New Anti-Smoking Shock Campaign Unveiled by CDC Substance AbuseBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 11, 2014Brett quit smoking four years ago, well after losing most of his teeth. By his mid-30s, gum disease from tobacco smoking had ravaged the bones and tissue supporting his teeth — 16 removed in one surgery. At 42, nearly toothless, Brett still smoked. He soberly looks at the viewer in a new “scared straight” television…
You Can Often Get What You Want, Stanford Researchers Say Culture & Media, News and ResearchBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 10, 2014New research at Stanford verifies the old adage, “ask and you shall receive.” A series of studies shows that people tend to greatly underestimate how likely others are to agree to requests for help.
Can Caffeine Improve Memory? New Johns Hopkins Study Says Yes HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 10, 2014More than 90 percent of the world’s population consumes caffeine in one form or another, statistics show. In the United States, about 80 percent of all adults ingest caffeine through food, drink or medicine on a daily basis. This moderately powerful stimulant generates increased activity in the central nervous system, lifting energy, improving mood and…
Adults Abused as Children Often Plagued by Comorbid Drug Abuse, Mental Illness Mental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 9, 2014Adults who were the victims of child abuse have increased chances of developing substance use disorders as adults, research has shown. In addition, adults with such a history are known to have increased risks for developing a mental illness unrelated to substance use. In a study scheduled for publication in October 2014 in the journal…
Pain a High-Risk Factor for Suicide Featured, Mental HealthBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 7, 2014People affected by certain mental illnesses have substantially increased risks for developing pain, and some diagnosable mental disorders feature pain as one of their primary symptoms. In a study published in July 2013 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, a multi-institution research team examined the connection between pain and the chances of dying from suicide. The…
Meditation for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Recovery Addiction Recovery, FeaturedBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 6, 2014Alcoholism and drug addiction are complex conditions that plague millions of people. Recovering from them requires a comprehensive treatment plan. For many recovering addicts and alcoholics, that plan typically includes talk therapy, support groups, and, if warranted, medication. However, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, particularly meditation, can provide a vital source of additional support…
Do Gambling Disorder’s Effects Vary With Age at Onset? Behavioral AddictionsBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 5, 2014Gambling disorder is an officially defined form of behavioral addiction centered on a range of symptoms that indicate a life-disrupting level of involvement in gambling activities. Some people develop this disorder relatively early in life, while others develop it at a later age. In a study published in May 2014 in the journal Addiction, a…
Learning From Those with Bipolar Disorder Mood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 4, 2014Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder causing unusual shifts in mood and activity levels, often manifesting in college age people, with almost half of all cases developing before age 25.
A Depression Diagnosis: Now What? Mood DisordersBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 3, 2014If you have recently been diagnosed with depression, you probably have many questions. First, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Depression is the most commonly diagnosed and researched mental illnesses.
BUI: Boating Under the Influence May Send You to Jail As Police Take DUI Patrols on the Water This July 4th AlcoholismBy Promises Behavioral HealthJuly 2, 2014There were more brown pelicans than drunken boaters on the water as July 4th approached, and L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan White and his team hope to keep it that way. “The weekends are always the busiest,” he said as the Sheriff’s boat pulled away from its Marina Del Rey berth. The deputies on board scouted…
