Benefits of Peer Recovery Support SystemsRecoveryBy Promises Behavioral HealthJanuary 5, 2010It’s a long road back from addiction. The drug of choice can be alcohol, street or prescription drugs, or addictive gambling, spending, sex or eating. Although the faces of addiction are many, one outcome remains the same: all persons in recovery need the support of others. And these others need to be intimately familiar with…
Study Examines Risk of Suicidal Thoughts Among Childhood Cancer SurvivorsNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthJanuary 3, 2010Some may call an adult who survived childhood cancer blessed. For some of those survivors, this description misses the mark. In fact, these survivors have an increased risk for suicidal thoughts, even if it has been decades since their last cancer treatment.
Epileptic Issues in Infancy Can Lead to Schizophrenia Later in LifeNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthJanuary 3, 2010There are a number of different elements that must be tracked in order to protect the natural development of the brain. For those who are dealing with specific physical impairments at a young age, treatments and medications can significantly impact development.
The Aftermath of Terrorism: How Exposure Affects Alcohol Consumption and Posttraumatic StressNews and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthJanuary 2, 2010When a terrorist attack occurs, such as the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, there are many victims apart from those killed or injured in the attack. Many people who experience the effects of exposure to the attack and interpersonal loss can experience posttraumatic stress.
Are We Over Our Obsession to Be Thin?Culture & MediaBy Promises Behavioral HealthJanuary 1, 2010Rail-thin, fashionably thin, skinny, lithe, or slender – these adjectives describe how many girls and women would like to see themselves. We, as women (and men), never want to think of ourselves as fat – even if the mirror somehow tells us otherwise. In fact, our desire to be thin, or to be considered thin,…
Heavy Drinking at the Holidays Can Be DangerousAlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthDecember 31, 2009‘Tis the season for drinking. Much like the free reign we give ourselves at the buffet table, too many of us consume too much champagne, eggnog or spiced wine at this time of year. In a recent Chron article, Dr. Richard Pesikoff, a professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, noted, “Holidays have a…
Postpartum Depression Prediction Tools Identified in StudyMood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthDecember 31, 2009Until recently, postpartum depression was something a new mother often suffered from in silence. Classic signs may have been present, but without proper education into the risk and what to look for, many cases went undetected. Now, in a Health US News report, Spanish researchers announce they have developed ways to detect 80 percent of…
Who’s to Blame for Anorexia?Eating DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthDecember 30, 2009Painfully thin, emaciated, starving – these words come to mind when looking at photographs of malnourished children in third-world countries. But they’re not the only ones suffering – and they’re not suffering by choice. Anorexia, or specifically, anorexia nervosa, a mental disorder manifesting itself as an eating disorder, involves deliberate choice to avoid food, an…
Online Information on Spice Drugs MisleadingDrug AddictionBy Promises Behavioral HealthDecember 29, 2009Spice drugs are not necessarily causing concern among parents or even law enforcement, but the availability of such drugs online should gain attention. Science Daily recently published a release that summarized the findings of a paper to be published this month by University of Hertfordshire researchers. A spice drug is the brand name for an…
How Exercise Affects Depressive Symptoms in Overweight ChildrenAdolescent IssuesBy Promises Behavioral HealthDecember 28, 2009Exercise is often recommended for battling the blues, including fighting off depressive symptoms. Runners sometimes refer to a “runners’ high,” a euphoric feeling that makes them energized and enthusiastic after what would be expected to be a long, exhausting workout.
