Another successful debate!

See the link in the ‘pages’ section to the right for details.

Click this link to watch video: http://videtis.ucis.dal.ca/DMNB/VAP/Psych_2014_10_08.mp4

 

Our understanding of child-adolescent psychiatric disorders is evolving, with research supporting revisions to diagnostic categorization which can help us guide treatment and understanding of mental disorders. Standardized language, rooted in evidence based research allows for improved communication between mental health professionals, and can help guide future research in the area. However, with the changes in the DSM-5, there is also plenty food for criticism as well. For example some would contend that the process leading to the DSM-5 was flawed in that it was “overambitious” with “disorganized execution” (Allen J. Frances). In addition, numerous mental health organizations and professionals have argued that these changes have lacked scientific support (and common sense).

“Watch out for yet another fad sparked by child psychiatry”    – Psychiatrictimes.com (re: quick acceptance of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder)

“Serious subtle, (…) ubiquitous and dangerous unintended consequences such as new false epidemics”  – Allen J. Frances

Motion: This house believes tha the increase in DSM 5 diagnostic categories leads to overmedicalizing social problems in children and adolescents

Date: March 26th

Time: 8:30am

Place: Room 4074, Abbie J Lane Building – QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax

Debaters: Dr. David Lovas, Dr. Alexa Bagnell, Dr. Jonathan Wan, Dr. Alice Aylott

 

The next debate is ‘drawing’ near. Perhaps it will help us answer the long debated question of whether creativity and mental illness are related.

Debate question: This house believes mental illness stimulates creativity.

Date: Sept 11th

Time: 8:30am

Place: Room 4074, Abbie J Lane Building – QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax

Debaters: Dr. Zenovia Ursuliak, Dr. Lara Hazelton, Dr. Rachel Bell, Dr. Vanessa Thoo

 

Be there or be ___________{be creative and YOU fill in the blank}

 

Dr. Rachel Bell and Dr. Vanessa Thoo have stepped into the ring for round 4…the Fall 2013 debate.

Who will the staff debaters be?

What will the topic be?

Stay Tuned…

 

We are excited to announce the 3rd Dalhousie Psychiatry Debate featuring Dr. Rudolf Uher and Dr. Marie-Claire Borque proposing the motion:

This house believes that psychiatrists should not be identifying people who are at high risk for developing psychosis. 

Dr. Sabina Abidi and Dr. Michael Butterfield will oppose the motion.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23327750

Detecting and intervening early in the course of illness has become a mantra in the field medicine.  Psychiatry is no exception.  Nowhere has this philosophy gained as much traction as in the early intervention of schizophrenia.  The vast majority of people with schizophrenia have low grade symptoms prior to the onset of the full blown illness.  Huge progress has been made through research and clinical work attempting to identify the earliest signs of illness and learning the optimal way to help these individuals and nip the disease in the bud.  How far have we come?  Can we predict who will develop schizophrenia? Can we intervene to stop the progression?  Should we intervene?…

An excellent review from the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry provides some background on this issue.

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The next debate is fast approaching.  The speakers are confirmed and the debate question is nearly refined and ready… Stay tuned for further announcements.

 

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