Search results for: disorders
When Opposites Don’t Attract
Old cliches notwithstanding, people often seek out partners similar to themselves in many ways. Researchers call this phenomenon “assortative mating.” Perhaps mercifully, people are more likely to end up with partners who share similar political and religious views. But like also tends to attract like in several other ways, including some personality traits. Some of…
Read MoreWhat Happens to Compulsive Shoppers?
A little shopping can be a healthy pick-me-up. For some people, though, the desire to buy becomes an outright compulsion that causes serious problems in their lives. It’s estimated that about 5 percent of adults are compulsive shoppers. The financial problems and stress that come with compulsive buying can wreak havoc in every part of…
Read MoreThe Psychological Cost of the Great Recession
There are a lot of statistics that can tell you how bad the 2008 financial crisis was. In the US, unemployment almost doubled. More than half the country saw their total wealth go down. The average person was working a record-low 33 hours a week. The psychological effects of the economic crisis are harder to…
Read MoreGroup Drumming Can Improve Mental Health, Reduce Inflammation
Who doesn’t love some good music? Well, actually there are people who legitimately dislike music. But for most of us, listening to music feels good and releases dopamine in our brains. There’s also growing evidence that both playing and listening to music can improve our overall mental health. For this reason, many scientists over the…
Read MoreDo Depressive Thoughts Affect Memory?
Depression is the most common mental health issue in the US, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Statistics provided by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance illustrate the staggering impact of this disease: Major depressive disorder affects about 7% of the US population or 8 million American adults. Major depressive disorder is…
Read MoreNeed A Nap? Science Thinks So Too
More and more of us in the Western world are sleep deprived. And that doesn’t mean just tired. According to WebMD, the average adult requires 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal rest. And contrary to what some may think, the body doesn’t “adapt” to less sleep, but will experience symptoms of…
Read MoreThe Impact of Child Abuse – Does the Type of Abuse Really Matter?
It is often assumed that child abuse falls on a spectrum, with physical or sexual abuse on one end and emotional or verbal abuse on the other. And that the impact of physical abuse may be “worse” than the lesser, verbal abuse. It turns out based on new research, this assumption may be wrong. SafeHorizon,…
Read MoreDoes Publication Bias Overstate the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy?
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the US, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And most of us have known a loved one, friend or acquaintance impacted by the disease. But depression can still be misunderstood and misdiagnosed, or in some cases have no treatment sought at all.…
Read MoreCan Childhood Anxiety be Prevented?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders affecting Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, many with roots in childhood. Anxiety disorders can range from post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias to a generalized anxiety disorder. While anxiety in and of itself is normal and an expected part of life,…
Read MoreCan Eating Fish Help Depression Risk?
A recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health has suggested that eating a lot of fish may help reduce the risk of depression. Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders, with most families affected by a loved one or acquaintance at some point during their lives. It is also…
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