msnbc.com: Mental health

Compulsive hoarders suddenly in the spotlight

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:22:43 GMT

Books, movies and TV’s “Hoarders” have all brought the disorder out of its shame-filled past. But some experts worry the media makes solutions seem tidier than they really are.

Television - Shopping - Art - Mental health - Publications

Early treatment may help kids with autism

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:26:52 GMT

The first rigorous study of behavior treatment in autistic children as young as 18 months found two years of therapy can vastly improve symptoms, often resulting in a milder diagnosis.
Autism - Diagnosis - Autism spectrum - Health - Mental health

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:07:33 GMT

Two days before shipping off to war, Marine Pfc. Jesse Sheets sat inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert, his gaze fixed on a computer that flashed a rhythmic pulse of contrasting images.

Military - Posttraumatic stress disorder - United States - Mojave Desert - History

Army helps vets with ‘invisible wounds’ get jobs

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:59:26 GMT

The Army's Wounded Warrior Program, which helps veterans adjust to civilian life, has been reaching out to employers to encourage them to hire former soldiers.

Army - Military - United States - Government - Society and Culture

Army suicides to top 2008, but progress seen

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:32:15 GMT

Soldier suicides this year are almost sure to top last year's, but a recent decline in the pace of such deaths could mean the Army is making progress in stemming them, officials say.

United States - Military - Army - Government - United States Army

Suicides raise worries about recession’s real cost

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:54:20 GMT

Coroner John White is presiding over a sad tally in this northern Indiana county, tracking rising numbers of suicides he believes are linked to the lingering recession. Elkhart may be a harbinger of deadly increases in other hard-hit areas.

Chill: A little stress may help you live longer

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 13:38:16 GMT

Being frazzled can do nasty things to your bod. But in small doses, angst-provoking situations can improve your health, slow down the signs of aging, and even help you live longer.

Suicide prevention groups protest ‘The Office’

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:27:51 GMT

Last week's episode of "The Office" where Steve Carell's character tries to scare children by faking a hanging has disturbed suicide prevention groups.

Tokyo train stations use lights to stem suicides

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:53:17 GMT

Some Japanese railway operators are installing special blue lights above station platforms they hope will have a soothing effect and reduce suicides.

Why memory lane is such a mortifying stroll

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:02:13 GMT

Humiliating memories may not cause as much emotional pain as the trauma of war or injury or abuse, but they do tend to get lodged in the brain and fester in a similar manner.

Kids on psych drugs have alarming weight gain

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:07:37 GMT

Children on widely used psychiatric drugs can quickly gain an alarming amount of weight; many pack on nearly 20 pounds and become obese within just 11 weeks, a study found.

Self-help course may have led to her suicide

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:30:56 GMT

Days before Rebekah Lawrence committed suicide, she attended an intense self-help seminar which pledged to change her life. Instead, some say, it led to her death.

Study: Working past retirement boosts health

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:24:21 GMT

Older people who hold temporary or part-time jobs after retirement enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop working entirely, according to a U.S. study released on Tuesday.

Youth driving discussions about suicide

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:01:07 GMT

There's a growing conversation about suicide that's happening on college campuses, in high schools and online — in the hopes that a public discussion could inspire people to get help.

Mediterranean diet cuts depression risk

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 18:27:20 GMT

People who follow a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish are less likely to become depressed, scientists said on Monday, but the reasons are unclear.

Family mental history shadows future children

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:02:11 GMT

Mental health professionals have long known that certain mental illnesses can run within families — and that history weighs heavily on some people who are struggling to decide whether to have children and risk passing it on.

Eating disorder risk higher in educated families

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:35:01 GMT

Girls whose mothers, fathers, and grandparents are highly educated may have an increased risk of developing an eating disorder, a new study suggests.

Psychiatrists call for ban on pro anorexia sites

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:22:35 GMT

As the start of London Fashion Week reignites the debate over ultra-thin models, psychiatrists have called on the British government to act over the soaring numbers of pro-anorexia websites.

ID'd amnesia patient doesn't know who he is

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:41 GMT

It was seven weeks ago that Edward Lighthart walked out of a Seattle park with no idea of who he was and how he got there, the apparent victim of a bizarre case of amnesia.

8 million Americans consider suicide each year

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:29:46 GMT

About 32,000 suicides occur in the United States each year, but a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that many more give the idea serious thought.

Study sheds light on post-combat mental woes

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 00:09:38 GMT

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are typical after deployment to a war zone, and may even represent a healthy reaction to stress, but can lead to problems with mental functioning if they persist, new research in Iraq vets suggests.

Seizure makes woman believe she’s a man

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 17:35:05 GMT

For the first time, scientists report an instance of a brain seizure making someone believe they underwent a sex transformation.

Worry over job is worse for health than no job

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:53:30 GMT

Simply worrying about losing your job can cost you your health, a new investigation of data from two long-term studies finds.

Multitaskers, pay attention — if you can

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:02:41 GMT

The people who multitask the most are the ones who are worst at it. That's the surprising conclusion of researchers, who found multitaskers are more easily distracted.

ADHD drug abuse calls flood poison centers

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:59:02 GMT

Calls to poison control centers about teens abusing attention-deficit drugs soared 76 percent over eight years, sobering evidence about the dangerous consequences of prescription misuse, a study shows.

Seattle man with amnesia going by ‘Jon Doe’

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:26:32 GMT

Seattle's mystery man says putting together the pieces of his memory has been a frustrating, confusing experience.

Friend for Andrea: Autistic teen's quest to belong

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:17:00 GMT

Like many autistic teens, Andrea Levy struggles to connect with her peers. But she's learning new social skills at a 14-week friendship boot camp for autistic teens.

Newsweek: Americans lonelier than ever

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:18:09 GMT

NYT: $117 million for GIs’ emotional training

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:45:30 GMT

A new Army program teaching mental resilience techniques is intended to prevent problems like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Kids as young as 3 can have chronic depression

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 20:01:06 GMT

Depression in children as young as 3 is real and not just a passing grumpy mood, finds a provocative new study, the first to show major depression can be chronic even in the very young.

Deadliest day for suicides: Wednesday

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:26:26 GMT

People are far more likely to kill themselves in the middle of the week than in the beginning, according to a new study that shows almost 25 percent of suicides occur on Wednesdays.

Teens who move a lot have twice suicide risk

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:35:26 GMT

Kids aged 11 to 17 were twice as likely to attempt suicide if their families moved three or more times compared to those who had never moved, a new study says.