Surgery for Mental Illness

NY Times article entitled "Brain Surgery for Mental Ills Offers Both Hope and Risk." The article discusses an experimental surgery for severe mental illness, such as OCD. The surgery is risky, and not all patients improve, yet those that do report significant improvement. How might psychiatrists, neurologists and psychologists determine which patients are appropriate for surgery versus medication versus psychotherapy? What are the ethical implications of doing a surgery that seems to help, but no one knows why?

Happy Doctors

From the Chicago Tribune, "Happiest Doctors Treat Children, Elderly." The article discusses a recent study indicating medical professionals that treat children and older adults are the most satisfied with their jobs. Why do you think this might be? How could other fields of medicine be improved so that doctors have higher job satisfaction?

Treating Trauma -- Vicarious Trauma

CNN.com article entitled "Treating Trauma Victims May Cause Its Own Trauma." Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who treat trauma (military or otherwise) are at risk for vicarious trauma -- meaning that they experience an emotional toll after hearing about trauma in their work. How might a mental health professional prevent experiencing vicarious trauma? What should colleagues watch for to prevent emotional distress in their fellow professionals? Do you think this is a risk in non-mental health professionals?