“Closed Thinking: Without Scientific Competition and Open Debate, Much Psychology Research Goes Nowhere”
Science News offers an excellent review of the the perils and pitfalls of the scientific method as it is practiced in psychology today, concluding...
Researchers Describe “Mind-blowing” Findings With Psychedelics
-Michael Pollan visits the resurgence of interest in the psychotherapeutic properties of psychedelic drugs in an essay in The New Yorker.
“Lost in the Forest”: A Review of DSM-5
A review in The London Review of Books of the DSM-5 concludes "The DSM is not a representation of the nature or reality of the...
âBig Pharma Shells Out Big Campaign Dollars to Presidential Candidatesâ
âDemocratic hopeful Clinton collected the most pharma money of any candidate with $336,416 in donations, a little more than a third of the total...
Corporations Want to Cure Depression in the Workplace
The Ottawa Citizen has published two feature stories exploring a growing collaboration between scientists involved in the US National Institute of Mental Health-funded brain...
Brain Prepares Multiple Actions Before Decision
According to new research summarized by ScienceDaily, there is evidence that the brain prepares for multiple possible actions before a decision is made.
âCortisol Levels in Children’s Hair May Reveal Future Mental Health Riskâ
The Guardian covers research out of Australia that found that levels of the âstress hormoneâ cortisol in the hair of 70 nine-year-old children corresponded to the number of traumatic events experienced by the child. âChildhood is an imperative and sensitive period of development, and when things go wrong it can have lifelong consequences, not just on mental health, but also on general health.â
Electronic Brain Stimulation Devices Catching On — But How Safe are They?
ScienceNews looks at the growing use of at-home, do-it-yourself electric brain stimulation devices to improve math or problem-solving skills or help lift depression.
ScienceNews...
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.
“No, Psychiatry Could Not Have Prevented the Germanwings Disaster”
-Gary Greenberg points out that mental health professionals aren't particularly good prognosticators.
Some Nursing Homes Trying To Move Beyond Antipsychotics
-Some nursing homes are changing their approaches since the US federal government began more closely regulating the use of antipsychotic medications in elderly patients with dementia.
“Critics Claim Antidepressants Are Being Handed Out Like Sweets. Now Our Shocking Experiment Uncovers…...
The Mail sent three women to their doctors, reporting fictional symptoms of short-term, mild depression. Â Two walked out with prescriptions for medication, despite expressions...
“Touching Strangers”
Beyond Meds brings our attention to photo project that brings strangers into intimate contact with each other, and observes the results.
Beyond Meds â
Lansley Joins Roche in Latest Example of âRevolving Doorâ
The BMJ reports that renewed concerns about the ârevolving doorâ between government and industry have been sparked by the health minister of Englandâs decision to join to drug company Roche.
âPsychiatric Drugs and Veteran Suicidesâ
US Congressman David Jolly has introduced a bill calling for studies on the link between veteran suicides and psychiatric drugs. The International Society for...
The Scientific Studies Underlying the CIA’s Torture Methods
-The New Yorker reports that Martin Seligman isn't pleased with how his research got applied.
Prominent Psychiatrists Discuss “the Crisis of Confidence in Medical Research”
-A large excerpt from a post by David Healy is sandwiched between commentary by psychiatrist Allen Frances.
âPediatricians Vary Widely in Diagnosing ADHD, Depressionâ
Researchers found that pediatricians vary greatly in how often they diagnose and prescribe drugs for ADHD and other mental health conditions. âThe proportion of...
“As Diagnostic Thresholds Are Lowered, Being Normal Ends Up Being as Difficult as Being...
"We are in the process of turning the disease into the norm and where the normal becomes the exception. If this continues, we will...
“Culturally Specific Treatment Center Knows That One Approach Doesnât Work for All”
"What was going on inside Turning Point was an experiment: a community-based treatment center designed to serve low-income African-Americans. After a few bumpy early...
Can Psychedelics Help End Addictions with One Dose?
Q13 Fox News discusses recent research giving psychedelics to people struggling with alcohol or cigarettes. David Nutt, an Imperial College London neuro-psychopharmacologist "thinks psilocybin...
“Author Of âLet Them Eat Prozacâ Links Psychiatric Medication to Teenage Violence”
The Inquisitr announces an upcoming interview with Dr. David Healy on their own site and covers conservative blog WMD's interview with him this week.
Article â
Interest in Marijuana for Treating Psychiatric Problems is Risky
-Various sources discuss how marijuana could be more risky to the brain than helpful, and suggest that we should be careful about expanding its use.
Depression Widespread Among CEOs of Startups?
-Business Insider explores some of the psychosocial factors that may be contributing to depression in the high tech industry.
âProtect California Foster Youth from Dangerous Psychiatric Drugsâ
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports on legislation being passed in California to go after physicians who overprescribe psychiatric drugs to foster youth. The proposed legislation also targets government agencies that fail to offer nondrug alternative therapies to help foster youth recover from traumatic childhoods.
