A neuroconstructive approach to manage obesity:

Yesterday I had the opportunity to participate in the fourth symposium of neuropsychology at the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey offered by Dr. Laura Oliver Trinidad Ph.D. A number of topics related to psychology and mental health which are closely linked to biological and cognitive problems that directly affect humans were discussed. One of the topics that caught my attention was obesity, as it is a problem we can see on a social level and brings a number of biological, physical and emotional consequences.

Statistics and studies carried out in 2013 in Puerto Rico reported that the prevalence of obesity was 66.6%. Obesity stood out more in women with depression than men. You can see that there is a correlation between obesity and depressive symptomatology. This factor is very common as obesity brings many physical consequences but many emotional problems as well. The causes of obesity are not necessarily “eating more than you burn”, as some think. Obesity happens due to mental problems, drugs, genetic, diet changes, inactivity, among others; these can lead the individual to obtain a weight which exceeds the limits for a healthy weight according to your height and muscle mass. To work with obesity in the field of Psychology, therapists must achieve a change in the lifestyle of the person, persuade them to attend support groups, and help them set short and long term goals. In addition, psychotherapy, family, social and marital relations are very important for a person with depression and obesity, since support is essential for effective improvement. By having enough family support they will feel more secure and confident to go ahead and eliminate negative thoughts and life styles.

Disorder: Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a "disorder of neurotic origin characterized by a systematic rejection of food which is usually observed in young people." This disorder is accompanied by other risk factors such as: anxiety, this is present in anorexia nervosa as the person suffering from this disorder possibly went through a traumatic event or "emotional chaos" in his life, such as emotional abuse because of their weight. Distress can be targeted whether caused by a specific or generalized atmosphere. However, deterioration is another factor that is very present in any condition as in the case of anorexia. According to the DSM V, anorexia nervosa is a food restriction problem and it is important to keep those thoughts healthy; the person may not function at an optimal level since it is not properly fed. In addition, the deterioration can be seen in excessive weight loss, physical exhaustion, health conditions due to poor diet, among others. People with this behavior feel good and okay, but from another point of view, this behavior is considered an "abnormal behavior". Symptoms such as irritability, depression and emotional or personality disorders may cause risk to the person itself or those around because they do not know the way the patient can react. There are more factors that influence these risk behaviors which are beyond the control of patients so psychological help is important to treat this disorder.

As far as I'm concerned, I believe that anorexia nervosa is an "abnormal behavior" because this disorder has a number of reasons that are not within the standards of the DSM V. In addition, as mentioned above I've seen what anorexia can cause both physically, emotionally and psychologically as I did this exercise taking into account a real example. I believe that this disorder is more present in young adults who may die because of this abnormal behavior. However, this disorder can be treated, but is a process that requires a lot of time for the person to be rehabilitated and try to live a normal life inside the "social standards". Often, the same society is leading to this type of abnormal behavior because of the stigma, prejudices, and stereotypes. 

Psychology and Special Education:

     Psychology plays a major role in special education, as it has a scope that no other science can also be complement thereof to achieve. As we have seen, special education should always be approached from an interdisciplinary. The psychologist must handle and address how they feel, think, learn and know the children with special needs, to help them adapt to the environment in which they operate. The main functions of the psychologist in special education are the psychological evaluation, educational psychometric and intervention with the student in various forms. They can also be a part of the planning committee and location, participate in draft legislation, provide consulting to parents, teachers and other professionals working on the development and implementation of behavioral modification, reasonable accommodation, among others. However, psychology is deeply rooted to education and that is worrying to the management of special education in Puerto Rico.

     Special Education in Puerto Rico is very alarming since throughout the years, still, these children not have the attention that they need. Special education is defined as special help designed to meet different needs of children with disabilities. According to the critics of newspaper articles that arise in Puerto Rico, these necessities have not being met for the children. There are countless news headlines that blame the Department of Education regarding the services and rights that have children with disabilities. From the downsizing of personnel, whom were removed to work in other areas that have no interaction with the children, to changes in the system; this makes children not receive the help they need. 

   Special education can include special instructions in the classroom, the home, hospitals, institutions, or other environments. Out of those options, the classroom is the most important since the child receives the education. Education is fundamental for the development of an individual and more important is the person has a disability since they can develop better in motor and intellectual activities. Now, when the Department of Education made these cuts of educational personnel to other areas in which there is no interaction with children, there is damage being done to the development of the latter. Children are being disenfranchised from their rights. These children deserve better services to help them develop into responsible adults.

Are there signs indicating that a person is a pedophile?

     Pedophilia is a mental disorder that does not have a defined profile to identify these sex offenders, but there are a number of indicators or red flags. The president of the College of Professional Social Work, Emil Alicea Larry Rodriguez says "we must look if the adolescent have sexual behaviors that goes beyond their age and has interest in children younger". However, another red flag indicator is a constant interest of searchin children nudity since it may indicate suffering from mental disorder of pedophilia. In these cases, parents or guardians can stop the problem in time seeking psychological and therapeutic help as this is a pattern that continues into adulthood. There is debate about whether pedophilia is congenital or acquired since you can not determine the exact origin of it, and if there really is a cure. The neuropsychologist Teresa Dalmau says that "it is a matter that remains debatable, as is highly variable whether cured or not, the pedophile is like - a drug or alcohol addict, after therapies and treatments, knows his way and control their impulses, but must be handled preemptively. Dalmau, said that Puerto Rico is a hotbed of pedophiles because society does not know when they arrive or where are these compared to the United States where they have to disclose to the community mental disorder (pedophilia). In the case of Puerto Rico, the persons responsible for carrying out treatments for sex offenders are ASSMCA which is the leading provider of mental health in the country.

(Newspaper El Nuevo Día / Tuesday, February 27, 2016 / electronic version)

     As far as I'm concerned, mental health is a problem that affects us all as a society globally since in many cases it is not known how to eradicate or help people with mental disabilities, and pedophilia is one of them. I chose this story because it is a topic that is related to my future plans as forensic psychologist in the area of ​​child sexual offenses. I believe that in Puerto Rico and various countries have to deal with cases of pedophile or child abuse and learn to recognize potential sex offenders because as the neuropsychologist Teresa Dalmau said the company does not know when or where they are coming. However, a case of sexual assault should be treated more effectively and deliver a consistent message through which parents and relatives know how to identify these mental disorders; especially if a child has been sexually assaulted.