Video game competitiveness may trump violence as cause of aggression, according to new research WASHINGTON—While most research into video games and aggressive behavior has focused on violent games, competitiveness may be the main video game characteristic that influences aggression, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. In a series of experiments in [...]
Parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face about a 19 percent chance that subsequent children will also develop ASD, according to a study partially funded by NIMH. This estimate is much higher than previous reports but may also be more accurate due to the study’s size and design, according to the researchers. [...]
Men more likely to develop substance abuse, antisocial problems; women more likely to develop anxiety, depression WASHINGTON—When it comes to mental illness, the sexes are different: Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while men tend toward substance abuse or antisocial disorders, according to a new study published by the American [...]
People who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, a new study asserts. Published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin, the study found that people with TBI are 1.6 times more likely to develop schizophrenia and the risk was particularly high in those with a family history [...]
Women who stay at home raising children are more likely than working mothers to have symptoms of depression, according to a new study. But mothers who work and have unrealistic expectations about balancing work and family have higher levels of depression than those who expect difficulties in achieving both. Researchers analyzed survey results from 1,600 [...]
Biological changes associated with puberty may influence the development of binge eating and related eating disorders, according to a recent study on female rats conducted by NIMH-funded researchers. After puberty, the rats showed binge eating patterns that resemble those in humans, supporting the role of biological factors, since rats do not experience pressures to be [...]
WASHINGTON—Fatigue can lead to dangerous errors by doctors, pilots and others in high-risk professions, but individuals who work together as a team display better problem-solving skills than those who face their fatigue alone, new research shows. “Teams appear to be more highly motivated to perform well, and team members can compare solutions to reach the [...]
Nearly one in 10 children in the United States has been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new government study. That’s an increase of more than 2 percentage points in ADHD diagnoses compared to a decade ago, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. But the researchers say [...]
New neurons growing in the adult brain help buffer the effects of stress, according to a new study in mice. Previous research has suggested that the growth of new neurons, or neurogenesis, in adults is involved in recovery from depression. This work provides evidence that loss of new neurons plays a role in the development [...]
Small Number of Infected Cells Have Profound Effects Astrocytes, a type of support cell in the brain, that are infected with HIV show abnormal connections and functioning that disrupt the blood-brain barrier, according to an NIMH-funded study. This disruption may be responsible for the neurological disorders experienced by 40-60 percent of people infected with the [...]
Psychologist reports on research about effects of bullying in high schools WASHINGTON—High schools in Virginia where students reported a high rate of bullying had significantly lower scores on standardized tests that students must pass to graduate, according to research presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. “Our study suggests that a [...]
Psychologists explore myths, realities and offer guidance for parents WASHINGTON—Social media present risks and benefits to children but parents who try to secretly monitor their kids’ activities online are wasting their time, according to a presentation at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. “While nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the [...]
Psychologists examine disturbing trends, offer tips on coping WASHINGTON—People who are cyberstalked or harassed online experience higher levels of stress and trauma than people who are stalked or harassed in person, according to a presentation at the American Psychological Association’s 119th Annual Convention. “Increasingly, stalkers use modern technology to monitor and torment their victims, and [...]
Smaller plates, slimmer glasses, linked to weight loss success WASHINGTON—Dieters may not need as much willpower as they think, if they make simple changes in their surroundings that can result in eating healthier without a second thought, said a consumer psychologist at the American Psychological Association’s 119th Annual Convention. “Our homes are filled with hidden [...]
Rates of thinking of and attempting suicide much higher than for college students in general WASHINGTON—Nearly half of college students who are U.S. military veterans reported thinking of suicide and 20 percent said they had planned to kill themselves, rates significantly higher than among college students in general, according to a study presented at the [...]
By Amanda MacMillan, Health.com July 26, 2011 10:17 a.m. EDT (Health.com) — Affluent countries, including the U.S., tend to have higher rates of depression than lower-income nations such as Mexico, a new study from World Health Organization researchers suggests. read more…
Researchers report adults who were given music therapy sessions, in which they played drums or instruments such as xylophones, showed fewer symptoms of depression or anxiety than those who just had standard counseling. For the study, thirty three participants were offered music therapy sessions in addition to their regular treatment for depression. The remaining 46 [...]
ARLINGTON, Va. (Aug. 1, 2011) — Mental disorders are significantly more common among victims of intimate partner violence than among nonvictims, according to research appearing in the August issue of the American Psychiatric Association’s journal Psychiatric Services. Of adults interviewed, about 5 percent reported being victims of intimate partner violence including 5.6 percent of women [...]