Psychology

Georgia G. Thanopoulou, Ed.M, MA, Counseling Psycholigist

Georgia (Gina) Thanopoulou, Ph.D cand, Ed. M. M.A, Harvard University, is a Counseling Psychologist, specialized on the psychological support and emotional, physical health of children and adolescents, and especially women and adolescent girls. At Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, had the opportunity to be specialized and then work closely with children at risk (physical, psychological, academic), their parents and teachers as well as with women and girls with emotional physical and psychological problems and dilemmas.

Mrs Thanopoulou has presented her scientific work and research at many international, European, Greek conferences, scientific meetings, conventions and seminars, and has also published her work at several scientific publications, journals and magazines. Her recent scientific work at Harvard University is focused on the “Healing the Psychological Traumas in Women’s Lives: How Women Express Trauma Psychosomatically and emotionally and How a Good Counselor Can Help and Support”.

Mrs Thanopoulou has a private practice in Athens, Greece, is the Director of the Counseling Centre of the International School of Athens and travels at Harvard University Graduate School of Education and Psychology to continue her research. She is an active member of the Harvard Club of Greece and General Secretary for more than six years, a distinguished member of the Greek, European and American Counseling Association and a member of the American Psychological Association since 1994.

The appropriate psychological support can prove to be an important tool for the effective physical and emotional coping and recuperation of the plastic & reconstructive surgery patient.

The ‘appropriate’ psychological preparation and in that sense the appropriate psychological support for a plastic & reconstructive surgery patient by a professional, highly qualified, well trained counselling psychologist, who is in close collaboration with the medical doctors and the medical team, can build a strong and healthy self-image and self-esteem pre-operatively and post-operatively and will help the patient to have realistic expectations.

The appropriate psychological support will help the patient and his family members to deal with the emotional stress before the operation, to build realistic expectations about the procedure and results and that will provide him the necessary emotional balance and stability that will facilitate the work of the plastic surgeon and of course result to the success of the operation itself.

The patient and the doctor have to realize, appreciate and trust the important contribution of the psychological support of a professional counselling psychologist pre-op and post-op. During this presentation I will present all the reasons and the best possible ways for an appropriate psychological support, and all appropriate steps that can benefit both the patient and the doctor.

A well psychologically prepared patient can understand better the operational procedure, can accept the results and can appreciate his doctor and in a way can help his own self.

A well psychologically prepared patient is a better medical patient for his doctors and his/ her own self. Ideally, doctors, patients and counselling psychologists have to realize the importance of the best collaboration – communication pre-operatively and post-operatively.

The importance of the “Therapeutic Triangle” between patient, doctor and the counselling psychologist will bring the best results for all of them.

BOTOX IMPROVES DEPRESSION

Botulinum toxin A, commonly known as Botox, has an antidepressive effect when injected between the eyebrows that continues beyond the cosmetic effects of the injection, according to the results of a new study. The antidepressive effect continued after the wrinkles reappeared, which suggests that the elevated mood isn’t just related to cosmetic improvements.

There have been anecdotal reports of improvements in mood after botulinum treatments, but it hasn’t been clear whether these were a direct effect on mood or whether they were secondary effects from cosmetic improvement.

One pilot study showed that botulinum injection improved depressive symptoms in 9 of 10 patients (Dermatol Surg.2006;32:645-649).

In the 24-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 30 participants with depressive symptoms were randomized to receive botulinum injections into the glabellar region or placebo.

The men were injected with 39 units of botulinum and the women were injected with 29 units. At week 12, the placebo group crossed over to treatment, and the treatment group crossed over to placebo.

Participants were evaluated at weeks 0, 3, 6, 12, 15, 18, and 24. The primary outcome was a reduction from baseline of at least 50% in the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score. Partial response was defined as a 25% to 49% reduction in the score.

The researchers noted significant improvements in both groups.

In the group that received botulinum followed by placebo, the cosmetic effects of the injection wore off between weeks 12 and 16. The improvement in depressive symptoms, however, was maintained for the full 24 weeks.

There are 2 possible explanations for the improvement in depressive symptoms,

The first is that the botulinum injections made it difficult for the subjects to frown. If individuals smile more and frown less, they are likely to have better social experiences, which could lift mood.

The second possibility, is a biologic explanation. MRI studies have shown that when people are unable to make angry facial expressions because of botulinum injections to the glabellar region, there is less activity in the amygdala than expected. The amygdala is the control center of anxiety, trauma, and the heightened fear response.

If a person can’t frown, the brain does not register a frown, and the amygdala does not get the trigger that the person is upset.

The work won’t change clinical practice yet, but it merits further research, and possibly in other mood disorders, such as anxiety.