Books and Articles — All Topics

Handshakes Make a Difference for Social Connections, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, October 22, 2012.  “In the new paper published online and for the December print issue of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, researchers studied the neural impact of a handshake and how important the practice is to the evaluations we make of subsequent social interactions.”

Different Views of Child Behavior Can Aid Diagnosis, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, November 02, 2011.  “Emerging research suggests clinicians may benefit from conflicting reports of a child's behavior.”

Don't Worry, Be Happy: Understanding Mindfulness Meditation, by Association for Psychological Science. October 31, 2011.  “In times of stress, we're often encouraged to pause for a moment and simply be in the 'now.' This kind of mindfulness, an essential part of Buddhist and Indian Yoga traditions, has entered the mainstream as people try to find ways to combat stress and improve their quality of life. And research suggests that mindfulness meditation can have benefits for health and performance, including improved immune function, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced cognitive function.”

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Support Program Helps Caregivers of Mentally Ill Cope, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, June 28, 2011.  “Caring for a family member with mental illness can take its toll, but a widely available education and support program for relatives of the mentally ill called Family-to-Family (FTF) can significantly improve a family's coping ability.”

Drug Found to Thwart Mental Decline, Grow Brain Cells in Rodents, by Cell Press. World Science, July 08, 2010.  “Scientists have discovered a chemical that they say restores memory-forming capacity in aging rats, likely by promoting the survival and growth of new cells in the brain’s memory hub.”

Activity Level Important for Women's Mental Health, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, July 02, 2010.  “New research finds women can lower their risk of late-life cognitive impairment by performing physical activity.”

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Can a teen’s anger mean a mental disorder?, by Kotz, Deborah. Boston Globe, July 09, 2012.  “While most teens have a violent, angry outburst at some point during their adolescence, nearly 8 percent have regular violent outbursts that would fall into the category of a mental health disorder. That’s according to a Harvard Medical School finding published online last Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the first studies to measure the prevalence of the disorder — called intermittent explosive disorder— in teens.”

Is This Teen Angst or an Uncontrollable Anger Disorder?, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, July 03, 2012.  “With all those raging hormones, every teenager is bound to "lose it" at one time or another. But a recent study suggests that adolescents' attacks of anger may indicate something more serious than your standard puberty-related mood swings: nearly two-thirds of youth report having had a bout of uncontrollable anger that involved threatening violence, destroying property or engaging in violence toward others, and nearly 8%--or close to 6 million teens--meet the criteria for intermittent explosive disorder (IED), which is characterized by persistent, out-of-control anger attacks that can't be explained by a mental or medical disorder or substance use.”

New Guidelines to Curb Childhood Aggression, by Rick Nauert. June 01, 2012.  “Childhood aggression is a common, yet complex behavior. New recommendations to aid in the care of youth have been released to primary care providers and mental health specialists.”

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Yoga Helps Relieve Depression, Sleep Problems, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, January 26, 2013.  “Practicing yoga may help relieve the symptoms of several types of mental disorders, according to a new review. Researchers compiled the findings of 16 significant studies that examined the effects of yoga on mental illness. The results conclude that yoga may offer positive effects for people with depression and sleep problems even if they don't take medication, as well as for individuals with schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are taking medication.”

Meditation Combined With Art Therapy Can Change Your Brain and Lower Anxiety, by Science Daily. ScienceDaily, November 28, 2012.  “Cancer and stress go hand-in-hand, and high stress levels can lead to poorer health outcomes in cancer patients. The Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine combined creative art therapy with a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for women with breast cancer and showed changes in brain activity associated with lower stress and anxiety after the eight-week program.”

6 Breathing Exercises to Relax in 10 Minutes or Less, by Jordan Shakeshaft. Time, October 08, 2012.  “Controlled breathing not only keeps the mind and body functioning at their best, it can also lower blood pressure, promote feelings of calm and relaxation and help us de-stress. While the effects of breathing techniques on anxiety haven't yet been studied at length (at least not in a controlled clinical setting), many experts encourage using the breath as a means of increasing awareness, mindfulness or, for the yogis among us, finding that elusive state of Zen.”

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Majority of Doctors Do Not Follow Treatment Guidelines for ADHD, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, May 06, 2013.  “More than 90% of pediatric specialists who diagnose and manage attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers do not follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical-treatment guidelines. That's the conclusion of researchers from the Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, which sent the Preschool ADHD Treatment Questionnaire to a random sample of 3,000 physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating neurobehavioral conditions nationwide. The doctors reported on how often they recommended strategies such as training parents in behavioral management of ADHD, how often they relied on medication as a first- or second-line treatment, as well as which drugs they prescribed most often.”

A.D.H.D. Seen in 11% of U.S. Children as Diagnoses Rise, by Alan Schwarz. New York Times, March 31, 2013.  “Nearly one in five high school age boys in the United States and 11 percent of school-age children over all have received a medical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to new data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These rates reflect a marked rise over the last decade and could fuel growing concern among many doctors that the A.D.H.D. diagnosis and its medication are overused in American children.”

Five psychiatric disorders 'linked', by James Gallagher. BBC, February 28, 2013.  “Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia all share several genetic risk factors, according to a major study. Versions of four genes increased the odds of all five disorders. Researchers hope to move the psychiatry away from describing symptoms towards fundamentally understanding what is going wrong in the brain. The findings were reported in the Lancet medical journal.”

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Animals Bring Out Positive Social Behaviors in Kids with Autism, by Traci Pederen. Psych Central, March 10, 2013.  “The simple presence of an animal can strongly enhance positive social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to new research. For the study, researcher Marguerite E. O'Haire and colleagues from the University of Queensland, Australia, compared how children 5 to 13 years old with ASD interacted with adults and typically-developing peers in the presence of two guinea pigs compared to toys.”

Five psychiatric disorders 'linked', by James Gallagher. BBC, February 28, 2013.  “Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia all share several genetic risk factors, according to a major study. Versions of four genes increased the odds of all five disorders. Researchers hope to move the psychiatry away from describing symptoms towards fundamentally understanding what is going wrong in the brain. The findings were reported in the Lancet medical journal.”

Study: Parents Get Little Help for Autistic Kids Who Wander, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, October 08, 2012.  “Parents of autistic children say that one of the most stressful behaviors they have to contend with is their child wandering off alone -- so much so that it prevents families from engaging in activities outside the home -- and half of parents with concerns about their child's straying say they haven't received any guidance or advice on preventing the behavior.”

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Early On, Schizophrenia Marked By Worse Cognitive Problems Than Bipolar, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, March 23, 2013.  “Although patients with bipolar disorder, bipolar psychosis, and schizophrenia share several early risk factors, patients with schizophrenia often have more severe cognitive problems during childhood than those with bipolar disorder, according to a new study. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share several elements including age of onset, family history patterns, as well as similar symptoms leading up to the disorder. Patients who develop bipolar psychosis have even more in common with those who develop schizophrenia.”

NIH Study Shows People with Serious Mental Illnesses Can Lose Weight, by National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH, March 21, 2013.  “People with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression can lose weight and keep it off through a modified lifestyle intervention program, a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study reported online today in The New England Journal of Medicine.”

Five psychiatric disorders 'linked', by James Gallagher. BBC, February 28, 2013.  “Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia all share several genetic risk factors, according to a major study. Versions of four genes increased the odds of all five disorders. Researchers hope to move the psychiatry away from describing symptoms towards fundamentally understanding what is going wrong in the brain. The findings were reported in the Lancet medical journal.”

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Media Coverage of Gun Violence May Further Stigmatize Mental Illness, by Rick Nauert, PhD. Psych Central, March 22, 2013.  “Investigators are concerned that negative media coverage may increase public bias against mental illness and discourage people with mental illness from seeking care. For the report, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers compared public perception among people who did not read media accounts, to people who did read media reports of a mass shooting. The discovered reading a news article describing a mass shooting raised readers' support for both gun restrictions for persons with serious mental illness, and for a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines.”

The Psychological Effects Of Bullying Last Well Into Adulthood, Study Finds, by Alice Walton. Forbes, February 21, 2013.  “As bullying gains more awareness from the general public, it's also gained momentum among researchers. More studies are beginning to confirm the sometimes serious psychological effects of bullying, particularly for the bullied, like increased risk for depression and anxiety; others have hinted at what might be going on in the mind of the bully. Both groups seem to be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The problem with many of the past studies is that they're often short-term, or in some cases, the connections between bullying and psychological health (or unhealth) seem to fade away after other variables are taken into account.”

Bullying Can Lead to PTSD Symptoms, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, November 28, 2012.  “A new study has found a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among teenagers who have been bullied. The study of 963 teens aged 14 and 15 in Norwegian schools found symptoms of the disorder in about 33 percent of the students who said they were victims of bullying--though it did not determine that these students were diagnosed with full-blown PTSD.”

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Psychological Abuse: More Common, as Harmful as Other Child Maltreatment, by Laura Blue. Time Magazine, July 30, 2012.  “It may be the most common kind of child abuse - and the most challenging to deal with. But psychological abuse, or emotional abuse, rarely gets the kind of attention that sexual or physical abuse receives.”

Child Abuse Linked to Higher Odds for Cancer as Adult, by HealthDay. US News, July 24, 2012.  “Adults who suffered frequent emotional or physical abuse as children are at increased risk for cancer, a new study suggests.”

Warning signs of sexual abuse often overlooked, by Emanuella Grinberg. CNN, November 11, 2011.  “Most children are abused by someone they know and trust, according to the American Psychological Association. An estimated 60% of perpetrators are known to the child but not family members: family friends, babysitters, child care providers and neighbors.”

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Study: Migraines May Raise the Risk of Depression in Women, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time Magazine, February 23, 2012.  “As if having migraine headaches weren't enough of a burden, a new study finds that women with migraines are also more likely to develop depression - about 40% more likely than women who have no history of the headaches.”

Online Support For Mental Illness Holds Out Hope, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, February 24, 2011.  “Online social support for those with similar health problems has undeniably provided comfort and reinforcement. But research on whether peer support actually aids clinical symptoms is limited, and the findings are mixed. New research doesn't offer much additional scientific evidence that online support groups help.”

A Fate That Narcissists Will Hate: Being Ignored, by Charles Zanor. New York Times, November 29, 2010.  “The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (due out in 2013, and known as DSM-5) has eliminated five of the 10 personality disorders that are listed in the current edition.”

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How Therapy Can Help in the Golden Years, by Abby Ellin. New York Times, April 22, 2013.  “Marvin Tolkin was 83 when he decided that the unexamined life wasn't worth living. Until then, it had never occurred to him that there might be emotional "issues" he wanted to explore with a counselor. Though he wasn't clinically depressed, Mr. Tolkin did suffer from migraines and "struggled through a lot of things in my life"--the demise of a long-term business partnership, the sudden death of his first wife 18 years ago. He worried about his children and grandchildren, and his relationship with his current wife, Carole.”

NIH Study Shows People with Serious Mental Illnesses Can Lose Weight, by National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH, March 21, 2013.  “People with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression can lose weight and keep it off through a modified lifestyle intervention program, a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study reported online today in The New England Journal of Medicine.”

Rashness & Rumination: New Understanding About the Roots of Depression, by Maia Szalavitz. Time, March 08, 2013.  “Two studies explore some of the developmental roots of depression in childhood and adolescence. In the first study, published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, researchers focused on depressive rumination, or the relentless focus on what has gone wrong or will go wrong, coupled with an inability to see a solution to these overwhelming problems. It's no surprise that rumination has a strong connection to depression--in fact, studies show that some talk therapies can actually make depression worse by compelling people to focus on problems and their origins, rather than guiding them toward positive solutions on what to do about them. Smith, who is also investigating some of the potential root causes of depression, reports in his study, published in Psychological Science, on an interesting connection between depression and people's tendency to act without thinking when faced with strong emotion, known among psychologists as "urgency." Although this behavior seems unrelated to depression, he and his colleagues found a surprising link.”

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D Is for Divorce: Sesame Street Tackles Another Touchy Topic, by Jessica Bennett and Tumblr Storyboard. Time, December 10, 2012.  “In early 1992, a census report predicted that 40% of children would soon live in divorced homes. As one of the most famous children's-television programs in the world, Sesame Street was determined to take on a topic most kids shows wouldn't touch. They cast Snuffy, a.k.a. Mr. Snuffleupagus, for the part of a child with divorced parents. With a team of its best writers, researchers and producers, a segment was scripted and shot. It went through a half-dozen revisions, with input from the foremost researchers in the field. And on a typical sunny afternoon on Sesame Street, the furry, red elephantine Muppet prepared to drop the bomb on his loyal preschool viewers.”

Binge Eating Among Men Steps Out of the Shadows, by Abby Ellin. New York Times, August 13, 2012.  “While about 10 percent of patients with anorexia and bulimia are men, binge eating is a problem shared almost equally by both sexes. A study published online in October and then in the March issue of The International Journal of Eating Disorders found that among 46,351 men and women ages 18 to 65, about 11 percent of women and 7.5 percent of men acknowledged some degree of binge eating.”

Tenderness Important for Relationship Satisfaction, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, July 06, 2011.  “A new study from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University reveals that cuddling and caressing are important for long-term relationship satisfaction.”

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Shift in Goals Improves Treatment for Severe Anorexia, by Wood, Janice. Psych Central, May 09, 2013.

Learn from my daughter's eating disorder, by Dr. Ismael Nuno. CNN, May 09, 2013.

Binge Eating Among Men Steps Out of the Shadows, by Abby Ellin. New York Times, August 13, 2012.  “While about 10 percent of patients with anorexia and bulimia are men, binge eating is a problem shared almost equally by both sexes. A study published online in October and then in the March issue of The International Journal of Eating Disorders found that among 46,351 men and women ages 18 to 65, about 11 percent of women and 7.5 percent of men acknowledged some degree of binge eating.”

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Media Coverage of Gun Violence May Further Stigmatize Mental Illness, by Rick Nauert, PhD. Psych Central, March 22, 2013.  “Investigators are concerned that negative media coverage may increase public bias against mental illness and discourage people with mental illness from seeking care. For the report, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers compared public perception among people who did not read media accounts, to people who did read media reports of a mass shooting. The discovered reading a news article describing a mass shooting raised readers' support for both gun restrictions for persons with serious mental illness, and for a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines.”

Societal Expectations Help Shape Grief, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, April 22, 2013.  “New research suggests the way society relates to people who have suffered a loss is important to the way the grieving process is managed. University of Haifa scientists propose that people who have never suffered the loss of a loved one tend to believe that the bereavement process has a far more destructive and devastating effect on a person compared to those who have actually suffered such a loss in the past.”

New Ways to Think About Grief, by Ruth Davis Konigsberg. Time Magazine, January 29, 2011.  “The five stages of grief are so deeply embedded in our culture that they've become virtually inescapable. Every time we experience loss--whether personal or national--we hear them recited: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. They're invoked to explain our emotional reaction to everything from the death of a loved one to the destruction of the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill to LeBron James' abandoning the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.”

Helping Hand for Children Mourning Death of Loved One, by Michael Winerip. The New York Times, October 29, 2007.  “A form of therapy in a camp setting helps children who have lost a loved one work through their darker thoughts.”

Children of Hoarders on Leaving the Cluttered Nest, by Steven Kurutz. New York Times, May 11, 2011.  “Children of hoarders often display a tortured ambivalence toward their parents, perhaps because unlike spouses or friends of hoarders, they had little choice but to live amid the junk.”

Tools to Reduce Stigma of Mental Illness, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, May 14, 2010.  “Researchers have announced a new intervention that can improve the quality of life and self-esteem among persons with serious mental illness.”

A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves, by Tara Parker-Pope. New York Times, January 01, 2008.  “Disorganization may be a person problem, not a house problem.”

Young social entrepreneur to tackle the taboo of homelessness, by PRWEB UK. July 19, 2012.  “A recent graduate from Suffolk aims to diminish the taboo surrounding homelessness and break down negative stereotypes using a range of personal Art Packs and open air art therapy events in London.”

Homelessness: Cheaper to Fix Than to Let Fester, by James, Charley. July 19, 2012.  “It costs (government) about $40,000 a year for a homeless person to be on the streets. That works out to roughly $110 a night, or more expensive than staying in a budget motel along the interstate.”

Facebook Use Leads to Depression? No, Says Study, by ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, July 09, 2012.  “A study of university students is the first evidence to refute the supposed link between depression and the amount of time spent on Facebook and other social-media sites.”

Validation: How Parents Can Help Their Children Cope with Bullying, by Karyn Hall. Psychology Today, March 03, 2012.

Trying to Find a Cry of Desperation Amid the Facebook Drama, by Jan Hoffman. New York Times, February 23, 2012.  “Specialists in adolescent medicine and mental health experts say that dark postings should not be hastily dismissed because they can serve as signs of depression and an early warning system for timely intervention. Whether therapists should engage with patients over Facebook, however, remains a matter of debate.”

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Lack of sleep blights pupils' education, by Sean Coughlan. BBC, May 08, 2013.  “Sleep deprivation is a significant hidden factor in lowering the achievement of school pupils, according to researchers carrying out international education tests. It is a particular problem in more affluent countries, with sleep experts linking it to the use of mobile phones and computers in bedrooms late at night. Sleep deprivation is such a serious disruption that lessons have to be pitched at a lower level to accommodate sleep-starved learners, the study found. The international comparison, carried out by Boston College, found the United States to have the highest number of sleep-deprived students, with 73% of 9 and 10-year-olds and 80% of 13 and 14-year-olds identified by their teachers as being adversely affected.”

New Research Says Up to 10 Percent of Children Affected by Learning Disabilities, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, April 19, 2013.  “Up to 10 percent of the population is affected by specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism, which translates to two or three students in every classroom, according to new research. Researchers at University College London and Goldsmiths University of London also found that children are frequently affected by more than one learning disability.”

Math Anxiety Hits High-Achieving Kids Hardest, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, September 13, 2012.  “A study of first and second graders found that many high-achieving students experience math anxiety, with worry and fear undermining them so much that they can fall behind other students who don't have that anxiety. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that math anxiety was most detrimental to the highest-achieving students, who typically have the most working memory.”

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Military Suicide: Help for Families Worried About Their Service Member, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, July 12, 2012.  “Each person deals differently with the stresses of war, frequent deployments, separation from family, death of comrades. Many contend with depression and post-traumatic stress upon returning home. There are several programs and support lines for these soldiers, but it also helps for their immediate families to remain vigilant and to monitor their behavior. Even still, many service members fall through the cracks.”

Victims of Racism May Cause Symptoms Similar to Trauma, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, November 17, 2011.  “For black American adults, perceived racism may cause mental health symptoms similar to trauma and could lead to some physical health disparities between blacks and other populations in the United States, according to a new study.”

For Some Troops, Powerful Drug Cocktails Have Deadly Results, by James Dao and Benedict Carey, et al. New York Times, February 12, 2011.  “By some estimates, well over 300,000 troops have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan with P.T.S.D., depression, traumatic brain injury or some combination of those. The Pentagon has looked to pharmacology to treat those complex problems, following the lead of civilian medicine. As a result, psychiatric drugs have been used more widely across the military than in any previous war.”

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Racial Attitudes May Affect Juvenile Sentencing, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, June 20, 2012.  “When people imagine a juvenile offender to be black, they are more supportive of handing down harsher sentences to all juveniles, according to a new study by Stanford psychologists.”

New Approach for Substance Abuse among African-Americans, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, October 18, 2011.  “A new study examined the effectiveness of a motivational counseling approach to treat substance abuse among African-Americans.”

Culture and Stigma Affect Mental Health Care for Latinos, by Sylviane Duval. Health Behavior News Service, March 22, 2011.  “Latinos benefit from antidepressants like everybody else - only they do not use them nearly as often. The trick is getting past some cultural barriers.”

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Wariness on Surgery of the Mind, by Benedict Carey. New York Times, February 14, 2011.  “In recent years, many psychiatrists have come to believe that the last, best chance for some people with severe and intractable mental problems is psychosurgery, an experimental procedure in which doctors operate directly on the brain.”

Predicting Treatment Success for Child OCD, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, October 18, 2010.  “A new research effort may help clinicians better predict how a child with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) will respond to some of the most commonly used treatment approaches.”

OCD: New Treatments And Stories From The Trenches, by Jessica Alpert. WBUR, October 13, 2010.  “In recognition of National OCD Awareness Week, we explore some of the latest treatments for the disorder with a Boston doctor who's one of the country's top OCD specialists, and we speak with one local man who lives with OCD every day.”

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Lack of sleep blights pupils' education, by Sean Coughlan. BBC, May 08, 2013.  “Sleep deprivation is a significant hidden factor in lowering the achievement of school pupils, according to researchers carrying out international education tests. It is a particular problem in more affluent countries, with sleep experts linking it to the use of mobile phones and computers in bedrooms late at night. Sleep deprivation is such a serious disruption that lessons have to be pitched at a lower level to accommodate sleep-starved learners, the study found. The international comparison, carried out by Boston College, found the United States to have the highest number of sleep-deprived students, with 73% of 9 and 10-year-olds and 80% of 13 and 14-year-olds identified by their teachers as being adversely affected.”

Can Too Much TV in Childhood Cause Adult Antisocial Behavior?, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, February 19, 2013.  “Emerging research suggests that children and adolescents who watch a lot of television are more likely to manifest antisocial and criminal behavior when they become adults. New Zealand researchers followed a group of around 1,000 children born in the city of Dunedin in 1972-73. Every two years between the ages of 5 and 15, researchers asked the children's parents how much television they watched. Experts then analyzed the data and discovered a small relationship in the data that suggests there is a connection between antisocial personality traits in adulthood and more television watching as a child. The researchers also found that people with a criminal conviction said that they watched more TV as a child compared to those who didn't have one.”

Xanax 'helps me be a better mom', by Shawn Bean. CNN, February 18, 2013.  “To deal with her depression and anxiety issues, J.D. Bailey does not use prescription drugs. She uses the delicate-fabrics setting on the dryer. Four years ago, Bailey was prescribed a low dose of Zoloft to offset the postpartum depression that followed the birth of her youngest daughter, Grace. Her doctor later switched the script to Celexa. Thus began a carousel of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Today, Bailey is not taking anything. For the past few months, her drug of choice has been five minutes in the laundry room.”

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Bullying Can Lead to PTSD Symptoms, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, November 28, 2012.  “A new study has found a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among teenagers who have been bullied. The study of 963 teens aged 14 and 15 in Norwegian schools found symptoms of the disorder in about 33 percent of the students who said they were victims of bullying--though it did not determine that these students were diagnosed with full-blown PTSD.”

How PTSD and Addiction Can Be Safely Treated Together, by Maia Szalavitz. Time, August 15, 2012.  “The vast majority of people with addiction have suffered significant previous trauma, and many people who struggle with addiction suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) simultaneously. But the treatment of these patients has posed a conundrum: experts have believed that PTSD treatment should not begin until the addicted person achieves lasting abstinence, because of the risk that PTSD treatment may trigger relapse, yet addicted people with untreated PTSD are rarely able to abstain for long.”

Military Suicide: Help for Families Worried About Their Service Member, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, July 12, 2012.  “Each person deals differently with the stresses of war, frequent deployments, separation from family, death of comrades. Many contend with depression and post-traumatic stress upon returning home. There are several programs and support lines for these soldiers, but it also helps for their immediate families to remain vigilant and to monitor their behavior. Even still, many service members fall through the cracks.”

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Why Maternity Leave Is Important, by Meredith Melnick. Time Magazine, July 21, 2011.

Mothers with breastfeeding difficulties more likely to suffer postpartum depression, by Tom Hughes. UNC Healthcare, July 19, 2011.  “A UNC study finds that women who have breastfeeding difficulties in the first two weeks after giving birth are more likely to suffer postpartum depression two months later compared to women without such difficulties.”

Incontinence May Increase Risk of Postpartum Depression, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, June 21, 2011.  “A new Canadian study discovers that women with urinary incontinence after giving birth are almost twice as likely to develop postpartum depression as those without incontinence.”

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Early On, Schizophrenia Marked By Worse Cognitive Problems Than Bipolar, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, March 23, 2013.  “Although patients with bipolar disorder, bipolar psychosis, and schizophrenia share several early risk factors, patients with schizophrenia often have more severe cognitive problems during childhood than those with bipolar disorder, according to a new study. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share several elements including age of onset, family history patterns, as well as similar symptoms leading up to the disorder. Patients who develop bipolar psychosis have even more in common with those who develop schizophrenia.”

NIH Study Shows People with Serious Mental Illnesses Can Lose Weight, by National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH, March 21, 2013.  “People with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression can lose weight and keep it off through a modified lifestyle intervention program, a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study reported online today in The New England Journal of Medicine.”

Five psychiatric disorders 'linked', by James Gallagher. BBC, February 28, 2013.  “Autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia all share several genetic risk factors, according to a major study. Versions of four genes increased the odds of all five disorders. Researchers hope to move the psychiatry away from describing symptoms towards fundamentally understanding what is going wrong in the brain. The findings were reported in the Lancet medical journal.”

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How do you talk to your son about rape?, by Rosalind Wiseman and CNN. CNN, March 22, 2013.  “With pressure on parents to talk to their children about issues as sensitive as rape, this article presents ideas about starting the conversation, especially with your son.”

What About the Victim: The Steubenville Rape Victimâ��s Recovery, by Maia Szalavitz. Time, March 20, 2013.  “"We do know that the more severe the traumatic experience is, the more severe the reaction will be," says Edna Foa, a professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading expert on trauma. Rape, regardless of the level of physical force involved, is always traumatic, although, fortunately, the vast majority of people who suffer trauma do not develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

The Twice-Victimized of Sexual Assault, by Jane Brody. New York Times, December 12, 2011.  “Experts on sexual assault and rape report that even today, despite improvements in early sex education and widespread publicity about sexual assaults, the overwhelming majority of both felony and misdemeanor cases never come to public or legal attention.”

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How do you talk to your son about rape?, by Rosalind Wiseman and CNN. CNN, March 22, 2013.  “With pressure on parents to talk to their children about issues as sensitive as rape, this article presents ideas about starting the conversation, especially with your son.”

The question your doctor may start asking, by Ben Tinker. CNN, January 21, 2013.  “At your next doctor's appointment, amid questions about alcohol, smoking and medications, don't be surprised if you're asked, "How are things at home?" Roughly one-third of women and one-quarter of men report experiencing some form of domestic violence, also referred to as inter-partner violence, during their lifetime. While these statistics are alarming, the numbers are almost certainly worse, due to the systematic under-reporting of abuse. But a panel of national experts has found there is a particular time-frame in a woman's life when she is most vulnerable to abuse.”

Why Teen Victims of Dating Violence Can't Break the Cycle, by Bonnie Rochman. Time, December 11, 2012.  “According to the Centers for Disease Control, 9.4% of teens in a recent survey reported being physically abused by a romantic partner in the past 12 months -- that included being slapped, hit or intentionally injured. There is also evidence that adolescents who experience violence in early relationships are more vulnerable to being abused again, and indeed the latest study on the issue published in the journal Pediatrics shows that teens who experienced aggression from a romantic partner between the ages of 12 and 18 were up to three times as likely to be revictimized in relationships as young adults.”

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How to Recognize Teens at Risk for Self-Harm, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, October 06, 2012.  “It's a startling statistic: Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, a University of Missouri public health expert has identified factors that will help parents, medical professionals and educators recognize teens at risk for self injury and suicide.”

Girls with ADHD and self-harm/suicide risk, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, August 16, 2012.  “As girls with ADHD become adults, they are especially prone toward internalizing their problems and feelings of inadequacy--that in turn can lead to self-injury and even attempted suicide, according to new findings from the University of California, Berkeley.”

Military Suicide: Help for Families Worried About Their Service Member, by Alexandra Sifferlin. Time, July 12, 2012.  “Each person deals differently with the stresses of war, frequent deployments, separation from family, death of comrades. Many contend with depression and post-traumatic stress upon returning home. There are several programs and support lines for these soldiers, but it also helps for their immediate families to remain vigilant and to monitor their behavior. Even still, many service members fall through the cracks.”

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Hiding Bisexuality Increases Risk of Depression, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, January 03, 2013.  “Experts say bisexual men are less likely than gay men to come out of the closet and declare their sexuality. Researchers say this concealment is associated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Investigators from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, examined bisexual men "on the down low," a subgroup of bisexual men who live predominantly heterosexual lives and do not disclose their same-sex behavior, a group that has not been studied to date.”

Sex-Changing Treatments Are on the Rise in Kids, by Lindsey Tanner. Time Magazine, February 21, 2012.  “A small but growing number of teens and even younger children who think they were born the wrong sex are getting support from parents and from doctors who give them sex-changing treatments, according to reports in the medical journal Pediatrics.”

Psychological association calls for legalization of same-sex marriage, by Alden Levin. CNN, August 04, 2011.  “The American Psychological Association is calling on state and federal officials to stop anti-gay legal measures and to legalize same-sex marriage.”

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Exercise Can Help Protect Against Future Emotional Stress, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, September 14, 2012.  “Exercise may help people cope with anxiety and stress for an extended period of time after the workout, according to a new study. Researchers compared how moderate intensity cycling for 30 minutes versus a 30-minute period of rest affected anxiety levels in a group of healthy college students.”

Sports Psychologists Extend Their Counseling to Athletes' Coaches and Families, by Katherine Harmon. Scientific American, August 01, 2012.  “Olympic divers, such as David Boudia and Thomas Finchum, as well as other top athletes, use trusted psychological tactics such as visualization and positive self-talk to stay at the top of their games—even when the pressure is on. Yet the sports psychologists who teach these techniques now have more scientific results in hand, and they are learning that the athlete's mental tools are just the jumping-off point to achieving peerless performance.”

Sports Can Help Kids Defuse Anger, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, July 07, 2011.  “A new study from Tel Aviv University suggests sports participation can improve a child's cognitive, emotional and behavioral well-being every bit as much as his or her physical fitness.”

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How Therapy Can Help in the Golden Years, by Abby Ellin. New York Times, April 22, 2013.  “Marvin Tolkin was 83 when he decided that the unexamined life wasn't worth living. Until then, it had never occurred to him that there might be emotional "issues" he wanted to explore with a counselor. Though he wasn't clinically depressed, Mr. Tolkin did suffer from migraines and "struggled through a lot of things in my life"--the demise of a long-term business partnership, the sudden death of his first wife 18 years ago. He worried about his children and grandchildren, and his relationship with his current wife, Carole.”

How Terror Hijacks the Brain, by Maia Szalavitz. Time Magazine, April 16, 2013.  “"When people are terrorized, the smartest parts of our brain tend to shut down" says Dr. Bruce Perry, Senior Fellow of the ChildTrauma Academy. (Disclosure: he and I have written books together). When the brain is under severe threat, it immediately changes the way it processes information, and starts to prioritize rapid responses.”

Yoga Helps Relieve Depression, Sleep Problems, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, January 26, 2013.  “Practicing yoga may help relieve the symptoms of several types of mental disorders, according to a new review. Researchers compiled the findings of 16 significant studies that examined the effects of yoga on mental illness. The results conclude that yoga may offer positive effects for people with depression and sleep problems even if they don't take medication, as well as for individuals with schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are taking medication.”

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Binge Drinking: A Serious, Under-Recognized Problem Among Women and Girls, by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, January 08, 2013.  “According to a new Vital Signs report, more than 14 million U.S. women binge drink about 3 times a month, and consume an average of 6 drinks per binge. Drinking too much, including binge drinking (defined for women as consuming 4 or more drinks on an occasion) results in about 23,000 deaths in women and girls each year and increases the chances of breast cancer, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, and many other health problems.”

How PTSD and Addiction Can Be Safely Treated Together, by Maia Szalavitz. Time, August 15, 2012.  “The vast majority of people with addiction have suffered significant previous trauma, and many people who struggle with addiction suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) simultaneously. But the treatment of these patients has posed a conundrum: experts have believed that PTSD treatment should not begin until the addicted person achieves lasting abstinence, because of the risk that PTSD treatment may trigger relapse, yet addicted people with untreated PTSD are rarely able to abstain for long.”

Symptoms of Teen Substance Abuse, by Donna White. Psych Central, July 20, 2012.  “Research has shown that individuals who begin to experiment at a young age have a higher chance of addiction later in life. This is why it is important to notice early the signs of substance abuse in teens and young adults.”

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Cyberbullying Rarely Sole Factor in Teen Suicides, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, October 20, 2012.  “Cyberbullying - the use of the Internet, phones or other technology to repeatedly harass or mistreat peers - is often linked with teen suicide. But new research shows that teen suicide victims are bullied both online and in person and they often suffer from depression as well. In the new study, researchers searched the Internet for reports of teen suicides where cyberbullying was a reported factor.”

How to Recognize Teens at Risk for Self-Harm, by Janice Wood. Psych Central, October 06, 2012.  “It's a startling statistic: Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, a University of Missouri public health expert has identified factors that will help parents, medical professionals and educators recognize teens at risk for self injury and suicide.”

Girls with ADHD and self-harm/suicide risk, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, August 16, 2012.  “As girls with ADHD become adults, they are especially prone toward internalizing their problems and feelings of inadequacy--that in turn can lead to self-injury and even attempted suicide, according to new findings from the University of California, Berkeley.”

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Rethinking Shaken Baby Syndrome, by Joseph Shapiro. NPR, June 29, 2011.  “The dispute over shaken baby syndrome is a bitter civil war. On one side, doctors, lawyers and other experts say the diagnosis is key to winning convictions of people accused of the most horrible acts of child abuse. Opponents say the diagnosis is used too freely and that sometimes, innocent people go to prison.”

Postpartum Depression: When Moms Feel Out of Control, by Elizabeth Landau. CNN, May 14, 2010.  “It's normal for new mothers to feel overwhelmed and tired, but sometimes those feelings can develop into something more serious. "Baby blues," which do not require medical attention, can include mood swings, sleep problems, irritability, crying, anxiety and sadness in the first couple of weeks after birth. Postpartum depression is more intense and intrusive: Women may lose interest in life, withdraw from family and friends, or think about harming themselves or their children.”

Depression Is a Dilemma for Women in Pregnancy, by Roni Caryn Rabin. New York Times, October 05, 2009.  “A study looked for harmful effects in the use of antidepressants by pregnant women.”

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Talking to Children About the Bombings, by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. April 16, 2013.

How Terror Hijacks the Brain, by Maia Szalavitz. Time Magazine, April 16, 2013.  “"When people are terrorized, the smartest parts of our brain tend to shut down" says Dr. Bruce Perry, Senior Fellow of the ChildTrauma Academy. (Disclosure: he and I have written books together). When the brain is under severe threat, it immediately changes the way it processes information, and starts to prioritize rapid responses.”

How Disasters and Trauma Can Affect Children's Empathy, by Maia Szalavitz. Time, January 22, 2013.  “Do children become more kind and empathetic after a disaster-- or does the experience make them more focus more on self-preservation? The first study to examine the question in an experimental way shows that children's reactions may depend on their age. The ability to study the altruistic and empathetic tendencies of youth before and after a natural disaster emerged after an earthquake struck in May 2008 in Mianyang, China. Scientists from the U.S. and Canada were already collaborating with Chinese researchers in the town in Sichuan province on a study of altruistic behavior when the earthquake, which measured 8.0 on the Richter scale, killed some 87,000 people, including many children.”

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