Blog Articles

How Your Beliefs and Perceptions Influence Your Depression Treatment

Can your subjective beliefs influence your depression treatment outcome? Is there a chance you can get well even when using placebo antidepressants? This study throws light on that critical question...

Dec 9th, 2023

How psychological distress during pregnancy may affect the child

Women who experience high levels of psychological distress (depression, stress, and anxiety) during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children with aggressive behaviors and ADHD.

Dec 5th, 2023

Early-life stress may cause even worse outcomes than brain injury

Stress can cause even more change in the brain than a bump to the head. While it's intuitive to imagine traumatic brain injury causing more changes in a child's brain, a new study suggests that stress can have an even more significant impact.

Nov 30th, 2023

PTSD: Why are some people more at risk than others?

A new study has revealed that the onset of PTSD is influenced by glucocorticoid levels, hormones that help our bodies respond to stress.

Nov 26th, 2023

Why are multiple diagnoses common with mental disorders?

Subsets of mental disorders—including depression and anxiety; bipolar and schizophrenia; OCD and anorexia nervosa—share a common genetic architecture

Nov 24th, 2023

Genetic testing improves depression treatment outcomes and saves costs

Pharmacogenetic testing can lead to significant cost savings by facilitating better treatment outcomes and quicker recoveries, new research finds

Nov 17th, 2023

Youngest pupils with ADHD likely to retain diagnosis as older peers

Children diagnosed with ADHD who are the youngest in their class are just as likely to retain the symptoms into adulthood as their older peers.

Nov 13th, 2023

Postpartum depression more heritable than we thought

New research shows that postpartum depression is more hereditary than we have always thought. Postpartum depression (PPD) is even more heritable than major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions

Nov 6th, 2023

Anxiety and depression may be early signs of multiple sclerosis

New research shows that mental illness, including depression and anxiety, may be early signs of multiple sclerosis and can be key to early detection and treatment of the condition.

Nov 1st, 2023

One's traumatic childhood may influence their descendant's behavior

A new study shows that for people who experienced traumatic experiences like abuse, neglect, and domestic violence during childhood, their own children are at a higher risk of criminal convictions.

Oct 27th, 2023

Consistent sleep deprivation linked with future risk of depression

Does depression make you lose sleep, or does lack of sleep increase your risk of depression? While many experts regard lack of sleep as a symptom of depression, this new study shows evidence that the reverse might be the case.

Oct 24th, 2023

Mental Health Challenges High among Minority College Students

According to a recent study from the University of Georgia, depression and anxiety are increasingly concerning issues among college students, particularly when it comes to students who don't belong to the same racial group as the majority of their peers

Oct 20th, 2023

Reducing Crash Risk for Teens with ADHD: A Promising Training Program

ADHD has been linked to an increased risk of accidents on the road. Recent studies have shown that teens and older adults with ADHD are two times more likely to be involved in car crashes than their age mates.

Oct 18th, 2023

Why is depression after traumatic brain injury so difficult to treat?

Traumatic brain injury is distinct from regular major depression, and that's why it's resistant to conventional antidepressants.

Oct 15th, 2023

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder: All You Need to Know

Lithium is widely used to reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It may also reduce the risk of dementia in patients with bipolar as well as scale down suicidal ideation.

Oct 11th, 2023

Does Depression Increase Your Risk of Other Illnesses?

Depression is associated with an increased risk of health issues like heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Oct 10th, 2023

Drivers with ADHD 2X more likely to be involved in car crashes

A new study shows that older adults with ADHD are two times more likely to be involved in car crashes than their age mates without ADHD.

Oct 7th, 2023

How Childhood Trauma and Contrast Avoidance Influence Anxiety

A recent study conducted in Iran involving 457 participants with GAD revealed some interesting findings. It turns out that childhood traumas, problems in relationships with others, and contrast avoidance are all linked to GAD symptoms.

Oct 4th, 2023

Social media intensity, social connection, and wellbeing: The link

While heavy passive social media use weakened social connection, heavy active social media use was associated with a higher sense of social connection and well-being.

Sep 30th, 2023

Healthy lifestyle can prevent depression: Recent research proves why

New research shows that healthy lifestyle habits like frequent social connection, regular physical activity, sufficient sleep, moderate alcohol consumption, healthy diet, zero smoking, and minimal sedentary behavior reduce the risk of depression.

Sep 28th, 2023

Is ADHD real? Insights into the roots of all mental health issues

Like all other mental health conditions, ADHD is real. However, there's something underlying in all mental health disorders that has eluded researchers for eons.

Sep 28th, 2023

Social media addiction linked with anxiety and depression in young adults

Young adults with higher levels of social media addiction had stronger symptoms of anxiety and depression and worse relationships with their parents.

Sep 21st, 2023

Emotion-Focused Therapy Vs. CBT: Which is More Effective?

One study has shown that emotion-focused therapy (EFT) may be just as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating generalized anxiety disorder.

Sep 17th, 2023

Negative social comparison linked with suicidal ideation and social media use

A study in Psychology of Popular Media shows that young people who feel bad about themselves after comparing themselves with others on social media are more likely to consider suicide.

Sep 14th, 2023

The Power of Positivity in Battling Depression

A new study has found that people who recovered from major depression tend to focus more on negativity than positivity, which puts them at risk of relapse.

Sep 7th, 2023

Safe Prescription Best Practices to Reduce Addiction Risk

Drug addiction from psychiatric medication has been a problem for quite some time. This is so because mental healthcare providers often prescribe addictive meds when something less risky could have done the job.

Sep 3rd, 2023

Bipolar disorder: Antidepressants may prevent relapse in patients

Continuing long-term treatment with modern antidepressants may help reduce the risk of relapsing into depression in patients with bipolar disorder.

Aug 24th, 2023

Anxious people use a different part of their brain to control emotion

Research shows that anxious people use a less suitable part of their brain to control emotions and make decisions in socially difficult situations than non-anxious people. And such decisions usually lead to social avoidance.

Aug 21st, 2023

Lithium dosage: how much lithium do you need to treat mental illness?

Use lithium in as low a dosage as does the job. For most people, using subtherapeutic doses of lithium, i.e., below 0.6 mmol/L, can be substantially effective in treating psychiatric issues while reducing the risks of adverse effects.

Aug 12th, 2023

Risk of Developing Schizophrenia: New Insights Revealed

Researchers from Georgia State University's TReNDS Center have found that age-related changes in the brain's patterns could be linked to the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Aug 3rd, 2023

When Should You Stop Using Lithium? 5 Reasons to Quit Lithium

Top reasons to quit lithium include the inability to cope with the side effects like diarrhea and tremor, lithium toxicity, or when the drug interferes with other medication. You may also quit lithium when you get well.

Jul 27th, 2023

Early Signs That May Help Predict ADHD Risk

Recent research conducted by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences suggests that certain factors known at birth, such as maternal drug use, smoking, and pregnancy complications, may help predict the likelihood of ADHD symptoms in the child.

Jul 13th, 2023

Possible Cure for OCD Found at Last?

Scientists have recently made an exciting breakthrough in understanding OCD by uncovering a chemical imbalance in specific regions of the brain associated with decision-making and habits. This finding not only sheds light on the underlying cause of OCD...

Jul 6th, 2023

New Type of Depression Found

A recent study conducted by scientists at Stanford Medicine has shed light on a new type of depression known as the cognitive biotype. This specific subtype, accounting for 27% of depressed patients, is characterized by difficulties in planning ahead...

Jun 29th, 2023

Reducing social media use to 30 minutes daily can reduce depression

Cutting it down to 30 minutes daily can significantly reduce your anxiety and depression. This is according to a new study by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Jun 24th, 2023

Reversing Brain Signals: New Key for Treating Depression?

A new study by Stanford Medicine scientists discovered that TMS works simply because of how depression affects the brain.

Jun 18th, 2023

Does the pill increase a woman's risk of depression?

Women who started using the pill as teenagers had a 130% higher chance of developing depression, while those who started as adults had a 92% chance, according to a new study.

Jun 15th, 2023

Is schizophrenia an autoimmune disease? What new study suggests

Several past studies have identified a link between autoimmunity and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia also shows many similarities with auto immune diseases that it could be considered an autoimmune disease itself. Well, a new study has shed even more light

Jun 11th, 2023

Brain mechanism behind anxiety and OCD found at last

Researchers have always thought that only neurons, the major type of brain cells, control behavior. But a minor type of brain cells known as microglia also influences behavior -- specifically anxiety-related behaviors.

Jun 10th, 2023

Battling loneliness? Here's how to fight it in today's world

Loneliness is a pervasive problem affecting people of all ages and backgrounds globally. Perhaps you're feeling lonely right now. It's easy to mistake loneliness for depression, but they're different.

May 10th, 2023

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Lithium Toxicity?

Lithium toxicity is a serious condition in which there's too much lithium in your blood. The question is, how do you know you have lithium toxicity? This article highlights signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity

May 3rd, 2023

Can stress during pregnancy lead to postpartum depression?

Can stress during pregnancy lead to postpartum depression? This question is fundamental as it can help us uncover risk factors for postpartum depression, consequently allowing us to buffer against it before it gets the chance to occur after childbirth.

Apr 27th, 2023

ADHD stimulant abuse common among teens: how to protect your child

Abuse of opioids and other hard drugs is pretty common, but it's interesting to know that prescription stimulants for ADHD are being abused just as much. Interestingly, this misuse doesn't only happen among adults but teens as well

Apr 20th, 2023

How changing your posture and movement can improve depression

A depressed person usually moves around differently from a healthy person. Slumped shoulders, slower gait, and the like. It all suggests that a link exists between depression and one's motor movement and posture.

Apr 8th, 2023

Is Moderate Alcohol Good for You? Debunking the Myth

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk for depression, but the research doesn't exactly prove causality

Mar 30th, 2023

Anxiety can alter the immune system of pregnant women

New research shows that anxiety during pregnancy can alter the patient's immune system.

Mar 23rd, 2023

Depression and gut bacteria: how gut health affects your mood

Researchers have recently discovered how gut health can impact mental health. There is an intestinal immune cell that impacts the gut microbiota (total microorganism in the gut), which consequently affects brain functions associated with stress-induced beh

Mar 22nd, 2023

Lithium for depression: all you need to know

Lithium augmentation is usually deployed for treating Major Depressive Disorder that's resistant to other standard depression treatments like antidepressants.

Mar 17th, 2023

Children's mental health is declining: here's why

A new study suggests that the rise in mental health problems in school-aged children and teens is associated with a decline in opportunities for them to engage in independent play unsupervised by adults.

Mar 13th, 2023

New Blood Test for Detecting Anxiety Discovered

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have developed a new blood test that can objectively determine a person's risk for developing anxiety, the severity of their current anxiety, and which therapies would work best for them.

Mar 11th, 2023

Antidepressants for chronic pain: do they really work?

Antidepressants are now being prescribed for managing chronic pain, such as back pain and knee osteoarthritis. But are antidepressants really effective for managing chronic pain?

Mar 3rd, 2023

The Risk of Psychotic-Like Experiences in Young Children

genetics plays a role in the development of schizophrenia, research has shown that environmental and socio-economic factors also contribute significantly to the risk of developing psychotic-like experiences.

Feb 28th, 2023

What Are the Long Term Side Effects of Lithium Use?

Like almost every other medication, it's not all rosy with lithium. It, too, has its side effects. But the good news is, you can significantly reduce the risks of side effects of lithium by using the drug in subtherapeutic doses.

Feb 24th, 2023

How to prevent weight gain from antidepressant medication

Weight gain from antidepressants and antipsychotics is a universal problem. In fact, many patients will not start or stop taking their medication for fear of gaining weight, especially women.

Feb 22nd, 2023

Why use lithium over stimulants for ADHD

Several pieces of evidence show that lithium is better than stimulants when it comes to treating ADHD

Feb 14th, 2023

Lithium for ADHD: Here’s all you need to know

Numerous studies show that lithium effectively reduces symptoms of ADHD, such as anger, aggression, focus, and concentration.

Feb 10th, 2023

Lithium for Mental Illness: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and More

Lithium is a power-packed medication for mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder, and an incredible solution for people with suicidal ideation. Lithium protects neurons in the brain, slows down aging, and may prevent Dementia.

Feb 7th, 2023

Having trouble sleeping? Intense exercise can help you sleep better

If you’re finding it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, get a good dose of moderate to intense physical exercise. This kind of exercise improves sleep and can make you sleep fast.

Feb 2nd, 2023

Acts Of Kindness: An Easy Way Out Of Depression

Did you know that showing kindness to others can help you out of depression? It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Researchers have found that depressed people who showed kindness experienced improvements that other known depression and anxiety man

Jan 30th, 2023

Chronic stress can cause inability to feel pleasure: here's how

When under chronic stress, POMC neurons in the brain are activated, resulting in anhedonia, which is the inability to feel pleasure, as well as despair, which is essentially depression. In humans, this can result in lower libido and reluctance to interact

Jan 26th, 2023

Why Do I Feel Emotionally Numb After Taking Antidepressants?

Why do I feel emotionally numb after taking antidepressants?

Jan 23rd, 2023

Clonidine: the blood pressure drug that can prevent PTSD

In line with the recent trend of repurposing drugs for other illnesses, clonidine seems to be the latest surprise. Researchers have found that clonidine, a drug used for high blood pressure and ADHD, can be very effective in preventing PTSD symptoms

Jan 20th, 2023

Social Support Can Be Key To Preventing Depression

When things get tough, it's always a good idea to reach out to someone for support. But did you know that social support can be especially crucial for those who are genetically predisposed to depression?

Jan 16th, 2023

The Role of Pharmacogenetic Testing in Psychiatry

Pharmacogenetic testing (or pharmacogenomics) can help psychiatrists select the right antipsychotic drugs for each patient based on their genetic makeup. This can lead to better and faster recovery from mental health issues.

Jan 15th, 2023

The Role Of Metformin In Treating Psychiatric Illnesses

Metformin is a diabetes drug that researchers are now studying its use in psychiatry. So far, studies have been able to show metformin's effects in managing psychiatric issues like bipolar depression, antipsychotic-induced weight gain, and schizophrenia.

Jan 9th, 2023

The importance of self-care in improving mental well-being

Self-care means prioritizing and doing the things that improve your well-being, mentally and physically. Self-care can help you lower your stress levels, boost energy, manage anxiety and depression, and increase happiness.

Jan 5th, 2023

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Mental Health

Looking for some New Year's resolutions for 2023? Maybe this is the year to give more priority to your mental health. Because, think about it, there's nothing more important than putting your health first.

Dec 27th, 2022

Why Christmas isn't easy for everyone and its impact on mental health

For some people, Christmas can be the most stressful time of the year, given the financial pressure and expectations to keep up with Christmas traditions. It can also trigger feelings of loss, grief, and trauma.

Dec 19th, 2022

Trending mental health topics and research findings 2022

Whether you are a teen, middle-aged or older adult, healthy or unhealthy, being aware of these mental health discussions can help you position yourself for a healthier future.

Dec 16th, 2022

Telehealth Keeps Mental Health Patients on the Road to Recovery

Due to how telehealth made life easier, opioid addiction patients are now more likely to continue medication-based treatment. This includes patients who are black, elderly, or lacked stable housing, demographics who are less likely to afford quality health

Dec 13th, 2022

Do ADHD symptoms get worse with stress?

While stress can make ADHD symptoms worse, the difficulties caused by ADHD can make the child feel stressed out. This can result in a vicious cycle.

Dec 8th, 2022

How virtual reality helps with addiction recovery

Virtual reality can aid addiction recovery by lowering the risk of relapse and encouraging patients to connect with their future selves. When a patient interacts with their healthy future self, they become less inclined to use harmful substances again

Dec 6th, 2022

Autism increases depression risks during pregnancy

New research shows that autistic women are more likely to experience depression and anxiety when pregnant than non-autistic women.

Nov 25th, 2022

PTSD and alcohol use disorder: breaking the link

There is a link between PTSD and alcohol addiction. While some patients depend on alcohol to soothe their traumatic memories, there is a protein in the brain that plays a role in both mental disorders.

Nov 21st, 2022

Clutter can cause stress and anxiety: clean up now

Research shows that clutter can make you feel stressed and anxious. It can also get you angry. In short, mess and clutter have an overall negative impact on your well-being.

Nov 18th, 2022

Babies with low birth weight at risk of mental health problems

A recent study has found that babies with low birth weights are more at risk of developing mental disorders like depression and anxiety in their childhood and teenage years. On the other hand, babies with larger birth weights are less likely to develop a m

Nov 14th, 2022

Anxiety about pregnancy can cause preterm births

New research shows that women who experience anxiety during pregnancy are at risk of an earlier delivery (before 37 weeks are complete).

Nov 10th, 2022

PTSD patients can benefit from Blue light therapy

Poor quality sleep usually inhibits the effectiveness of PTSD treatments. And when the treatment isn't effective, the symptoms (including anxiety) remain the same, contributing further to sleep problems. This leads to a vicious cycle. Blue light can help

Nov 7th, 2022

Childhood trauma can triple one's risk of mental illness

New research shows that people who experienced trauma in childhood are three times more likely to develop a mental health disorder later in life.

Nov 4th, 2022

What to do when you can't sleep

Having trouble falling asleep? That can be very annoying, especially when you're bored. Luckily, there are things you could do to help you fall asleep faster, such as breathing techniques and creating a relaxing environment.

Nov 1st, 2022

Lost Boys: How Societal Pressures Can Ruin Lives

Just as society systematically pressures young people into a particular thought process, the public, media houses, and online forums must speak up and inform these young ones of what's truly right and wrong

Oct 28th, 2022

Working longer hours can lead to depression

A new study on new graduate doctors suggests that people who work more hours at a stressful job have a higher risk of depression.

Oct 25th, 2022

The cause of postpartum depression found at last

Experts have always thought the risk factors for postpartum depression are the mother's age, diabetes, and history of mental illness. But a new study has found that the cause of postpartum depression is strongly linked to a deficiency in the body's ability

Oct 20th, 2022

Low alcohol use can lead to addiction

According to a recent study on rodents, even the smallest amounts of alcohol activate the part of the brain associated with the development of addiction. So when you take a sip of alcohol, you inadvertently prepare your brain for alcohol use disorder.

Oct 18th, 2022

Schizophrenia patients 2.5 times more likely to develop dementia

A new study has found that psychotic disorders like schizophrenia can increase your likelihood of developing dementia by 2.5 times.

Oct 14th, 2022

Stress management: Eating together in groups can help you de-stress

A new study finds that most parents say their families are less stressed when they eat together. Who would have thought that something so simple and pleasing could help with stress management?

Oct 10th, 2022

Bipolar Disorder Can Now Be Quickly Diagnosed Using Blood Test

A team of researchers has developed a blood test to diagnose bipolar disorder by identifying certain blood biomarkers specific to the condition.

Oct 7th, 2022

Junk food might be causing your anxiety and depression

New research shows that people who consume much ultra-processed foods are likely to experience poor mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression. So yes, processed foods can cause anxiety.

Oct 3rd, 2022

Sound can suppress pain: new research shows how

A new study has identified how sound blunts pain. Using state-of-the-art brain imaging, an international team of researchers has discovered the neural mechanism through which sound numbs pain. lower volumes were more effective than loud music

Aug 25th, 2022

Chemical imbalance theory debunked, but antidepressants still work

Chemical imbalance theory debunked, but antidepressants still work

Aug 23rd, 2022

Non addictive pain medicine: non-opioid treatment for pain

If you’re like one of them asking what pain medication is best for chronic pain, you’re in luck! Researchers have discovered a non-opioid non-addictive pain medicine with fewer side effects than existing painkillers.

Aug 19th, 2022

How to talk to a loved one about their mental health

Indeed, talking to your loved one about their mental health can make a whole world of difference. But you may feel like you don’t know the right thing to say, or even worse, you may be scared of saying something wrong. However, learning how to talk to some

Aug 15th, 2022

How to tell someone about your mental health issues

To talk to someone about your mental health challenges, set aside some free time (at least 30-60 minutes) when neither of you would have to take care of other obligations. You can start with a text message or social media if a face-to-face conversation is

Aug 12th, 2022

Schizophrenia treatment: symptoms linked with an overactive brain

New research shows that over-activity in the hippocampus of the brain is linked with certain schizophrenia symptoms, which could help in developing more targeted treatments.

Aug 12th, 2022

Serious mental illnesses increase heart disease risks at younger ages

New research has discovered that young people with serious mental illnesses are prone to heart diseases. The mental illnesses include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.

Aug 4th, 2022

Dealing with Sleep Problems: What to Do When You Can't Sleep

Sleeping problems may result from stress, worry, noise, interruptions, or even prolonged screen time at night. Sleep problems usually resolve on their own within a month, but if they go on for long and interfere with your daily life, they may indicate a s

Aug 2nd, 2022

Why do I get angry easily? Understanding Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Generally, everyone has their anger triggers: you may get angry when you feel misunderstood, threatened, frustrated, powerless, or scorned. But when you seem to get angry and aggressive disproportionately, it just might be due to...

Jul 28th, 2022

Sleeping together can help you sleep better

A new study has discovered a link between sleeping together, better sleep, and mental health. People who sleep together (partners, siblings, or friends) tend to sleep better than those who sleep alone. And, of course, quality sleep is key to mental health.

Jul 25th, 2022

Why You Get Angry When Hungry: “The Hangry Man”

Study findings show that hunger can make us experience greater levels of anger and irritability, with lower levels of pleasure.

Jul 21st, 2022

How To Deal With Guilt When You Hurt Someone

The feeling of guilt can be horrible. It’s a place none of us wishes to find ourselves. But unfortunately, things happen, and it’s not uncommon to discover we’ve hurt someone so terribly that we become trapped with guilt. But how do you go from there?

Jul 20th, 2022