I don’t recall ever encountering a conference that included internists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, a gastroenterologist (myself) and a public relations expert all addressing the same clinical issue. Yet this is what came together at UCLA this weekend to address physical symptoms caused by psychosocial stress. Nearly 200 attended and it was remarkable to see the consensus that grew out of such disparate clinical experience.
Archive for the ‘Lectures’ Category
When Stress Causes Pain
Monday, March 29th, 2010American Psychosomatic Society (4)
Thursday, March 18th, 2010One important exception to the physiology-focused research presented at the APS meeting was a study led by my friend and colleague Dr Howard Schubiner. His well-developed treatment program was used by a group of patients with fibromyalgia with good relief of their symptoms. The process emphasizes techniques for uncovering the emotional issues that underly the symptoms in most cases. Some patients did not benefit but most did which is a tremendous achievement in an illness as difficult as fibromyalgia. It is likely that most forms of stress-related illness would benefit from this process. Dr Schubiner’s book is due out by the end of this month and can be ordered via his web site (click on his name above).
Letter to New Medical Students (5)
Friday, January 29th, 2010We have scheduled several “Personal Mental Health Weekends” during the academic year. These are two or three day weekends just after an exam and just before the start of a new class when you should have a minimum of studying to do. We encourage you to use this time to re-connect with as much of your non-medical life as possible. If you lose your humanity during medical training you may become a master of medical technique but you will not reach your potential as a physician.
Letter to New Medical Students (4)
Thursday, January 28th, 2010In your Clinical Medicine class you will be able to talk to real patients starting next week. They will know you are first year students and will not expect you to be physicians. You will learn that you can take a good medical history from a patient even if you have no clue what to do with the information. This experience highlights the importance of the human qualities you bring to the bedside because you won’t have any medical qualifications at that time.
Letter to New Medical Students (3)
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010You can begin learning to care for patients by first caring for each other. There will be times when a classmate can relate to your life better than anyone else. To help you get to know each other we will give each of you a booklet containing, for each class member, their name and photograph, home town, undergraduate institution and something personal that they offered to share.
Letter to New Medical Students (2)
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010The amount of factual material to be presented to you in the next four years is, for practical purposes, infinite. Even eliminating your need for spouses, friends, family, recreation, hobbies, sleeping, eating, urination and defecation will not give you enough time to learn it all though some have tried. Therefore you must constantly draw and redraw a line between your medical life and the rest of your life. A medical career is a constant search for balance between these two worlds and your search for that balance will begin soon.
Letter to New Medical Students (1)
Monday, January 25th, 2010I teach medical students occasionally, most intensely in a class called the Healer’s Art that was developed by Rachel Remen, MD. These experiences led me to ideas about education that are presented below as a letter (or speech) to new students on the first day of medical school. I have never sent this particular letter (or given the speech) but perhaps someday…
When Stress Causes Pain Conference. March, 2010
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010A movement has begun that will benefit patients, mental health professionals and medical clinicians. It began with recognition that most people with significant stress and mental health concerns are seen by medical clinicians, not mental health professionals. Compounding the problem, most medical clinicians are not formally trained to detect the underlying issues. The result is frustration for everyone involved.
Lecture and Conference
Monday, December 21st, 2009The Stress Check-Up will take a break for the holidays and be back on Monday, January 4. However, I wanted to let my readers know about two opportunities to learn more about stress illness.
