More about ECP/Clinical Sociobiology

• EVOLUTIONARY CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY by DOUG MACKIE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, 3/25/97
  
  

There are probably several "ECP" texts in the mills, including one on the phylogeny of automatic thoughts! However, I think we need to be "transdisciplinary" because the same adaptation has components at different physiological levels. For example: "inappropriate rage" (hitting the wife or pursuing rude drivers) can be treated by:

1) Propanolol (controls blood pressure as well as inhibiting rage in some people)

2) Tenex (controls alpha receptors & arousal mechanisms in locus coerulus)

3) Zoloft (raises 5HT levels & self esteem while often cutting aggresive reactions)

4) Physical isolation (spread people out a bit and they get along better)

5) Changed automatic thoughts (Some reactions don't go through the cortex till later. For example, Joey (13 yo) begged not to be given Ritalin when scheduled to jump ditches on his bike. "It would kill me to stop and think. I don't have time." I believe he was right. His reactions were probably occurring too quickly to be shunted through his cortex. Treatment for some impulsive acts may depend on retraining to build the cortical loop, then inserting some new cognitions)

6) Exercise, sleep patterns can be regulatory levers on some manics

7) Consequences for rage are effective but often too delayed (police come, head injury, wife leaves, accidents, fines, jail)

Any of the above steps can be somewhat effective because they counter one or more elements in an adaptive system for attack. You can certainly make the above list substantially more detailed; imagine the various elements that may be involved in treating a case of depression!

Because we treat "backs" or "symptoms" rather than "people", you may find any of a dozen clinical specialties partially handling the patient's rage incidents. "The Adapted Mind" makes a good effort to acknowledge the physiological substraits that may underlie some "psychological" adaptations. The chapters on maternal vocalizations and on morning sickness are good examples. I have a hunch (based on remarks by Jonathan Schull) that Gregory Bateson addressed this issue in "Steps to an ecology of mind," Ballantine Books, 1972. One more thing to look up! Many people may be opting for homeopathic or "natural" cures because of evolved needs that still exist and that, once met by parents or by shamans, are not addressed by our modern clinical specialties, including psychology.

• Evolution of Competition: Some Intrapsychic Correlates? by Mark Waugh, 4/2/97
  • Maslow and Evolution by Ed Riemann, 4/3/97