Usama Javed Mirza’s Post

The Neuroscience of Empathy: A Healthcare Professional's Perspective During my flight to Nigeria in 2022, I delved into "The Brain: The Story of You" by renowned neuroscientist Dr. David Eagleman. One particularly striking case study highlighted the complex relationship between brain pathology and human behaviour. In this haunting account, a man with no prior history of violence committed an unthinkable act - taking the lives of his family members before attempting suicide. In the months leading up to this tragedy, he repeatedly expressed confusion about his changing behaviour, stating, "I don't understand what's happening to me." The subsequent autopsy revealed a rare tumor pressing against his amygdala, the brain region responsible for emotion regulation and impulse control. This case underscores a crucial lesson in #healthcare: behavioral changes often have underlying physiological causes. As healthcare #professionals, particularly in #nursing, our fundamental principles revolve around non-judgmental care and #empathy. Understanding that seemingly inexplicable behaviours may have medical roots helps us provide more compassionate and effective care.

https://lnkd.in/ghJw3kV9 This is a thought provoking read from Harvard Health blog, tracing the origins of the commonly repeated dictum 'first, do no harm' from medicine, that has dripped into the work of therapy. It questions if 'do no harm' is even possible, or even practical to keep as a priority all the time. Particularly relevant in the work of psychotherapy, where its not uncommon for outcomes to dip during the initial exploration and confrontation of personal issues. An overly 'first, do no harm' therapist is also unlikely to push the envelop of what they can offer, directly colluding with the factors that maintains client problems. This is not to suggest we do the opposite, but to really have a nuanced, critical read of what it means to 'do no harm'.

🛑 What stops you from being more active? Is it pain? Given that recent research predicts 27.5% of the global population struggle with chronic pain, it’s quite likely. Pain is a huge barrier to physical activity. At the same time, being more active has repeatedly been shown to be an effective tool in the management of chronic pain. In this months publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain journal PAIN, we have published a paper exploring the barriers and facilitators to activity in people suffering chronic pain: https://lnkd.in/exXr6tsU 🚧 Barriers include pain severity, comorbidities and time constraints 🚦 Facilitators include a personalised approach, education and social support. The next step of the SUSSED study (Ian-Ju Liang) is to develop tool(s) to help people suffering chronic pain to be more active. If we can create spaces, places and tools that enable those facing the most barriers to be more active, it will benefit everyone. University of Dundee Lesley Colvin Blair H. Smith Pauline Adair Aikaterini Christogianni, PhD Linked to full (free) PDF: https://lnkd.in/gGFWX24Y

1. Fayzan Rab is a medical candidate at Emory University focusing on the economic and public health implications of psychedelic therapies in mental health treatment. 2. He advocates for comprehensive reforms in mental healthcare, including improvements in clinical practice and social safety measures, beyond just introducing new therapies. 3. Rab's research at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality aims to bridge clinical research with real-world healthcare implementation. 4. His recent publication evaluates patient demand for psilocybin-based therapy for depression, addressing broader implications beyond clinical efficacy. 5. Rab emphasizes the importance of tackling systemic challenges such as healthcare access, cultural inclusivity, and economic feasibility of psychedelic treatments. 6. He promotes collaboration with community partners, particularly focusing on incorporating diverse cultural perspectives, including those of Muslim communities. 7. Rab’s work is positioned to significantly influence the trajectory of psychedelic medicine, addressing critical questions of implementation and accessibility. 8. The journal Psychedelics serves as a multidisciplinary platform for exploring therapeutic uses of psychedelics, for the need for research and dialogue

Psychedelics may alter the perceptions of those who ingest them, but it’s the perception of psychedelics that will determine the extent to which they’re successfully integrated into Western medicine. Psychiatrists and other mental healthcare practitioners will be key gatekeepers to the delivery of psychedelic therapy in the medical model. Their ability to effectively counsel patients will depend on their understanding of, and perspectives on, these new medicines. Fortunately, a number of surveys have been carried out in recent years to ascertain the mood among healthcare practitioners toward psychedelic therapies. One in particular reveals a rapid change in attitudes over a 7-year period. Learn more in our recent report "The Evolving Perceptions of Psychedelics": https://lnkd.in/g3rSfWzt

Is blood pressure (BP) variability linked to cognitive decline in older patients? A recent study published in the journal of Neurology hints people with the most variation in BP often face slight cognitive decline. There is evidence to support treatment of hypertension reduces risk associated with slowed thinking ability. The data researchers used came from the Chicago Health and Aging Project. See article below for more information. #health #healthnews #healthblog #medical #medicalnews #newblogpost #publichealth #digitalhealth https://lnkd.in/e-v9ejkr

It's been so interesting watch the ever emerging biomes of #psychedelics , #grief , and #medicine start to so seamlessly merge together culturally and institutionally. For my peers and friends, I wonder, have you been keeping an eye on the psychedelic field? And if so, what are some of the most promising advancements or news you’ve seen? If not, this sit down with Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Roland Griffiths of John Hopkins University is definitely worth a watch. #griefjourney #griefandloss #griefsupport #griefcoach #griefawareness #griefrecovery #griefislove #griefwork #griefhealing #grievingprocess

A groundbreaking systematic review spanning two decades (2000–2020) has explored the role of spirituality in serious medical illness, end-of-life, and palliative care. This rigorous analysis, rooted in the definition of spirituality developed at a global consensus conference hosted by GWish, offers significant insights. Key Findings: Positive Outcomes: Addressing spirituality in the care of seriously ill patients can lead to positive outcomes, enhancing a person-centered, value-sensitive program of care. Broad Applications: Incorporating spirituality is beneficial not only for serious illnesses but also for overall health. The study utilized data evaluated by a diverse 27-member expert panel in spirituality, healthcare, public health, and medicine. This panel's insights underscore the importance of integrating spiritual considerations into patient care. This study is the most rigorous and comprehensive systematic analysis of modern-day literature on health and spirituality to date according to Tracy Balboni, lead author and senior physician at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School. It highlights the profound impact that spiritual care can have on patient outcomes and emphasizes the need for holistic approaches in medical practice. #Healthcare #Spirituality #PatientCare #PalliativeCare #PublicHealth #HolisticHealth #ResearchInsights #PatientCenteredCare https://lnkd.in/g99jcPDT

*NIHR(National Institute of of Health and Care Research) Global Health Research Group on Acquired Brain and Spine Injury access to rehabilitation survey* *What is the purpose of the study?* To understand current availability and access to rehabilitation services in middle and lower income countries and to improve the understanding of specific rehabilitation services following acquired brain injury and/or spinal cord injury across LMICs. This survey is hosted under the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Acquired Brain and Spine Injury (University of Cambridge) * Ethical Clearance* Ethical Clearance was obtained from the University of Cambridge (UK). The Ethical Clearance can be shared if need be *Who can take the survey* Health and non-health professionals (Psychologists etc) who work with patients with traumatic brain and spine injuries *What if I have any questions about the study?* If you have any questions or issues with this survey please contact Dr Harry Mee (hwjm2@cam.ac.uk) or Dr Franklin Chu Buh (franklinbuhchu@gmail.com) and the study team will answer them to the best of their ability. Please see link below! https://lnkd.in/e4TgR_U8

Results from our Phase I study of BPL-003 in healthy volunteers have been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. The paper shows that BPL-003 was well-tolerated, with consistent dose delivery, a predictable pharmacokinetic profile and a reliable induction of psychedelic experiences in single doses up to 12 mg in healthy participants. Psychedelic experiences correlated to the 5-MeO-DMT exposure and had a rapid onset and short duration, with all consciousness-altering effects resolving in less than 2 hours, indicating the potential of BPL-003 to deliver a short treatment experience with a reduced resource burden on healthcare systems. Read more about the study, and its results, here: https://lnkd.in/eERuUrxG