Article archive / August 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 12. Source pages: 15.
The Louisiana Psychological Association is teaming up with Tulane to bring Dr. Irving Kirsh, an internationally known expert in the area of placebo effects, antidepressant medication, hypnosis, and suggestion, to New Orleans for the LPA Fall Conference. The workshop will be on Saturday, October 19.
Dr. Paula Zeanah, Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and a Director for Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) told the Times, “We are excited about the LPA Fall Workshop. Dr. Kirsch is internationally recognized for his work in hypnosis, placebo responses, and most recently, his research on the impact of placebo response and antidepressant therapy.”
The program is co-sponsored by Tulane Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Kirsch will also be presenting to the Adult and Child Psychiatry Grand Rounds while he is in New Orleans, said Zeanah.
Kirsh has published 10 books and more than 200 scientific journal articles and book chapters on placebo effects, antidepressant medication, hypnosis, and suggestion. He originated the concept of response expectancy. His meta-analyses on the efficacy of antidepressants were covered extensively in the international media and influenced official guidelines for the treatment of depression in the United Kingdom. His book, The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth, which has been published in English, French, Italian, Japanese, Turkish, and Polish, was shortlisted for the prestigious Mind Book of the Year award. It was the topic of 60 Minutes segment on CBS and a 5- page cover story in Newsweek.
“Because we believe this topic will be of broad interest,” said Zeanah, “we will be offering this LPA workshop to other health and mental health professionals as well.”
Dr. Zeanah is a clinical psychologist and works with medically ill children on the Tulane Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison service at Tulane Hospital. She is the supervisor for the pediatric psychology track of the internship program.
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