Psychiatry and nutrition are integral aspects of the human health. Nutrition plays an instrumental role in enhancing the wellbeing of a person. Various nutritional elements have to be provided to the body if the human health should be maintained. The focus of this essay is on the importance of flavonoids and whole grains on cognitive performance and reduced risk of premature death respectively. It also delves into the dynamics of psychiatric diagnostics and some of the loopholes that the field possesses. Rosenhan experiment was conducted back in the 1970’s with the goal of ascertaining the validity of diagnosis procedures in various psychiatric institutions. The justification of treatment and diagnostic methods that are employed by various psychiatric hospitals was put to the test by Rosenhan and his colleagues.
While the efficacy of diagnostic procedures for insanity may be questionable, the pseudo patients experiment played a crucial role in highlighting some of the loopholes that have to be sealed if psychiatric help should be of help to people. The experiment focused on establishing the capacity of psychiatry professionals and staff to carry out their duties effectively. The goal of a mental hospital is to ensure that insane people can find help and get treated. However, this capacity is greatly compromised in the event that the staffs working in the psychiatric hospitals are incapable of making the right decisions.
On the second health claim, the research is focused on the role flavonoids on cognitive performance as per the research and study of the American Institute of Nutrition. The researchers of the study focused on the flavonoids in chocolate, tea, and wine. The analysis of the results of the study was based on the scores that individuals that had consumed flavonoid-rich foods and those that had not. The justification of the importance of flavonoids was as a result of the high scores that were registered from individuals who had consumed flavonoid-rich foodstuffs (Spinner 1226-1226). The trick behind the flavonoids is that they work to limit the neurodegenerative disorders, which cause cognitive decline at old age. While the study might have focused on tea, chocolate, and wine, it is important to note that wine, tea, and chocolate are not the only flavonoid-rich foods.
The Rosacea family that comprises of peaches, apples and pears offer another rich source of flavonoids, especially when consumed in a raw form. In another study by researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health, they made a conclusion that whole grains could play a huge role in reducing the risk of premature death. The consumption of whole grains was found to reduce incidences of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The data of the research was based on a meta-analysis of over fourteen studies that had been conducted in six years. The researchers focused on the daily servings of whole grains that the subjects involved in the study consumed. The research did not focus on any specific demographic group and as such, it was as holistic as possible.
The total number of subjects that were included in the study was over seven hundred thousand. The data that was collected indicated that whole grain consumption resulted in a decreased risk of death, especially via cardiovascular diseases or cancer. On the Rosenhan and pseudo patient experiment, the most important that has to be learned is in relation to the need for capacity building. In the cases that nurses failed to distinguish between sane and insane people, a clear-cut shortcoming is noticed on the side of the training institutions. In the study that focused on the importance of flavonoids on cognitive improvement, the bias was that it focuses on specific age group. The subjects in the study were between 70-74 years (Nurk et al. 124). This is a greatly limiting factor for individuals who are below that age group.
The whole grain consuming research and its relation to reduced mortality rates is an interesting one. The researchers strived to create a link between the consumption grains and an enhanced quality of health status. While they may have the scientific backing for their data, mortality is affected by a myriad of external factors some of which are beyond control (Zong et al. 2370). However, it is important to appreciate the fact that the study was based on meta-analysis. This means that the data was comprehensive and diverse enough to allow one make the conclusion that whole grain consumption reduced the rate of mortality from heart and cancer-related issues.
The health claims discussed above provide a myriad of insights regarding human health. From a psychiatric point of view, one learns of the importance of proper training and capacity building if proper standards are to be met. The procedure is an integral process in psychiatry, and it should be emphasized to staff that work in mental institutions. Rosenhan played an important role in highlighting the loopholes that the psychiatric field had in terms of diagnosis. His team allowed for the refinement of the diagnostic methods to ensure misdiagnosis was reduced, and efficacy of treatment had been increased. For nutrition enthusiasts, the research on flavonoids provides a non-medical way of dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. More research should be conducted in regards to the foods that have flavonoids and more so to younger ages to have a more comprehensive overview of its effects.
Work Cited
Fontaine, Michael. "On Being Sane In An Insane Place – The Rosenhan Experiment In The Laboratory Of Plautus’ Epidamnus". Current Psychology 32.4 (2013): 348-365. Web.
Nurk, E. et al. "Intake Of Flavonoid-Rich Wine, Tea, And Chocolate By Elderly Men And Women Is Associated With Better Cognitive Test Performance". Journal of Nutrition 139.1 (2008): 120-127. Web. 30 June 2016.
Zong, G., et al. “Whole Grain Intake and Mortality From All Causes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.” Circulation. 133.21 (2016): 2370-2380. Print
