A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that doctors have less respect for their obese patients than they do for patients of normal weight. The findings raise questions about whether negative physician attitudes about obesity could be affecting the long-term health of their heavier patients. As patients had higher body mass indexes (BMI), physicians…
Too much light at night can lead to symptoms of depression, according to a new study. Researchers found that mice housed in a lighted room 24 hours a day exhibited more depressive symptoms than did similar mice that had a normal light-dark cycle. However, mice that lived in constant light but could escape into a…
A new study suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with death after surgery. Researchers found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to die within a year after surgery than those without the disease, regardless of how many years had passed since their service.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of severe depression that occurs annually in the fall and winter seasons. University of Vermont psychologist Kelly Rohan presented the first published research study of the long-term effects of different treatments for SAD in the September issue of the journal Behavior Therapy.
Compulsive or pathological gambling is a progressive illness, a psychological disorder which is just as difficult to overcome as addiction to alcohol or drugs. The compulsive gambler experiences a series of stages, each with its own warning signs. While the number of stages varies from 3 to 5, depending on the source, all are similar…
The popular anti-depressant Nortriptyline has been found to cause a ten-fold increase in suicidal thoughts in men when compared to its competitor escitalopram. Nortriptyline is marketed under the brand names Sensoval, Aventyl, Pamelor, Norpress, Allegron, and Nortrilen. Escitalopram is marketed as Lexapro and Cipralex. Science Daily reports that the research was carried out by Dr.…
Mental health issues can impact the effectiveness of an individual at his or her job. When a person is wrapped up in their own thoughts—especially unhealthy thoughts—they can easily ignore the task at hand and focus only on what is going on mentally. According to a study announced by the American College of Occupational and…
Are you spending more and more time at the office? Has this behavior increased over the past six months to a year? Do you think – or suspect – that you may be a workaholic? This is no joking matter, for a true workaholic is headed for some potentially serious physical and psychological problems. How…
In a new pilot study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center attempted to prevent or mitigate anxiety disorders among children of anxious parents. In the investigation, researchers used a family-based program of cognitive behavioral therapy with generally positive results.
A new report shows that exposure to a certain class of antidepressant medications during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, a low five-minute Apgar score (a measure of overall health of the baby), and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. The study, published in the October issue of Archives…