Behavioral Medicine News and Research

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Behavioral medicine (BM) is a newly developing field of study which integrates behavioral, psychosocial, and biomedical concepts and practices to prevent, diagnose, and treat patients with psychosomatic disorders. The practice of BM targets the relation between how both thought and behavior can affect mental and physical health.

Rubber hand illusion can decrease pain intensity

Researchers conducted an experiment in which test subjects felt like a rubber hand was part of their own body. As a result, their own hand became less sensitive to pain.

18 Mar 2025

Walking more steps and exercise linked to lower risk of death in postmenopausal cancer survivors

Among postmenopausal women with a history of cancer, taking more daily steps and engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were both associated with a significantly reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025.

10 Mar 2025

High-fat diet could cause memory problems in older adults after just a few days

Just a few days of eating a diet high in saturated fat could be enough to cause memory problems and related brain inflammation in older adults, a new study in rats suggests.

6 Mar 2025

Researchers develop new tool to assess psychological impact of esophageal diseases

Psychological factors have a greater impact on the severity of symptoms in esophageal diseases than objective evaluations, such as acid reflux and esophageal motility function. Although there are questionnaires that assess general psychological states in Japan, there were none that were specific to esophageal symptoms.

25 Feb 2025

Everyday physical activity provides immediate benefits for brain health

Exercise has been shown to improve brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia over the long-term.

12 Nov 2024

Cleveland Clinic integrates AI-powered platform to enhance digestive disease care

To expand access to care for patients, Cleveland Clinic has added Ayble Health, an AI-enabled digital care platform, to its multidisciplinary care model for the treatment of chronic digestive diseases.

20 Oct 2024

Online insomnia treatment brings relief to overburdened caregivers

Providing care for a family member with a disabling illness can be a demanding job that leaves many people unable to sleep, but an online insomnia treatment developed at the University of Virginia School of Medicine can help, new research shows.

2 Oct 2024

Study shows frequent mitochondrial DNA insertion in the brain cells

As direct descendants of ancient bacteria, mitochondria have always been a little alien.

22 Aug 2024

Chemotherapy's cognitive side effects tied to gut microbiome disruption

Chemotherapy is known to cause behavioral side effects, including cognitive decline. Notably, the gut microbiome communicates with the brain to affect behavior, including cognition.

26 Jun 2024

Donepezil fails to enhance cognitive abilities in breast cancer survivors: Phase III trial results

Many breast cancer survivors report cancer-related cognitive impairment following chemotherapy, although prevalence rates and severity vary.

20 May 2024

Eating fatty food before surgery may affect memory-related cognitive function in older adults

Eating fatty food in the days leading up to surgery may prompt a heightened inflammatory response in the brain that interferes for weeks with memory-related cognitive function in older adults – and, new research in animals suggests, even in young adults.

15 Mar 2024

New method provides valuable insights into the brain's noradrenaline system

An international team of researchers has provided valuable insights into the brain's noradrenaline (NA) system, which has been a longtime target for medications to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety.

24 Oct 2023

Study highlights need for early intervention for behavioral problems

A six-year study that analyzed data from a 25-question screening tool found alarming evidence of unhealthy behavioral trajectories starting as early as age 2 among families affected by low income and other social stressors.

16 Oct 2023

Grit and self-control linked to better weight loss outcomes in couples

New research has underscored how characteristics of "grit" and self-control are associated with better weight loss and weight maintenance outcomes in a study focusing on couples.

13 Oct 2023

Peer-led navigation program improves mental health outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized veterans

Research scientists led by Johanne Eliacin, PhD, of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and Regenstrief Institute, have developed PARTNER-MH, an innovative, peer-led patient navigation program to support racially and ethnically minoritized veterans seeking mental healthcare, regardless of the types of mental health services needed or their mental health diagnoses.

14 Sep 2023

Pregnant smokers who use e-cigarettes more likely to quit smoking later in pregnancy

The risks of smoking during pregnancy for both maternal and fetal health are well documented, but only about half of pregnant people quit smoking on their own.

13 Sep 2023

SIO and ASCO recommend mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, depression in cancer patients

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) formally recommend mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and other integrative therapies to manage anxiety and depression symptoms in adults living with cancer.

16 Aug 2023

Older breast cancer survivors show greater epigenetic aging than same-aged people without cancer

In a new multi-center study, researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) joined with leading cancer centers from across the nation to examine whether cancer and its treatments accelerate aging.

14 Jun 2023

Sebum RNA could provide reliable biomarkers for detecting early-onset atopic dermatitis

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that often affects infants as young as one to two months. Among the various types of eczema seen in infants, early-onset atopic dermatitis (AD), characterized by psychological stress and sleep disorders, is particularly concerning.

8 Jun 2023

Seniors with anxiety frequently don’t get help. Here’s why.

Anxiety is the most common psychological disorder affecting adults in the U.S. In older people, it's associated with considerable distress as well as ill health, diminished quality of life, and elevated rates of disability.

10 Mar 2023