New research published in Depression and Anxietyindicates that, unlike other anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder may have a direct effect on alcoholism. Continue reading “Social anxiety disorder may increase risk of alcoholism”
Grief can hurt — in more ways than one
We tend to think of grieving as an emotional experience, and it is — fraught with intense sadness, profound loss, and psychological pain. But grief has a physical side that sets us up for a number of health risks. “Most of these side effects are the result of emotional distress responses,” explains Dr. Maureen Malin, a geriatric psychiatrist with Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, a home, or a beloved pet, it’s important to understand how the process puts your health in jeopardy. Continue reading “Grief can hurt — in more ways than one”
Binary bias distorts how we integrate information
When we evaluate and compare a range of data points — whether that data is related to health outcomes, head counts, or menu prices — we tend to neglect the relative strength of the evidence and treat it as simply binary, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Continue reading “Binary bias distorts how we integrate information”
Depression, anxiety may take same toll on health as smoking and obesity
An annual physical typically involves a weight check and questions about unhealthy habits like smoking, but a new study from UC San Francisco suggests health care providers may be overlooking a critical question: Are you depressed or anxious? Continue reading “Depression, anxiety may take same toll on health as smoking and obesity”
Negative experiences on social media tied to higher odds of feeling lonely
Positive interactions on social media are not making young adults feel more connected, whereas negative experiences increase the likelihood of them reporting loneliness, scientists with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Media Technology and Health (MTH) report today in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Continue reading “Negative experiences on social media tied to higher odds of feeling lonely”
Post-natal depression in dads linked to depression in their teenage daughters
Fathers as well as mothers can experience post-natal depression — and it is linked to emotional problems for their teenage daughters, new research has found. Continue reading “Post-natal depression in dads linked to depression in their teenage daughters”