Pandemic Boosted Paranoia and Conspiracy Theories, Study Confirms

• Robert Preidt
• July 29, 2021
• Full Page

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in the United States in many ways. Now, a new study confirms another effect: paranoia and belief in conspiracy theories, especially in areas with low adherence to mask mandates.

"Our psychology is massively impacted by the state of the...

How Trust in Science Can Make You Vulnerable to 'Pseudoscience'

• Robert Preidt
• July 28, 2021
• Full Page

Trusting science is good, but it could put you at risk for being duped by false science, or "pseudoscience," if you let your guard down, researchers warn.

Investigators found that people who trust science are more likely to believe and share false claims that contain sci...

Who's Most Likely to Get Bullied at School?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 27, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, July 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Bullying remains a threat to American teens, and a new study reveals which kids may be at highest risk.

Race-based bullying takes a heavy toll on teens, the research found, but minority kids who are picked on ...

Worry, Depression, Burnout: Survey Finds College Students Stressed as Fall Term Nears

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• July 26, 2021
• Full Page

Like many of her peers, Ohio State University engineering student Mary Trabue spent much of the pandemic taking classes online. And she was struggling.

"I don't know what was wrong, but I just felt tired all the time because I wasn't sleeping," she said. "And I knew...

Drug Shows Promise in Easing Dementia-Linked Psychosis

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• July 23, 2021
• Full Page

FRIDAY, July 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A drug that eases hallucinations in people with Parkinson's disease may be able to do the same for those with dementia, a new clinical trial finds.

The medication, called Nuplazid (pimavanserin), is already app...

PTSD Common After Sexual Assault, But Eases for Most

• Robert Preidt
• July 23, 2021
• Full Page

Most sexual assault survivors have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after the attack, but it tends to lessen over the following months, a new study finds.

"One of the main takeaways is that the majority of recovery from post-traumatic stress happens in t...

Empty Stadiums, COVID Fears: How Will It Affect Olympic Athletes?

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• July 22, 2021
• Full Page

To do their best, Olympic athletes need to be both physically and mentally fit, but the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions at the Tokyo Olympics has made that a real challenge, experts say.

"This Olympics is unprecedented," said Dr. Michael Lardon, an associate clini...

Lockdowns' Effects on Health Still Less Than Harm From Pandemic: Experts

• Robert Preidt
• July 21, 2021
• Full Page

While there's been much talk about pandemic lockdowns being a burden on people's health, new research finds the effects of large COVID-19 outbreaks are typically worse.

"It is unlikely that government interventions have been worse than the pandemic itself in most situati...

Severe COVID in Kids: Rare, but Brain Issues Can Result

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• July 20, 2021
• Full Page

About one in 20 kids hospitalized with COVID-19 develop debilitating brain or nerve complications that could haunt some for a long time, a new British study reports.

Children with severe infections can suffer from brain inflammation, seizures, stroke, behavior changes, h...

How Your Kid's Education Could Make You Healthier

• Robert Preidt
• July 20, 2021
• Full Page

If you're a parent, here's another reason to encourage your kids to get a good education: Children's educational successes or failures can impact their parent's physical and mental health, new research suggests.

For the study, researchers at the University at Buffalo in ...

Do Women or Men Make the Best Doctors?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 19, 2021
• Full Page

MONDAY, July 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- When you're hospitalized, you'll want qualified medical professionals treating you, but does it matter if your doctor is a man or a woman?

It might.

A new study in Canada found that patients cared for by...

Friends, Family Key to Turning a 'No' on Vaccination to a 'Yes'

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• July 16, 2021
• Full Page

Public health officials and government workers are trying everything they can to promote COVID-19 vaccination — advertisements, news releases, cash lotteries, and even incentives like free beer, joints or doughnuts in some places.

But nothing sways a vaccine-hesitant p...

Remote Learning Hurt High School Students Academically, Emotionally

• Robert Preidt
• July 16, 2021
• Full Page

There were academic, social and emotional consequences for U.S. high school students who attended classes remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows.

The study included more than 6,500 students in Orange County Public Schools in Florida, who were surveyed...

Most Romantic Couples Started Out as Friends, Study Finds

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 14, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, July 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Some think that romance begins when two strangers catch each other's eye across a crowded room. Others seek it out by swiping right.

But new research suggests that more than two-thirds of all romantic relati...

Growing Up in Lead-Contaminated Area Might Alter Personality: Study

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• July 13, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, July 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Can childhood lead exposure affect personality into adulthood?

Yes, a big multi-decade study suggests.

The finding stems from an analysis of data on atmospheric lead levels across the United States and 3...

Sleepless Nights Can Quickly Mess Up Your Emotions

• Robert Preidt
• July 9, 2021
• Full Page

FRIDAY, July 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Groggy? Grumpy? Depressed? Just a few nights of poor sleep can take a big toll on your mental health, a new study confirms

"Many of us think that we can pay our sleep debt on weekends and be more productive on weekdays," said lead author...

Scientists Track Spirituality in the Human Brain

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• July 8, 2021
• Full Page

Researchers have identified specific brain circuitry that is related to people's sense of spirituality — and it's centered in a brain region linked to pain inhibition, altruism and unconditional love.

The findings add to research seeking to understand the biological ba...

Autism & Drinking, Drug Abuse Can Be Dangerous Mix

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• July 8, 2021
• Full Page

Teens and adults with autism may be less likely than others to use drugs and alcohol, but new research finds those who do are nearly nine times more likely to use these substances to mask symptoms, including those related to autism.

This is known as camouflaging, and it ...

Depression Plagues Many Coal Miners With Black Lung Disease

• Robert Preidt
• July 8, 2021
• Full Page

Mental health problems and thoughts of suicide are common among U.S. coal miners with black lung disease, a new study finds.

Black lung is a progressive illness caused by inhaling toxic coal and rock dust in coal mines. There are few treatment options.

"Although c...

Urinary Incontinence Can Affect a Woman's Mental Health

• Robert Preidt
• July 8, 2021
• Full Page

Millions of women are plagued by the daily disruptions of urinary incontinence, and new research suggests it might also be harming their mental health.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 10,000 adult women who took part in a Portuguese Health Ministry survey c...

1 in 20 College Students Has 'Internet Gaming Disorder,' Study Finds

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• July 7, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, July 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Is it possible to become addicted to gaming on the internet?

Yes, warns new research that discovered when young people get too hooked it may trigger sleep difficulties, depression, anxiety and, in some cases,...

State Lotteries Don't Boost COVID Vaccination Numbers: Study

• Robert Preidt
• July 7, 2021
• Full Page

Lotteries that pay cash and prizes to Americans who get vaccinated sound like a sure-fire recipe for success, but a new study finds they don't actually boost vaccination rates.

After media reports suggested that Ohio's "Vax-a-Million" lottery increased vaccination rates,...

1 in 4 People With Anxiety, Depression Couldn't Get Care During Pandemic

• Robert Preidt
• July 7, 2021
• Full Page

In the middle of a pandemic that sent many Americans into bouts of emotional distress, one-quarter of them couldn't get counseling when they needed it the most, new research shows.

"Social isolation, COVID-related anxiety, disruptions in normal routines, job loss and foo...

What Drives Preschoolers' Curiosity to Learn?

• Cara Murez
• July 1, 2021
• Full Page

Want to hold a preschooler's interest in learning something new? Give them just enough information to make them want to know more, a new study suggests.

This creates the perfect mix of uncertainty and curiosity in children, said researchers from Rutgers University, in Ne...

New Insights Into How Eating Disorders Alter the Brain

• Robert Preidt
• July 1, 2021
• Full Page

Behaviors associated with eating disorders can make real changes to the brain, new research shows. The findings could help explain why these serious disorders are often chronic -- and may also point the way to new treatments.

Eating disorders — such as anorexia nervos...

'Transmitted Down the Leash:' Anxious Owners, Anxious Dogs

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 28, 2021
• Full Page

Dog obedience trainer Cindy Leung has a very anxious client who loves a very anxious breed, the Shetland Sheepdog.

"My [human] student startles at loud noises," Leung said. "That's just part of her personality. Loud, sudden noises startle her. Something weird that shows ...

Body's 'Signals' May Feel Different in People With Anorexia, Depression

• Robert Preidt
• June 24, 2021
• Full Page

The brain interprets physical signals differently in people with depression, anorexia and some other mental health disorders, new research shows.

British scientists examined "interoception" -- the brain's ability to sense internal conditions in the body -- in 626 patient...

Pandemic May Have Created a 'Baby Bust,' Not Boom

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• June 23, 2021
• Full Page

The pandemic not only cost hundreds of thousands of American lives, but it also appears to have triggered a deep drop in births, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.

Until 2020, the birth rate had been declining about 2% a year, but that rate dropped to 4% with the...

Marijuana Use Tied to Higher Odds for Thoughts of Suicide

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

Young adults who use marijuana appear to have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide, according to a new study from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

In fact, the risk that someone between 18 and 34 will think about, plan for or atte...

When Is Your Very Earliest Memory?

• Robert Preidt
• June 22, 2021
• Full Page

Your earliest memories may stretch back to a younger age than previously thought, new research suggests.

The study found that people can recall back to an average age of 2½ years old, which is a year earlier than suggested by previous studies.

The findings from th...

Survey Finds Many Adults Don't Want Kids -- and They're Happy

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 21, 2021
• Full Page

Marriage and children may be the norm for most Americans, but a new study shows that many people are choosing to remain child-free -- and they're happy that way.

The study of 1,000 Michigan adults found that one-quarter had opted not to have kids. And, on average, their ...

Could Fish Oil Supplements Help Fight Depression?

• Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

Fish oil supplements are often touted as good for your heart health, but a new study finds they may also help fight depression.

"Using a combination of laboratory and patient research, our study has provided exciting new insight into how omega-3 fatty acids bring about a...

Dads of 'Preemie' Babies Can Be Hit by Depression

• Robert Preidt
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

Postpartum depression strikes fathers of premature babies more often than previously thought, and it can linger longer in fathers than in mothers, a new study finds.

The researchers screened for depression in 431 parents of premature infants in a neonatal intensive car...

Even Good Weather Didn't Lift Lockdown Blues: Study

• Robert Preidt
• June 16, 2021
• Full Page

In normal times, a sunny day can lift your mood while a stormy one can darken it, but new British research shows that weather had little effect on people's spirits during the pandemic.

"We know that lockdown restrictions, and the resulting impact on social life and the e...

Looking for Love? Young People's Drinking Goes Up When Dating

• Cara Murez
• June 16, 2021
• Full Page

When young adults are seeking a casual dating relationship, drinking is likely to follow, new research suggests.

Meanwhile, those who are already in a serious relationship are likely to drink less.

The study included more than 700 people in the Seattle area, aged 1...

Big Rise in U.S. Teens Identifying As Gay, Bisexual

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 15, 2021
• Full Page

More teens in the United States are reporting their sexual identity as gay, lesbian or bisexual, nationwide surveys show.

Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of 15- to 17-year-olds who said they identified as "non-heterosexual" rose from 8.3% to 11.7%, according to nat...

Teasing People About Weight Can Help Bring on Eating Disorders

• Robert Preidt
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

What can make a young person vulnerable to eating disorders? Teasing them about any extra pounds they may carry, researchers say.

"Our findings add to the growing evidence that weight-based mistreatment is not helpful and is often harmful to the health of young people," ...

Big Rise in Suicide Attempts by U.S. Teen Girls During Pandemic

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 11, 2021
• Full Page

The suicide attempt rate has leapt by as much as half among teenage girls during the coronavirus pandemic, a new government study shows.

Emergency room visits for suspected suicide attempts among girls between the ages of 12 and 17 increased by 26% during summer 2020 and...

It's a Myth That Promiscuous Women Have Low Self-Esteem

• Robert Preidt
• June 11, 2021
• Full Page

The old double standard lives on.

A new study finds that many people still believe -- incorrectly -- that women who engage in casual sex have low self-esteem. And they don't think the same is true of men.

"We were surprised that this stereotype was so widely held,"...

'Laughing Gas' Shows Promise Against Tough-to-Treat Depression

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 10, 2021
• Full Page

When antidepressants fail to rein in hard-to-treat depression, the common anesthetic most know as "laughing gas" might be a safe and effective alternative, new research suggests.

The finding follows work with 28 patients struggling with "treatment-resistant major depress...

'Early Birds' May Have Extra Buffer Against Depression

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

Could getting out of bed just one hour earlier every day lower your risk for depression?

Yes, claims new research that found an earlier start to the day was tied to a 23% lower risk of developing the mood disorder.

The study of more than 840,000 people found a link...

Tennis Star Naomi Osaka's 'Time Out' Highlights Common, Crippling Mental Health Issue

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• June 2, 2021
• Full Page

On Tuesday, tennis star Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the French Open. The reason: An ongoing battle with depression and anxiety.

As the world's No. 2 woman's tennis player and a four-time Grand Slam tournament winner at the age of just 23, many fans may...

'Boomerang Kids': When an Adult Child Moves Back Home

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 2, 2021
• Full Page

It's a scenario fraught with potential conflict: Moving back home as an adult can be tough - on both the grown children and their parents.

But it can also come with opportunities, as long as expectations are established early, say some "boomerang kids" who moved back in ...

Do You Live in a U.S. Opioid OD Hotspot?

• Robert Preidt
• June 1, 2021
• Full Page

The United States has more than two dozen regional hotspots for opioid overdose deaths, according to researchers who also found a link between fatal overdoses and mental distress.

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee have the highest percent...

Telehealth Is Growing in Use, Acceptance Among Americans: Poll

• May 31, 2021
• Full Page

Many Americans have used telehealth and would turn to it for mental health care, a new online poll shows.

Conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) from March 26 to April 5, the poll found that 38% had used telehealth to consult with a health professional...

Massive Gene Study Probes Origins of Depression

• Robert Preidt
• May 28, 2021
• Full Page

Researchers who pinpointed 178 gene variants linked to major depression say their findings could improve diagnosis and treatment of a disorder that affects 1 in 5 people.

The study draws on a huge database, analyzing the genetic and health records of 1.2 million people f...

Having OCD May Triple a Person's Odds for a Stroke

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

Adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a common mental health condition known as OCD, may have more than triple the risk of having a stroke, according to a new report from Taiwanese researchers.

As to why, the study authors aren't sure.

The investigators specu...

Narcissist's 'Thin Skin' Can Easily Lead to Aggression

• Robert Preidt
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

Angry outbursts at the office, threats made in everyday interactions: New research using data from hundreds of studies suggests folks who act out in this way often have narcissistic traits.

They don't even have to rate high in narcissism to be prone to aggressive behavio...