January 31, 2024
by Elizabeth Pratt
People remember moments immediately after a distressing episode with more clarity than the moment preceding the distressing event.
Research investigating memory and trauma published in Cognition and Emotion could help inform the approach to treating PTSD, assist clinicians in combating memory loss in Alzheimer’s and even improve evaluation of eyewitness testimonies.
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November 29, 2023
by Elizabeth Pratt
Keeping secrets may actually brighten your day.
Research has found that keeping good news a secret makes people more alive and energized.
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October 24, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A series of new studies, published in Sage Journal looked at the spirituality of science and the implications for meaning, well-being, and learning. “These studies are investigating how science can serve as a source of spirituality for some people,” study author Jesse L. Preston told us. “Spirituality is most commonly associated with religion, however it is not the same thing as religious belief. Spirituality is characterized through a sense of connection to things greater than oneself, a sense of wonder, and a sense of understanding or meaning in life, and we suggest that these same aspects can also be found through experiences with science and scientific theories.”
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September 19, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study published in the Journal of Nature Mental Health looked at plasma proteomics discovery of mental health risk biomarkers in adolescents. “Our study primarily focused on discovering plasma protein-based susceptibility biomarkers that could indicate adolescents at risk of developing mental health issues,” study authors Katja M. Kanninen and Alexey Afonin from the University of Eastern Finland told us.
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July 25, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A recent article published in the Journal of Professional Psychology, Research and Practice looked at emotional support animal assessments and the importance of creating a standard and comprehensive model for mental health professionals. “This is the third in a series of articles that address emotional support animals and the appropriate role of professionals certifying these pets for their patients,” researcher, Leisl Bryant told us.
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May 31, 2023
by Elizabeth Pratt
For hundreds of years, some have suggested a full moon may cause people to act differently.
Now, psychiatrists at the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that death by suicide increases during the full moon.
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April 18, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
There has been a lot of research into how leaders with low self-esteem are likely to cause toxic stress at work. Simon L. Dolan, author of De-Stress at Work: Understanding and Combatting Chronic Stress has brought together the research into a book. In the chapter about toxic leaders specifically, he summarizes and analyses the results of many other studies and he has done many studies himself. “The underlying concept behind this book, is to demystify the concept of chronic stress,” Dolan told us. “It is poorly understood, poorly used, and there are no, or very few, valid diagnostic tools available to professionals in the field."
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January 17, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study published in Scientific Reports looked at parasocial relationships on YouTube and how they reduce prejudice towards mental health issues. “Prejudice is a big issue among society and it’s been well established that contact between different groups of people is an effect way to help reduce that prejudice,” study author Shaaba Lotun told us.
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November 30, 2022
by Elizabeth Pratt
Psychologists are struggling to meet demand amid a rising mental health crisis.
Results from the American Psychological Association’s 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey show that most practitioners have no openings for new patients and have waitlists that are longer than before the pandemic began.
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August 16, 2022
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study in the works published in the BMJ Open is looking at community-engaged mental health promotion intervention with Bhutanese people resettled in Western Massachusetts. The current research project will be among the first to adapt and pilot test the feasibility and acceptability of a family-based, community-led, culturally tailored, integrated preventative behavior intervention to reduce immigrant stress. The study will lay the basis for a clinical trial with a large, adequately powered sample. If effective, this community-engaged intervention may be applied more widely to other immigrants and the general population.
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