About one-third of individuals who receive a nose job also have symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a new study asserts. BDD is a mental health condition in which excessive concern about imagined or minor defects in appearance interferes with daily life. Researchers surveyed 266 patients seeking a nose job over the course of 16 [...]
The United States and France have the highest rates of depression in the world, according to researchers who found that wealthier nations tend to have a higher incidence of depression than poorer nations. An international team of researchers collected the results of face-to-face interviews of nearly 90,000 people considered representatives of their population. In the [...]
Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk when crossing streets, a new study asserts. Researchers measured the walking speed of 78 children; half had both the inattentive and hyperactive symptoms of ADHD and were not taking medication. The other 39 children had no developmental issues. The children with ADHD did look both [...]
Premature infants are at greater risk for certain psychiatric disorders as teenagers, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression, a new study finds. Researchers followed 400 premature infants who had abnormal brain ultrasounds at birth until they were 16 years old. As teens, the study participants were asked questions and given cognitive tests. The study, which [...]
Optimists have a lower likelihood of suffering a stroke, according to researchers. A study of data from 6,044 stroke-free adults found the more optimistic the person, the lower the stroke likelihood. Even when the researchers took into consideration other factors, there was still a significant association between optimism and a stroke. The authors of the [...]
Adolescent boys whose military parents are deployed overseas have significantly higher rates of “impaired well-being” than the children of civilians, according to a new study. Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the study analyzed the survey responses of nearly 600 Washington state children whose parents were deployed. The children’s well-being was assessed by [...]
An extract of the herb St. John’s Wort and a standard antidepressant medication both failed to outdo a placebo in relieving symptoms of minor depression in a clinical trial comparing the three. The results of this study, consistent with earlier research, do not in support the use of medications for mild depression. Background St. John’s [...]
NIMH-funded study examines whether switching to a different antipsychotic can reduce side effects while maintaining effectiveness Patients experiencing cardiovascular or metabolic side effects while taking an antipsychotic medication may fare better if they switch to a different medication provided they are closely monitored, according to an NIMH-funded study. The study was published online ahead [...]
WASHINGTON—People with personality traits of high neuroticism and low conscientiousness are likely to go through cycles of gaining and losing weight throughout their lives, according to an examination of 50 years of data in a study published by the American Psychological Association. Impulsivity was the strongest predictor of who would be overweight, the researchers found. [...]
Binge drinking can have a long-lasting negative effect on the brains of teenagers, researchers say. And girls may be especially susceptible. Researchers interviewed 95 teenagers on substance use and conducted neuropsychological testing along with brain scans to test working memory. They found that teen girls who were heavy drinkers had less brain activation in several [...]
Traumatic brain injuries more than double the risk of dementia in veterans, a new study finds. Researchers who reviewed the medical records of 281,540 veterans ages 55 and older found that the dementia risk among veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury was 15.3 percent. Among those who didn’t suffer a brain injury, the risk [...]
Veterans with mental health conditions often face long and “unconscionable” waits for treatment, according to a report by the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General. An evaluation of the electronic waiting lists used at several mental health clinics in the Atlanta area found a “significantly high number” of patients waited for more than a month [...]
Pets provide social and emotional support equal to human friendship, according to psychologists. Researchers conducted three experiments to examine the potential benefits of pet ownership. Reporting in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, they found that pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were [...]
Following Congressional Hearing, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Recommends Strengthening Data on Child Fatalities to Improve Prevention and Reduce Deaths WASHINGTON, DC (June 13, 2011) A congressional hearing held on July 12 about child deaths due to maltreatment called on national experts to explain why the number of child deaths has been undercounted. The hearing coincided [...]
Feeling of control over one’s life a strong influence WASHINGTON—Self-esteem increases during adolescence, then slows in young adulthood, but contrary to popular belief, there is no significant difference between men’s and women’s self-esteem during either of those life phases, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. In addition, the researchers found that in [...]
Study finds thinking about one’s pet is as beneficial as thinking about friends WASHINGTON—Pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support for “everyday people,” not just individuals facing significant health challenges, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. And, the study found, pet owners were just as close to key [...]
Children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home appear to be at 50 percent higher risk of conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder compared to unexposed children, according to a new analysis. Researchers used national survey data of about 55,000 children for the study. Published in the journal Pediatrics, it found children exposed to smoke [...]
Despite a suicide rate among the highest in the world and growing rates of depression and stress, South Koreans have resisted psychotherapy. Talk therapy is only slowly being accepted. And many seek help from private clinics because of stigma due to the fact that their government insurance records will carry a designation that they sought [...]
Children with one or more parent on long-term deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan have a higher chance of mental health problems, according to a new study. Published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the study examined the medical records of 307,520 U.S. children, aged 5 to 17, who had at least one parent [...]
While House Holds Hearing on Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities Washington DC | July 7, 2011 – Today the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths (NCECAD) released the new report The Growing Crisis in Child Protection – a compilation of national media headlines drawing attention to the growing number of child abuse and neglect [...]