Research decisions made by clinical psychologists in the 1970s can help explain why so many people, myself included, struggle to make sense of our obsessional thoughts.
What do we know so far about this promising form of treatment and how it might help people with a range of neurological conditions? And is it living up to its promise for people with depression?
People can be reluctant to discuss symptoms with their doctor. When they do, their symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses. Even when people are diagnosed, they don’t always get the right treatment.
There are some possible health issues with the drugs, including cardiovascular risks.
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The early research suggests the drugs might be effective for some conditions. But scientists have safety concerns.
In deep brain stimulation, electrodes – the pale white lines – are implanted into a patient’s brain and connected to a battery in a person’s chest.
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Deep brain stimulation and trasncranial magnetic stimulation treat mental illness by sending electrical currents into parts of the brain. Every new patient provides researchers with a wealth of information. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.
Deep brain stimulation relies on thin electrodes implanted deep in the brain that deliver electrical currents.
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Rachel A. Davis, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
This rare procedure is offered by only a handful of centers in the US and around the world and should be used only when less invasive treatment options for OCD have been tried.
Many people attribute their coffee drinking to the need to feel more alert, but research shows that habit is just as big a driver behind caffeine consumption.
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Asaf Mazar, University of Pennsylvania and Wendy Wood, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when it comes to breaking unwanted behaviors and forming healthy ones.
When times are uncertain, we can fail to be flexible.
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Carey Wilson, The University of Melbourne and Thibault Renoir, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Early reports suggested an apparent increase in OCD relapse rates and symptom severity during the pandemic. But a year on, we’re learning this may not be the case.