Psychology News and Research

RSS

Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Recent research on schizophrenia published in journal Current Directions in Psychological Science

It has been nearly a century since the term "schizophrenia" was first used to describe what was then considered a hopeless and incurable disorder of thought and emotion. Schizophrenia is still baffling to both scientists and the general public, but it is no longer considered hopeless. Significant advances have been made on several fronts in fathoming and combating this debilitating mental illness-from genetics to neuroscience to the psychosocial aspects of the disorder.

16 Aug 2010

Phenomenon to block thoughts of cigarette unwittingly triggers a subsequent increase: Study

Blocking thoughts of cigarettes helps reduce smokers' intake at first, but means they smoke more than usual when they stop suppressing, according to new research.The study was carried out by researchers at St George's, University of London and the University of Hertfordshire.Co-author Dr James Erskine, a psychologist at St George's, says the study shows that many smokers attempting to give up - as well as people trying to quit other vices - may be thwarted by the very technique they use to stop.

16 Aug 2010

Menopause is not the end of women's love life

Menopause doesn't have to signal the end of a woman's love life. In fact, most women can enjoy even better sex after their reproductive years if they follow some healthy advice. Sex is good exercise and slows the aging process, so it's not only permissible but also smart to keep it a central part of one's lifestyle.

16 Aug 2010

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

The emotional pains we suffer in childhood can lead to weakened immune systems later in life, according to a new study.Based on this new research, the amount of this immune impairment even enhances that caused by the stress of caregiving later in life."What happens in childhood really matters when it comes to your immune response in the latter part of your life," explained Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University. She explained her work at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.

16 Aug 2010

Low socioeconomic status, stressful childhood events develop risk of cardiovascular disease

Early life adversity through poverty, social isolation or abuse in childhood is linked to heightened reactivity, which can lead to heart disease later on, a leading expert on stress and disease said Saturday."Many diseases first diagnosed in mid-life can be traced back to childhood," Karen A. Matthews, PhD, said at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. "Having some bad health habits in your 20s and 30s is part of the reason why people get diseases later on. However, it isn't the whole reason. The evidence shows that certain reactions to adverse childhood experiences associated with lower socioeconomic status, isolation and negative events can affect the disease process."

16 Aug 2010

UCLA Professor receives 2010 Rumelhart Prize for research on AI

The Cognitive Science Society today announces that Professor Judea Pearl of University of California at Los Angeles has received the 2010 Rumelhart Prize for his leading research in Artificial Intelligence and systems that reason plausibly from uncertain evidence. His work on graphical models addresses one of the deepest challenges in philosophy and science: The dynamics of beliefs and the analysis of causality.

13 Aug 2010

ISW calls upon states to consider community-based programs as treatment for sex offenders

A recent analysis conducted by the Associated Press revealed that the 20 states with civil commitment laws will spend nearly $500 million in 2010 to incarcerate only 5,000 offenders. According to experts at the Boston-based Institute for Sexual Wellness (ISW), states concerned with how to pay for these programs over the long term should investigate community-based programs. Not only are such programs available at a fraction of the cost of civil commitment, but they are demonstrating high success in preventing recidivism.

13 Aug 2010

Exposure to immune proteins during pregnancy increases risk for schizophrenia in offspring

Infections like the flu are common occurrences during pregnancy, and research has shown that children born to mothers who suffered from flu, viruses and other infections during pregnancy have about a 1.5 to 7 times increased risk for schizophrenia. A new study out of Temple University examines what's behind that link.

13 Aug 2010

Chronic pain affects higher proportion of women than men: Research

Women experience chronic pain longer, more intensely and more often than men, according to a psychologist who works with both men and women dealing with diseases and conditions that leave them suffering.

13 Aug 2010

Notre Dame, Madison Center collaborate to research on mental health therapies

Daniel Lapsley, Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Psychology for Notre Dame University, gives a significant amount of credit to Madison Center, Indiana's largest community mental health agency, for Notre Dame's coup in recruiting two world-class researchers. Now Notre Dame and Madison Center have created a partnership to collaborate on research that is designed to improve treatment and therapies for mental health patients.

12 Aug 2010

Mental health bill for 2008 was $5.3 billion: Report

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the country is spending more and more to deal with its mental ailment burden. This emerged from a report from the AIHW saying that finances spent on mental health services between 2007 to 2008 were $5.3 billion. Of this around 60 per cent came from state and territory governments, 36 per cent from the Commonwealth, and the rest from private health funds.

11 Aug 2010

Sugary drinks do not promote weight gain in overweight women: Research

New research from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, shows that sugary drinks, consumed in moderate quantities, do not promote weight gain, carbohydrate craving or adverse mood effects in overweight women when they do not know what they are drinking.

11 Aug 2010

Infants of emotionally receptive parents have reduced sleep disruptions: Study

Parents understand the challenge of getting infants to sleep through the night, and now Penn State researchers show that being emotionally receptive can reduce sleep disruptions and help infants and toddlers sleep better.

11 Aug 2010

Scientists identify chemical system effective in cocaine-addiction cure

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a chemical system in the brain that reacts differently in cocaine addicts, findings that could result in new treatment options for individuals addicted to the drug."We found that the amount of blood flow in areas of the brain known to be involved in the rewarding effects of cocaine and craving was different in cocaine addicts, compared with healthy subjects," said Dr. Bryon Adinoff, professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern and lead author of a study that appeared in Neuropsychopharmacology. "Now we have a new target for pharmacologic intervention."

11 Aug 2010

America's leading universities offer online degree, certificate programs

With companies throughout the U.S. preparing to ramp up hiring efforts, smart job seekers are increasingly looking to enhance their resumes with advanced degrees from respected universities. To address the demand for timely, relevant degree and career information, University Alliance and its partner universities have debuted online resource centers with a wealth of valuable articles, career profiles and more.

10 Aug 2010

UCLA study identifies neurocognitive pathways involved in inflammatory responses to acute social stress

Everyone experiences social stress, whether it is nervousness over a job interview, difficulty meeting people at parties, or angst over giving a speech. In a new report, UCLA researchers have discovered that how your brain responds to social stressors can influence the body's immune system in ways that may negatively affect health.

10 Aug 2010

Mental health debate continues

According to Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry the federal government’s failure to aid mental health resources is a “national obscenity.” He said in an interview, “It's a national obscenity that we're neglecting this issue. We have the solutions in our hands, and we need to put them on deck tomorrow.”

8 Aug 2010

American Psychological Association 2010 meeting to feature new research into same-sex couples' relationships

The American Psychological Association's 2010 meeting will include a full program of sessions summarizing the areas of research that have been key in recent same-sex marriage court cases and other legal decisions supporting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Sessions will feature the latest scientific research into same-sex couples' relationships and family formation among lesbian, gay and bisexual people,

7 Aug 2010

SIRIUS XM Radio to broadcast call-in show for autism spectrum disorders

SIRIUS XM Radio today announced that in partnership with Autism Speaks it will broadcast Doctor Radio Reports: Understanding Autism - Looking for Answers, a live, two-hour call-in show hosted by veteran journalist Perri Peltz on which a panel of world-class doctors, experts, scientists and parents of affected children will explore the latest research and treatment options for autism and disorders on the autism spectrum and take calls from listeners across the country.

7 Aug 2010

Scientists develop hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain

The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as the patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime. "Phantom pain is very difficult to treat", says Professor Dr Thomas Weiss from the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

7 Aug 2010