Loneliness may lead to a shorter lifespan
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(CBS News) Loneliness may lead to a shorter lifespan, two new studies suggest.
The studies, published in the June 18 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that living alone or feeling alone can be especially debilitating to aging adults and may lead to serious health problems, even death.
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American women may be more stressed than men
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(CBS News) What's the recipe for a stress-filled life? According to new research, being young, a woman, having a low education level and/or having low income represent the most stressed individuals in the United States.
A new study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology in the June 2012 issue, marks the first time scientists have been able to track the level of stress across the U.S. over time. Self-reported stress levels increased between 10 and 30 percent over all demographic categories between 1983 and 2009.
"We know that stress contributes to poorer health practices, increased risk for disease, accelerated disease progression and increased mortality," study author Dr. Sheldon Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa., said in the press release. "Differences in stress between demographics may be important markers of populations under increased risk for physical and psychological disorders."
Continue »Omega-3 may provide no cognitive benefit
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Looking at research from three large studies of over 3,500 people, scientists discovered that individuals who took omega-3 for up to 3.5 years didn't see an increase in memory, mental skills or verbal skills. The research was published in The Cochrane Library on June 13.
Sugar may make you "stupid" but omega-3 might mitigate the effect, rat study suggests
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Dementia study: Omega-3 pills no help for Alzheimer's
"From these studies, there doesn't appear to be any benefit for cognitive health for older people of taking omega-3 supplements," Dr. Alan Dangour, a nutritionist at LSHTM and co-author of the report, said in the press release. "However, these were relatively short-term studies, so we saw very little deterioration in cognitive function in either the intervention groups or the control groups. It may take much longer to see any effect of these supplements."
Continue »Anxiety causes women's brains to work harder
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The National Institute of Mental Health reports that women are 60 percent more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder over their lifetime. Overall, about 22.8 percent of all people with anxiety disorders in the U.S. are classified as severe. The average age of onset of the symptoms starts as young as 11 years old.
Stressed? 7 steps to instant calm
About 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Women are also more likely to have multiple psychiatric disorders at once, and depression often occurs in individuals who have anxiety.
Continue »Phone therapy sessions might help depressed people
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(CBS News) Depressed individuals who have a hard time going to therapy session might still benefit from talking to a therapist on the phone.
Depression later in life may mean higher dementia risk
Study: Whites more likely to get antidepressant prescription than African-Americans, Hispanics
10 helpful tips for dating with depression
While psychotherapy might be an effective way to treat depression and a preferred method over taking medication for many, sometimes it can be hard to continually attend the in-person sessions because of logistic, personal and emotional problems.
Now, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on June 6 shows that talking to a therapist on the phone might be as effective as showing up at their office - and could possibly be better since people were more likely to continue therapy if they just had to make a call.
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Panel suggests DSM-5 manual drops two disorders
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The panel announced that attenuated psychosis syndrome -- which identifies people at risk of developing psychosis -- and mixed anxiety depressive disorder -- a diagnosis which combines both anxiety and depression -- should not be included in the manual's upcoming version, the New York Times reported.
Proposed changes to autism definition may mean new diagnoses for people with Asperger's
However, a controversial definition for autism, which will delete diagnoses for Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder and combine severe cases into the broader definition of autism, will remain.
Continue »10 helpful tips for dating with depression
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About 18 million Americans suffer from depression and another 20 million worldwide use dating websites each month, according to Online Dating Magazine. Chances are, there are people who will be in both groups.
But dating can be a challenge when you suffer from depression. "Sometimes if you don't feel like smiling but are in a situation where you're expected to be happy, that can make you feel even worse," says Dr. Helen Friedman, a clinical psychologist in private practice in St. Louis.
That said, meeting a new person can also be a source of joy. These 10 simple tips from our friends at Health.com can help make dating a bit easier...
More from Health.com: 10 careers with high rates of depression
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Junior Seau's death raises questions about CTE
Former San Diego Chargers football player Junior Seau smiles during a news conference announcing his retirement from pro football in San Diego, Aug. 14, 2006.
/ AP Photo/Sandy Huffaker(CBS News) Junior Seau was found dead yesterday of a gunshot wound to the chest in what investigators are looking at as a suicide, CBS News reported. The 43-year-old had a standout career as a Pro Bowl linebacker during 20 seasons in the National Football League.
PICTURES: NFL players who donated their brains to science
Dave Duerson suicide: Was brain disease to blame?
Derek Boogaard had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died: Report
The suicide served as a stark reminder of an incident one year earlier, when four-time Pro Bowl safety Dave Duerson shot himself in the chest in February 2011, leaving a note that presciently asked for his brain to be donated to science.
Study: Computer use and exercise boost memory
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(CBS News) Need a memory boost? A new study shows that combining moderate exercise with computer use decreases one's odds of memory loss.
Resistance training may stave off dementia symptoms in seniors, research shows
Eating blueberries and strawberries staves off memory decline, study suggests
PICTURES: 7 ways to protect your memory
Previous studies have shown that exercising your body and stimulating your mind help with memory - but the new study shows the benefits of the two when combined.
Continue »Study: Imagining trying on a swimsuit worsens mood
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(CBS News) With swimsuit season around the corner, new research finds that for women merely thinking about trying on a bathing suit may negatively impact their emotional well-being.
Previous research has focused on media images and other external factors that may contribute to body dissatisfaction in women, but the authors behind this new study wanted to focus on the role clothes play in impacting mood since they're such a big part of daily life. They were looking for the role clothing plays in "self-objectification," a theory that contends a person may internalize an outside perspective to objectify one's self.
Abercrombie bikini tops: Threat to girls' mental health?
Israeli law bans ads featuring underweight models
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Study finds racial disparity for antidepressants
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(CBS News) If you're Caucasian, you're more likely to get a prescription for antidepressants than your Hispanic and African-American counterparts, new research shows.
A study published in last month's International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine said that Caucasians were 1.52 times more likely to receive antidepressant medication over Hispanic and African-American patients also being treated for major depressive disorders.
Continue »Study: Depression blood test for teens effective
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(CBS News) Researchers are hopeful that diagnosing depression may soon be as easy as diagnosing high cholesterol. A new study describes a blood test that that distinguished depression among teenagers.
Depression tied to stroke risk: What explains link?
Antidepressant use soars, study says: Is depression overdiagnosed?
PICTURES: Depression nation: 16 saddest states
Developed by a scientist at Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago, the new blood test aims to replace the current method of diagnosing depression, which is asking patients to recall their symptoms. The researchers say the new test might be able to distinguish between certain types of depression, raising hope for more personalized treatments.
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Study: Emergency dispatchers may suffer from PTSD
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According to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress, even though emergency dispatchers didn't know the victims or were there when the event happened, they still could experience symptoms that lead to the psychological disorders.
Continue »Study links autism to too many brain cells
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PICTURES - Is it autism? Facial features that show disorder
For the small study, scientists examined the brains of seven autistic children and six children without autism, all of whom had died by drowning or other causes between the ages of two and 16. The researchers found that the autistic kids had 67 percent more brain cells (neurons) in the prefrontal cortex. That's the brain region just behind the forehead.
Continue »Developmental disability affecting more U.S. kids
Developmental disability study shows increase in number of children with autism, ADHD, and related problems.
/ istockphoto(CBS) Developmental disability is on the rise in the U.S. Between 1997 and 2008, the number of school-age children diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or another developmental disability rose by about 17 percent, a new study showed.
That means roughly 15 percent of kids - nearly 10 million - have such a disability.
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