A "Pair 'o Docs": The 30+ Year Roosevelt High School Reunion Interview featuring Dr. Al Howsepian
In August of 1977, my family moved from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Fresno, California. We were like the Bevery Hillbillies without the money. My dad moved us down to Fresno in order to make possible his quest to complete his doctorate in theology.
On the night we arrived, our home was not ready to be moved into yet, so we stayed with my great uncle Peter and aunt Margaret, both of whom have since passed. I had never seen a palm tree before, and when we arrived at their home, and took a tour, I noticed that they not only had 2 big palm trees in the back yard, but also a hamock hung beneath them. That's where I decided to stay for the night, me and my little black AM-FM shortwave radio. It was an incredible night. I clung to my radio, hoping to wake up in the morning to some cool new California tunes. Instead I awoke to this news: ELVIS IS DEAD!
I was forced to search for a new role model. Since Elvis only struck a chord with the musical side of me, and I also had scholarly aspirations, I needed a role model to help motivate me to pursue a graduate degree and a career. Sure, I had my dad, and without him, the idea of a graduate education may not have occurred to me. But he was a dad, and I was a kid. I wasn't looking for somebody young and hip, with lots of "chicks" surrounding him. I found that role model in today's interview guest, psychiatrist, Dr Al Howsepian, M.D.
I ended up transferring from Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Roosevelt High School. That is where I met Al. He used to hang out with another acquaintance of mine, a guy named Tim, who volunteered in emergency rescue operations at the time. I was very shy but would hang out in libraries where these two dudes and one other guy with a Mennonite name (I forgot his name), and I used to listen in on their conversations and marvel at their brilliant intellects. I admired Al's passion for learning, his intellectual verve, and his hunger for knowledge.
One day Al was hanging out in my psychology class with Mr. Wood, chatting with some good looking cheerleaders who just happened to be in my class. They all seemed to be in awe over Al. On that day it occurred to me that (though some had mistaken me for a rising star athlete whose last name I shared), I didn't need to be an athletic star to be surrounded by swooning females. Being a scholar didn't have to mean being a nerd.
It was official, Al had become my hero and my role model, and this went well beyond his ability to gain the favor of the best-looking girls on campus. I never did find myself surrounded by swooning "chicks," but ended up with an exceedingly satisfying career as a licensed clinical psychologist---one who is now married to a lovely wife. As a wonderful bonus, I am the father of a beautiful, adorable little 4-year-old daughter. I have found fulfillment by combining a full-time psychologist position with teaching part-time in universities and writing, all while still being able to follow my dreams as a singer/songwriter. Of course, I wish I had become a psychiatrist, they make the big bucks. Al did become one, and a noteworthy one at that, with a vita that requires a library to hold its contents.
I look Al up a few months back and this led to our 30+ Roosevelt High School Reunion Interview. Without further ado, I give you my role model, Dr. Al Howsepian, in the very first Psychology Comes Alive interview ever:
Dr. BLT: First, I want to thank you for participating in this interview, the very first interview for the Psychology Comes Alive blog site. I have been a fan of your since High School, and you have been one of the most influential role models of all time. You have actually contributed immensely to my decision to pursue the mental health field as a psychologist. One of the things I was struck with as a 12th grade student at Theodore Roosevelt High where we went to school together was your passion for knowledge and your love of education. What's more, you seemed to be able to pull it off without coming across as a nerd. Where did that passion for knowledge come from?
Dr. Al Howsepian: Good morning, Bruce. I am truly honored to be the first interview for your blog site.
Second, the study of psychology itself instilled in me a powerful motivation for learning. My psychology class at Theodore Roosevelt High,
Dr BLT: We both attended California State University,
Dr. Al Howsepian: I have a very deep desire to understand, relentless curiosity, and I obtain great joy both in the exploration of ideas and in the exercise of creativity. Some people become exhilarated by the adventure of exploring other lands, other terrains; I become exhilarated by the adventure of exploring the mental and conceptual realms, traveling along psychic and logical structures, going places where the greatest of thinkers (psychologists, psychiatrists, philosophers) have gone before, scaling those emotional cliffs on which my patients are stranded and from which they are in danger of falling, and (in virtue of my love for philosophical and psychiatric research) going places where no person has ever gone before.
One of my areas of deepest interest in psychiatry is in the intersection of psychiatry and religion; and one of my areas of deepest interest in philosophy is in the intersection of philosophy and religion. In addition to teaching courses (in whole or in part) in Neuropsychiatry, Psychopharmacology, Forensic Psychiatry, Psychiatric Ethics, and Electroconvulsive Therapy to psychiatry residents in our University of California, San Francisco - Fresno Medical Education Program, I also teach a course in Psychiatry and Religion. In addition, I have given lectures to wider audiences on the important, but greatly neglected, intersection, between religion and forensic psychiatry ('Religious Themes in Forensic Psychiatry, Parts I and II').
In addition, I have published multiple papers in philosophy journals on topics in philosophical theology. I am particularly interested in ontological aspects of philosophical theology, especially those involving various conceptualizations of free and morally responsible action. Part of what keeps me so interested in all of these topics simultaneously is that I am able to see, from the inside, how deep and important ideas in each of these areas inform deep and important ideas in other areas of inquiry. These disciplines are, in multiple ways, mutually informing, amplifying the intrinsically interesting theoretical and practical commitments of each discipline when viewed in isolation.
Dr. BLT: Your seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge continued well beyond those high school days, as I knew they would. And your formal education is merely the tip of the iceberg. Studying your accomplishments is like climbing
Among all of the psychiatric disorders, which one have you found most challenging and difficult to treat and why?
Dr. Al Howsepian: In addition to being incredibly fascinating, the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Type I, is, for me, the most challenging and difficult of psychiatric disorders to treat. This is, at least in part, because of the tendency of this disorder toward instability: one is never quite sure of 'who' is going to come through one's door. Is it the stable, confident, optimistic, and mildly energetic Mr. Smith? Or the irritable, angry, and hostile Mr. Smith? Or will it be the profoundly depressed, dark, despondent, hopeless Mr. Smith? Or will it be the paranoid, disorganized, hallucinating, and hyperkinetic Mr. Smith? Or something else?
Then there is the therapeutic challenge in the acute phase: How does one drag the deeply depressed Bipolar patient out of her emotional pit? How does one give hope to the hopeless? How does one deflect the hostility and the paranoid accusations of the dysphoric manic?
How does one avoid being victimized by the erratic, disorganized, and explosive bipolar patient? How does one convince the grandiose euphoric manic that he needs treatment? In virtue of this condition's inherent instability, it is difficult enough to keep these patients stable, but it is all the more difficult to reverse a decompensated state once it has taken hold. Then, there are the psychodynamic and interpersonal challenges involving a cohesive and coherent sense of self, marital discord, psychosocial and occupational disequilibrium, the optimal honing of reality testing, the proper reconfiguration of object relations, the managing of defenses, and the cultivating of insight. Family members of friends are critical to recruit in the context of a comprehensive treatment, so that often one is treating not just one patient, but many. Substance abuse and the high risk for self-harm further amplifies the complexity.
Dr. BLT: Do you believe that certain individuals are genetically predisposed to develop certain psychiatric conditions? If so, what societal forces either bring out, or prevent the latent tendencies to become manifested in the development of a full-blown syndrome, condition, or conditions?
In your view, are certain disorders, like Bipolar Disorder, or Schizophrenia, for example, more genetically or physiologically based, while others are more predominantly environmental in terms of etiology and in terms of specific environmental antecedents being
ascendant?
Dr. Al Howsepian: I ascribe to the fundamental axiom of biology that states that all phenotypes are combinations of genotypes and environments. Even in cases of autosomal dominant diseases, the phenotype of those diseases, how they manifest themselves in particular patients, will be influenced significantly by ones' environments.
In polygenetic cases there is, as a rule, variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance, this is all the more striking: one monozygotic twin, for example, might have the disorder in question, and the other twin will not.
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder can both express themselves in this manner. What the environmental factors are that contribute to a condition declaring itself in one case and not in another have not been fully elucidated, but we appear to have some fairly good ideas, at least in some cases: psychoactive substance abuse, traumatic events, stress exposure, conflicts, neglect, head injury, co-morbid illness, etc. Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders are clearly more genetically loaded conditions than many other psychiatric disturbances. Still, the environment can, in many cases, be decisive regarding whether one who has this loading goes on to develop these disturbances. It is especially telling, as I see it, that the index major mood episode in Bipolar Disorder and the index psychotic episode in Schizophrenia are almost always accompanied by substantial psychosocial stressors. This is less likely to be the case in later exacerbations of these illnesses (along the lines of a 'kindling' model in which subsequent episodes require less of a stimulus trigger than previous episodes of the same illness).
Dr. BLT: As I'm sure you're aware, Freud believed that religion was for the weak and that God was an illusion based on our own parental projections. You have studied religion a great deal. What conclusions have you come up with concerning the relationship between faith and mental health. Does faith in God keep the masses psychologically dependent in an unhealthy way, or is faith a boon to our mental and emotional sense of wellbeing?
Dr. Al Howsepian: Although Freud wrote negatively about religion in most instances, he also had some more favorable things to say about it and, especially, about one of its very committed adherents, the Protestant minister, Rev. Oskar Pfister, with whom Freud carried on a lengthy correspondence, developed a deep, close, and abiding friendship, and who made contributions to.
Freud's understanding of psychoanalysis and to psychoanalytic thought more generally. Although religion can, like any other complex system of belief and practice, be used by its adherents in ways that conduce neither to one's own or to others' mental or physical well-being, there is a very lengthy and growing list of studies that document in great detail the beneficial aspects of religion on mental and physical health. Whether most of this advantage is secondary to the benefits of religious faith itself or whether it is mediated by behaviors and habits of mind that are cultivated in religious contexts (e.g., regarding how one out to treat one's body, the value of being present, the social support of religious community etc.) is the subject of controversy. The interested reader can be directed to the voluminous works of, among others, psychologist David B. Larson, Ph.D.
Dr. BLT: You seem to have spent a fair amount of time and energy trying to understand dementia and depression in the elderly? I must admit that though Carl Jung seemed to hold old age in high esteem, I think of age as an equal opportunity destroyer. Though I try to have an optimistic attitude about growing old, all I think about are deteriorating organs, a compromised mind, sagging skin, aches and pains, and a continuous grieving process as one witnesses a seemingly never-ending series of deaths of loved ones of the same or about the same age. Even remaining active, eating health and exercising seems to only go so far in preventing inevitable decay. It all seems like a terrible ending to a movie, even though many take comfort in the thought of heaven.
What does one do, as a mental health professional to keep the aged in good spirits without simply putting them on anti-depressant medication and putting a positive spin on something that, on the surface seems so depressing? Furthermore, how do you help an aging mind plagued by dementia to keep from deteriorating so rapidly that the aging person goes from relative stability to utter chaos in no time?
Dr. Al Howsepian: Here are a few things that help me put aging into what I think is its proper perspective. First, I know and have known many older people and am struck by a proper subset of these individuals who are sharp, spry, active, and joyful, either to the ends of their lives or until just before the ends of their lives.
Second, there are some traits of character or ways of being that tend to improve with (normal) aging, including wisdom, contentment, and gaining a perspective on life that allows one to disregard what is less important and to uphold what is more important.
Third, if the family and social situation in which one ages has not disintegrated, the rich multigenerational context in which one lives, the honor, love, and care by those who themselves learn beneficence through both modeling and serving one's elders, and the inherently slower pace of life (whether due to retirement or illness or senescent motor slowing) that accompanies advancing age (a pace that conduces to reflection, the enjoyment of simpler aspects of life, and the time to be mindful of others' needs and desires) can lead to continued - even improved - human flourishing even in advanced years.
We can learn a lot from other cultures in this regard. It is no wonder that in
The problem of aging is, like the problem of schizophrenia, partially resolved by focusing not so much on the aging person but on her social and family networks. Of course, one way to forestall the ravages of neurodegenerative dementia is by keeping one's mind active, and one way to keep one's mind active is to be in a social and familial matrix that encourages human interaction, thoughtfulness, continued problem-solving, and the exercise of the moral and intellectual virtues. I have also been struck by the accumulating studies in the area of positive psychology that strongly suggests that happiness is tied neither to material wealth (as demonstrated, for example, in studies of lottery winners whose happiness levels reverted to pre-winning levels within a relatively short period of time) nor (at least in some important and striking cases) with physical health (as demonstrated, for example, in studies of parapeligics whose happiness reports, again in a relatively short period of time, approximate those who have suffered no paralysis whatsoever).
Dr. BLT: Were do you see the field of psychiatry going? Is it on the right path? Is the paradigm about to shift, or is the prevailing paradigm strong and solid?
Dr. Al Howsepian: The field of psychiatry appears, unfortunately, to be going in two different directions. First, there are those who see psychiatry as not being 'scientific' unless it is deeply embedded in a genetic and biological matrix, largely to the exclusion of patients' psychologies. In this 'biological psychiatry' branch, there is a respect and appreciation largely or only for 'scientific' models of and interventions in human problems. (The psychiatrists who endorse this view would do well to immerse themselves both in those areas of experimental psychology that exemplify the rigors of scientific technique apart from any direct connection to the biological sciences and to novels and other narratives that reflect insights into human psychology that predate or elude scientific characterization.
Second, there are those who do not recognize any field of inquiry that is bereft of the richness of human narrative, intrapsychic processes, and deep subjectivity as being 'psychiatry' at all.
Fortunately, there is a small but influential group of psychiatrists, led once again by psychoanalysts, who are working their hardest to mend this growing fissure in psychiatry between biologism and personalism. I am hopeful that this small but growing group will ultimately prevail. There is, finally, one other important development in psychiatry that I should mention: there is a growing openness in psychiatry to the spiritual side of human experience.
This is a most welcome development. Past suspicions of religious belief and practice by psychiatrists has given way to a rapprochment that is likely to be mutually beneficial. Much of this change has been ushered in through a greater awareness of cultural influences in health and illness generally. But some of this change is also, I believe, a function of the mysteries that are native to psychiatry itself and to a history of disappointments with standard psychiatric approaches to the treatments of various psychiatric conditions. (This is in no way meant to diminish the relatively rapid and impressive advances made in other areas of psychiatry.)
For example, existential issues concerning meaning, purpose, and death have been relatively neglected and poorly understood. These issues are often at the heart of patients' discontent concerning the shape of their lives and, typically, the best psychiatry has been able to offer is a clearing away of obstacles to genuine well-being rather than facilitating human flourishing itself.
There has also been a paucity of understanding of deep and abiding spiritual transformation resulting in dramatic changes in our patients that are precipitated outside of the sphere of psychiatric contexts. Some of my secular colleagues have commented to me about their astonishment in the face of having witnessed unexpected dramatic positive changes in patients by way of religious conversion that were believed to be untreatable. I have also witnessed this.
Also, chemical dependency models incorporating a reliance on spiritual principles continue to appear to be superior to secular alternatives (in spite of claims to the contrary in the rational recovery literature). Finally, as psychiatry and psychology continue to have a growing interest in fostering health (well-being, joy, happiness) in addition to illness, there is a new-found interest in models of optimal human flourishing and, as a result, a growing interest in religious texts in which not only models of optimal human flourishing can be found (e.g., Jesus) but there are also directives to achieve such flourishing (faith, prayer, service, loving one's neighbors) and a fundamental anthropology in which happiness is firmly understood to be our ultimate end.
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Interview analysis:
Dear students, professionals of all fields, truckers, farmers, and all other non-student blog scholars. To further solidify your understanding of the principles and ideas expressed by Dr. Howespian in the interview, answer these questions in the comments section below, and also, feel free to use the interview and the comments as a springboard to launch into an intellectually-stimulating dialogue.
1. In the interview, Dr. Howsepian sites three sources of his undying passion for learning and his unquenchable thirst for knowledge. What are those?
2. In explaining the three sources of his passion for learning and thirst for, or hunger for knowledge, what maxim by St. Anselm of Canterbury does he quote?
3. One of (Dr. Howsepian's) "deepest interests in psychiatry is the intersection of _________________ and ___________________.
4. What does Dr. Howsepian mean when he says he ascribes to "the fundamental axiom of biology"?
5. What is Dr. Howsepian's take on Freud's view of religion?
6. What is Dr. Howsepian's view of the relationship between psychiatry and religion?
7. Which disorder does Dr. Howsepian find most difficult and challenging to work with and why?
8. What are the three things that have helped Dr. Howsepian put the phenomenon of aging "into perspective"?
9. According to Dr. Howsepian, in what ways are aging, and the condition of schizophrenia, similar in terms, of their etiological origins?
10. What does Dr. Howsepian suggest may be "the growing fissure in psychiatry between biologism and personalism?
Bonus trivia questions:
1. What is the name of the High School that both Dr. BLT and Dr Al Howsepian attended (hint: graduating from this High School allowed both of us to become "Roosevelt Roughriders of the Psyche."
2. What role model (besides my dad) did Dr. Howesepian replace?
3. T or F: My decision to pursue a graduate education in psychology had nothing to do with my admittedly unscientific observation that scholarly dudes like Al Howsepian seemed to get at least as many "chicks" as athletic stars.
Categories: interviews
Tags: interviews Al Howepian interview psychology comes alive interviews Roosevelt High School Reunion Interview Dr Al Howepian interview
*1) 1. The fact that his mother and father didn’t have the opportunity to pursue an education and encouraged their children to do so; 2. High school psychology, physiology, and Mr. Wood all motivated and inspired him, giving him the direction to pursue psychiatry; and 3. He was inspired by his religious teachings.
*2) “Credo ut intelligam”-“I believe so that I may understand”
*3) psychiatry and religion
*4) The same thing that I believe. Most disorders are probably a combination of genetics and environment—nature and nurture.
*5) He acknowledged that Freud wrote negative things about religion, but also observed that through his relationship with Reverend Pfister, he was able to use religion to gain a better understanding of psychoanalytic thought.
*6) He believes religion can be a great benefit to physical and emotional or mental health, either directly, or indirectly (ex- with the support groups offered through churches, etc.)
*7) He considers Bipolar Disorder, Type 1 extremely difficult to treat because he has no way of knowing what to expect with the patient. In other words, he doesn’t know what phase of the disorder the patient is going to be in at any given time. He describes the different phases and how each would have a different treatment style. It’s like treating several different disorders. I would imagine it is similar to trying to treat someone with “multiple” personalities, and not knowing which personality is going to show itself. .
*8) 1. He has had several older people in his life that illustrated that one can be old and still be active, intelligent, hopeful, and happy; 2 He also associates getting older with getting wiser through experience and also learning to relax and be content with life; 3. Aging is conducive to “flourishing” through life’s experiences and lessons, and also being able to have the “multigenerational context.”
*9) He observed that for instance, “social networks” and family attitudes in dealing with and including family members with schizophrenia or dementia in thoughtful interaction, can deter development or severity of these disorders.
*10) I think I need help deciphering his response! The way I understood him, he believes “biologism” tends to focus on the nature, or genetic aspects causing disorders, and “personalism” tends to focus on the nurture, or environmental aspects causing disorders, each form totally disregarding the validity or contributing factors of the other. Is this right?
Bonus trivia questions:
*1) Roosevelt High School
*2) Elvis Presley
*3) False
Reply to this
1. The three sources of Dr. Howesepian's
undying passion for learning and his thirst for knowledge are: 1) His mother and father, highly encouraged Dr. Howesepian to attain the education they had not been able to acquire. This due to various political, cultural and socio economical reasons. 2) Dr. Hosepian's motivation for learning was futhered at Theodore Roosevelt High School, when he took a Psychology class with Mr. Wood, in his junior year. Then a class in Physiology. The combination of the two fields intrigued the doctor. 3) Dr. Howespain's Christian belief and St. Anselm of Canterbury's Maxim, St. Peter(3:15) and Jesus's 'Greatest Commandment.'
2. The maxim Dr. H. quotes is the St. Anselm of Canterbury. The quote is 'Credo ut intelligam' - 'I believe so that I may understand.'
3. One of Dr. H's deepest interest in psychiatry is the intersection of psychiatry and religion.
4. Dr. H. means by ascribing to "the fundamental axiom of biology" that all phenotypes are a combination of genotypes and environment.
5. Dr. H's view of Freuds take on religion is that Freud wrote negatively about religion is most instances, but had some favorable things to say. He noted Freud's close friend, Rev. Oskar Pfister.
6. Dr H. said that there is a very lengthly and growing list of studies that document the benefit of religion on mental and physical health. He is very hopeful the small group of psychiatrists will influence the growth in openness to the spiritual side of human experience.
7. The disorder Dr. H. finds most difficult and challenging to work with is Bipolar Disorder, Type I. The reason being is the instability, you never know who will walk through the door.
8) The three things that helped Dr H. put the phenomenon of aging "into perspective" are: 1) Dr. H. has known many older people and he is struck by how sharp, active, and joyful they are to the end of their lives or just before. 2) The character traits or ways of being that improve, like wisdom, contentment and a gaining perspective of life that allows one to disregard what is less important and uphold what is more important.
3) The multi generational context of which one lives and the slower pace enables the aging to have the time to be more mindful of others' needs can lead to continued-even improved-human flourishing.
9. According to D. H. the conditions of aging and schizonphrenia are similar in terms of their etiological orgins are based on the persons social and family integration.
10. The Dr. suggests that first there are those who believe in the biological or scientific approach only. Then fortunately there is another group that is working on the importance of the spiritual side of the human experience.
Bonus Question
1. Theodore Roosevelt HS
2. Elis
3. False
Reply to this
Interview Analysis
1.Three sources of his undying passion for learning and his unquenchable thirst for knowledge were:
a. His mother and father highly valued education
b. The study of psychology itself instilled in him a powerful motivation for learning
c. His Religion (Christian)
What maxim by St. Anselm of Canterbury does he quote?
2. 'Credo ut intelligam'-'I believe so that I may understand,' St. Peter's admonition to "Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15), and Jesus' 'Greatest Commandment', viz. to love God with all one's heart, soul and mind.
3. One of his areas of deepest interest in psychiatry is in the intersection of psychiatry and religion.
4. Dr Howsepian made it clear by explaining the Axiom of biology. He explains that all phenotypes are combinations of genotypes and environments. Even in cases of autosomal dominant diseases, the phenotype of those diseases, how they manifest themselves in particular patients, will be influenced significantly by ones' environments.
5. Dr Howsepian was aware of Freud’s negativity on religious beliefs, but he was aware of Freud’s positive aspects towards religion. (Rev. Oskar Pfister) Freud Believed that religion did not affect nor improve one’s mental state.
6. Dr. Howsepian believes that there is known studies that support his belief that religion improves the mental and physical aspects.
7. Dr. Howsepian finds the most difficult to cure the bipolar Disorder Type I. He finds it challenging because he never knows which personality is there to see him.
8. On Aging and perspective.
1. He has known and still knows elderly that are “Spry Active and Joyful”
2. With aging comes wisdom, contentment, and noticing the most important things in life and dismissing the rest.
3.With aging comes the multigenerational aspects which can lead the elderly to want to live longer by admiring a larger family.
9.Aging is similar to schizophrenia is that both disorders focus on the activity on the mind. Both can be resolved by keeping the mind active.
10. It seems to me that Dr Howsepian sees the fissures as a result of a lack of religious research and the effects in Psychology. He also explains “chemical dependency models incorporating a reliance on spiritual principles continue to appear to be superior to secular alternatives (in spite of claims to the contrary in the rational recovery literature.”
Bonus Trivia Questions
They both attended Roosevelt High School in Fresno.
Dr. Howsepian replaced Elvis Presley as a role model.
True, I believe your drive to go to graduate school was based on the never ending quest for knowledge at least I hope RIGHT!!!???
Reply to this
1. His passion for learning was the world of Psychiatry and theology.
2. His passion for learning had three sources the first was the father and the mother. Both parents encouraged him to have an education since they could not go to school and have an education. The second source was the motivation for study psychology. His teacher, Mr. Ralph Wood made a difference in his life by motivating him to study psychology. Also his physiology class was interesting for him. He combined these two fields in one and he became a psychiatrist. The third source was his religion. “I am a Christian who takes seriously St. Anselm of Canterbury's maxim, 'Credo ut intelligam'-'I believe so that I may understand,' St. Peter's admonition to "Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15), and Jesus' 'Greatest Commandment', viz. to love God with all one's heart, soul and mind.”
3. One of "deepest interests in psychiatry is the intersection of psychiatric and religion.
4. There are evidences that phenotypes are combinations of genotypes and environments.
5.Even Freud wrote negatively about religion he also wrote positively about religion. Religion can contribute to your own or others’ mentally or physical well being.
6 “Past suspicions of religious belief and practice by psychiatrists have given way to a rapprochement that is likely to be mutually beneficial. Much of this change has been ushered in through a greater awareness of cultural influences in health and illness generally.
7.The bipolar disorder type I is one of the most challenging and difficult disorder to work because of the tendency of instability.
8.1st I know and have known many older people and am struck by a proper subset of these individuals who are sharp, spry, active, and joyful, either to the ends of their lives or until just before the ends of their lives.
2nd, there are some traits of character or ways of being that tend to improve with aging, including wisdom, contentment, and gaining a perspective on life that allows one to disregard what is less important and to uphold what is more important.
3rd, if the family and social situation in which one ages has not disintegrated, the rich multigenerational context in which one lives, the honor, love, and care by those who themselves learn beneficence through both modeling and serving one's elders, and the inherently slower pace of life.
9. The problem of aging is, like the problem of schizophrenia, partially resolved by focusing not so much on the aging person but on her social and family networks
10.There are those who see psychiatry as not being 'scientific' unless it is deeply embedded in a genetic and biological matrix, largely to the exclusion of patients' psychologies.
1. Roosevelt High School
2. Elvis
3. F
Reply to this
1. Dr. Howsepian stated that his passion for knowledge come from three sources. First, being his father and mothers appreciation for education due to the privation of there educational history. Second reason was just the shear interest of psychology. Through the study of psychology, Dr. Howsepian felt that it, “ inspired me, ignited my passion for understanding, inflamed my curiosity, and gave me academic direction.” (Howsepian, 1). Third source of his passion is his Christiana faith. In which he feels that knowledge is power and to unconditionally love God with ones heart, soul, and mind.
2. In explaining the three sources of his passion for learning and thirst for , or hunger for knowledge, Dr. Howsepian quotes St. Anselm of Canterbury’s maxim, Credo ut intelligam’-’I believe so that I may understand.’
3. One of (Dr. Howsepian’s) “ deepest interests in psychiatry is the intersection of psychiatry and religion.
4. I believe that Dr. Howsepian is saying that psychological disorders are mainly influenced by ones environmental factors. Factors such as psychoactive substance abuse, traumatic events, stress exposure, conflicts, neglect, head injury, co-morbid, illness, etc.
5. Although Freud wrote negatively about religion, he also had some favorable things to say. Dr. Howsepian stated that a very lengthy and growing list of studies that document in great detail the beneficial aspects of religion on mental and physical health.
6. It appears, Dr. Howsepian feels that there is a strong tie between psychiatry and religion. He feels patients who have had a religious conversion unexpected dramatic positive changes have occurred that were believed to be untreatable. He feels that chemical dependency models incorporating a reliance on spiritual principles continue to appear to be superior to secular alternatives.
7. Dr. Howsepian feels that the most challenging and difficult psychiatric disorder to work with would be Bipolar Disorder, Type I. He feels that it is difficult due to the instability of the disorder. Also the therapeutic challenges in the acute phase of treatment. Also Dr. Howsepian feels that there are the psychodynamic and interpersonal challenges involving a cohesive and coherent sense of self, marital discord, psychosocial and occupational disequilibrium, and optimal honing of reality testing, the proper reconfiguration of object relations, the managing of defenses, and the cultivating of insight. Also substance abuse and the high risk for self-harm amplifies the complexity of the disorder.
8. The three factors that helped Dr. Howsepian put the perspective of aging in order. First, knowing many older people who are sharp, spry, active, and joyful. Second, factor is the traits that improve with aging, including wisdom, contentment, and gaining a perspective on what is important in life. Lastly, surrounding one with love from family and living a slower pace of life can lead to continued, even improved, human flourishing
Reply to this
9. Dr. Howsepian feels that aging and the condition of schizophrenia are similar in their etiological origins because both are based on social and family networks.
10. I think that Dr. Howsepian is saying that the fissure is cased by the biological and more scientific branch. In which there is more respect for “scientific” models and interventions in human problems. Rather than the human narrative, intrapsychic processes, and deep subjectivity.
Bonus Trivia Questions
1. Theodore Roosevelt High
2.The Beach Boys
3. False
Reply to this
1. 1) His mother and father both encouraged education, and their life story served as an inspiration for Dr. Al Howsepian to seek a higher education. 2) Early High School classes in Psychology and Physiology, and his High School teacher (Mr. Ralph Wood) whom was a mentor. 3) He was inspired by his deep belief in Christianity.
2. Credo ut intelligam'-'I believe so that I may understand
3. Psychiatry and Religion
4. Dr. Howspeian adheres to the belief that Genotypes (a genetic constitution of an individual organism) and environment directly influence Phenotype (an observable characteristic or trait of an organism). Both environment and biology play a role.
5. Freud generally spoke of religion in a negative context, although he did acknowledge that there’s a growing list of studies that document in great detail the beneficial aspects of religion on mental and physical health.
6. Dr. Howspeian believes that religion plays an integral role in psychiatry. Faith is a powerful thing.
7. Bipolar Disorder Type 1. Patients suffering from this disorder often exhibit a wide range of inconsistent demeanors that make for difficult treatment.
8. 1) He knows elderly that are sharp, active and joyful to the end or their lives. 2) With age comes wisdom, contentment and a better perspective on life. 3) The social and family network plays an important role in aging. It lends itself to a new chapter in life for the elderly, one that is both beneficial to family members and the elderly.
9. Keeping the mind active is an important aspect of treating schizophrenia and warding off dementia in the aging. Social and family networks have proven to be effective and beneficial for both the elderly and people suffering from schizophrenia.
10. Dr. Howspeian is talking about the divide of beliefs that exist between the biological and philosophical factors of Psychiatry.
BONUS QUESTIONS
1.Roosevelt High School in Fresno
2.Elvis Presley
3.True
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11/9/2009
Cathy Lazarus
Psychology 328
Amphetamine Induced Withdrawal Dream
Here I am in rehab again. I thought I had my addiction conquered this time. This was the longest I’d ever stayed away from Meth; almost 6 months this last time. I was “up” for three days on my last “high”. I was so tired and depressed afterwards that all I wanted to do was sleep. But then the dreams would come. The dreams were exhilarating yet frightening. Since I had lost my job and alienated my family and friends due to my drug addiction, my thoughts were always obsessed with how I could find the money to buy the ingredients necessary to make Meth to get high, this obsession lead to horrid dreams.
I dreamed I high-jacked a hot air balloon in Temecula (at least I think it was a dream) to travel to the Midwest like the in the movie The Wizard of Oz where The Great Oz flew away in the hot air balloon. I’d heard the Midwest had an abundance of propane tanks and that propane could be used in the ingredients for making Meth. While I was soaring above mountains in my newly acquired balloon, I saw a strange object approaching me from a distance. It was very colorful but I couldn’t make out what it was until it got closer to me. As it came closer, however, I wished it had remained at a distance. The thing was demonic looking. I tried to make the balloon go higher by filling it with more hot air, but the thing just kept coming towards me. It was bluish, greenish, reddish and bloated looking with a slime type fluid dripping from its human like body. I tried to descend by letting air out of the balloon but the thing flew down towards me. This must be just a dream or a hallucination, I tried to assure myself as I felt my blood pressure rising, my body begin trembling, and my body sweating profusely. I began to try to yell for help as the grotesque creature came closer but the words that were coming out of my mouth didn’t make any sense to me, anyway, who would hear me so far up in the sky? I was so confused, what should I do? I began having severe cramps in my body and feeling nauseous. My tremors turned into convulsions and the intense light began hurting my eyes and giving me a severe headache as my pupils grew to the size of a grapes. I decided the only way to end this horrid dream, hallucination, or whatever it was, was to let all the air out of the balloon. Surely that thing couldn’t keep up with the “speed” of my decent, could it? The thing trailed me at warp speed and then, just when I thought I had succeed in escaping its reach, I saw the ground fast approaching and realized I couldn’t stop. Everything went blank.
It’s been 72 hours since my last “high”. The professionals tell me that my craving for Meth will weaken over time and that there is over a 60% chance that I can beat the odds of not returning to methamphetamine use. That last dream made me realize that if I don’t kick the addiction, I will die. That creature pursuing me me was my addiction and it trie
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Cathy Lazarus
11/10/09
A “Pair ‘o Docs” response.
1. First, was Dr. Howsepian’s passion for knowledge due to his parents’ lack of education. They wanted for their son what they had not achieved due to various circumstances beyond their control. Second, the study of psychology instilled in Dr. Howsepian a powerful motivation for learning. A psychology instructor, Mr. Wood, inspired Dr. Howsepian and gave him academic direction. Additionally, a class in physiology motivated Dr. Howsepian to combine psychology and physiology in the study of psychiatry. Third, Dr. Howsepian’s Christian philosophy was an inspiring and motivating force for his studies.
2. “Credo ut intelligam”. I believe so that I may understand.
3. Psychiatry and religion.
4. Dr. Howsepian means that “all phenotypes are combinations of genotypes and environments.”
5. Dr. Howsepian states that although Freud wrote negatively about religion, Freud believed that religion could be used by its adherents in ways that conduce neither to one’s own or to others’ mental or physical well-being; however, there are documented studies of the beneficial aspects of religion on mental and physical health.
6. Dr. Howsepian is extremely optimistic that there is a scientific correlation between spiritual, psychological, and physiological well-being. There is currently much interest in “models of human flourishing” for which spirituality plays a dominant role in one’s own health and happiness.
7. I believe the disaster Dr. Howsepian refers to is that of aging and neurodegenerative dementia. For no matter how we endeavor to take care of our minds and bodies, aging still imposes its disastrous effects upon us. Towards the end of our lives, it becomes more difficult to continue to flourish physically and mentally.
8. (a) Dr. Howsepian cites encouraging examples of those who have maintained their sharp minds, activity levels, and happiness even at the ends of their lives. (
9. Dr. Howsepian compares aging with Schizophrenia as Neurodegenerative Dementia. He encourages the assistance of family and social networks to stimulate the minds of both the Schizophrenic and the ageing with social and familial interaction, exercises in problem solving activities, and in moral and intellectual virtues. He cites India as an example of successfully integrating Schizophrenics into social and family networks.
10. Dr. Howsepian explains that psychiatry is going in two directions. One is towards the scientific where only genetic and biological
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1. The 3 sources that Dr. Howsepian cites as his three sources for his undying passion for learning & thirst for knowledge are 1) his parents, 2) the study of psychology itself (specifically in Mr. Wood’s class during his Jr. Year in H.S.) and 3) his Christian religion.
2. “Credo ut inteligam” is the maxim that he quotes by St. Anselm of Canterbury, which translates into “I believe so that I may understand”.
3. The intersection of psychiatry and religion is one of Dr. Howsepian’s deepest interests in psychiatry.
4. When Dr. Howsepian states he ascribes to “the fundamental axiom of biology”, he is stating that all phenotypes are combinations of genotypes and environments. Each can affect/alter the other.
5. Although Freud seemed to speak negatively more times than not regarding religion; he did at times have a few positive things to say about religion, especially in speaking of one of his close friends, a Protestant minister.
6. Dr. Howsepian states that “as psychiatry and psychology continue to have a growing interest in fostering health (well-being, joy) in addition to illness, there is a new-found interest in models of optimal human flourishing and, as a result, a growing interest in religious texts in which not only models of optimal human flourishing can be found but there are also directives to achieve such flourishing (faith, prayer, loving one’s neighbor). There is a growing number of documented studies that explain in detail the beneficial aspects of religion on mental and physical health. It still remains a topic of controversy.
7. The disorder that Dr. Howsepian finds the most difficult to work with is Bi-Polar D/O, Type I because of the trend of the diagnosis leaning towards instability and the disorder’s therapeutic challenge in the acute phase. Dr. Howsepian states that it is “difficult enough to keep these patients stable, but it is all the more difficult to reverse a decompensated state once it has taken hold.”
8. The three things that have helped Dr. Howsepian put the phenomenon of aging “into perspective” are: 1) he has known older people who have been sharp, active and remained joyful until the end, if not just before the end, of their lives, 2) wisdom, contentment and a gained perspective on life are just some of the characteristics one obtains in the natural process of aging and 3) the rich multigenerational context in which one lives, the honor, love and care by those who themselves learn through both modeling and serving one’s elders. The aging process also serves as a slower pace of life where one can reflect back on, be more mindful, and enjoy the more simple aspects of life.
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9. Aging and the condition of schizophrenia are similar in terms of their etiological origins in the way that the problem of aging and schizophrenia can be resolved or alleviated by not so much focusing on the person but rather on their social and family networks. Networks such as these can act to stall the condition by keeping the mind active by encouraging human interaction, thoughtfulness and continued problem solving, which all exercise moral and intellectual qualities.
10. When Dr. Howsepian speaks of “the growing fissure in psychiatry between biologism and personalism”; he is referring to the two opposite directions that psychiatry is going. There are those that are categorized into the “biological psychiatry” branch, in which there is only respect and appreciation for only scientific models of and interventions in human problems; whereas the opposing group does not agree.
Bonus Trivia Questions:
1. Roosevelt High School is where both Dr. BLT and Dr. Howsepian attended.
2. Dr. Howsepian replaced Dr. BLT’s deceased role model, Elvis.
3. This statement is True.
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1. Dr.Howsepian three sources of his passion?
1.His Parents encouraged him to pursue education.
2.The study of Psychology motivated him
for learning.
3.His Christian faith caused him to take things in life more seriously
2.In explaining the three sources of his passion for learning and thirst for, or hunger for knowledge, what maxim by St. Anselm of Canterbury does he quote?
'Credo ut intelligam'-"I believe so that I may understand"
3.One of Dr. Howsepian's deepest interests in psychiatry is the intersection of Psychiatry and Religion
4.What does Dr. Howsepian mean when he says he ascribes to "the fundamental axiom of biology? That all phentypes are combinations of genotypes and environment.
5. What is Dr. Howsepian's take on Freud's view of religion? That Freud had a pretty negative view of religion but he did have some favorable comments in reference to some of the benefits that faith played in aspect to ones mental and physical health. There were signs of some positive benefits to having faith.
6. What is Dr. Howsepian's view of the relationship between psychiatry and religion? He believe's that one is a deep component of the other. They work together, intermingle along with philosophy and religion.
7. Which disorder does Dr. Howsepian find most difficult and challenging to work with and why? Bipolar Disorder Type 1. Because of the complexity of the many components of the disorder itself. Predicting the deepth of instability of a patient is difficult.
8.What are the three things that have helped Dr. Howsepian put the phenomenon of aging into perspective? 1.One factor would be knowing individuals who inspite of aging have indeed aged well until the end of their lives 2. His perspective in life that somthings improve with age ex. wisdom 3. That with love and support of family and society one can live a rich full life.
9. According to Dr. Howsepian, in what ways are aging, and the condition of schizophrenia, similar in terms, of their etiological origins? Aging and schizophrenia are similar in terms of focusing on keeping a person's social
and family networks flourishing in their lives plays a part on the outcome on their condition.
10. What does Dr. Howsepian suggest may be the growing fissure in psychiatry between biologism and personalism? I think he is looking in terms of psychiatry being referred to as two different branches of study. One being biological and the other being personal. That it is important for future psychiatrist not just focus on one being superior to the other. They both hold sufficent components in properly treating patients.
Bonus trivia question:
1. Name of the high school? Theodore Roosevelt High School
2. Role model Dr. Howesepian replaced? Elvis
3. True, but I'm sure the attention from the cheerleaders would not have created a problem for him at the time.
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