Posts

It can be useful if conducting lab research would be unrealistic, cost-prohibitive, or would unduly affect the subject’s behavior. The goal of naturalistic observation is to observe behavior as it occurs in a natural setting without interference or attempts to manipulate variables. This article discusses how naturalistic observation works and the pros and cons of doing this type of research. It also covers how data is collected and examples of when this method might be used....

What Is Olfactory Reference Syndrome? If you have olfactory reference syndrome, you are constantly afraid of emitting a foul odor. Olfactory reference syndrome generally focuses on one of a few specific obsessions, although some people have more than one obsession simultaneously. Your particular obsession may also change over time. Bad breathVaginal scentAnal odorArmpit smellOverall foul bodily stenchChemical aromaBelief that others are reacting to your scent Although everyone reacts slightly differently, most people with olfactory reference syndrome experience at least some of the following symptoms:...

Luckily, psychologists are discovering that animal companions may play a significant role in providing relief. A recent study published in PLoS ONE examined whether pets have a role in combating this loneliness, and the role that certain pets can have on a person’s mental health state. The results are promising enough to make you consider a trip to the local animal shelter. What Did the Study Show? This study surveyed U....

A small study of adults with major depression, led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers and published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that two doses of psilocybin, in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, led to “large, rapid, and sustained antidepressant effects.” Over a four-week period, most participants showed improvement in their depressive symptoms and half of them achieved remission. What Is Psilocybin? Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of fungus (yes, we’re talking about “magic mushrooms”)....

History of Psychedelic Use They are often associated with the counterculture of the 1970s, harkening back to days of artists and musicians taking these drugs for creative inspiration. At the start of the 1970s, LSD entered popular culture. In response to distrust of pharmaceuticals and rising discourse around mental health, artists and activists alike began to explore the effects of LSD. Dr. Ronald Laing was a highly controversial psychiatrist known for his vehement criticism of the mental health industry and was one of the first to explore LSD as a treatment for bipolar and substance use disorders....

While risperidone can be effective in treating these disorders, you should be aware of the potential side effects before starting treatment. While many of the side effects are manageable, others may be serious and, in rare cases, life-threatening. Risperidone Dosage Risperidone is the generic name for this medication, which is available under the brand name Risperdal in oral tablets, liquid solutions, or injectable suspension forms. The oral dose of risperidone usually ranges between 1 mg and 6 mg per day....

But what if they could share how they honestly feel without interacting directly with another human? With this in mind, a recent study from the University of Cambridge tested a robot’s effectiveness in determining children’s well-being. The study involved 28 children between the ages of eight and 13 and their parents or guardians completing a well-being questionnaire focused on the young individual. Then the children spent 45 minutes with a two-feet-tall humanoid robot....

If your teen is having trouble concentrating, a therapist may want to rule out ADHD or PTSD. Or, if your teen seems depressed, a mental health professional may want to rule out bipolar disorder before making a depressive disorder diagnosis. Figuring Out the Right Diagnosis Finding an accurate diagnosis for troubled teens can be difficult and initially several possible mental health disorders may seem to explain your teen’s emotional or behavioral problems....

Symptoms of psychosis can include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and incoherence, says Deepak D’Souza, MD, a psychiatry professor at Yale School of Medicine. A schizophrenic episode can last days or weeks, and in rare cases, months, says Dr. D’Souza. Some people may experience only one or two schizophrenic episodes in their lifetime, whereas for others the episodes may come and go in phases. This article explores the symptoms, causes, and treatment of schizophrenic episodes, as well as some coping strategies that may be helpful....

Sleep therapy is a form of therapy designed to improve the quality of your sleep. It can help with sleep disorders like insomnia. It may also help with other mental and physical health conditions. “When it comes to sleep issues, there is usually a question of origin: Is a sleep disorder causing mental health symptoms or is your mental health affecting your sleep? Some common disorders that implicate sleep include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, OCD, and PTSD,” says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a professor and clinical psychologist in New York City....

The discrimination that results in these inequities can have a lifelong impact on health. These impacts can be physical, including heart issues such as hypertension and other chronic conditions, or through negative effects on mental health, such as increases in suicidality. Discrimination can lead to someone existing in a constant state of adversity and fear, which exacerbates chronic conditions and can result in issues like metabolic dysregulation and immune system changes....

The latest demonstration of this comes from a new survey by The Conversation that looked at the physical and mental health impact of digital communication outside of work hours. The Research Out of more than 2,200 participants, 21% reported that their supervisors expected them to respond to any work calls, emails, or texts outside of business hours. Compared to people who weren’t expected to respond, those in this group were more likely to feel psychological distress, 70....

It is a complex condition that affects the person’s brain, body, and behavior. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 20 million people in the United States over the age of 12 experienced a substance use disorder in 2019. It is estimated that substance use disorders cost the United States $420 billion dollars a year. This article explores the symptoms, causes, stages, and treatment of substance dependence, also known as substance use disorder....

Disturbances in focus and attention are normal when people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and even when they are overtired. However, loss of focus and attention is usually temporary. Substance intoxication delirium is a more serious state that may last longer than the transient symptoms most people experience when they are intoxicated. In addition, a person who is experiencing substance intoxication delirium will have additional disturbances in their cognition and may become completely unable to attend to the external environment....

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. People with BPD are also more likely to complete suicide than individuals with any other psychiatric disorder. It has been estimated that between 3% to 10% of people with BPD complete suicide, which is more than 50 times the rate of suicide in the general population. Self-Harm and Suicide in BPD There are several factors related to BPD that may explain why suicide, self-harm, and suicide attempts are so common....

Mental Illness and Stigmatization Mental illness has long been associated with confinement, painful treatments, and social stigma. At various points in history, those with a mental illness were thought to be possessed by evil spirits. If you have older relatives who went through the early or mid-20th-century asylums, you may be afraid you’ll undergo the same treatment. You might also be afraid of social stigmatization. Some symptoms of mental illnesses can cause tics, vocal outbursts, and socially inappropriate behaviors....