Is Mood related to serotonin…
A meta-analysis of serotonin studies, conducted at the University of Amsterdam, has shown that low serotonin does not act as a depressant because when it was lowered in healthy individuals […]
The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children…
Link to paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667807/
CBT efficacy for schizophrenia…
Meta-analyses examining the efficacy of psychological treatments for schizophrenia revealed a beneficial effect of CBT on positive symptoms (i.e., delusions and/or hallucinations) of schizophrenia (Gould et al., 2001; Rector & […]
Music Therapy and Music Neuroscience…
The therapeutic potential of musical activity has been evidenced by neuroscience methods in relation to effects between common areas of processing between speech, memory, attention and motor activity (Schlaug et […]
Early imaging predictors of long-term outcomes in relapse-onset Multiple Sclerosis…
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging measures available in routine clinical practice may be useful in counselling patients with clinically isolated syndrome and early multiple sclerosis about long-term disease course and might […]
The cerebellum’s role in movement and cognition…
The below mentioned paper gathers diverse views on a variety of important roles played by the cerebellum across a range of cognitive and emotional functioning. In doing so, and whilst […]
The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy?
Empirical evidence has supported the efficacy of psychodynamic therapy. For instance, patients who receive psychodynamic therapy maintain therapeutic gains and appear to continue to improve after treatment ends. Furthermore, non psychodynamic therapies may […]
Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy the current gold standard of psychotherapy?
Taking into account the number of publications/studies, academic programs, and/or practicing professionals, the authors of the below-mentioned article argue cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard of the psychotherapy field. […]
Antidepressant treatment, not depression, leads to reductions in behavioral responses to pain empathy…
Depression is a medical condition comprising of a prominent and persistent period of depressed mood and/or markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities that predominates the clinical […]
Culturally Adapted Therapy for Muslim Clients with Depression…
In recognition of the need for culturally adapted therapies, researchers (Mir, Ghani, Meer and Hussain, 2018), have developed and adapted therapy for Muslim clients, based on behavioural activation, an existing […]
Wise Words… #58
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ MAYA ANGELOU
Wise Words… #57
“A man found an eagle’s egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All […]
Attachment Theory…
A link to a brief introduction to attachment theory, as well as information pertaining the Harry Harlow monkey experiments, the stages of attachment, and Konrad Lorenz’s imprinting theory: https://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment.html
Wise Words… #52
“If I accept the fact that my relationships are here to make me conscious, instead of happy, then my relationships become a wonderful self mastery tool that keeps realigning me […]
Values Questionnaire…
1. What people do I admire or consider role models in my life? 2. What are some common qualities of the people I admire? 3. What is one value that […]
The Pedagogy of Momus Technologies: Facebook, Privacy, and Online Intimacy…
Abstract Through cable and wireless connections at home and at work, through Wi-Fi networks and wireless spots in hotels, coffee shops, and town squares, we are indeed connected to each […]
Multiple Sclerosis Report…
The below mentioned report outlines recommendations on the diagnosis, therapeutic strategies and improving access to treatment in Multiple Sclerosis. The core recommendation pertains to the goal of treating MS should be based […]
Major Depressive Disorder and Treatment Resistant Patients…
The presented paper concerns the pharmacological treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It especially focuses on what to do when patients do not respond to a standard dose of an […]
Transcranial direct current stimulation in post stroke aphasia and primary progressive aphasia: Current knowledge and future clinical applications…
During transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a low-intensity direct electrical current is applied to the scalp to influence the electrical activity in the underlying cortex. In most cases, the tDCS […]
Brain Stimulation for Depressive Symptoms…
A new research study by researchers at the University of California San Francisco has found patients with moderate to severe depression reported significant improvements in mood when researchers precisely stimulated […]
Three Shades of Depression…
Researchers from the Neural Computational Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University in collaboration with their colleagues at Nara Institute of Science and Technology and clinicians […]
Cognitive Rehabilitation for Multiple Sclerosis…
The presented review evaluates the effects of cognitive (neuropsychological) rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis. This was done by considering the effects of rehabilitation on cognitive test performance and everyday cognitive performance […]
Discovery of new inflammatory inhibitor…
A research team from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed an anti-inflammatory drug molecule with a new mechanism of action. By inhibiting a certain protein (such as TNF alpha), the […]
Guillain-Barré Syndrome…
A guide pertaining to Guillain-Barré syndrome – an uncommon illness causing weakness and loss of sensation. The guide is intended for patients who have been told that they have, or may have Guillain-Barré […]
Multiple Sclerois …
More than 100 years have passed since Charcot, Carswell, Cruveilheir, and others described the clinical and pathological characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder […]
Understanding Addiction…
The disease of chemical dependency can be traced to neural pathways in the brain predating a diagnosis of addiction. A genetic predisposition alone is not enough to predict addiction. Typically, […]
Transcranial Direct Currant Stimulation in Stroke Recovery …
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) – is an technique of non-invasive brain stimulation that has been found useful in examining cortical function in normal subjects and in facilitating treatments of […]
Nerve stimulation vs. Antidepressant medication for Depression
A study has found individuals’ treated with nerve stimulation (vagus nerve stimulators, which send regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve) experienced significant improvements […]
Can pessimism be cure?
A research team, led by MIT’s McGovern Institute research affiliates Kenichi Amemori and Satoko Amemori, has found that the primate caudate nucleus (as part of the striatum region located in […]
Mindfulness mediation found to improve executive attention…
A study published in the Frontiers in Neuroscience journal has found ten minutes of mindfulness mediation can improve an individual’s cognitive (providing individuals’ were relatively lower in neuroticism). Mindfulness may […]
The functional neuroanatomy of bipolar disorder: a review
A review of existing structural and functional neuroimaging studies of patients with bipolar disorder and a discussion of how these investigations enhance our understanding of the neurophysiology of the illness. Link to […]
55% recovery from schizophrenia…
The study, conducted by the University of Oslo’s Department of Psychology, followed about 30 young people diagnosed with schizophrenia, all of whom were recruited to the study within 5 months […]
Cognitive psycho-educational group therapy intervention found to lower relapse rate in depression…
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, has found patients hospitalized with major depressive disorder who participated in a short-term psycho-educational program with cognitive behavioral group therapy in addition to normal inpatient […]
Early-life exposure to severe famine found to be related to subsequent risk of depressive symptoms in late adulthood…
A research study from the University of Georgia has revealed that exposure to famine during specific moments in early life is associated with depression later in life. The study with […]
Can the implantation of positive self-defining memories reduce trait anxiety…
Veronika V. Nourkova and Darya A. Vasilenko, psychologists from the Lomonosov Moscow University, have explored the potential benefits of implanting false positive memories in anxiety sufferers to see if they can […]
Confirmed link between autoimmune disorders and psychosis…
A new study has found individual’s with autoimmune disorders, a collection of diseases where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, are more likely to have psychosis. The study (link […]
Mindfulness predicts adaptive affective responding to rejection…
Social rejection is a distressing and painful event that many people must cope with on a frequent basis. Mindfulness—defined here as a mental state of receptive attentiveness to internal and […]
Body Dysmorphia Documentary…
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p067bnvw
Can probiotics fend off mood disorders?
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers suggests that one particular beneficial bacteria can have long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects on the brain, making it more resilient to the physical […]
ELK-1 as a specific signalling module in depression…
In a study published by the Nature Medicine (link below), a team of scientists at McGill University and France’s Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) […]
Behavioral Activation found to benefit during TMS for Major Depressive Disorder
The integration of behavioral activation therapy (a form of psychotherapy that supports environmental positive reinforcement for individuals through goal setting and the scheduling of positive reinforcement between-session activities) into Transcranial […]
Brain abnormality associated with mental illness…
Researchers at Duke University have found an abnormality in visual regions of the brain being associated with an individual’s general risk for mental illness. The findings (link below) indicate a signature […]
The Science of Cognitive Therapy…
A relatively short-term form of psychotherapy based on the concept that the way we think about things affects how we feel emotionally. Cognitive therapy (CT) focuses on present thinking, behavior, and […]
Antidepressant usage related to troubles in identifying feelings…
Individuals on antidepressant medication tend to report experiencing diminished emotional awareness, a condition known as alexithymia, according to a preliminary study. The researchers compared fifty-seven individuals on antidepressant medication (namely fluoxetine, […]
Cognitive dysfunction predictors of depression after first-episode…
Recent research suggests patients suffering from depression should also receive cognitive testing as cognitive impairments were associated with the severity of depressive symptoms. The study found that impairments in executive functioning and language […]
Personality changes linked to unemployment…
Unemployment may change peoples’ core personalities, making some less conscientious, agreeable and open, which may make it difficult for them to find new jobs, according to research published by the American […]
Personality changes linked to unemployment…
Unemployment may change peoples’ core personalities, making some less conscientious, agreeable and open, which may make it difficult for them to find new jobs, according to research published by the American […]
Positive Psychology…
A 2006 paper considering; What positive psychology is? Where it has come from? And Where it is going? Link to paper: Positive psychology
Art courses for mental wellbeing improvement…
Researchers from the University of Gloucestershire have recently evaluated data from nearly 1,300 primary care patients in South West England, finding a course of arts-on-prescription to provide a significant improvement in […]
Did You Know… #44
Approximately one-fifth of adult patients with MDD were treated with an antipsychotic medication between 2006 and 2015. The rate of prescribing an antipsychotic medication to treat MDD increased from 18.5% […]
Mental Health Status and Gender as risk factors for onset of physical illness over 10 years…
There is a growing interest in understanding the connection between mental illness and the onset of new physical illnesses (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma, hypertension and diabetes) among previously physically healthy […]
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy treatment for Obsessive–Compulsive Sisorder…
The psychological treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is highly effective only when it takes the form of beha viour therapy or cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT). Such treatment is closely linked to […]
The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in major depressive disorder: a twelve-week treatment with duloxetine..
Evidence has indicated elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment response, but the nature of this association remains unclear. A sample of 32 […]
Study finds anxiety to help with memory…
A study from the University of Waterloo investigated whether anxious individuals, who adopted an inherently negative mindset, could demonstrate a particularly salient memory bias for words tainted by negative contexts. The study […]
Social Cognitive Skills Training found to improve Social Cognition in Psychosis…
A study published in Schizophrenia Bulletin demonstrate that social cognitive skills training (SCST) for patients with psychosis provide significant benefit in a number of key social cognition domains. Social cognition refers […]
Study shows 1 in 3 of those diagnosed with depression commence treatment…
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine highlights that only about 1 in 3 individuals newly diagnosed with depression actually commence treatment. The study has found, of more […]
Breaking Down Barriers – the challenge of improving mental health outcomes
This briefing sets out the key barriers to providing good mental health care. In line with the British Medical Association’s vision for mental health, recognising these barriers provides a platform […]
How much psychotherapy is needed to treat depression?
Research suggests that psychotherapy can be effective in the treatment of adult depression but it is not clear how this treatment effect is related to amount, frequency and intensity of therapy. […]
Is Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy more effective than other therapies?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is effective for a range of psychiatric disorders. However, it remains unclear whether CBT is superior to other forms of psychotherapy, and previous quantitative reviews on this […]
Tailoring Positive Psychology Interventions to Treat Depression….
Positive psychology is focused on the prevention of mental health disorders, promotion of mental health, and treatment of distress via positive psychology interventions (PPIs). Effective in generating positive affect and […]
No Health without Mental Health…
In 2007, the World Health Organisation propositioned that there can be “no health without mental health” which has also been endorsed by the Pan American Health Organisation, the EU Council […]
An overview of psychosis and schizophrenia symptoms and treatment…
Schizophrenia is known as a mental disorder that is characterized by hallucinations and delusions. It is often treated with a combination of antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy. The link provides a […]
Generalized Anxiety Disorder…
A chapter discussing and understanding generalized anxiety disoder (GAD). In doing so, the nature of human anxiety is disorder in addtion to the development of specific interventions for GAD. It […]
Kripalu Yoga treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder…
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder associated with substantial impairment and poor treatment response. It is believed that yoga influences processes that are linked to the maintenance […]
Cognitive Factors that maintain Social Anxiety Disorder…
In considering that Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a common, distressing and persistent mental illness, this research paper identifies a number of psychological factors that may explain the maintenance of the disorder. […]
Six-Month Follow-Up of Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Low-Functioning Individuals With Schizophrenia…
A study examining six-month follow-up results and the impact of length of illness on treatment outcomes of recovery-oriented cognitive therapy. Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy (CT-R), a hands-on, active approach that focuses […]
Cognitive Therapy Versus Fluoxetine in Generalized Social Phobia…
A study in which sixty patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for generalized social phobia were assigned to cognitive therapy […]
Prevalence of ADHD…
The worldwide prevalence estimates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hyperkinetic disorder (HD) are highly diverse. Considering that the reasons for this discrepancy remain poorly understood, this study aimed to determine […]
What is Mindfulness…
Brief introduction to Mindfulness. Link to paper: Mindfulness
AVATAR therapy for auditory verbal hallucinations in people with psychosis…
AVATAR therapy represents a new approach in which people who hear voices have a dialogue with a digital representation of their presumed persecutor, voiced by the therapist. The avatar responds by becoming less hostile […]
Fundamental differences in perception found in those with anxiety…
Anxiety disorders are common mental disorders known to affect 18.1 percent of the adult population (according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America). Though everyone experiences some level of anxiety in […]
Mental health disorders linked to subsequent onset of chronic back or neck pain…
Mental health disorders are positively associated with subsequent self-reported chronic back and/or neck pain, according to a study published in The Journal of Pain. Furthermore, earlier-onset mental disorders carry a […]
Potentially new antidepressant treatment…
Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a potential new antidepressant and antianxiety treatment with a unique mechanism of action. The newly developed compound, known as BU10119, works in a different […]
Thriving at Work….
The Thriving at Work report (26 October 2017) sets out what employers can do to better support all employees, including those with mental health problems to remain in and thrive through work. […]
Ibn Imran’s 10th century Treatise on Melancholy…
One of the earliest texts on melancholia and mania, by Ibn Imran, an Arab physician of the 10th century. Link to text: Treatise on Melancholy
Schizophrenia…
The presented paper focuses on the key developments in biology, epidemiology, and pharmacology of schizophrenia and provides a syndromal framework in which these aspects can be understood together. Link to research: […]
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy versus Psychodynamic Therapy for major depression….
Research posted on the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has highlighted evidence to support the efficaciousness of psychodynamic psychotherapy as an evidence-based intervention. The randomized clinical trial compared the efficacy of cognitive–behavioral […]
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Medication found to have the same efficacy for treating Depression…
The results from a systematic review of the literature to compare and provide clinical recommendations on the comparative effectiveness of treatment with second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) versus nonpharmacologic treatment for major depressive […]
Deconstructing the placebo effect and finding the meaning response…
Surprisingly many people know very little about what is known as the ‘placebo effect’. The presented research paper argues that the concept includes much that has nothing to do with placebos, confusing the […]
The Placebo Effect…
A review of the literature on the two main models of the placebo effect: expectancy theory and classical conditioning. Interestingly, the reviewed literature suggests that classical conditioning procedures are one shaping factor but that […]
Efficacy and safety of SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and Placebo’s for common psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents…
A meta-analysis – a review of previous research – by psychologists from the University of Basel in collaboration with the Harvard Medical School and the American National Institute of Mental Health has compiled […]
Indoor rock climbing (bouldering) as a new treatment for depression…
Depression is one of the most common mental health barriers in the world. An abundance volume of literature regards physical activity as an important part of the therapeutic intervention. Rock climbing or bouldering (rock climbing to moderate height without […]
The PHQ-9…
Whilst considerable attention has focused on improving the detection of depression, assessment of its severity is also important in guiding treatment decisions. The PHQ-9 screens specifically for signs or symptoms […]
Grief and Bereavement…
In relation to grief and bereavement, this article covers (i) the symptoms and course of uncomplicated (normal) grief; (ii)differential diagnosis, clinical characteristics and treatment of complicated grief; (iii) differential diagnosis, clinical […]
A potentially new diagnostic model for psychiatric disorders…
A combination of 50 psychologists and psychiatrists have outlined a new diagnostic model for mental illness, in what is hoped to be a paradigm shift in how these illnesses are […]
Intriguing link between Sleep, Cognition and Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a disorder of the mind that affects how you think, feel and behave, includes a wide range of symptoms including visual and auditory hallucinations, cognitive problems, and motivational issues. An […]
Randomized controlled trial of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression…
The presented randomized controlled trial tested the effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy (LTPP) as an adjunct to treatment-as-usual according to UK national guidelines (TAU), compared to TAU alone, in patients with […]
Efficacy and Safety of SSRI’s, SNRI’s, and Placebo for Common Psychiatric Disorders Among Children and Adolescents
Although research has proven the clinical efficacy of antidepressants in children and adolescents, it has also frequently reported the side effects. What is more, the influence of the placebo effect on the efficacy of antidepressants is unclear. […]
Did You Know… #32
A review (2015) exploring the association between ethnicity, mental health problems and socioeconomic status found people from black ethnic minority backgrounds to have a higher prevalence of psychosis compared with […]
Understanding Psychosis…
Psychosis is a condition characterized by loss of contact with reality (that is not part of the person’s cultural or religious beliefs) and may involve severe disturbances in perception, cognition, […]
Understanding Addictions…
It may be difficult to understand why and how people become addicted to drugs and other substances as there are many misconceptions about how addictions work. For instance, one could mistakenly […]
Eating Disorders….
Individuals with eating disorders take such concerns to extremes, developing abnormal eating habits that threaten their well-being and even their lives. This publication by the National Instiutute of Mentalh Health […]
Schizophrenia and Medication…
Schizophrenia is considered to be a lifelong condition, requiring long-term treatment and rehabilitation and long-term use of antipsychotic medication. A new long-term study has revealed the effects of lifetime exposure to several medications […]
The effects of improving sleep on mental health…
A type of cognitive behavioural therapy available online (known as Sleepio) intended to restore healthy sleep patterns in people with insomnia, has been tested to see if it could also relieve a range of […]
Medication vs. Transcranial Stimulation (tDCS) for Depression
A new study from Brazil has compared the benefit of medicinal therapy against low-intensity electrical brain stimulation for relief of depression. Researchers attempted to determine if transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a […]
Study suggests Mindfulness Therapy could treat ADHD…
A pilot study suggests that mindfulness cognitive behavioural therapy could improve symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. The eight week mindfulness cognitive behavioural therapy program combined cognitive behavioural therapy with […]
Computer game play and intrusive memories of experimental trauma…
A fascinating study that looks at the benefits of playing a video game (Tetris) after a traumatic experience. The research stems from the idea that playing Tetris could block the consolidation […]
Dispelling the Myths and Misconceptions of ADHD
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is described as the most common neurobehavioral condition of childhood. ADHD may not be a disease per se but rather a group of symptoms representing a […]
