iACToR Weekly Newsletter #9

[James Cullen]

Opening Statement

Hello iACToR members,

There is exciting news for an iACToR Publication this week.

iACToR has just received word that Cybertherapy & Rehabilitation Magazine (C&R), the official voice of iACToR, will now be indexed in PsycEXTRA!

To view previous issues of C&R Magazine online, please visit http://iactor.ning.com/page/publications-2

To subscribe to C&R Magazine, please visit http://www.vrphobia.eu/ and click on “Subscribe to C&R”.
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Top CyberPsychology News

Virtual Reality to Tame the Fear of Flying or Elevators
Laval, France April 13, 2010 - Afraid to take the elevator, have a phobia of flying, spiders or large public areas, virtual reality can help patients to tame their emotions without panic and regain confidence. "The scary part is the idea we have is not the elevator itself or the supermarket which is dangerous," says Said Mezine, a psychiatrist at the hospital in Laval (Mayenne) emphasizing the importance of an application filed during the 12th International Workshop of Virtual Reality in Laval, France. To read more, visit http://bit.ly/98nJnp.

iPhone, Ecco: The Application for Anti-Anxiety Tests
Milan, Italy April 16, 2010 - Fear of examinations? There is now an iPhone or iPod application which helps a 'virtual psychologist’ teach how to manage anxiety. The application is a real 'tutor' that organizes examinations, remembering the important things to give and to know to prepare. The iPhone application was developed at a low cost by Italian scientists, with exercises to manage anxiety and exam tips and tools for organization. To read more, visit http://bit.ly/9hRlhn.

Images can Inhibit Desires for a Cigarette
Würzburg, Germany April 21, 2010 - Images of cigarettes can reduce expressed desires by smokers for the next smoke. The Suchtzentrum in the brain is inhibited, as German researchers found in a study in which they uncovered with a magnetic resonance response in the brains of smokers. That photos from a freshly lit cigarette shown to smokers can increase the desire for nicotine was already known. The reward center in the brain is activated. But that images can also reduce the craving for the drug is new, the University of Würzburg announced on Wednesday. To read more, visit http://bit.ly/cxKyXV.
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5 Ways to Get More Involved in the iACToR Members Website

1. Become a Premium Member of iACToR!
   • Get extensive discounts off registration for the World Health Care Congress in Washington D.C., World Health Care Congress in Brussels, Belgium, Med-E-Tel Conference, and the 15th Annual CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Conference.
   • Get discounted subscriptions to your favorite CyberPsychology publications
   • Enjoy free online access to the largest online CyberPsychology Database on the Internet (Being launched soon!)
   • Take part in the annual iACToR General Assembly
   • Receive discounted membership to affiliated associations and societies.
2. Join your local iACToR Chapter! Please visit the Chapter page to request membership to the appropriate iACToR Chapter. This is an excellent way to become acquainted and introduced to colleagues in your area!
   
   
3. Begin the discussion! Please visit the Forum, find the appropriate category, and click Add a Discussion! As this field is rapidly growing, collaboration and discussion is vital to the growth and progress. Some have begun already, and we hope to see you post as well.
   
   
4. Invite your colleagues! On the right hand side, under your name, next to the friends hyperlink is an Invite hyperlink. We encourage you to invite your colleagues to join in the discussion.
   
   
5. Update Your Profile and Comment on Others! Keep members up to date with your latest information. Post a blog, update your status, add a picture of yourself, and let the community know your area of expertise. All can be done with in your Profile page and we encourage you to do so!

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Coming Soon

1. iACToR is in the process of compiling and formatting the largest CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Resource for Premium iACToR Members to be launched soon! Stay tuned for details.
2. iACToR is in the process of adding video chat to the iACToR website so that members can communicate and collaborate no matter where they are across the globe face-to-face. Stay tuned for updates!

Thank you all and I look forward to shaping our community with your help and valuable input!

Create your own reality!

Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA
Secretary General
International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACToR)