Peer-to-peer App for Stress, Depression, Anxiety Support
-A peer-to-peer application that trains people to consult with each other reportedly produced positive results for reducing stress, depression and anxiety.
Are FDA Scientists Being Muzzled?
-A recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists graded the level of employee freedom of speech at 17 US federal agencies.
“Poverty Shrinks Brains from Birth”
-A recent study of 1,099 children, adolescents and young adults found poverty associated in a dose-response manner with poorer brain development.
Monday Morning Correction: Okay, Some Psychiatrists Do Say Schizophrenia is a Brain Disease
-Ronald Pies and Duncan Double discuss Pies' recent claim in Psychiatric Times that no psychiatrists believe or assert the unproven notion that schizophrenia is a biological brain disease.
“Breaking Down is Waking Up”
-MIA Blogger Monica Cassani discusses a video from psychiatrist Russell Razzaque exploring what he learns about the human psyche from practicing meditation.
HIV Can Infect Brain, Cause Serious Psychological Problems
-The National Institute of Mental Health reports that HIV can infect brains very quickly and lead to a variety of psychiatric symptoms.
Pharma Direct-to-consumer Ad Spending in US Jumps to $4.53 Billion
-The pharmaceutical industry spent $4.53 billion on direct-to-consumer advertising in the US in 2014, up 18% from $3.83 billion in 2013.
Neuroskeptic and Horgan in Conversation
-Discover's Neuroskeptic and Scientific American's John Horgan discuss neuroscience and bad science on Bloggingheads.tv
“Will 20th Century Patient Safeguards Be Reversed in the 21st Century?”
-The US government has been "chipping away" at the FDA's powers in order to speed up drug approvals.
Is it Always Wrong to Try to Convince Children Not to Change Genders?
-A prominent Canadian psychiatrist argues that "gender identity disorder" has no biological basis, and therefore all "conversion therapy" should not be outright banned.
Is “Low Testosterone” Actually a “Disease”?
-Various experts weigh in on whether the boom in diagnosing psychological and physical problems as being caused by "low testosterone" is "disease-mongering."
Why is it So Difficult for Neuroscience to Help Psychiatry?
-Neuroscientist Jonathan Roiser grapples with why it is that neuroscience has continued to have difficulties helping improve psychiatric treatments.
Maybe Women are More Moody, Maybe Drugs are Not a Good Response
-An interview with psychiatrist Julie Holland about her new book, "Moody Bitches."
Researcher: 60,000 Americans Now Taking Antipsychotics Will Die Prematurely
-A fired government health economist says that his research was showing that 60,000 Americans now taking antipsychotic medications will die prematurely.
Dubious Amyloid Theories of Alzheimer’s and Drug Treatments Keep Getting Hyped
-Pharmaceutical policy researcher Alan Cassels critically reviews a spate of effusive news coverage about a tiny, experimental study of a drug treatment for Alzheimer's.
“Do the Lives of the Mentally Ill Matter to the Supreme Court?”
-Slate reports on proceedings as the US Supreme Court considers whether police should have to "accommodate" people who seem to have a mental disability.
“We Need to Unlock the Brain’s Secrets—Ethically”
-The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has released a report on key ethical challenges facing the BRAIN Initiative.
“AstraZeneca to Disclose Trial Data, but how Independent is its Review Panel?”
-Experts comment on AstraZeneca's latest way of attempting to comply with pressures to provide open data.
“No, Psychiatry Could Not Have Prevented the Germanwings Disaster”
-Gary Greenberg points out that mental health professionals aren't particularly good prognosticators.
Sunday Satire or Not? Nostalgia Disorder & the Future of Psychiatric Innovation
-A satirical post about "nostalgia disorder" by a medical student looks a lot like the real thing.
Public Overwhelmingly Against FDA Proposal to Allow Drug Company Salespeople “Free Rein”
-Public Citizen analyzed public comments on proposed government rule changes for drug company sales representatives.
“How a West African Shaman Helped My Schizophrenic Son”
-MIA Blogger Dick Russell recounts the story of his son and Malidoma Somé.
A Mental Disorder or an Infection? A Son’s Story
-Retired social worker David Moyer writes about his son's long battle with what is either "a mental disorder" or effects from serious physical problems.
Madness Challenges Our Sense Of What It Is To Be Human
In The Lancet, psychiatrist and MIA Blogger Andrew Scull discusses the themes in his book Madness In Civilization. "Mental illness haunts the human imagination,"...
Check the FAQs On Online Counseling
-Some online counseling services have half-hidden disclaimers that they aren't actually providing "counseling."
