Hole Ousia spends much time reading and writing about dementia. The neuroscientific understandings, as they develop, are considered alongside sociology, ageing, philosophy and the medical humanities.
The current edition of INSIGHT, the magazine of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, celebrates 25 years since the College opened its doors in Scotland. This anniversary spans the same period … Continue reading Celebrating 25 years
This post shares e-mails that I have previously sent to Prof Rob Howard, Old Age Psychiatrist and Dementia Researcher, University College London. I have not included any e-mails from Professor … Continue reading ‘Partisan’
Last week I came across the above gravestone in Stewarton Churchyard and it stopped me. Mrs Picken was an elderly widow, who day after day, year after year, left an … Continue reading It stopped me
Two years ago, almost to the day, I attended a Cross Party Group on Mental Health and Older People at the Scottish Parliament. I found it a difficult meeting for … Continue reading Two years ago
Mrs Picken was an elderly widow, who day after day, year after year, left an apple on her window-sill for me as I delivered her daily paper. I have never … Continue reading Mrs Picken
Saturday, 24th November 2018 To: The Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 21 Prescot St, Whitechapel, London, E1 8BB Dear Dr Adrian James, Resignation as a member of the … Continue reading My formal instruction of resignation as a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
I read this letter by Dr William Durward, a retired NHS Scotland Consultant with interest. It was published in the Herald, 7 November 2018, and was written in response to … Continue reading “Trickles down from the upper echelons”
A few selected phrases from the ‘The Dark Flood Rises‘ by Margaret Drabble:
In the last month we have been having discussions at work about the potential for psychiatric medications to adversely effect cardiac rhythms, and in particular QTc prolongation. The advice on ECG … Continue reading Psychiatric medications and potential effects on cardiac rhythm
On Thursday 22nd March 2018 I will be standing outside the Scottish Parliament with this banner. This will be a peaceful, one-man protest, two years to the day that my … Continue reading Two years of no sunshine
This recently-published Guest editorial in International Psychogeriatrics concludes that the concept of MCI faces extinction. As a doctor practising in this field I found this editorial difficult to follow and self-contradictory.
