Forgo genetic testing for mental disorders such as bipolar disorder for now. The commercial tests which are coming on the market now offer little in the way of useful, actionable information, and can only tell you whether you may be at increased risk for a tiny subset of genes which may have a slightly higher […]

One of the biggest problems facing the mental health system today is slipshod diagnoses — diagnoses made too quickly, without obtaining enough information, and checking for reasonable alternative diagnoses. Professionals sometimes complain that they are overworked and need to make a diagnosis quickly in order to be reimbursed for the interview. I say that’s rubbish […]

Richard Florida is a researcher and author whose column, Where Do All the Neurotics Live?, appears in today’s Boston Globe. The article offers some interesting insights into the potential “psychogeography” of the United States.

Psychologists have shown that human personalities can be classified along five key dimensions: agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, neuroticism, and openness to […]

If it’s May, it must be Mental Health Month, that special, warm, cozy time of the year that we all gather around our medication bottles and sing a little mental health happiness song.
Yes, I’m starting a new tradition. Please join in if you’d like.
But for most Americans, Mental Health Month is meant to highlight mental […]

One of the long-standing concerns amongst professionals and parents alike is the possibility that early treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) with stimulant medication (such as Ritalin or Adderall) could possibly lead to later problems. New research suggests these concerns are largely unfounded, with one possible exception.
The studies were published in the latest issue of […]

The latest research results on deep brain stimulation (DBS) suggests it is helpful for severe, chronic depression. DBS is a simple surgical procedure that implants electrodes in parts of your brain. Once implanted, they emit tiny electrical pulses that help block the dysfunctional activity in your brain. The key to success in the procedure is […]

Everyone’s heard of the need for self-esteem. If you don’t feel good about yourself, how can you ever accomplish anything in your life?
But what you may not know is the need for something else, which may be even more important — self-efficacy. That is, the belief that you have what you need in order […]

You’ve got to scratch your head when one of the government’s chief advocates for health care in the Veterans Administration just reinforces the old stigmas associated with mental health concerns. Testifying before a federal judge in San Francisco, Michael Kussman said:

“The number of patients who have adjustment reactions to the experience that they have in […]

In the mental health blogosphere this week my favourite post came from Dr. Shock, in a post that is part of the cool Research Blogging initiative. He reported on a new paper published in Cyberpsychology & Behavior called Lighting in Digital Game Worlds: Effects on Affect and Play Performance, by Igor Knez and Simon […]

Imagine taking a weight-loss pill and losing dozens of pounds, only to find yourself profoundly depressed for no reason.
Imagine taking a stop-smoking pill and not feeling the urge to light up a cigarette every again, only to find your mind plagued with suicidal thoughts.
No need to imagine these things — these are the kinds of […]

Ever wonder what a stroke feels like?
Well, while no one can share the exact experience with you, neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor describes her own unique, personal experience in having a massive stroke one morning.

As it happened — as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding — she studied […]

Have you ever made a mistake while performing a monotonous task, one that requires your concentration but seems to go on and on and on? Some mistakes might be harmless, such as dropping a sock on the way to the laundry. Other mistakes could be more serious. Driving a long distance requires your constant vigilance […]