Five doctors have agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil charges that they conducted insider trading in shares of a medical professional liability insurer that was preparing to be sold.
The SEC said Apparao Mukkamala routinely tipped the other doctors in 2010 about confidential details of the sale process for American Physicians Capital Inc ("APCapital"), where he had been chairman at the time.
It said the other doctors bought nearly $2.2 million of the East Lansing, Michigan-based company's stock between April 30 and July 7, 2010, based on the tips, and that Mukkamala himself bought shares through a charitable organization where he was president.
The entire story is here.
Originally published July 10, 2012
Five doctors have agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil charges that they conducted insider trading in shares of a medical professional liability insurer that was preparing to be sold.
The SEC said Apparao Mukkamala routinely tipped the other doctors in 2010 about confidential details of the sale process for American Physicians Capital Inc ("APCapital"), where he had been chairman at the time.
It said the other doctors bought nearly $2.2 million of the East Lansing, Michigan-based company's stock between April 30 and July 7, 2010, based on the tips, and that Mukkamala himself bought shares through a charitable organization where he was president.
The entire story is here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Ethics of Influencing the Political Process
Stephen A. Ragusea, PsyD, ABPP
Chair, Florida State Psychological Association Ethics Advisory Committee
Ethics Corner
Summer 2012
In the last edition of the Florida Psychologist, I wrote an article about how psychologists often hesitate to encourage their patients to influence the political process. Psychologists frequently fear to unfairly utilize powerful relationships, somehow pushing patients into action they would not normally take.
However, psychologists also too often personally and professionally avoid being involved with the political process. To some, this avoidance is incomprehensible and frustrating. Based on my experience, psychologists usually stay out of the political process for the most common of reasons, they just feel too busy in their daily lives to take the time to participate in the fray. And, some psychologists seem to feel as if they would be sullied somehow by wrestling in the mud of the political arena. Of course, some folks are just plain lazy and engage is what some writers have called, “social loafing.” My ethics chair colleague in Pennsylvania, Dr. John Gavazzi, once wrote, “Social loafing is the tendency for people to expend less effort on a given task when working in groups than when working alone. It is easier to loaf when individual contributions are not evaluated and when the individual can rationalize that someone else will ‘pull the weight.’”
In any case, because of social loafing and a variety of other reasons, psychologists seem to avoid involvement in the political process more often that do some other professionals. For example, based on data from a variety of sources nurses are much more involved in political and legislative matters than are we. Nurses and physicians also contribute substantially more money to lobbying efforts than do psychologists. These tendencies of ours endure despite the fact that we are acting against our own best interests. We need to do much better or, very soon I fear, we risk professional oblivion.
From my perspective in the catbird’s seat, I also think there are more lofty reasons for psychologists to be actively involved in the democratic process. I believe psychologists have an ethical responsibility to be involved with influencing the political and legal process of our society. It is what we owe in service to our culture and our patients.
The APA Ethical Standards actually address this topic in the preamble. Specifically, the preamble declares the following. (Italics are added by this writer for emphasis.)
“Psychologists are committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people’s understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society…. They strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior. In doing so, they perform many roles, such as researcher, educator, diagnostician, therapist, supervisor, consultant, administrator, social interventionist….”
Therefore, beyond our own self-interest, based on our ethical standards, we are not only free to participate in the political process through political giving and social activism, but we actually have an affirmative ethical responsibility to do so. Again, quoting John Gavazzi’s article, “Although no law, statute, or ethical code mandates ‘Thou shall participate in the political process,’ psychologists are responsible to promote our patients’ welfare. Enhancing patient welfare can occur at the community and systems level, not just within the confines of our offices. The goals of political advocacy are noble and worthy.”
Amen, brother John. Is anybody out there listening? Is anybody out there acting?
References
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist,Vol. 57, 1060-1073.
Gavazzi, J. D. (2006). Legislative Efforts and Positive Ethics: Say what? The Pennsylvania Psychologist, February Quarterly, 2, 6.
If you have specific suggestions for topics to be covered in The Ethics Corner, please e-mail me with your suggestions. My e-mail address is ragusea@aol.com.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
At Trial’s End, Lawyers Say Norway Killer Is Not Insane
By Mark Lewis
The New York Times
Originally published on June 22, 2012
The trial of Anders Behring Breivik ended on Friday with an unusual reversal of roles, as defense lawyers insisted that he was sane when he killed 77 people last year and should be sentenced to prison, and prosecutors arguing that he was mentally ill and thus not criminally responsible, and should be hospitalized instead.
(cut)
Members of the defense team, in tears themselves as parents spoke about their slain children, evoked Mr. Breivik’s human rights in their conclusion that he should be held accountable for his crimes. Mr. Breivik has admitted to the killings but said they were committed in self-defense to combat what he has called the “Islamic colonization” of Europe. He has argued that an insanity judgment would detract from his cause.
The New York Times
Originally published on June 22, 2012
The trial of Anders Behring Breivik ended on Friday with an unusual reversal of roles, as defense lawyers insisted that he was sane when he killed 77 people last year and should be sentenced to prison, and prosecutors arguing that he was mentally ill and thus not criminally responsible, and should be hospitalized instead.
(cut)
Members of the defense team, in tears themselves as parents spoke about their slain children, evoked Mr. Breivik’s human rights in their conclusion that he should be held accountable for his crimes. Mr. Breivik has admitted to the killings but said they were committed in self-defense to combat what he has called the “Islamic colonization” of Europe. He has argued that an insanity judgment would detract from his cause.
“The defendant has a radical political project,” Mr. Lippestad said. “To make his acts something pathological and sick deprives him of his right to take responsibility for his own actions.”
Monday, July 23, 2012
Uncertainty shrouds psychologist's resignation
Lawrence Sanna departed University of Michigan amid questions over his work from ‘data detective’ Uri Simonsohn.
By Ed Yong
Nature
Originally published July 12, 2012
Uri Simonsohn, the researcher who flagged up questionable data in studies by social psychologist Dirk Smeesters, has revealed the name of a second social psychologist whose data he believes to be suspiciously perfect.
That researcher is Lawrence Sanna, whose former employer, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, tells Simonsohn that he resigned his professorship there at the end of May. The reasons for Sanna's resignation are not known, but it followed questions from Simonsohn and a review by Sanna’s previous institution, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill (UNC). According to the editor of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Sanna has also asked that three of his papers be retracted from the journal.
In both Smeesters’ and Sanna’s work, odd statistical patterns in the data raised concerns with Simonsohn, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. But the similarity between the cases ends there. Smeesters’ resignation was announced on 25 June by his institution, Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which undertook a review and concluded that two of his papers should be retracted. Sanna’s resignation, by contrast, remains mysterious: UNC did not release the results of its review, and the University of Michigan will not explain why Sanna resigned.
The entire story is here.
By Ed Yong
Nature
Originally published July 12, 2012
Uri Simonsohn, the researcher who flagged up questionable data in studies by social psychologist Dirk Smeesters, has revealed the name of a second social psychologist whose data he believes to be suspiciously perfect.
That researcher is Lawrence Sanna, whose former employer, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, tells Simonsohn that he resigned his professorship there at the end of May. The reasons for Sanna's resignation are not known, but it followed questions from Simonsohn and a review by Sanna’s previous institution, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill (UNC). According to the editor of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Sanna has also asked that three of his papers be retracted from the journal.
In both Smeesters’ and Sanna’s work, odd statistical patterns in the data raised concerns with Simonsohn, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. But the similarity between the cases ends there. Smeesters’ resignation was announced on 25 June by his institution, Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which undertook a review and concluded that two of his papers should be retracted. Sanna’s resignation, by contrast, remains mysterious: UNC did not release the results of its review, and the University of Michigan will not explain why Sanna resigned.
The entire story is here.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Investigation Sought of Extensive F.D.A. Surveillance
By Eric Lichtblau
The New York Times
Originally published July 16, 2012
Federal health officials faced pressure from Capitol Hill and outside groups on Monday to investigate a wide-ranging surveillance program that the Food and Drug Administration mounted against a group of its scientists who raised warnings about the safety of medical imaging devices.
Representative Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, sent a letter on Monday to Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, calling on her to conduct a full investigation into whether the surveillance program violated federal employee protections and whistle-blower laws.
“The tactics reportedly used by the F.D.A. send a terrible message to those who are prepared to expose waste, abuse or wrongdoing in government agencies,” wrote Mr. Van Hollen, whose staff communications were monitored by the F.D.A.
The entire story is here.
The New York Times
Originally published July 16, 2012
Federal health officials faced pressure from Capitol Hill and outside groups on Monday to investigate a wide-ranging surveillance program that the Food and Drug Administration mounted against a group of its scientists who raised warnings about the safety of medical imaging devices.
Representative Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, sent a letter on Monday to Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, calling on her to conduct a full investigation into whether the surveillance program violated federal employee protections and whistle-blower laws.
“The tactics reportedly used by the F.D.A. send a terrible message to those who are prepared to expose waste, abuse or wrongdoing in government agencies,” wrote Mr. Van Hollen, whose staff communications were monitored by the F.D.A.
The entire story is here.
In Vast Effort, F.D.A. Spied on E-Mails of Its Own Scientists
By Eric Lichtblau and Scott Shane
The New York Times
Originally published July 15, 2012
A wide-ranging surveillance operation by the Food and Drug Administration against a group of its own scientists used an enemies list of sorts as it secretly captured thousands of e-mails that the disgruntled scientists sent privately to members of Congress, lawyers, labor officials, journalists and even President Obama, previously undisclosed records show.
What began as a narrow investigation into the possible leaking of confidential agency information by five scientists quickly grew in mid-2010 into a much broader campaign to counter outside critics of the agency’s medical review process, according to the cache of more than 80,000 pages of computer documents generated by the surveillance effort.
The New York Times
Originally published July 15, 2012
A wide-ranging surveillance operation by the Food and Drug Administration against a group of its own scientists used an enemies list of sorts as it secretly captured thousands of e-mails that the disgruntled scientists sent privately to members of Congress, lawyers, labor officials, journalists and even President Obama, previously undisclosed records show.
What began as a narrow investigation into the possible leaking of confidential agency information by five scientists quickly grew in mid-2010 into a much broader campaign to counter outside critics of the agency’s medical review process, according to the cache of more than 80,000 pages of computer documents generated by the surveillance effort.
Moving to quell what one memorandum called the “collaboration” of the F.D.A.’s opponents, the surveillance operation identified 21 agency employees, Congressional officials, outside medical researchers and journalists thought to be working together to put out negative and “defamatory” information about the agency.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Panel calls for annual PTSD screening
By Kevin Freking
The Associated Press
Originally published July 13, 2012
The Institute of Medicine recommended Friday that soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan undergo annual screening for post-traumatic stress disorder and that federal agencies conduct more research to determine how well the various treatments for PTSD are working.
The Associated Press
Originally published July 13, 2012
The Institute of Medicine recommended Friday that soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan undergo annual screening for post-traumatic stress disorder and that federal agencies conduct more research to determine how well the various treatments for PTSD are working.
Of the 2.6 million service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, it's estimated that 13 percent to 20 percent have symptoms of PTSD.
Federal agencies have increasingly dedicated more resources to screen and treat soldiers, but considerable gaps remain, according to the Institute of Medicine, an independent group of experts that advises the federal government on medical issues. Its recommendations often make their way into laws drafted by Congress and policies implemented by federal agencies.
Mental health disorders among troops increased 65 percent since 2000
By Rebecca Ruiz
msnbc.com
Originally published July 12, 2012
Mental health disorders in active-duty troops increased 65 percent since 2000, according to a report released this week by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center.
The report looked at a 12-year period between 2000 and 2011 and found that more than 936,000 service members had been diagnosed with at least one mental disorder. Of those diagnoses, about 85 percent were cases of adjustment disorders, depression, alcohol abuse and anxiety, among other conditions.
Between 2003 and 2008, the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increased nearly sixfold; by 2011, there were more than 100,000 diagnoses. The report, however, did not evaluate mental disorders in relationship to deployments.
The entire story is here.
msnbc.com
Originally published July 12, 2012
Mental health disorders in active-duty troops increased 65 percent since 2000, according to a report released this week by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center.
The report looked at a 12-year period between 2000 and 2011 and found that more than 936,000 service members had been diagnosed with at least one mental disorder. Of those diagnoses, about 85 percent were cases of adjustment disorders, depression, alcohol abuse and anxiety, among other conditions.
Between 2003 and 2008, the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increased nearly sixfold; by 2011, there were more than 100,000 diagnoses. The report, however, did not evaluate mental disorders in relationship to deployments.
The entire story is here.
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