The Risky Personality Trait On The Rise In The Young

In 30 years this trait has increased by up to one-third. Perfectionism in mind, body and career is on the rise in the young, new research finds. The current crop of college students is more obsessed with being perfect than they were 30 years ago. Making comparisons on social media could be one important driver for the rise in perfectionist tendencies. The change could be having a dramatic negative effect on their mental health. Dr Thomas Curran, the study’s first author, said: “Meritocracy places a strong need for young people

Is Telehealth the Future of Therapy?

As a result of the COVID pandemic, many...

This Game Makes Your Cortex Thicker, Improves Brain Efficiency, Study Finds

The video game that improves brain efficiency. Tetris — the retro block-puzzle-game — can increase the thickness of the cortex and brain efficiency, research finds. The study involved 26 adolescent girls playing Tetris for 30 minutes a day over a three-month period. They were compared to a control group. At the end, brain scans showed a thicker cerebral cortex in those who had been playing Tetris. The cortex is the area of the brain linked to higher functions such as memory, attention and planning. Dr Rex Jung, a neuropsychologist who

2 Factors Found To Underlie Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What really underlies obsessive-compulsive disorder? Confusing imagination with reality and being out of contact with reality are linked to OCD, a new study finds. People with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) are known to dissociate themselves from reality. Instead they rely heavily on their imagination. A survey of 75 people with OCD found that they experienced ‘inferential confusion’: essentially getting fantasy and reality mixed up. Dr Frederick Aardema, who led the research, said: “It seems that people with OCD are so absorbed by their obsession due to inferential confusion that there is

The Type of Dairy Products Linked To Lower Depression

The Type of Dairy Products Linked To Lower Depression

Certain dairy products are associated with lower rates of depression. People who consume low-fat dairy products are less likely to be depressed than those who prefer whole-fat. The conclusions come from researchers in Japan and China. They studied 1,159 Japanese adults aged between 19 and 83. All were asked about their dairy consumption and levels of depression. People who ate low-fat dairy between one and four times a week were less depressed, the results showed. The benefits of dairy products could be down to trytophan, the study’s authors write: “Dairy

The Real Reason Sad Music Can Be Pleasurable

The Real Reason Sad Music Can Be Pleasurable

The real reason some people enjoy listening to sad music. Music that makes you cry gives pleasure, new research finds. This might help to explain the enduring popularity of sad music. The results come from a study that tested the cathartic effect of sad music. Participants in the study were divided into two groups based on their responses to four questions: “While listening to music, how frequently do you (1) get goose bumps, (2) feel shivers down your spine, (3) feel like weeping, and (4) get a lump in your

6 Signs You May Have Adult ADHD

6 Signs You May Have Adult ADHD

8.2% of people have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, double the previously reported rate. Many people say their attention is gotten poorer in the digital age. But, is it just a regular inability to focus, or is it a ‘disorder’? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD or ADD, can cause people to have problems with simple day-to-day tasks, like paying bills. It may even cause someone to lose their job, through persistent lateness or failing to perform routine tasks. The World Health Organisation has released the latest version of

This Natural Juice Helps Keep Your Brain Young

This Natural Juice Helps Keep Your Brain Young

Older brains can perform like younger ones with this supplement. A beetroot juice supplement can make older brains perform like younger ones, new research shows. The supplement was given to older adults just before they worked out. Professor Jack Rejeski, a study co-author, said: “We knew, going in, that a number of studies had shown that exercise has positive effects on the brain. But what we showed in this brief training study of hypertensive older adults was that, as compared to exercise alone, adding a beet root juice supplement to

8 Fascinating Facts About Anxiety Worth Knowing

8 Fascinating Facts About Anxiety Worth Knowing

Surprising facts about anxiety include that it affects the sense of smell and balance, how we judge faces and perceptions of our personal space, and more… Anxiety can be crippling in excess, but it does exist for a good reason. Anxiety tells us we’re in danger and we need to do something. It was our anxious ancestors who prepared better for winter and made plans to fight off neighbouring tribes. The relaxed, laid-back guys never made it. But anxiety’s effects aren’t limited to motivation, they seep through the mind to

The Common Pill That Sadly Lowers Women’s Wellbeing

The Common Pill That Sadly Lowers Women’s Wellbeing

Women reported lower mood, self-control and energy. The most common form of the contraceptive pill lowers women’s wellbeing, new research finds. Women who took a combination of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel — a common combination — reported lower mood, self-control and energy. This was in comparison to a control group given a placebo. Dr Niklas Zethraeus, the study’s first author, said: “Despite the fact that an estimated 100 million women around the world use contraceptive pills we know surprisingly little today about the pill’s effect on women’s health. The scientific base

Single Or Married: Which Is The Most Fulfilling Life?

Single Or Married: Which Is The Most Fulfilling Life?

Psychologist challenges the orthodox view with evidence from studies conducted over 30 years. Single people are more likely to experience psychological growth and development than those who are married, a psychologist claims. This is just one perk of being single which is often ignored. Others include greater sociability and resilience. The conclusions come from surveying 814 studies conducted over 30 years. Dr Bella DePaulo, addressing the American Psychological Association’s 124th Annual Convention, said: “The preoccupation with the perils of loneliness can obscure the profound benefits of solitude. It is time

The Type Of Daydreaming Linked To A Smarter Brain

The Type Of Daydreaming Linked To A Smarter Brain

Some types of mind wandering may be highly beneficial to our brains, and our futures. Intentional daydreaming is linked to a thicker cortex (a good thing) in certain key areas of the brain, new research finds. Directing the mind to wander is a cognitive skill that can be beneficial in some contexts. For example, it can allow us to mentally rehearse upcoming events, or solve problems we might encounter. In other words, it allows the brain to work out possible futures for us. So, mind wandering is not always a

The Emotion That Does Change People’s Behaviour After All

The Emotion That Does Change People’s Behaviour After All

Plus: four ways the effect of this emotion on behaviour change can be increased. Fear really can change people’s behaviour, a new review of the research finds. It was thought that using fear might produce a backlash effect — but this is not the case. Women are particularly susceptible to behaviour change by fear. Appeals which evoke fear are frequently used in all sorts of messages aimed at the public. For example, fear is used to try and stop people smoking or to support certain political policies. It is perhaps

10 Common Signs Of Anxiety Disorders Everyone Should Know

10 Common Signs Of Anxiety Disorders Everyone Should Know

The common signs of anxiety disorders are both psychological and physical. Anxiety comes in many forms, but all the different types often have certain core features. Like many mental health problems, almost everyone experiences anxiety from time-to-time. Whether it is a problem all depends on the amount and nature of the anxiety. Everyday anxiety in response to stressful events is normal, but severe anxiety in response to relatively minor events can be seriously disabling. Bear that in mind when reading the signs of anxiety. For example, a lot of people