Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which is a rather fancy way of saying that it works by making more of the neurotransmitter serotonin available in the synapses (the spaces between neurons) in the brain. Given that serotonin levels have been linked to much of what spiritually ails we humans (and mice of course), and that parents of children with autism and all of us in the field are so desperate to find avenues of improving our childrens' lives, it is no wonder that studies are being conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using SSRI's such as Prozac for children with autism.
A study currently being conducted by a specialty pharmaceutical company called Neuropharm Group, which manufactures a new form of fluoxetine, has so far yielded disappointing results. This study investigated the effects of this new form of Paxil on the repetitive behaviors of children with autism. In this double blind study, results have demonstrated that both Paxil and placebo reduced the repetitive behavior of children with autism, and that the differences between the two were not significant.
There are two interesting aspects of this study to me. First, the study was sponsored by the same company that manufactures the medicine, and their conclusions were that it was no more effective than placebo. This conclusion will result in tremendous financial losses for this company, yet they had the integrity to publicize these negative results. While one certainly can't conclude that all drug companies have integrity, it is clear that at least one does. Second, it is always interesting to me to think about the power of a placebo. Simply the belief that an intervention will work will often "cause" the intervention to work. The general effectiveness of placebos begs the classic mind/body question. Does it make any sense at all to assume that the mind is somehow different from the body?
Classic studies done in the 1970's revealed that the neurochemistry of actors who pretended to be depressed or schizophrenic yielded the same metabolites in their urine as patients hospitalized for those conditions for many years. So if we do separate our thoughts from our chemistry, then we must always ask the chicken and egg question. And if our thoughts change our chemistry, and our chemistry changes our thoughts, how should one intervene?
..... Our deepest regrets and prayers are with our Southern California scheduler Linda for her recent loss. Also, we wish Chrisa Sadd a speedy recovery, and a very happy birthday to Elizabeth Fraines.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Little Things
What is it that we miss most about someone when they're gone? It may or may not be the things we love most about them when they are with us. The things we miss the most are not always the most obvious. They are not always the large things. They are not necessarily the great achievements, the number of books published, the amount of money someone makes, the fancy car they drive. What we miss most are the small things. Sometimes they are the awkward moments, the moments of spontaneity, a tear shed at an unexpected moment, the thoughtful gift, the kind word at just the right time, the odd laugh, the warm and secure embrace in a moment of fear.
In Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's film Good Will Hunting, there is a moment when Will's therapist Sam McGuire talks to Will about McGuire's wife who died of cancer: "My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts of wonderful idiosyncracies. She used to fart in her sleep. One night it was so loud, it woke the dog up. She woke up and asked, "Is that you?" I didn't have the heart to tell her. Those are things I miss the most, wonderful things, the little idiosycracies that only I know about. That's what made her my wife."
It is, of course, these little things that make us all who we are. It is those little things we miss the most when we lose something or someone precious to us.
Those of us who devote our life's work to children with deep needs share much in common. One of these is a passion for helping. But we all help in different ways. Let us struggle to celebrate the small differences we discover in each other, the small accomplishments our children make. It is these small accomplishments we will remember in the years ahead. It is the small differences we make in children's lives that our children's parents will remember us for. It is the small acts of devotion and kindness that we will cherish in each other.
In Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's film Good Will Hunting, there is a moment when Will's therapist Sam McGuire talks to Will about McGuire's wife who died of cancer: "My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She had all sorts of wonderful idiosyncracies. She used to fart in her sleep. One night it was so loud, it woke the dog up. She woke up and asked, "Is that you?" I didn't have the heart to tell her. Those are things I miss the most, wonderful things, the little idiosycracies that only I know about. That's what made her my wife."
It is, of course, these little things that make us all who we are. It is those little things we miss the most when we lose something or someone precious to us.
Those of us who devote our life's work to children with deep needs share much in common. One of these is a passion for helping. But we all help in different ways. Let us struggle to celebrate the small differences we discover in each other, the small accomplishments our children make. It is these small accomplishments we will remember in the years ahead. It is the small differences we make in children's lives that our children's parents will remember us for. It is the small acts of devotion and kindness that we will cherish in each other.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
We Have a Budget
So the legislature finally got around to approving a budget. As it stands, the 3% cut to Regional Center services has been approved, so that is very likely going to happen. It will mean a 3% reduction in the payment RC's give us across the board. That is the bad news. The good news is that further reductions in Regional Center budgets that were proposed did not occur. Regional Centers will apparently also have to absorb about 100 million dollars in cuts in July, but this is much less than the proposed 300 million dollars. There is no way at this point to know how if at all this may affect our services. The 3% cut will call for some belt-tightening, but overall will not have a significant impact on our ability to provide services.
Also on the positive side, the president's stimulus package seems to liberate some money for special education programs within school districts, so this might help us to provide more services for children through our relationships with the over 30 school districts we contract with in California.
Some supervisors taking UNT coursework have needed the out of print chapter from B.F. Skinner's About Behaviorism called "The Question of Control." It is posted on the secret supervisors' section of our website in the "information" section in pdf format for those of you who need it or for any supervisor who might want to read it.
Happy birthday to Osong Kim and Gloria Medina.
Also on the positive side, the president's stimulus package seems to liberate some money for special education programs within school districts, so this might help us to provide more services for children through our relationships with the over 30 school districts we contract with in California.
Some supervisors taking UNT coursework have needed the out of print chapter from B.F. Skinner's About Behaviorism called "The Question of Control." It is posted on the secret supervisors' section of our website in the "information" section in pdf format for those of you who need it or for any supervisor who might want to read it.
Happy birthday to Osong Kim and Gloria Medina.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Parent Survey
Just wanted to let you know that (in the event that any of our parents ask you about it) our annual parent survey will be sent via email to all of our parents within the next few days. We always try to get the best return we can on these, so if anyone mentions it to you please urge them to complete the survey. It is online, and takes only about five minutes to complete. The data are collected anonymously, in order to encourage parents to speak freely about the services they are receiving from us. As always, I will do the best I can to collate the data and get the results out to all of you as soon as I can. Realistically, this can take a month or more to put together, but I will work hard to get these results out as soon as I can.
And yes, soon after that the staff survey will be sent out to all of our staff, so that you will have the opportunity of freely commenting on various aspects of your work at PCFA.
And yes, soon after that the staff survey will be sent out to all of our staff, so that you will have the opportunity of freely commenting on various aspects of your work at PCFA.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Troubled Times Ahead
I am hoping that I can soon pair this blog entry with another one that is headed "Troubled Times Behind." I have been accused (mostly by myself) of being a "terminal optimist," a condition that undoubtedly suits one well for the kind of work we are doing here at PCFA. But for a moment, let's indulge in that delicious state of pessimism and doubt that the world around us, and journalists in particular, are currently so fond of.
Any day now we are expecting a new budget to arrive from Sacramento. (By the way, what do Sacramento and Corpus Christi have in common? Yeah, you got it, they both mean "body of Christ".) Everyone who is anyone, and even a bunch of nobodies, is fully expecting an immediate cut of 3% off of Regional Center budgets. Some RC's are telling us that this cut will be taken "off the top" of any payments made to agencies such as ours. If this comes about, we can certainly live with it, but there are threats that this is "only the beginning." All sorts of dastardly plans are being thrown up against the wall, and no one yet knows what is going to stick.
Protests, marches, and all those wonderful things that sometimes do make a difference are being planned. But in the darkest corners many believe that they are going to fall onto deaf ears; everyone is out there protesting, but as the economy falls to pieces and more and more people are out of work up and down the state there is little sympathy to be garnered.
So we wait, maybe days, maybe weeks, to find out what is going to happen. This company is strong, certainly relative to the others out there. We are one of the largest ABA agencies, with a healthy line of credit, that will give us the flexibility we need in order to retool if there is any retooling that needs to be done. But we are also one of the best out there, so our services are likely to be called upon by those in need even if other agencies should not be able to weather the storm.
As clouds gather overhead, join with me in keeping a watchful eye for silver linings. They are there to be found. And should the rain come, let's use our creativity, cleverness, and passion for this work to forge ahead.
Any day now we are expecting a new budget to arrive from Sacramento. (By the way, what do Sacramento and Corpus Christi have in common? Yeah, you got it, they both mean "body of Christ".) Everyone who is anyone, and even a bunch of nobodies, is fully expecting an immediate cut of 3% off of Regional Center budgets. Some RC's are telling us that this cut will be taken "off the top" of any payments made to agencies such as ours. If this comes about, we can certainly live with it, but there are threats that this is "only the beginning." All sorts of dastardly plans are being thrown up against the wall, and no one yet knows what is going to stick.
Protests, marches, and all those wonderful things that sometimes do make a difference are being planned. But in the darkest corners many believe that they are going to fall onto deaf ears; everyone is out there protesting, but as the economy falls to pieces and more and more people are out of work up and down the state there is little sympathy to be garnered.
So we wait, maybe days, maybe weeks, to find out what is going to happen. This company is strong, certainly relative to the others out there. We are one of the largest ABA agencies, with a healthy line of credit, that will give us the flexibility we need in order to retool if there is any retooling that needs to be done. But we are also one of the best out there, so our services are likely to be called upon by those in need even if other agencies should not be able to weather the storm.
As clouds gather overhead, join with me in keeping a watchful eye for silver linings. They are there to be found. And should the rain come, let's use our creativity, cleverness, and passion for this work to forge ahead.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
El Paso, Texas and the Military
A warm welcome is due to our new clients and staff in our latest office in El Paso, Texas. We now have physical locations (offices) in three states: California, New Mexico, and Texas, and we are hoping to add several more before the year's end. Currently, our clients in El Paso are affiliated with Fort Bliss, one of the largest military bases in the U.S. We are providing services there through a contract with Tri-West (Tri-Care), through a program the government has set aside for assisting children of military families. We welcome our new staff to our family, and look forward to seeing some of you at our annual retreat.
We are also providing services to military families through several of our other regional offices.
We are also providing services to military families through several of our other regional offices.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
New to Blogosphere
I am thrilled to enter the blogosphere with this, my first installment of what I hope to be many. My intention in entering this world is to keep you abreast of developments here at PCFA, in the world of autism treatment in general, and to allow you the opportunity of commenting and participating. Please send me suggestions on what you might like to see me discuss here, ask any questions you might have, or let me know how this space might best be used by you. I hope to keep you in the loop with frequent entries, but let's see how it all develops.
Welcome aboard!
Welcome aboard!
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