mental illness

Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear, 1889

New Research Links Vincent van Gogh's Delirium to Alcohol Withdrawal

The paper is "unlikely to be the last word on [the] challenging question" of the artist's mental health, says expert Martin Bailey

A woman with anorexia gets ready to weigh herself.

How Patients With Eating Disorders Have Been Affected by the Pandemic

A recent study suggests that worries related to Covid-19 may exacerbate conditions including anorexia and binge eating

Teaching computers to assess the emotional tone of a piece of writing—a task called sentiment analysis—is becoming more widely used as researchers, companies and even mental health professionals delve into people’s social media musings for insights.

How Algorithms Discern Our Mood From What We Write Online

While sentiment analysis is far from perfect, it distills meaning from huge amounts of data—and could one day even monitor mental health

This week's selections include Hidden Valley Road, The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria and Coffeeland.

Coffee's Dark History, the Sinking of the World's Most Glamorous Ship and Other New Books to Read

The third installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis

Soldiers take a psychological test (the exact type of examination is unclear) in Camp Lee in Virginia in November 1917, the year the United States entered World War I and Woodworth first developed his test.

The First Personality Test Was Developed During World War I

Long before online quizzes and Myers-Briggs, Robert Woodworth’s “Psychoneurotic Inventory” tried to assess recruits' susceptibility to shell shock

Brain donation is of critical importance for scientists' understanding of brain disorders.

Inside a Brain Bank, Where Humans' Most Precious Organ Is Dissected and Studied

Unlike organ transplants, brains are used primarily to support research of some of the most widespread and debilitating diseases in the world

This brain is just one of many making up the Indiana Medical History Museum's extensive collection.

How One Museum Is Giving a Voice to Former Mental Health Patients

The Indiana Medical History Museum is telling the human stories behind its collection of brains, tumors and other biological remains

Does Exposure to Green Spaces in Childhood Lead to Better Mental Health?

A new study finds that growing up with limited access to greenery is associated with a 15 to 55 percent higher risk of developing mental health conditions

Scientists studying bacteria in the gut continue to find evidence of the role these organisms play in human health.

Scientists Find a Possible Link Between Gut Bacteria and Depression

A new study identifies bacteria in the microbiome that could produce neurotransmitters and potentially influence activity in the brain

The new research is geared to helping clinicians, not replacing them.

Can Artificial Intelligence Detect Depression in a Person's Voice?

MIT scientists have trained an AI model to spot the condition through how people speak rather than what they tell a doctor

Lavender’s Lovely Smell Soothes Anxious Behavior in Mice

In mice, at least, lavender may also be as effective at combating anxiety as commonly-prescribed medications

Historian Identifies Subject of Van Gogh's "Gardener"

The portrait is likely of a day laborer that worked on the grounds of the asylum where the troubled artist stayed near the end of his life

When stimulated, OLM cells in the brain encourage risk-taking behavior.

The Brain's "Bravery Cells" Encourage Risky Behavior

Cells in the hippocampus help determine whether to be apprehensive in stressful situations, and they could be stimulated to treat anxiety

When persons with dementia engage with others who share their passion for the game, colorful memories can emerge.

A New Therapy Has People With Dementia Sharing Baseball Memories

Where were you when Willie Mays made 'The Catch?' Chatting with other fans, watching footage of old games and even playing wiffle ball can be therapeutic

About 13 percent of Americans over the age of 12 use antidepressants, but how well—or whether—they work is still a question for many patients.

Major Study Finds Antidepressants Work, But May Have Limitations

A meta-analysis of existing trials suggests that the drugs are mostly effective on a short-term basis for patients suffering from acute depression

A Counterintuitive Idea for Treating Severe Depression: Stay Awake

Doctors are finding that sleep deprivation actually helps lift some people out of depression. Now they want to know why

At just 18 months old, young children can show biological evidence of added stress.

How a Mother’s Depression Shows Up in Her Baby’s DNA

Researchers find that at just 18 months, infants can have cellular damage related to stress

A participant in the trial created this avatar.

Can "Avatar Therapy" Help People Confront Hallucinations?

In a recent study, schizophrenics engaged the distressing voices they hear through digital audio-visual representations

Close-up of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" (1893)

The Founder of Primal Scream Therapy Has Died. What Exactly Is Primal Scream Therapy?

Arthur Janov believed encountering trauma from childhood could help free people from adult neuroses

Is Animal Hoarding a Distinct Mental Disorder?

There are many differences between people that hoard objects and those that collect critters

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