“In the Gun Debate, Mental Illness Doesn’t Predict Dangerousness”
Massachusetts State Representative Paul Heroux' Huffington Post blog concludes that "We need to realize that high-profile events are high-profile because they are unlikely. And trying to...
Former FDA Counsel: J&J Settlement ‘Is Huge’
In an interview with Pharmalot, former FDA associate chief counsel Arnie Friede discusses the impact of last month's $181 million Risperdal settlement on pharmaceuticals'...
“Dr. Lieberman’s Latest”
Behaviorism and Mental Health takes note of a new blog by Jeffrey Lieberman, the president of the APA, in which he claims both that...
“How Meditation Changes the Brain and Body”
In the New York Times Well Blog, Gretchen Reynolds covers a study published in Biological Psychiatry showing that mindfulness meditation, unlike a placebo, “can change...
The Cinema Shooting and the Psychiatric Defense
Behaviorism and Mental Health analyzes he circular reasoning that results in psychiatric diagnoses and the psychiatric defense.
Behaviorism and Mental Health →
“Promoting Amphetamines for Over-Eating – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”
-Roy Poses critically analyzes the research and concludes that "uncritical media reports that parroted drug company executives" have led to "overenthusiastic promotion of the latest wonder drug."
“Logging In to the Brain’s Social Network”
NPR's Science Friday interviews the author of Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect on the connection between physical and social pain, and the biology of...
“The Post-Irene Mental Health System of Care”
-Hurricane Irene seems to have left some community-based approaches to psychiatric care in its wake.
“Controversial Paxil Paper Still Under Fire 13 Years Later”
From Wednesday's Brown Daily Herald: "Two weeks ago, Edmund Levin and George Stewart, members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, sent...
Video Interview with Justina Pelletier
Fox CT has posted a video of their full 17-minute interview of teen Justina Pelletier by journalist Beau Berman, shortly after Justina's release from...
“Do we Need to Change the way we Are Thinking About Mental Illness?”
Britain's Guardian offers "experts on both sides of the debate over the classification of mental disorders" an opportunity to make their case.
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“Income Inequality Is a Health Hazard – Even for the Rich”
“Wealth in the United States can buy many things: education, homes, vacations. It can even buy the best doctors and diet, but it can't buy health.” Why not? Asks Yessenia Funes. Researchers find that inequality in society leads to shorter lives for everyone.
“How the Science of Human Behavior is Beginning to Reshape the US Government”
President Obama has made it a point of his administration to attempt to integrate the science of human behavior into smarter government policies. For example, understanding how we might act irrationally can inform policies about decisions made on the free market.
“Randomized Controlled Trials in Environmental Health Research: Unethical or Underutilized?”
-Simon Fraser University health scientists argue that we need to start doing more randomized controlled trials to better understand the negative impacts of environmental pollutants on human bodies and brains.
“The Computer Will See You Now”
The Economist reports on "Ellie," a programmed, virtual psychologist designed by researchers at the Institute for Creative Technologies in Los Angeles, who has a...
“500 Drugs Updated With Directions for Child Use Since 2002”
From Salon magazine: "Despite the 500 changes made in pediatric drug-labeling updates since 2002, doctors still must rely only on clinical experience and existing scientific literature...
Insel’s Best of 2014
National Institute of Mental Health Director Thomas Insel reviews his list of the best discoveries and developments in mental health in 2014.
Director’s Blog: Best...
Letters to the Editor: “The Treatment of Choice”
Readers respond to the New York Times article, “The Treatment of Choice,” about innovative programs for psychosis and schizophrenia that involve patients and their families in treatment decisions. “Narratives of success counter a drumbeat of faulty links of mental illness and violence, inaccuracies which serve only to further stigmatize and isolate individuals with psychiatric illness.”
“Feds Probe Drugmaker-Charity Connections”
Last week, reports circulated about a system through which drug companies used charitable giving for profit. Now, three drug manufacturers, Gilead Sciences Inc., Biogen...
“Drug Firms Have Used Dangerous Tactics to Drive Sales to Treat Kids”
Dr. Mercola writes that "the high rates of psychotropic drug use among foster children and poor children is likely a direct result of drug...
“Bernie Sanders Blasts FDA Commish Nominee Califf”
Democratic Presidential nominee, Bernie Sanders, questioned the nominee for FDA commissioner, Robert Califf, during yesterday’s Senate hearing. Sanders remarked that we need a commissioner who will stand up to the pharmaceutical companies and protect American consumers. Of Califf, he added, “with regret, I think that you are not that person.”
“Could Better Tests Have Predicted the Rare Circumstances of the Germanwings Crash? Probably Not”
-Medical professor Norman Paradis gives a primer on the poor reliability of even the best screening tests -- let alone psychological ones.
The Many Unknowns of Schizophrenia
Psychiatrist Chris Gordon writes in the New York Times "What we call schizophrenia is probably a syndrome with many causes, and with a wide...
Future of Mental Health: Free Virtual Conference
-Dr. Eric Maisel hosts Joanna Moncrieff, Gary Greenberg, Lucy Johnstone and other critical thinkers during a week-long, free online conference starting February 23rd.
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.
