Publications on Mental Health Topics

The Evolution of Anxiety: Why We Worry and What to Do About It, by James Clear, The Huffington Post, Jul 29 2016.

“The mismatch between our old brain and our new environment has a significant impact on the amount of chronic stress and anxiety we experience today. ”

Behavioral Activation is Effective, Less Expensive Therapy for Depression, by Rick Nauert PhD, Psych Central, Jul 22 2016.

“A new largescale study has found that a simple and inexpensive therapy called behavioral activation may be equally as effective at treating depression as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While CBT has been viewed as the “gold standard” psychological intervention for depression, the new study finds that Behavioral Activation (BA) is an approach that is equally effective and less expensive. ”

Winning the Campaign to Curb Teen Pregnancy, by Tina Rosenberg , New York Times, Jul 19 2016.

“Today, America’s birthrate for teenage mothers has hit a historic low — less than 40 percent of what it was at its modern peak in 1991, when it was 61.8 births per 1,000 girls 15 to 19 years old...The most important reason appears to be increased contraceptive use, perhaps as a result of comprehensive sex education and fear of H.I.V. ”

Weight gain studied for second-generation antipsychotics for autism spectrum disorders, by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Jul 18 2016.

“Some of the most effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are also well known for their risk of weight gain and subsequent health complications. For the first time, however, researchers have compared five of these second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) to determine which ones are the biggest culprits. ”

How our anxiety impacts our kids, by Kelly Wallace, CNN, Jul 15 2016.

“You feel anxious so you check with your child, 'Do you feel anxious? Do you feel anxious?' Sooner or later, probably sooner, they will start to feel anxious.' Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, believes it's natural for parents to feel some anxiety, especially after a tragedy like a terror attack or a mass shooting, but what parents might not realize is how often children, beginning at the youngest ages, adopt coping mechanisms from watching us. ”

Early Bedtime For Preschoolers Might Help Reduce Obesity Risk Later, by Carolyn Beans, NPR, Jul 14 2016.

“For parents concerned that their preschoolers may one day gain excess weight, a study published Thursday suggests one strategy for keeping the little ones on track that isn't related to food: Tuck them in earlier. Scientists reporting online in The Journal of Pediatrics found, in a study of not quite a thousand U.S. children, that preschoolers who got to bed by 8 p.m. were about half as likely as those who turned in after 9 p.m. to develop obesity in their teenage years. ”

The Benefits Of Recruiting Employees With Autism Spectrum Disorder, by Roberta Holland, Forbes, Jul 11 2016.

“There’s a new frontier in diversity programs focused not on race or gender but on cognitive ability. The growing interest in neurodiversity--hiring people with cognitive disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) —is motivated by companies looking to tap into a largely unnoticed labor pool at a time when many bemoan the lack of skilled workers. ”

Unmasking Alzheimer's risk in young adults, by Jacqueline Howard, CNN, Jul 6 2016.

“The risk for developing devastating Alzheimer's disease may be detectable in healthy adults younger than expected, and new studies reveal how. Tests already exist to determine a genetic risk for familial Alzheimer's disease, which is typically early-onset and less common than sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Both types cause dementia. However, identifying risk for the sporadic variety of Alzheimer's -- which accounts for about 95% of all Alzheimer's cases -- is not as simple. ”

How Parents Can Help Their Underage Kids Resist Alcohol, by Aimee Cunningham , NPR, Jul 6 2016.

“Two recent studies provide guidance for parents. One finds that parents who set limits in a warm and supportive environment reduced the risk that their adolescent children would binge drink. The other study reports on the potential of a home-based program that educates parents and children about alcohol prevention. The stakes are high. About 1 in 6 teens drank alcohol before turning 13, and about the same proportion of high school kids has binged on alcohol, according to the latest biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, a third of teenagers drink — down from about half of teens 25 years ago, but still a problem. ”

Teen Bullies And Their Victims Both Face A Higher Risk Of Suicide, by Alison Kodjak, NPR, Jun 28 2016.

“Bullying and cyberbullying are major risk factors for teen suicide. And both the bullies and their victims are at risk. That's according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics that urges pediatricians and family doctors to routinely screen teenagers for suicide risks. ”

Teen checkups should include suicide risk screening, by Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, Jun 27 2016.

“Suicide is among the leading causes of death in U.S. adolescents and while it’s not entirely preventable, doctors can minimize the risk by asking the right questions during routine checkups, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.   Pediatricians should ask about mood disorders, use of drugs and alcohol, suicidal thoughts, bullying, sexual orientation and other risk factors for suicide as part of a routine conversation about medical history, the AAP notes in treatment guidelines released today. ”

To Help A Criminal Go Straight, Help Him Change How He Thinks, by Jack Bush, NPR, Jun 26 2016.

“Hard-core criminals are trapped in a vicious circle of their own thinking. Cognitive treatment of offenders can show them a way out of that trap. With effort and practice, even the most serious offenders can learn to change their thinking about other people and themselves. They can learn to be good citizens, and feel good about it. But in most cases the criminal justice system doesn't present them that opportunity — not in a form that offenders recognize as genuine. ”

Elder Mistreatment: Are You Safe At Home?, by Terry Fulmer, Ph.D, The Huffington Post, Jun 22 2016.

“Are you safe at home? It’s a simple question that social workers, nurses, physicians, emergency medical technicians, and indeed all health care providers need to ask their older patients every time they see them. Why? Because that simple question can be a crucial first step toward identifying potential elder mistreatment. ”

‘Why Didn’t You Just Leave?’ Six Domestic Violence Survivors Explain Why It’s Never That Simple, by Melissa Jeltsen, Huffington Post, Jun 22 2016.

“The Huffinton Post spent 3 months interviewing survivors of domestic violence so they could share their story on why they stayed in the abusive relationship and barriers to leaving.  ”

Parenting Methods Shown to Impact Outcomes for Kids, by Janice Wood, PsychCentral, Jun 18 2016.

“A new study from Japan shows that children who receive positive attention and care from their parents have high incomes, high happiness levels, academic success, and a strong sense of morality. ”