Mock ‘Ninja knife throwing’, ‘Gibberish’, or the fast and furious ‘Zap’ – they’re all favourite theatre games designed to break ice and boost confidence. But add speech therapy to theatre sports and you get a brand-new experience that’s hoping to deliver positive changes for people with a stutter.
Tag: Anxiety
SLU Professor Studies Link Between Adversity, Psychiatric and Cognitive Decline
Saint Louis University associate professor of health management and policy in the College for Public Health and Social Justice, SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., recently published a paper in Journal of Clinical Psychology that examines the relationship between childhood adversity, and psychiatric decline as well as adult adversity and psychiatric and cognitive decline.
Poor sleep health associated with muscle dysmorphia in Canadian young adults
Getting enough sleep is crucial for our body to maintain vital health functions and is especially important for the growth and development of adolescents and young adults. But a new study from the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work found an association between poor sleep and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia, the pathological pursuit of muscularity that is increasing in prevalence among young people.
Teens benefit from “forest bathing” – even in cities
Youth mental health in urban environments is significantly better when more nature is incorporated into city design.
CBD shown to ease anxiety without the risks that can come with THC
Cannabis products high in the nonintoxicating compound CBD can quell anxiety better than THC-dominant products— and without the potential side effects, new University of Colorado Boulder research suggests.
Obesity drugs and mental health: UTSW expert says GLP-1s may exacerbate problems for some patients
New weight-loss drugs have helped people with their diabetes, obesity, even high blood pressure. But how they affect our mental health is a much more complicated issue, says Dr. Carrie McAdams, a psychiatrist and eating disorders expert at UT Southwestern…
Podcast: Experts in Health: Colin Jackson CBE talks about anxiety attacks, coming out, and dealing with retirement
Decorated athlete and sports broadcaster Colin Jackson CBE discusses his mental health struggles, his experience after coming out as gay, and the difficulties he faced when retiring from international athletics.
Uni sector scores poor report card when it comes to workplace health
A large survey of Australian university employees over the past four years paints a bleak picture, with almost 73% of professionals and academics reporting poor work environments in 2023.
Study finds childhood bullying linked to distrust and mental health problems in adolescence
A new study, co-led by UCLA Health and the University of Glasgow, found that young teenagers who develop a strong distrust of other people as a result of childhood bullying are substantially more likely to have significant mental health problems as they enter adulthood compared to those who do not develop interpersonal trust issues.
University of Limerick, Ireland research confirms benefits of resistance exercise training in treatment of anxiety and depression
A new study by researchers at University of Limerick in Ireland and at Iowa State University has demonstrated the impact resistance exercise training can have in the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Study Pinpoints Which Zoom Features Improve Focus—And Which Ones May Not
Research from a New York Institute of Technology psychology expert offers insight that could help remote students and workers combat “Zoom fatigue.”
New Insights on Long COVID
David Winter, MD, at Baylor Scott & White Health, answers the most common patient questions and reacts to the latest medical research. What is long COVID, and how common is it? (SOT@ :14, TRT :32) Why do some people get…
Teenagers are most likely to seek help for anxiety or depression at the start of the school year, says new study
Teenagers in England are more likely to visit their GPs for depression and anxiety in the autumn, according to a new study. The research suggests that support for adolescents around mental health issues should be focused during this time of year.
Landmark menopause toolkit updated to improve assessment and treatment
Care for women with menopausal health issues should improve globally following the release of an updated Monash University-led toolkit that guides health professionals around the world in assessing and treating them.
Ichthyosis associated with greater risk of anxiety, depression
People living with Ichthyosis – a rare disorder with symptoms including dry, scaly patches of skin – may be at higher risk for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, a new study finds. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine…
An unexpected link between 2 schizophrenia risk proteins
The discovery of a physical interaction between two proteins in brain cells that can be traced in mice to control of movement, anxiety and memory could one day open the door to development of new schizophrenia treatment strategies, researchers say.
Study finds mindfulness training may not be enough to increase eco-friendliness
Could general well-being practices like meditation encourage eco-friendly behaviors and attitudes? As the climate crisis accelerates ecological disasters around the world, scientists’ investigations into this longstanding question have taken on greater urgency. A new study from the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison explores the connection between meditation and environmental consciousness and suggests the relationship might not be that simple.
Psychedelics improve mental health, cognition in special ops veterans
One treatment each of two psychedelic drugs lowered depression and anxiety and improved cognitive functioning in a sample of U.S. special operations forces veterans who sought care at a clinic in Mexico, according to a new analysis of the participants’ charts.
Increased risk of depression and anxiety when in higher education
Young people who are in higher education in England face a small increased risk of depression and anxiety, compared to their peers who are not attending higher education, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
University Hospitals Researcher Receives NIH Award to Study Real-World Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Medical Care
A researcher with University Hospitals Connor Whole Health has received a fellowship award from the NIH to study the impact of music therapy on patients in the hospital.
Study Sheds Light on Increased Reports of Suicidal Behavior in Teens
Reports of increasing suicidal behaviors in children in the decade leading up to the COVID pandemic suggest there was already a mental health crisis.
Dr. Jaime Avila shares back-to-school tips that parents should know.
Jaime Avila, MD, at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center, answers common patient questions and reacts to the latest medical research What can parents do to help ease back-to-school anxiety? (SOT@ :14, TRT :51) Some kids may not…
People with Severe Alcohol Use Disorder Have Impaired Ability to Learn From Others’ Painful Experiences, Raising Their Risk for Ongoing Dangerous Drinking, Study Suggests
People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are less able to learn from others’ negative experiences, potentially rendering them more vulnerable to maintaining their dangerous drinking or relapsing, according to the first study of its type. The study explored social cognition, processes that enable us to understand and interact with others, and specifically social learning, our ability to learn by observing others’ experiences.
Symptoms of the body and the mind are frequent fellow travelers
Chronic pain is often accompanied by depression and anxiety. An invited commentary discusses the relationship between pain, the most common symptom for which individuals visit a physician, and depression and anxiety, the two most prevalent mental health conditions worldwide. It highlights the importance of not neglecting psychological symptoms in patients experiencing pain.
Robust analysis challenges theory that depression and anxiety increase cancer risk
Depression and anxiety are thought to increase a person’s risk of developing cancer, but research results have been inconclusive.
Expert offers tips for easing back-to-school transition for children
There’s more to back-to-school season than snagging the latest notebooks, bookbags, and trendy jackets and jeans. A new routine, new teachers, and new schools signal a big adjustment period for some students. “Anxiety can be associated with the unknown, such as what will the teacher this year be like, what friends will be in my class, where will my classroom be, and likely other worries can pop into children’s minds,” said Cindy Smith, director of the Children’s Emotions Lab at Virginia Tech and an expert in child emotional development, parent-child interaction, and parenting behaviors.
Atopic dermatitis associated with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder that has well-established associations with depression and anxiety. A new Yale School of Medicine study finds AD is also associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and shizoaffective disorder. Schizophrenia is a…
Caregiving in functional seizures: “Isolated, alone, helpless”
People with functional seizures face stigma, stress, and emotional and financial burdens — and so do their caregivers. While taking care of loved ones, some caregivers may develop high levels of depression and anxiety.
Do Children Inherit Parents’ Stressful Experiences?
Scientists are discovering that a parent’s experiences can lead to changes in gene expression that are encoded in the sperm or egg and passed to offspring. In other words, there is a way in which offspring inherit the experiences of their parents. This is different than inheriting genes for brown or blue eyes. It’s more like inheriting genes that are switched on or off for the purpose of being better adapted to a particular environment.
Emerging adults who experience pain and related anxiety may engage in high-risk drinking
Emerging adults – those aged 18 to 24 years –who experience pain are more likely to engage in high-risk patterns of alcohol use such as binge drinking. Anxiety caused by pain may be what motivates unhealthy coping strategies such as excessive drinking as a form of escape/avoidance. These results and others will be shared at the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Bellevue, Washington.
Cutting back on social media reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness
Iowa State University researchers found college students who tried to cut their social media use to 30 minutes per day scored significantly lower for anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out at the end of the two-week experiment and when compared to the control group.
The psychological challenges of rural living
People who endure the daily hassles of big cities often romanticize life in the country. But rural living is not necessarily the carefree, idyllic experience that many people imagine, said Emily Willroth, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Willroth co-authored a study in the Journal of Personality suggesting that people in rural areas face unique challenges that may shape their personalities and psychological well-being.
Could low iron be making your mental health symptoms worse?
A review of the evidence regarding iron deficiency, iron supplementation, and mental health symptoms.
Overcoming nuke stigma through critical thinking
The food contamination that followed the Fukushima nuclear plant incident in 2011 caused widespread fear, both within Japan and internationally.
AI voice coach shows promise in depression, anxiety treatment
A study led by the University of Illinois Chicago researchers found changes in patients’ brain activity along with improved depression and anxiety symptoms after using Lumen.
Spotlight: Maternal Mental Health Month
Most new mothers experience one or more changes in their mood before childbirth and for two weeks after the baby arrives.
Majority of Nurses Attribute Well-Being Struggles to Staffing Shortages
With projected national shortages of 63,720 registered nurses in 2030 and 141,580 licensed practical nurses in 2035, a new survey finds one-third of nurses plan to leave the profession in the next two years.
“Resilience in dark times”: At-home yoga reduces anxiety, improves short-term memory
Sean Mullen wants more adults to go with the flow. The yoga flow, that is.
UCLA researchers find possible link between self-perceived cognition deficits and symptomatic long COVID
People who perceived that they had cognitive difficulties such as memory problems during COVID were more likely to have lingering physical manifestations of the disease than people who did not report cognitive issues.
At-home yoga reduces anxiety, improves short-term memory
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology designed a virtual eight-week moderate-intensity yoga program geared specifically toward full-time working adults experiencing symptoms of stress. The trial, which appeared in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, led participants through three self-paced remote workouts each week, assessed levels of stress and anxiety in addition to executive functioning. The results showed overall decreases in stress and anxiety.
Gene in the brain can put brakes on anxiety, discover scientists
A gene in the brain driving anxiety symptoms has been identified by an international team of scientists. Critically, modification of the gene is shown to reduce anxiety levels, offering an exciting novel drug target for anxiety disorders. The discovery, led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Exeter, is published online today [25 April] in Nature Communications.
Rutgers Researcher Develops Mental Health App to Manage Distress
New mental health app developed by Rutgers Institute for Health faculty member Dr. Edward Selby launches today.
The Medical Minute: Anxiety attack or panic attack? Actually, it can be both
Shortness of breath. Chest pains. Heart palpitations. Panic attacks can have all the hallmarks of a heart attack. A Penn State Health psychiatrist talks about the real culprit for these mental storms – anxiety.
Researchers identify markers of PTSD in the blood
A new study found that people who are currently suffering or face a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder show particular patterns in four biomarkers measurable with a simple blood test.
People Exposed to Alcohol Prenatally Experience Significant Challenges, Types of Adversity Differ by Sex
In a recent analysis, researchers found sex differences in the health and neurodevelopmental outcomes of people exposed to alcohol before birth.
Moving on from COVID means facing its impact on mental health, say experts
A new review on the global mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic confirms feared increases in depression and anxiety, with leading experts saying little has been done to address what is set to become a mounting mental health crisis.
‘All Work, No Independent Play’ Cause of Children’s Declining Mental Health
A new study suggests the rise in mental health disorders in children and teens is attributed to a decline over decades in opportunities for them to play, roam and engage in activities independent of direct oversight and control by adults. Although well intended, adults’ drive to guide and protect children has deprived them of the independence they need for mental health, contributing to record levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide among young people.
Lending a paw for defence veterans: ‘clear evidence’ that assistance dogs help improve mental health
A new Australian study focused on defence veterans’ mental health has found strong evidence that assistance dogs used in conjunction with traditional therapies provide the most effective treatment outcomes.
Watch weekend tech as teens settle into school
We all know that teenagers love their sleep. But if your teen is a regular night owl, then they could be overdosing on technology at the expense of their sleep, according to new research from the University of South Australia.
Palliative Care Doesn’t Improve Psychological Distress
Palliative care — a specialized medical care focused on quality of life for people with a serious illness such as cancer or heart failure — isn’t likely to reduce psychological distress, according to a Rutgers study.