User:Nrs53/sandbox

NRS 53 This is my sandbox page where I will compile resource material and edit as needed.

Orientation(Mental

I would like to expand this Wikipedia article by an indepth look into the causes of change in orientation and possible treatment.

Because "Orientation" can refer to many things, such as sexual, workplace, business, college, this is a challenging subject to research. Orientation itself means "an introduction, as to guide one in adjusting to new surroundings, employment, activity, or the like. The state of being oriented. The act or process of being oriented." So what you may ask does it mean to "Orient" oneself?...Mentally....to adjust (or readjust) your mental status, to familiarize (a person) with current surroundings or circumstances. Following injury or alteration to the brain (seizures, fainting), medications or drugs, and sometimes by natural occurances a person can become confused to place or time, sometimes to self.

There are many books which include the topic of "Orientation (Mental)",and there are numerous articles published by medical groups such as the American Psychological Association, Harvard Medical School, Alzheimers Association.

Changes In Orientation

It has been long understood that drug (psychedelics) use causes change in mental status. Other causes include hypnosis, disturbance of sleep patterns and REM cycles, mental trauma (post traumatic stress disorders), dual personality disorders(dissociative identity disorders), sleepwalking, sleep terrors, illness,and physical injury.

Disorientation

Disorientation is the opposite of orientation. It is a cognitive disability in which the senses of time, direction, and recognition of people and places become difficult to distinguish. Disorientation may be temporary or permanent as in cases of persons with dementia, Alzheimers disease, trauma, schizophrenia, or stroke (cerebral vascular accident), psychotic disorders. Permanent disorientation is generally thought of as non reversible. Temporary disorientation can be caused by hypoglycemia, concussion, trauma, fever, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, and a condition termed as brain fog. Temporary disorientation is thought of as a reversible condition when the body is able to correct the cause of change in mental status. The condition of disorientation is disturbing to both the victim and also to family and friends. Outsiders often look upon the victim as mentally disturbed, regardless of the cause.

Brain Fog

Brain fog is a term used by Dr. Lawrence Wilson M.D. to define "ongoing, persistent symptoms of forgetfulness, spaciness, and feelings of confusion and inability to focus and think clearly." Whether due to hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue, food intolerance, nutrient deficiencies, toxicity of the liver, kidney or bowel, Dr. Wilson feels a healthier lifestyle, dietary changes, and exercise, combined with detoxifying methods of enemas, colonic irrigation, and dry sauna baths may be helpful. He also mentions that some patients are misdiagnosed with Alzheimers disease when there may be toxicity due to combination of medications, and stresses the importance of self-awareness of drug side effects and interaction.

Testing

Neurocognitive testing is generally used to understand a persons thinking abilities and whether their status is improving or becoming worse. The MMSE (mini-mental state examination) is commonly used by long term care facilities to determine whether a person meets certain criteria, by hospitals to determine the level of neuro damage in patients, and by psychologists and neuropsychologists to evaluate a patients status. The test often includes questions regarding present orientation, recent and past memory, skills in judgement and language function. The subjects appearance, age, dress, and behavior may also be evaluated.

Annotated Bibliography

1. Frank, Rosenthal, Caplan. Handbook of Rehabilitation Psychology, American Psychological Association, Washington DC. This is a reference book located in the SCC library which The American Psychological Association has produced to expand the resources available to the public. This book was a good starting point for research.

2. Hockenbury, Hockenbury. Discovering Psychology. Worth. 2010. Print. This textbook has a diverse scattering of subjects related to confusion, disorientation, and orientation.

3. Dementia: Hope Through Research. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dementias/detail_dementia.htm This is a resource available online for the public use. It is a good research article especially for families and friends of persons with an alteration in orientation.

4. Confusion - Causes - Better Medicine. http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/confusion/causes.

5. Brain Fog. Lawrence Wilson M.D. Pseudoscience article. Although some of his writings are sensible, other points are grasping for a basis in reality.

6. Imants Baruss. Alterations of consciousness, American Psychological Association, Wash. D.C. Print. The author exposes questions of whether reality is true or imagined. He gives the reader a window to the mind. His research is indepth and his exploration of the workings of sleep vs. wakefullness keeps the reader interested.

7. Paul Weiner. Consciousness explained, Dennet, Boston. Print. This author delves into the state of conscious (and unconscious) awareness, behavior, and memories. He offers an interesting view of the inner mind.