Veterans’ Mental “Wounds” Treated Differently in Courts
-An Australian legal researcher discusses the different ways in which courts have handled cases involving war veterans.
No Philosophy of Neuroscience?
-Neuroskeptic wonders why neuroscience has apparently never had any "big ideas" or schools of thought.
Relaxation Techniques for Depression and Anxiety in the Elderly
-Time magazine looks at the effects of a number of relaxation techniques on depression and anxiety in elderly people.
The Test Result that Gets You Locked Up Indefinitely
-People who've been arrested for sexual offences can end up indefinitely incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital, depending on their answers to a ten-question form.
The Ethical Challenges of Early Intervention in Psychosis
-Columbia University psychiatrist Paul Applebaum reviews the challenges of intervening early in psychosis before symptoms emerge, and of doing so in an ethically responsible manner.
Artistic Depictions of Madness Through History
-A historical article by MIA Blogger Andrew Scull in The Paris Review includes early artistic depictions of madness.
Neurobabble Proves to be Highly Persuasive
-Adding irrelevant information about neuroscience made psychological theories seem much more convincing to psychology students.
Can Bloggers Save Science?
-Mind the Brain's James Coyne talks about why so many news stories about health and psychology studies are so bad.
How Can We Build a Better Evidence Base for Treating Psychosis with Therapy?
-A commentary suggests that the evidence to support the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis is tenuous, in part because CBT itself is so variable.
Study Shows Depression to Blame for Violent Crime — Not Exactly…
-Psychologist Laurence Palfreyman critically reviews a recent study that made global headlines, purporting to have found that depression made people three times as likely to commit violent crimes.
The Mad Music of Seeing Sounds and Hearing Light
-Paintings by an artist who has synesthesia, and a study that found no brain-based evidence to support it being a "disorder."
More Discussion of Antidepressant Withdrawal Effects
-Forensic psychiatrist Andrew Shepherd reviews a recent study on withdrawal effects from coming off antidepressant drugs.
Do Magical Cats Really Save Lives?
-Alan Cassels reviews news stories that fawn over the "magical" positive (and negative) psychological and physical health benefits of having cats as pets.
“Learning to Be with Ourselves”
-Elisabeth Svanholmer explores the meaning and nature of "hearing, seeing and sensing things that others don’t."
Like A Useless Drug Calling Psychotherapy Ineffective
-Does prominent Canadian child psychiatrist Stanley Kutcher have different standards for evidence depending on whether he's evaluating psychotherapy or psychotropics?
“What Can Patients Do In The Face Of Physician Conflict Of Interest?”
-Surgeon James Rickert discusses financial conflicts of interest which affect physician decisions, and how patients can protect themselves.
Brain Drugs and Corporate Climbers
-There's rising use of "cognitive enhancement" and energy-increasing psychiatric drugs among stressed workers and ambitious executives.
Alaskan Indigenous Peoples Experiencing High Rates of Trauma
-Two reports found Alaskans of aboriginal descent experiencing very high rates of many different types of trauma.
Re-telling Our Stories: Liberation or Re-oppression?
-When we "re-narrate" our own stories and identities, it may be an opportunity for either liberation or re-oppression.
“Pharmed Out” Conference 2015
-Georgetown University in Washington, DC, will host the next "Pharmed Out" conference on June 11-12, 2015.
How Can Anyone Possibly Not Be Taking Abilify Anymore?
-Johanna Ryan writes about her efforts to avoid following psychiatrists' pressures to take antipsychotics for her depression.
“Adventures in Transcranial Direct-current Stimulation”
-Elif Batuman reviews the science and recounts his experiences with transcranial direct-current stimulation in The New Yorker.
How Blaming the Brain Can Help Create Self-empathy, New Approaches
-Amy Johnson writes about how neuroscientific perspectives on her psychological struggles have helped her feel more agency in her growth as a person.
BBC “All in the Mind” Podcast Resumes
-BBC psychologist Claudia Hammond discusses topics such as what psychology can tell us about how we decide to vote and portrayals of mental health in comedy.
Consumption of Psychiatric Drugs in UK Continues to Climb
-The Council for Evidence-based Psychiatry reports that antidepressant use in the UK has increased 7.5% since 2013, and over 500% since 1992.
