Putting Lives Back Together at The RanchAddiction RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 10, 2013Becca Davis, residential manager at The Ranch, is a calm, knowing force in addiction treatment. “We see miracles happen every day,” says Becca, who herself once suffered from addiction. Seeking treatment was among the “scariest” decisions of her life, she said, but it was also one of the best.
‘Hunger Games’ Star Wes Bentley Felt Suffocated by DrugsRecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 9, 2013Drug addiction and celebrity culture have had a long and tumultuous relationship. Fame comes with a strong sense of freedom, and easy access to illicit substances seems to be part of the package. The story is all too familiar—the star is catapulted into fame and the lifestyle that comes along with it, and then its…
Decoding Research Claims: How Do We Know What Works?Addiction RecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 9, 2013Whether we’re talking about a new medication or a different psychotherapy technique, at some point you’ll hear the phrase “studies show” that it works. Or you may have read that “research indicates” that a particular intervention (for example, practicing yoga to help improve mood) is effective. Perhaps you’ve wondered about this: what kind of studies?…
Casinos’ Data Could Identify Problem Gamblers, Researchers SayBehavioral AddictionsBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 8, 2013Gambling addicts could be helped with the use of consumer tracking information developed by the casinos, Harvard researchers say. However, the CEO at Caesars Entertainment worries about taking the technology to “extremes.”
Nebulous Goals Set By Depressed People Fuel IllnessMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 8, 2013Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness in the U.S. and across large sections of the world. Among its many symptoms, the disorder can trigger a loss of the normal ability to feel motivated or pursue pleasurable or fulfilling activities. According to the results of a new study released in July…
What Is the Difference Between Malingering vs Factitious Disorder?Mental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 8, 2013Factitious disorder and malingering are two variations on a similar theme. Both involve people who exaggerate or make up symptoms of an illness. But in malingering vs. factitious disorder, the reasons why are very different. This also means that treatment is different, too. What Is Factitious Disorder? Factitious disorder is a mental illness, classified as…
‘Oxyana’ Exposes Savage Addiction in Picturesque Mining TownFeatured, Substance AbuseBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 7, 2013Oceana, West Virginia, is a picturesque mining town nestled in Wyoming County that boasts extraordinary natural beauty. But underneath the surface, a problem is brewing. The prescription drug epidemic that engulfs the entire United States
iPhone App Helps Schizophrenics Block VoicesMental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 7, 2013Auditory hallucinations are sound-based hallucinations that frequently occur inside the minds of people with the mental disorder schizophrenia, and also occur inside the minds of some psychologically healthy people. In schizophrenic individuals, the presence of these hallucinations can effectively block genuine sound input from the outside world and contribute significantly to the break with reality…
Dad’s Stress Damages Sperm, Affects Baby, Study FindsMental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 6, 2013We have long known that a pregnant woman’s actions impact her unborn child. These impacts can even ripple outward into the child’s life many years later. Bad habits like drinking and smoking can cause birth defects that last a lifetime and good habits like eating well can give a child a leg up in life.…
‘Extremely Important’ Blood Test Could Predict Postpartum DepressionMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthAugust 6, 2013Postnatal blood test developed by British doctors deemed breakthrough in treatment for new mothers. Having a baby should be a joyful time and a reason for celebration. Unfortunately, many women struggle with a mix of emotions—not all happiness and rainbows—after giving birth. If you have experienced childbirth, you know the feeling of delight, terror, anxiety…
