NAMI Fact Sheet on Cognitive Behavior Therapy

(Image source - http://psychologist-nh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy-5A.png)

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the
relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. By exploring patterns of thinking
that lead to self-destructive actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with
mental illness can modify their patterns of thinking to improve coping. CBT is a type of
psychotherapy that is different from traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy in that the
therapist and the patient will actively work together to help the patient recover from their
mental illness. People who seek CBT can expect their therapist to be problem-focused, and
goal-directed in addressing the challenging symptoms of mental illnesses. Because CBT is
an active intervention, one can also expect to do homework or practice outside of sessions.

A person who is depressed may have the belief, "I am worthless," and a person with panic
disorder may have the belief, "I am in danger." While the person in distress likely believes
these to be ultimate truths, with a therapist’s help, the individual is encouraged to challenge
these irrational beliefs. Part of this process involves viewing such negative beliefs as
hypotheses rather than facts and to test out such beliefs by “running experiments.”

Furthermore, people who are participating in CBT are encouraged to monitor and write down
the thoughts that pop into their minds (called "automatic thoughts"). This allows the patient
and their therapist to search for patterns in their thinking that can cause them to have
negative thoughts which can lead to negative feelings and self-destructive behaviors.


When is CBT used as a form of therapy?

Scientific studies of CBT have demonstrated its usefulness for a wide variety of mental
illnesses including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating
disorders, substance abuse disorders, sleep disorders and psychotic disorders. Studies have
shown that CBT actually changes brain activity in people with mental illnesses who receive
this treatment, suggesting that the brain is actually improving its functioning as a result of
engaging in this form of therapy.

CBT has been shown to be as useful as antidepressant medications for some individuals
with depression and may be superior in preventing relapse of symptoms. Patients receiving
CBT for depression are encouraged to schedule positive activities into their daily calendars
in order to increase the amount of pleasure they experience. In addition, depressed patients
learn how to change (“restructure”) negative thought patterns in order to interpret their
environment in a less negatively-biased way. As regular sleep has been found to be very
important in both depression and bipolar disorder, therapists will also target sleeping
patterns to improve and regulate sleep schedules with their patients. Studies indicate that
patients who receive CBT in addition to treatment with medication have better outcomes
than patients who do not receive CBT as an additional treatment.

CBT is also a useful treatment for anxiety disorders. Patients who experience persistent
panic attacks are encouraged to test out beliefs they have related to such attacks, which
can include specific fears related to bodily sensations, and to develop more realistic
responses to their experiences. This is beneficial in decreasing both the frequency and
intensity of panic attacks. Patients who experience obsessions and compulsions are guided
to expose themselves to what they fear in a safe and controlled therapeutic environment.
Beliefs surrounding their fears (of contamination, illness, inflicting harm, etc.) are identified
and changed to decrease the anxiety connected with such fears.

The same is true for people with phobias, including phobias of animals or phobias of
evaluation by others (termed Social Anxiety Disorder). Those in treatment are exposed to
what they fear and beliefs that have served to maintain such fears are targeted for
modification. CBT is often referred to as a “first line treatment” in many anxiety disorders
including generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and
obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias.

Over the past two decades, CBT for schizophrenia has received considerable attention in the
United Kingdom and elsewhere abroad. While this treatment continues to develop in the
United States, the results from studies in the United Kingdom and other countries have
encouraged therapists in the U.S. to incorporate this treatment into their own practices. In
this treatment, often referred to as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P),
patients are encouraged to identify their own delusional or paranoid beliefs and to explore
how these beliefs negatively impact their lives.

Therapists will then help patients to engage in experiments to test these beliefs. Treatment
focuses on thought patterns that cause distress and also on developing more realistic
interpretations of events. Delusions are treated by developing an understanding of the kind
of evidence that a person uses to support their beliefs and encouraging them to recognize
evidence that may have been overlooked, evidence that does not support the belief. For
example, a person who thinks that they are being videotaped by aliens may feel less worried
when their therapist helps them to discover that there are no hidden cameras in the waiting
room, or that a television remote does not contain any Alien technology within it.

CBT’s focus on thoughts and beliefs is applicable to a wide variety of symptoms. While the
above summary is certainly not comprehensive, it provides an overview of the principles of
CBT and how they apply to the treatment of various mental illnesses. Because CBT has
excellent scientific data supporting its use in the clinical treatment of mental illness, it has
achieved wide popularity both for therapists and patients alike. A growing number of
psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses have training in CBT.


Reviewed by Ken Duckworth, M.D., and Jacob L. Freedman, M.D., July 2012
NAMI • The National Alliance on Mental Illness • 1 (800) 950-NAMI • www.nami.org
3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Va. 22203

NAMI Publications on Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects more than 2 million adult American men and women. While the condition is rare in childhood, it can begin onset in the mid- to late teen years. Reading this brochure is an important first step to answering your questions and understanding recovery for people living with schizophrenia.

People living with schizophrenia have talents, goals and feelings just like anyone else. But, if left untreated, their illness can have a profoundly negative effect on their own lives, their families and their communities. Because the illness may cause unusual, inappropriate and sometimes unpredictable and disorganized behavior, people who are not effectively treated are often shunned and can become the targets of social prejudice. People living with schizophrenia may also face poverty, homelessness and high risk for suicide.

Lack of services has left many people living with schizophrenia inappropriately placed in jails and prisons. Medication, rehabilitation and other community-based supports can often help people living with schizophrenia lead meaningful, satisfying lives.

This brochure will explain the symptoms, discuss treatment options and explore the latest in schizophrenia research. You’ll also find information on where you can turn for medical care and find the support needed to manage this persistent illness.

Stay up-to-date on emerging research and treatments at www.nami.org/research.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest

grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives

for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI has more

than 1,100 State Organizations and Affiliates across the country that

engage in advocacy, research, support and education. Members are

families, friends and people living with mental illnesses such as major

depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder

(OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline

personality disorder.

Written by Ken Duckworth, M.D. with additional input by Irving

Gottesman, Ph.D., and Charles Schulz, M.D. Copyright 2011 by the

National Alliance on Mental Illness. Copies of this publication can be

purchased at www.nami.org/store.

NAMI, 3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington VA 22203

www.nami.org

HelpLine: 1 (800) 950-NAMI (6264)

Twitter: NAMICommunicate

Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialnami

Source - http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Schizophrenia9&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=118290



Source - http://www.nami.org/SchizophreniaSurvey/SchizeExecSummary.pdf 

The survey results also reveal major gaps between what the public believes to be true about

schizophrenia, what science tell us, and the real experiences and realities of individuals affected by

the illness.

• Early intervention and treatment are critical to preventing long-term effects of the illness,
but there is an enormous delay, averaging 8.5 years, between first experiencing symptoms to
receiving treatment for schizophrenia.

• Many people with schizophrenia report that they have difficulty accessing other healthcare
services and do not receive proper attention to other health concerns; this may be one
reason why people with schizophrenia die on average 25 years sooner than the general
population.3

• Public familiarity with schizophrenia is low, and public concern and fear is high. People
recognize that it is a medical illness and that treatment works, presenting a paradox relative
to attitudes.
• The public feels differently about people in treatment than it feels about people not in
treatment; but still, to a large degree, people don’t want to date, work for, or work with
people with schizophrenia.

• Caregivers face many challenges in caring for their loved ones, both in terms of making sure
the person they care for has access to treatment and services, as well as taking care of
themselves. They report that they often feel isolated, lonely, worried, and burned out.

• Access to appropriate medications and services remains elusive for many, if not most,
families and individuals.

• In spite of the tremendous hardship of the personal experience, the resilience of the human
spirit emerges as one of hope, faith, and triumph for many.

Finally, NAMI’s analysis offers recommendations that narrow the knowledge gap by dispelling myths and promoting understanding and the potential for recovery:

• Increase public education and awareness

• Close the gap between onset of symptoms and treatment

• Provide ready access to primary healthcare

• Increase access to treatment and services, including housing

• Ensure education and support for families and individuals living with schizophrenia

• Invest in scientific and medical research advances

We must make a commitment to individual dignity and recognize that with proper treatment,

services, and supports, horizons for people living with the illness can be restored. It is time to make

recovery real.

Source - http://www.nami.org/SchizophreniaSurvey/SchizophreniaAttitudesandAwareness.pdf

Specifically, this research seeks to:

•  Identify gaps in knowledge and understanding among the general adult public
•  Establish a baseline of attitudes toward the illness and those living with it
•  Understand the experiences of caregivers and individuals living with schizophrenia
•  Identify areas where more or better services are needed for those living with schizophrenia

The results of this study will be used by NAMI to help raise awareness about schizophrenia with the goal of reducing the stigma associated with this condition and improve the care available to those living with it.

NIH on Schizophrenia

                     Image source - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/17239.htm

Schizophrenia is a serious brain illness. People who have it may hear voices that aren't there. They may think other people are trying to hurt them. Sometimes they don't make sense when they talk. The disorder makes it hard for them to keep a job or take care of themselves.

Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. Men often develop symptoms at a younger age than women. People usually do not get schizophrenia after age 45. There are three types of symptoms:

• Psychotic symptoms distort a person's thinking. These include hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there), delusions (beliefs that are not true), trouble organizing thoughts, and strange movements.
• "Negative" symptoms make it difficult to show emotions and to function normally. A person may seem depressed and withdrawn.
• Cognitive symptoms affect the thought process. These include trouble using information, making decisions, and paying attention.

No one is sure what causes schizophrenia. Your genes, environment, and brain chemistry may play a role.

There is no cure. Medicine can help control many of the symptoms. You may need to try different medicines to see which works best. You should stay on your medicine for as long as your doctor recommends. Additional treatments can help you deal with your illness from day to day. These include therapy, family education, rehabilitation, and skills training.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

Source - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html

Additional link - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000928.htm 

ICD 10 on Schizophrenia, Schizotypal and Delusional Disorders

                     
                   Image source http://www.imcanz.com.au/Images/community/Schizophrenia.jpg

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) Version for 2010

Chapter V
Mental and behavioural disorders
(F00-F99)

Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders
(F20-F29)

This block brings together schizophrenia, as the most important member of the group, schizotypal disorder, persistent delusional disorders, and a larger group of acute and transient psychotic disorders. Schizoaffective disorders have been retained here in spite of their controversial nature.

F20Schizophrenia

The schizophrenic disorders are characterized in general by fundamental and characteristic distortions of thinking and perception, and affects that are inappropriate or blunted. Clear consciousness and intellectual capacity are usually maintained although certain cognitive deficits may evolve in the course of time. The most important psychopathological phenomena include thought echo; thought insertion or withdrawal; thought broadcasting; delusional perception and delusions of control; influence or passivity; hallucinatory voices commenting or discussing the patient in the third person; thought disorders and negative symptoms.

The course of schizophrenic disorders can be either continuous, or episodic with progressive or stable deficit, or there can be one or more episodes with complete or incomplete remission. The diagnosis of schizophrenia should not be made in the presence of extensive depressive or manic symptoms unless it is clear that schizophrenic symptoms antedate the affective disturbance. Nor should schizophrenia be diagnosed in the presence of overt brain disease or during states of drug intoxication or withdrawal. Similar disorders developing in the presence of epilepsy or other brain disease should be classified under F06.2, and those induced by psychoactive substances under F10-F19 with common fourth character .5.

Excl.:

schizophrenia:

• acute (undifferentiated) (F23.2)
• cyclic (F25.2)

schizophrenic reaction (F23.2)

schizotypal disorder (F21)

F20.0Paranoid schizophrenia

Paranoid schizophrenia is dominated by relatively stable, often paranoid delusions, usually accompanied by hallucinations, particularly of the auditory variety, and perceptual disturbances. Disturbances of affect, volition and speech, and catatonic symptoms, are either absent or relatively inconspicuous.

Paraphrenic schizophrenia

Excl.:

involutional paranoid state (F22.8)

paranoia (F22.0)

F20.1Hebephrenic schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia in which affective changes are prominent, delusions and hallucinations fleeting and fragmentary, behaviour irresponsible and unpredictable, and mannerisms common. The mood is shallow and inappropriate, thought is disorganized, and speech is incoherent. There is a tendency to social isolation. Usually the prognosis is poor because of the rapid development of "negative" symptoms, particularly flattening of affect and loss of volition. Hebephrenia should normally be diagnosed only in adolescents or young adults.

Disorganized schizophrenia

Hebephrenia

F20.2Catatonic schizophrenia

Catatonic schizophrenia is dominated by prominent psychomotor disturbances that may alternate between extremes such as hyperkinesis and stupor, or automatic obedience and negativism. Constrained attitudes and postures may be maintained for long periods. Episodes of violent excitement may be a striking feature of the condition. The catatonic phenomena may be combined with a dream-like (oneiroid) state with vivid scenic hallucinations.

Catatonic stupor

Schizophrenic:

• catalepsy
• catatonia
• flexibilitas cerea

F20.3Undifferentiated schizophrenia

Psychotic conditions meeting the general diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia but not conforming to any of the subtypes in F20.0-F20.2, or exhibiting the features of more than one of them without a clear predominance of a particular set of diagnostic characteristics.

Atypical schizophrenia

Excl.:

acute schizophrenia-like psychotic disorder (F23.2)

chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia (F20.5)

post-schizophrenic depression (F20.4)

F20.4Post-schizophrenic depression

A depressive episode, which may be prolonged, arising in the aftermath of a schizophrenic illness. Some schizophrenic symptoms, either "positive" or "negative", must still be present but they no longer dominate the clinical picture. These depressive states are associated with an increased risk of suicide. If the patient no longer has any schizophrenic symptoms, a depressive episode should be diagnosed (F32.-). If schizophrenic symptoms are still florid and prominent, the diagnosis should remain that of the appropriate schizophrenic subtype (F20.0-F20.3).

F20.5Residual schizophrenia

A chronic stage in the development of a schizophrenic illness in which there has been a clear progression from an early stage to a later stage characterized by long- term, though not necessarily irreversible, "negative" symptoms, e.g. psychomotor slowing; underactivity; blunting of affect; passivity and lack of initiative; poverty of quantity or content of speech; poor nonverbal communication by facial expression, eye contact, voice modulation and posture; poor self-care and social performance.

Chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia

Restzustand (schizophrenic)

Schizophrenic residual state

F20.6Simple schizophrenia

A disorder in which there is an insidious but progressive development of oddities of conduct, inability to meet the demands of society, and decline in total performance. The characteristic negative features of residual schizophrenia (e.g. blunting of affect and loss of volition) develop without being preceded by any overt psychotic symptoms.

F20.8Other schizophrenia

Cenesthopathic schizophrenia

Schizophreniform:

• disorder NOS
• psychosis NOS

Excl.:

brief schizophreniform disorders (F23.2)

F20.9Schizophrenia, unspecified

F21Schizotypal disorder

A disorder characterized by eccentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking and affect which resemble those seen in schizophrenia, though no definite and characteristic schizophrenic anomalies occur at any stage. The symptoms may include a cold or inappropriate affect; anhedonia; odd or eccentric behaviour; a tendency to social withdrawal; paranoid or bizarre ideas not amounting to true delusions; obsessive ruminations; thought disorder and perceptual disturbances; occasional transient quasi-psychotic episodes with intense illusions, auditory or other hallucinations, and delusion-like ideas, usually occurring without external provocation. There is no definite onset and evolution and course are usually those of a personality disorder.

Incl.:

Latent schizophrenic reaction

Schizophrenia:

• borderline
• latent
• prepsychotic
• prodromal
• pseudoneurotic
• pseudopsychopathic

Schizotypal personality disorder

Excl.:

Asperger syndrome (F84.5)

schizoid personality disorder (F60.1)

F22Persistent delusional disorders

Includes a variety of disorders in which long-standing delusions constitute the only, or the most conspicuous, clinical characteristic and which cannot be classified as organic, schizophrenic or affective. Delusional disorders that have lasted for less than a few months should be classified, at least temporarily, under F23.-.

F22.0Delusional disorder

A disorder characterized by the development either of a single delusion or of a set of related delusions that are usually persistent and sometimes lifelong. The content of the delusion or delusions is very variable. Clear and persistent auditory hallucinations (voices), schizophrenic symptoms such as delusions of control and marked blunting of affect, and definite evidence of brain disease are all incompatible with this diagnosis. However, the presence of occasional or transitory auditory hallucinations, particularly in elderly patients, does not rule out this diagnosis, provided that they are not typically schizophrenic and form only a small part of the overall clinical picture.

Paranoia

Paranoid:

• psychosis
• state

Paraphrenia (late)

Sensitiver Beziehungswahn

Excl.:

paranoid:

• personality disorder (F60.0)
• psychosis, psychogenic (F23.3)
• reaction (F23.3)
• schizophrenia (F20.0)

F22.8Other persistent delusional disorders

Disorders in which the delusion or delusions are accompanied by persistent hallucinatory voices or by schizophrenic symptoms that do not justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.-).

Delusional dysmorphophobia

Involutional paranoid state

Paranoia querulans

F22.9Persistent delusional disorder, unspecified

F23Acute and transient psychotic disorders

A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the acute onset of psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and perceptual disturbances, and by the severe disruption of ordinary behaviour. Acute onset is defined as a crescendo development of a clearly abnormal clinical picture in about two weeks or less. For these disorders there is no evidence of organic causation. Perplexity and puzzlement are often present but disorientation for time, place and person is not persistent or severe enough to justify a diagnosis of organically caused delirium (F05.-). Complete recovery usually occurs within a few months, often within a few weeks or even days. If the disorder persists, a change in classification will be necessary. The disorder may or may not be associated with acute stress, defined as usually stressful events preceding the onset by one to two weeks.

F23.0Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder without symptoms of schizophrenia

An acute psychotic disorder in which hallucinations, delusions or perceptual disturbances are obvious but markedly variable, changing from day to day or even from hour to hour. Emotional turmoil with intense transient feelings of happiness or ecstasy, or anxiety and irritability, is also frequently present. The polymorphism and instability are characteristic for the overall clinical picture and the psychotic features do not justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.-). These disorders often have an abrupt onset, developing rapidly within a few days, and they frequently show a rapid resolution of symptoms with no recurrence. If the symptoms persist the diagnosis should be changed to persistent delusional disorder (F22.-).

Bouffée délirante without symptoms of schizophrenia or unspecified

Cycloid psychosis without symptoms of schizophrenia or unspecified

F23.1Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with symptoms of schizophrenia

An acute psychotic disorder in which the polymorphic and unstable clinical picture is present, as described in F23.0; despite this instability, however, some symptoms typical of schizophrenia are also in evidence for the majority of the time. If the schizophrenic symptoms persist the diagnosis should be changed to schizophrenia (F20.-).

Bouffée délirante with symptoms of schizophrenia

Cycloid psychosis with symptoms of schizophrenia

F23.2Acute schizophrenia-like psychotic disorder

An acute psychotic disorder in which the psychotic symptoms are comparatively stable and justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but have lasted for less than about one month; the polymorphic unstable features, as described in F23.0, are absent. If the schizophrenic symptoms persist the diagnosis should be changed to schizophrenia (F20.-).

Acute (undifferentiated) schizophrenia

Brief schizophreniform:

• disorder
• psychosis

Oneirophrenia

Schizophrenic reaction

Excl.:

organic delusional [schizophrenia-like] disorder (F06.2)

schizophreniform disorders NOS (F20.8)

F23.3Other acute predominantly delusional psychotic disorders

Acute psychotic disorders in which comparatively stable delusions or hallucinations are the main clinical features, but do not justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.-). If the delusions persist the diagnosis should be changed to persistent delusional disorder (F22.-).

Paranoid reaction

Psychogenic paranoid psychosis

F23.8Other acute and transient psychotic disorders

Any other specified acute psychotic disorders for which there is no evidence of organic causation and which do not justify classification to F23.0-F23.3.

F23.9Acute and transient psychotic disorder, unspecified

Brief reactive psychosis NOS

Reactive psychosis

F24Induced delusional disorder

A delusional disorder shared by two or more people with close emotional links. Only one of the people suffers from a genuine psychotic disorder; the delusions are induced in the other(s) and usually disappear when the people are separated.

Incl.:

Folie à deux

Induced:

• paranoid disorder
• psychotic disorder

F25Schizoaffective disorders

Episodic disorders in which both affective and schizophrenic symptoms are prominent but which do not justify a diagnosis of either schizophrenia or depressive or manic episodes. Other conditions in which affective symptoms are superimposed on a pre-existing schizophrenic illness, or co-exist or alternate with persistent delusional disorders of other kinds, are classified under F20-F29. Mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms in affective disorders do not justify a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.

F25.0Schizoaffective disorder, manic type

A disorder in which both schizophrenic and manic symptoms are prominent so that the episode of illness does not justify a diagnosis of either schizophrenia or a manic episode. This category should be used for both a single episode and a recurrent disorder in which the majority of episodes are schizoaffective, manic type.

Schizoaffective psychosis, manic type

Schizophreniform psychosis, manic type

F25.1Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type

A disorder in which both schizophrenic and depressive symptoms are prominent so that the episode of illness does not justify a diagnosis of either schizophrenia or a depressive episode. This category should be used for both a single episode and a recurrent disorder in which the majority of episodes are schizoaffective, depressive type.

Schizoaffective psychosis, depressive type

Schizophreniform psychosis, depressive type

F25.2Schizoaffective disorder, mixed type

Cyclic schizophrenia

Mixed schizophrenic and affective psychosis

F25.8Other schizoaffective disorders

F25.9Schizoaffective disorder, unspecified

Schizoaffective psychosis NOS

F28Other nonorganic psychotic disorders

Delusional or hallucinatory disorders that do not justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.-), persistent delusional disorders (F22.-), acute and transient psychotic disorders (F23.-), psychotic types of manic episode (F30.2), or severe depressive episode (F32.3).

Incl.:

Chronic hallucinatory psychosis

F29Unspecified nonorganic psychosis

Incl.:

Psychosis NOS

Excl.:

mental disorder NOS (F99)

organic or symptomatic psychosis NOS (F09)

The Brain A User's Guide to Emotion

Step-by-step Tutorial for the PRC Online Application for Psychometrician Licensure Exam

NEW UPDATE

(As of March 11, 2014) - Although the Psychometrician option is available on the drop down menu at PRC's online application, a friend verified at the PRC that it is not yet functional or operational, hope soon!)

(March 4, 2014) - Online Application for Licensure Examination of Psychometrician now Available - check procedure below or visit this link -

 

  http://www.prc.gov.ph/online/application/

Well for those among you who are excited like me in taking the licensure exam I might as well share some info here that I hope will be helpful. Particularly beneficial to some of our readers who are in far flung areas away from the Professional Regulation Commission Office and Regional offices. It is not easy to call PRC especially perhaps with the thousands of clients they deal with (hope they install more phones and employ more staff to answer public calls). Well also, it is the challenge of those of us doing self-review, unlike when you join a review center your life would be lot more easier and you be lot more informed (some review centers would facilitate processing their reviewers application), so for those wanting a list of review centers check this link  http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/p/pyschology-review-centers.html - I have not availed any of these review centers services, since this blog serves to inform so we are providing this list - which needs to be updated. 

After several calls I was able to talk to a lady at the of the Application for Examination Unit at PRC. She informed me that it might be August when they will have the Psychometrician online application ready. I just hope it is not true, hope they will not make examinees cram applying so close the examination date.

So for those who have access to the internet, here are steps, a sort of tutorial (but for now until close the exam date try to regularly monitor PRC website for announcements) on how to do go about the online application for the Psychometrician Licensure Exam or board exam this coming October 28 and 29, 2014. I learned that there's no use of lining up at PRC if you have not accomplished the online application. 

So apply first online and then visit PRC office near you.

Tutorial for online application for Psychometrician Licensure Exam

Step 1- Visit  http://prc.gov.ph/default.aspx

Step 2- Click Online Application System (orange box topmost right column under Quick Links

Step 3 - Upon clicking you will land to a page with this link - http://prc.gov.ph/online/application/

Step 4 - Click Next - a new page will appear about Documentary Requirements and How to Apply

   Documentary requirements read more here  -  check below or check from this site -

   http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/respirequirements.pdf

  Tips on how to apply - check also below this post.

                  

Step 5 - Click next - a new page appears -  on Terms and conditions (refer below this post of the text) - be sure to check the box -  I have fully read and  fully understood...

Step 6 - Click continue - a new page will appear - the online form

 

 

Name of Exam - click down menu scroll - look for Psychometrician (as of writing 28 February 2014 - is not yet available)

- and provide the rest of the information needed

- fill all necessary info needed especially those with asterisk (you will be prompted should you missed any info)

Step 7 - Click Save, then you will get the following information

 

Successful Your application was submitted successfully

We received your application for licensure examination!

The following information was successfully submitted:

Applicant name

Birth date

Examination name

Examination date

Examination place

 

 

You may now proceed to the nearest PRC Regional Office for the processing of your application. Bring all the necessary documentary requirements.

By the way some folks made online  video tutorial at YOUTUBE plus a news, these vids might be helpful check them here:

 

PRC ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM (OAS) Instruction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI7gYF0yvlA

Trip to the PRC: Board Exam Registration Walkthrough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R8XtM_Pxp0

News in 2012 about the online system

24oras: Online application para sa PRC licensure exams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD5_93L_JWA

Some Detailed information from PRC website

 

Documentary Requirements

Original and photocopies of Transcript of Records with Special Order and Date of Graduation, with scanned pictures and with remarks “FOR BOARD EXAMINATION PURPOSES ONLY”. Graduates of government schools and institutions/programs accredited by recognized accredited agencies under the FAAP are exempted from SO. Graduates of New Schools/Degree Programs must submit School Recognition and/or Permit to Operate.

Original and photocopy of NSO-issued Birth Certificate (if NSO copy is not clear, bring copy from the Local Civil Registrar)

For married females, original and photocopies of NSO-issued Marriage Contract (if NSO copy is not clear, bring copy from Local Civil Registrar)

Two (2) passport-size colored pictures with white background and complete name tag

Current Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)

Other specific requirements as required by the Commission or the Professional Regulatory Board.

How to Apply

Before filling out your application form, please take time to read the following instructions and tips:

Accomplish the one-page application form by filling out all of the blank fields in the application form. Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required. Submission will not be successful until all required fields are properly accomplished.

TIPS:

Use the scrollbar to select the desired option (ex. name of examination, date, place, etc.)

Click the magnifier  Search icon to search for specific information such as city/municipality, school name and degree/course. When the search result is shown, click on the desired information to select the same. Use simple keywords when searching (ex. to seach for Don Mariano Marcos State University-Bambang Campus, type "mariano" or "bambang").

Dates are entered in a specific format "mm/dd/yyyy" (ex. date of birth "01/30/1980")

For applicants without a middle name, just key in a period (.)

For SPLBE applicants without Cedula, you may use your passport number.

When the encoding is completed, click the Save button, and then OK. A notification message will appear on screen confirming that you have successfully submitted your application. A similar notification will be sent to your email (if you provided your email address).

Proceed to the nearest PRC Office and present all the documentary requirements for assessment, payment of prescribed fees and issuance of Notice of Admission (NOA), BEFORE the deadline for application.

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Terms and Conditions

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Capgras delusion (or Capgras syndrome)

From wikipedia:

The Capgras delusion (or Capgras syndrome) (pron: kăhp′grah IPA:/kap·'grɑ:/)^[1] is a disorder in which a person holds a delusionthat a friend, spouse, parent, or other close family member has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor. The Capgras delusion is classified as a delusional misidentification syndrome, a class of delusional beliefs that involves the misidentification of people, places, or objects (usually not in conjunction).^[2] It can occur in acute, transient, or chronic forms. Cases in which patients hold the belief that time has been "warped" or "substituted" have also been reported.^[3]

The delusion most commonly occurs in patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, but has also been seen in patients suffering from brain injury^[4] and dementia.^[5] It presents often in individuals with a neurodegenerative disease, particularly at an older age.^[6] It has also been reported as occurring in association with diabetes, hypothyroidism andmigraine attacks.^[7] In one isolated case, the Capgras delusion was temporarily induced in a healthy subject by the drug ketamine.^[8] It occurs more frequently in females, with a female:male ratio of 3:2.^[9]

The information gathered from studying people with the Capgras delusion has theoretical implications for understanding face perception and neuroanatomy in both healthy and unhealthy individuals.^[2]

Link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capgras_delusion

Notes from the video:

Visual
- a person see - stimulus  reaches the temporal lobe - then there is identification - then it reaches - the amygdala - gateway to the limbic system - that contains the emotional system of  the brain - response to what we look at ( When you see your mom you have love and veneration - an emotion created)

- but for those with rupture of vein connecting to the amygdala (had a car accident and suffered severe head trauma/concussion) - the information processed - but no appropriate response or it is missing - no emotional connection (seeing mother that recognize to looks like mom - but believed to be an impostor)

Auditory
- but when a person suffering from capgras delusion is called over the phone  - the person could identify/recognized the voice and would have proper emotional connection/response to the person talked to (but not seeing just hearing). The auditory nerve has different pathway to the amygdala so a sufferer of capgras delusion will have an appropriate response to an auditory stimulus, voice of loved ones could be identified with an appropriate emotion.

"Closely link is the intellectual view of the world to your basic emotional reaction to the world" - Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition at UCSD