Mental Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1029&ft=1&f=1029 NPR covers mental health, happiness, depression, and treatment options. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 20 May 2013 03:03:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Mental Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1029&ft=1&f=1029 Bans Of Same-Sex Marriage Can Take A Psychological Toll When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1029 When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors.

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]]> Alzheimer's Cases Rise, But Hope Remains More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1029 More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease.

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]]> Experts Agree: 'Psychiatry's Bible' Is No Bible The new version of the <em>DSM,</em> the manual of psychiatric diagnoses, is already sparking criticism. But psychiatrists say it helps make sure they're all on the same page. Fri, 17 May 2013 17:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184849282/experts-agree-psychiatrys-bible-is-no-bible?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184849282/experts-agree-psychiatrys-bible-is-no-bible?ft=1&f=1029 The new version of the DSM, the manual of psychiatric diagnoses, is already sparking criticism. But psychiatrists say it helps make sure they're all on the same page.

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]]> Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our <em>Desktop Diaries</em> series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1029 Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.

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]]> Why Is Psychiatry's New Manual So Much Like The Old One? Unlike cardiology and most other fields of medicine, psychiatry still hasn't developed discrete, biological tests for diagnosing illnesses of the mind. That's because the brain "hasn't yielded its secrets yet," one psychiatrist says. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184454931/why-is-psychiatrys-new-manual-so-much-like-the-old-one?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184454931/why-is-psychiatrys-new-manual-so-much-like-the-old-one?ft=1&f=1029 Unlike cardiology and most other fields of medicine, psychiatry still hasn't developed discrete, biological tests for diagnosing illnesses of the mind. That's because the brain "hasn't yielded its secrets yet," one psychiatrist says.

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]]> When Your Dad Is A Killer, How Do You Cope? Host Michel Martin speaks to the Unabomber's brother, David Kaczynski, and Melissa Moore, the daughter of a serial killer, to find out how relatives of notorious criminals cope. Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184498464&ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184498464&ft=1&f=1029 Host Michel Martin speaks to the Unabomber's brother, David Kaczynski, and Melissa Moore, the daughter of a serial killer, to find out how relatives of notorious criminals cope.

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]]> When The Missing Return, Recovery Is Long, Too More than 300 freed abductees are part of an online community they call the RooterHood, where they can share their stories, their fears, and get help. Wed, 15 May 2013 15:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183954138/when-the-missing-return-recovery-is-long-too?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183954138/when-the-missing-return-recovery-is-long-too?ft=1&f=1029 More than 300 freed abductees are part of an online community they call the RooterHood, where they can share their stories, their fears, and get help.

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]]> Analyzing The Language Of Suicide Notes To Help Save Lives About a third of people who attempt suicide leave a note. John Pestian and others at Cincinnati Children's Hospital are merging psychology and computer analysis to see if such notes can help diagnose suicidal tendencies in the living. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232472/analyzing-the-language-of-suicide-notes-to-help-save-lives?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184232472/analyzing-the-language-of-suicide-notes-to-help-save-lives?ft=1&f=1029 About a third of people who attempt suicide leave a note. John Pestian and others at Cincinnati Children's Hospital are merging psychology and computer analysis to see if such notes can help diagnose suicidal tendencies in the living.

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]]> Parents Get Crib Sheets For Talking With Kids About Drinking Parents should talk to their children about avoiding alcohol long before they try that first drink. But how? Some scripts and talking points could make the task easier. Mon, 13 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/13/183618326/parents-get-crib-sheets-for-talking-with-kids-about-drinking?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/13/183618326/parents-get-crib-sheets-for-talking-with-kids-about-drinking?ft=1&f=1029 Parents should talk to their children about avoiding alcohol long before they try that first drink. But how? Some scripts and talking points could make the task easier.

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]]> Microexpressions: More Than Meets The Eye David Matsumoto, a psychology professor at San Francisco State University, trains national security officials and police officers to recognize "microexpressions"--fleeting, split-second flashes of emotion across someone's face. Matsumoto says those subtle cues may reveal how an interview subject is feeling, helping officials to hone their line of questioning. Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861380/microexpressions-more-than-meets-the-eye?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861380/microexpressions-more-than-meets-the-eye?ft=1&f=1029 David Matsumoto, a psychology professor at San Francisco State University, trains national security officials and police officers to recognize "microexpressions"--fleeting, split-second flashes of emotion across someone's face. Matsumoto says those subtle cues may reveal how an interview subject is feeling, helping officials to hone their line of questioning.

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]]> The Myth Of Multitasking How long can you go without checking email, or glancing at your smartphone? Clifford Nass, a psychology professor at Stanford University, says today's nonstop multitasking actually wastes more time than it saves--and he says there's evidence it may be killing our concentration and creativity too. Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861382/the-myth-of-multitasking?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861382/the-myth-of-multitasking?ft=1&f=1029 How long can you go without checking email, or glancing at your smartphone? Clifford Nass, a psychology professor at Stanford University, says today's nonstop multitasking actually wastes more time than it saves--and he says there's evidence it may be killing our concentration and creativity too.

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]]> How Can Identical Twins Turn Out So Different? Scientists used to think that identical twins turned out differently because they were treated differently by friends, teachers or their parents. A study of mice supports the idea that small changes in behavior can lead to larger ones and eventually even resculpt brains in different ways. Thu, 09 May 2013 16:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/14/182633402/how-can-identical-twins-turn-out-so-different?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/14/182633402/how-can-identical-twins-turn-out-so-different?ft=1&f=1029 Scientists used to think that identical twins turned out differently because they were treated differently by friends, teachers or their parents. A study of mice supports the idea that small changes in behavior can lead to larger ones and eventually even resculpt brains in different ways.

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]]> Guns At Home Pose A Risk For Suicidal Teens Almost 20 percent of teenagers and young adults in the emergency room are suicidal, researchers say. Many of these young people live in houses with guns, which increases the likelihood a completed suicide. Mon, 06 May 2013 15:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603515/guns-at-home-pose-a-risk-for-suicidal-teens?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603515/guns-at-home-pose-a-risk-for-suicidal-teens?ft=1&f=1029 Almost 20 percent of teenagers and young adults in the emergency room are suicidal, researchers say. Many of these young people live in houses with guns, which increases the likelihood a completed suicide.

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]]> Colorado Weighs Reopening Psychiatric Hospital For Homeless Colorado's Democratic governor wants to move mentally ill homeless people to Fort Lyon, a former psychiatric hospital and prison in the southeast corner of the state. Critics say it would make more sense to rent apartments for the people in the neighborhoods where they are now. Thu, 02 May 2013 16:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603733/colorado-weighs-reopening-a-psychiatric-hospital-to-serve-the-homeless?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603733/colorado-weighs-reopening-a-psychiatric-hospital-to-serve-the-homeless?ft=1&f=1029 Colorado's Democratic governor wants to move mentally ill homeless people to Fort Lyon, a former psychiatric hospital and prison in the southeast corner of the state. Critics say it would make more sense to rent apartments for the people in the neighborhoods where they are now.

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]]> Suicide Rate Climbs For Middle-Aged Americans For quite a while, the annual number of fatalities from auto accidents has been a kind of shorthand for health issues that are big and important. Suicides now exceed deaths from crashes. And the middle-aged have seen the biggest increase in suicide rates. Thu, 02 May 2013 13:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180545035/suicide-rate-climbs-for-middle-aged-americans?ft=1&f=1029 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180545035/suicide-rate-climbs-for-middle-aged-americans?ft=1&f=1029 For quite a while, the annual number of fatalities from auto accidents has been a kind of shorthand for health issues that are big and important. Suicides now exceed deaths from crashes. And the middle-aged have seen the biggest increase in suicide rates.

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