From the NYT Opinionator section, In Sleepless Nights, a Hope for Treating Depression–post-partum depression, at least. (Since when did new moms get a lot of sleep anyway?) Sleep deprivation used as a treatment for depression is efficacious and robust: it works quickly, is relatively easy to administer, inexpensive, relatively safe and it also alleviates other […]
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The Los Angeles Times reports on an MIT study that shows a magnetic pulse interfering with basic moral judgments. Sounds made up, but evidently it’s science: With their right temporoparietal junctions scrambled, participants seemed unable to recognize an action as wrong unless it led to harm — a moral judgment that virtually all could make easily when
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A Boston University meta-analysis (a study of studies) confirms what you may have already suspected if you’ve ever jogged around the block or done a few sit-ups when anxious, depressed, stressed, or angry–exercise is good for your mental health. “Individuals who exercise report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of stress and
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Family time is on the rise. Relayed by the NYT: Working parents perpetually agonize that they don’t see enough of their children. But a surprising new study finds that mothers and fathers alike are doing a better job than they think, spending far more time with their families than did parents of earlier generations.
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A study reported at PsychCentral used CBT and bibliotherapy (“read this”) to help reduce binge eating with good results. [Participants were] asked to read the book Overcoming Binge Eating by Dr. Christopher Fairburn…The book details scientific information about binge eating and then outlines a six-step self-help program using self-monitoring, self-control and problem-solving strategies. Participants in
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MRIs and emotional word tests indicate depressed worriers may have an advantage. The study found the brain scans of a worried and depressed person doing the emotional word task were very different from those of a vigilant or panicky depressed person. Despite depression, the worriers did better on the emotional word task because they were
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Just came across this collection of studies about stress–what helps, what doesn’t. The last few posts: Acupuncture Treats Anxiety at the Dentist Conquering Stress With Foods And a new study about neurogenesis in lab-stressed mice.
Posted at PsychCentral, Drug, Food Addiction Share Common Source: A new study shows that the same molecular mechanisms that drive an individual into drug addiction are behind the compulsion to overeat, pushing an individual into obesity. An individual rat, at least.
A (small) study relayed by the NYT suggests more deep conversation and less small talk promotes happiness. So, surprise (?), therapy is good.
A study relayed by the New York Times: About one in every four Americans married or living with someone say they are so sleep-deprived that they are often too tired to have sex, according to a new study by the National Sleep Foundation. Lack of sleep also keeps many people from work and family functions,