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All in the Mind

All in the Mind, presented by Natasha Mitchell, is Radio National's weekly foray into all things mental – a program about the mind, brain and behaviour. From dreaming to depression, addiction to artificial intelligence, consciousness to coma, psychoanalysis to psychopathy, free will to forgetting – All in the Mind explores the human condition through the mind's eye.

Science on Mornings on triple j

Join Zan Rowe and her scientific guests, with a bunch of curious triple j listeners for a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers! Science on Mornings is published every Thursday.

Join Zan Rowe and her scientific guests, with a bunch of curious triple j listeners for a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers! Science on Mornings is published every Thursday.

All in the Mind

Dementia can trigger behaviours that are deeply depressing to loved ones. Aggression, agitation and even delusions and hallucinations. Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed. But they are now known to increase risk of mortality and stroke, with concerns that their use is excessive in under-resourced aged care settings.Management tool or good medical practice? Natasha Mitchell probes. Read Transcript

The 1929 discovery of amphetamine heralded the dawn of the age of Speed - - a drug with an extraordinary and triumphant career. The first modern antidepressant, a powerful prop in warfare, a diet pill, a devastating illicit drug - - now reincarnated as a treatment for ADHD. Historian of science Nicolas Rasmussen unearths the making of modern medicine, Big Pharma, and a humble stimulant. Read Transcript

Nobody likes being told their most cherished beliefs are based on myth and misconception. But the global skeptics movement does just that. In the classroom and beyond, All in the Mind excavates the nature of the skeptical enquiry with magician The Amazing Randi, Mythbusters' Adam Savage and other enquiring minds. Read Transcript

The brain is more plastic than scientists once believed. But what does this mental malleability mean for humanity? More compelling stories from psychiatrist Dr Norman Doidge as he enters the labs and lives of the new 'neuroplasticians'. And, neuroplasticity on the couch - does psychotherapy physically change your brain? Read Transcript

In Conversation

After the heyday of science in the 17th century starring Isaac Newton there came another involving 'natural philosophers', who were both creative artists and 'scientists'. This two-generation explosion of creativity before Charles Darwin stole the stage has been the fascination of biographer Richard Holmes. He portrays some of the heroes of the era, from Michael Faraday and Mary Shelley to Humphry Davy and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Read Transcript

Will the famous and delightful hedgerow birds of England survive? One expert says it's touch and go. Professor John Krebs (Lord Krebs) is one of Britain's leading environmentalists. He began as an ornithologist at Oxford, studied the behaviour of birds and then became leader of instrumentalities determining policy on environment and food. Now he heads Jesus College, Oxford and speaks on scientific matters in the House of Lords. He discusses his illustrious career - and those missing birds. Read Transcript

James Pitts comes from Detroit in the USA. He is an ex-heroin addict who has led the campaign in Australia to assist those trying to come off narcotics. He tells Lynne Malcolm the story of Odyssey House. Read Transcript

How would you cope if your child had Asperger's syndrome? Carolyn Lightwing discusses her experiences living with her son Daniel, who has Asperger's. Read Transcript

Ockham’s Razor

Science journalist Dr Peter Lavelle from ABC Health Online looks at the history of disease and some of the terrible epidemics that have swept through societies throughout history. Read Transcript

Dr Stuart Taylor is an environmental scientist and Director of Geochemical Assessments in Sydney. He investigated what is really at the bottom of Sydney Harbour and what he found wasn't pretty. Read Transcript

Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology, John Bradshaw, from Monash University, talks about experiments he undertook when investigating the brain's right and left hemispheres. Read Transcript

Bill Hall from Adelaide is a professional writer for the antiques and collectables trade. According to him the mid 20th century now appeals very much to collectors. He visits a home of that era and summarises some of the technical highlights and manufacturing breakthroughs that are now making that period so collectable. Read Transcript

The Health Report

Monday 06 October 2008

 

Paracetamol plus ibuprofen for treating fever in children Fever is a normal part of childhood illness and affects a large number of pre-school children. Researchers in the UK have investigated the effect of paracetamol plus ibuprofen in treating childhood fever.  Read Transcript

Back and joint problems Our backs and joints are seen as engineering wonders. Unfortunately, they give us lots of problems as well. Dr Tom Oxland is Professor of Orthopaedics and Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and he specialises in back injuries.  Read Transcript

Prescription opioid policy A report which has just been released by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians has expressed major concern about the spiralling use of opioid medications - morphine-like drugs - for people with pain not due to cancer.  Read Transcript

Monday 29 September 2008

 

Mental health of truck drivers in Australia A report has been released in early September which reveals serious stress and health problems suffered by Australia's truck drivers. The findings of the Health Survey of the New South Wales Transport Industry have major implications for road safety throughout the country.  Read Transcript

The link between arsenic exposure and type 2 diabetes in U.S. adults Researchers from Spain and the U.S. have investigated the association of arsenic exposure with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.  Read Transcript

Toxic metals in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the internet Lead, mercury and arsenic have been detected in substantial proportions of Indian-manufactured traditional Ayurvedic medicines. Researchers in the U.S. have investigated this and compared the prevalence of toxic metals in the U.S. vs Indian-manufactured medicines.  Read Transcript

Calculating how breast cancers will respond to tamoxifen Australian scientists have made a discovery which could help doctors decide which women with breast cancer will benefit from anti-oestrogen therapies, and which will not.  Read Transcript

Monday 22 September 2008

 

Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) 2008 conference An Australian study shows links between circumcision and reduced HIV acquisition among homosexual men and other research looks at the relationship between HIV viral load and infectiousness.  Read Transcript

Drug use and mental health problems A large number of drug users also experience mental health problems and many people who suffer from mental illness are drug users. Treatment services for these people have been quite inadequate and there is a need to improve these services substantially.  Read Transcript

Monday 15 September 2008

 

Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee Last week in the New England Journal of Medicine research was published that investigated the efficacy of arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.  Read Transcript

The role of magnesium sulfate in the prevention of cerebral palsy Some research suggests that foetal exposure to magnesium sulfate before preterm birth might reduce the risk of cerebral palsy. A recent study investigated this claim.  Read Transcript

Closing the gap in a generation A major report from the Commission on Social Determinants on Health has just been handed to the World Health Organisation.  Read Transcript

Monday 08 September 2008

 

Depression and heart attack Depression and heart disease are two leading disorders which add to the global burden of disease. Several large-scale studies have investigated whether treatment of depression improves prognosis after heart attack.  Read Transcript

Homicide by the mentally ill - a rare event in the UK A study recently published in the British Journal of Psychiatry showed that the rate of homicide due to mentall illness has fallen steadily in the UK after the late 1970s. According to this study the risk of lethal violence by a person with schizophrenia who has received adequate treatment is not much higher than the community as a whole and the period of greatest risk is before initial treatment.  Read Transcript

Getting psychiatrists to the people who need them According to general practitioners and other health professionals, it is often difficult to get expert psychiatric help needed for a patient. In the Canadian province of Ontario they've developed a program to overcome this problem.  Read Transcript

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