Doctor Warns Against Using “Natural” Anxiety Treatments News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 10, 2010In a broad-based review of studies focused on drugs that treat anxiety, a Saint Louis University doctor found no evidence supporting the use of so-called “natural” treatments in combating the effects of anxiety. St. John’s wort, kava extract, and valerian, herbal remedies touted on the Internet, have not been proven to be effective in treating…
Study Examines Role Chromosome 11 Plays in Alcohol Dependency AlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 8, 2010Alcohol dependency is an element of life worth researching to empower professionals to identify risk factors and proper prevention tools. Recent research by the Indiana University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that chromosome 11 could be partially responsible for alcohol dependency. This genome-wide association study was part…
Mental Health Providers Should Promote Exercise for Those with Depression and Anxiety News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 7, 2010Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies. “Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health,” says Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research…
Stroke Patients Experience Better Depression Recovery When Given Psychosocial Therapy News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 5, 2010Recovering from a stroke can be a tumultuous time for anyone, especially if recovery includes extensive therapy or even permanent damage. Now, a new study demonstrates the value delivered in psychological therapy combined with medication. According to a Science Daily report, adding psychosocial therapy improved depression scores short term. In addition, these improvements were sustained…
Celebrity Deaths Highlight Power of Addiction AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 3, 2010Addiction is hard to get over, no matter the drug of choice. The recent overdose and death of actor Corey Haim demonstrates the impact addition and drug use can have on a life, no matter what path the individual has taken. ABC News posted a recent piece, highlighting the impact addiction can have even on…
Women and Domestic Violence News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 2, 2010Domestic violence against women is a serious problem in America and one that is getting a great deal of attention, both at the federal and state levels. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a landmark piece of legislation, was passed in 1993, and reauthorized in 2000 and 2005. It is scheduled for reauthorization again in…
Tipping the Scales: A Recipe for Trouble Eating DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthApril 1, 2010Many of us are concerned when our clothing starts to fit a bit too snugly, or we catch an unflattering glimpse of ourselves in the mirror. With a little more discipline at the table and getting out and exercising more, we’re usually able to get back into our comfort zone. For millions of Americans today…
Motivational Interviewing: Drawing Out the Homeless Mental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthMarch 31, 2010The sight of a bag lady or man pushing a grocery cart carrying their few worldly possessions is unnerving and all too common. On any given night in cities and towns across the U.S., the estimated number of individuals living on the streets is nearly 672,000. In the course of a single year, an estimated…
UK Moving to Improve Therapy for Patients Suffering with Depression Mood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthMarch 31, 2010Individuals suffering with depression need more than simply a prescription to popular medications – they also need psychological therapy. According to a BBC News piece, however, 65 percent of UK doctors say they can rarely offer such therapy to depression sufferers within two months of referral. This finding is according to the Royal College of…
Hoarding: A Compulsive Mental Disorder Dual DiagnosisBy Promises Behavioral HealthMarch 30, 2010Many of us hang on to treasures and memorabilia from the past, but our homes are not so overwhelmed with clutter that it becomes detrimental to our health and safety, let alone our sanity. Others are not so lucky. For some individuals, hoarding, or the obsessive compulsion to collect anything and everything – has become…
