Psychology & Mental Health News

Updated every weekday by the Psych Central News Staff.

 

F E A T U R E D    A R T I C L E

Meditation Helps Students With ADHD

January 5th, 2009
Meditation Helps Students With ADHDThe Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating attention deficit disorder (ADHD), according to a promising new study. The pilot study ...  Read more... »

Unraveling The Genetics of Alzheimer’s

January 5th, 2009
Scientists have new information about the complex genetic signature associated with Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. The new research ...  Read more... »

Insomnia Burden Is High

January 5th, 2009
A new study indicates that the indirect costs of untreated insomnia are significantly greater than the direct costs associated with its treatment. The study estimates that the ...  Read more... »

Anxiety Treatment Success Predicted by Brain Area

January 2nd, 2009
A new study reports that high levels of brain activity in an emotional center called the amygdala reflect patients' hypersensitivity to anticipation of adverse events. Additionally, the new research shows that high ...  Read more... »
 

Religion Evolved to Help With Self-Control?

January 1st, 2009
Has religion evolved to help people exercise better self-control? That's the thesis of new research by University of Miami professor Michael McCullough, who found that religious people have more self-control than their less-religious counterparts. The new ...  Read more... »

REM Sleep Disorder Linked to Parkinson’s

December 31st, 2008
New research suggests that people who have a REM sleep behavior disorder may be at greater risk of developing Parkinson's disease or dementia in later life. People with REM sleep disorder have excessive ...  Read more... »

Blood Sugar Linked to Good Brain Health

December 30th, 2008
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels may be important not just for people with diabetes. New research suggests that good blood sugar levels are correlated with good brain health as we age. Lapses in ...  Read more... »

Parents Who Reject Gay Teens Hurt Teens’ Health

December 30th, 2008
Parents who reject their gay or lesbian teen are setting the teen up for an increased risk of poorer health in their early adulthood ...  Read more... »

Virginity Pledges Don’t Change Sexual Behavior

December 30th, 2008
While teenagers' pledges to remain a virgin until marriage may make them feel good about their sexuality choices, it apparently does little in actually changing their ...  Read more... »

Facial Expressions Are Innate, Not Learned

December 30th, 2008
New research suggests that common facial expressions -- expressing things like happiness, sadness, disappointment, and achievement -- may be innate, not learned. But managing our emotional ...  Read more... »
 

Genetic Basis for Popularity

December 29th, 2008
A groundbreaking study of popularity has found that genes elicit not only specific behaviors but also the social consequences of those behaviors. According to the investigation by Michigan ...  Read more... »

Mother’s Care Influences ADHD Diagnosis

December 29th, 2008
A new study infers that the probability of having one's child receive an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis involves a mother's own medical conditions and her ...  Read more... »

Brain Makes Good Unconscious Decisions

December 29th, 2008
Researchers have shown that the human brain -- once thought to be a seriously flawed decision maker -- is actually hard-wired to allow us to make the ...  Read more... »

More Headlines...

Brain Malnourishment Triggers Alzheimer’s December 29th, 2008
A new study finds that the aging process often is accompanied by a slow, chronic starvation of the brain. Reduced blood ...  Read more... »

Some Teens Shamed Can Become More Aggressive December 29th, 2008
New research suggests that some teenagers may react aggressively when they feel ashamed, especially when they have higher ...  Read more... »

Sleep Disorder May Portend Neurological Disease December 25th, 2008
People with a sleep disorder that causes them to kick or cry out during their sleep may be at greater risk of developing dementia or Parkinson's disease. The sleep ...  Read more... »

Identify and Treat Child Anxiety Disorders December 25th, 2008
Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents should be recognized and treated to prevent educational underachievement and adult substance abuse, anxiety disorders and depression, says a nationally recognized child ...  Read more... »

Kids Learn Social Skills Online December 25th, 2008
Although many parents worry about the amount of time today’s kids spend texting, chatting, blogging, gaming and Facebooking, new research suggests parents should “chill out.” Rather ...  Read more... »

Family Depression Has Lasting Effect on Teens December 24th, 2008
A new paper finds another potential casualty of the economic recession. According to researchers, the country's economic crisis could have lasting effects on children from families that fall ...  Read more... »

Pets Relieve College Stress December 24th, 2008
Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. Now, researchers at Ohio State ...  Read more... »

Mental Health Care Is Price Sensitive December 24th, 2008
A new study has found that more people who need mental health services will seek follow-up care -- if the price is right. Brown University researchers discovered that ...  Read more... »