Could magic mushrooms be the answer to depression?
Lying on a bed in London’s Hammersmith hospital ingesting capsules of psilocybin, the active ingredient of magic mushrooms, Michael had little idea what would happen next. The 56-year-old part-time website developer from County Durham in northern England had battled depression for 30 years and Read More...
Study: Psilocybin could be used to alleviate depression in people
Psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, could soon be used in tandem with psychological support to help people suffering from depression by stimulating in them a more positive outlook on life. This follows a study in London which participants who were administered the Read More...
Using social media may only worsen your feelings of depression and loneliness
If you’re feeling depressed or lonely, browsing social media may be the last thing you should be doing. According to a new study, researchers found that cutting down on social media usage actually improved the well-being of people suffering from depression. Simply by cutting social media usage to Read More...
New smartphone app can find out whether or not its users are depressed
A startup in California is trying to use our obsession with the technology in our pockets to treat depression. When a patient installs the startup's app, it monitors things like the way the person types, taps, scrolls while using other apps. These seemingly mundane interactions with your phone can Read More...
There's new evidence a plant-rich diets may help prevent depression
A poor diet can cause damage to the brain. Being depressed can negatively affect your appetite and what you eat, but can bad eating habits bring your mood down? Our latest study, a systematic review of the best available evidence, found a clear link between the quality of a person’s diet and Read More...
Science confirms alpha wave oscillations in the brain foster creativity
A creativity boost is as simple as a 10-Hertz current run through electrodes attached to the scalp, according to a new research study on the impact of alpha wave oscillations in the brain. Meditation yields the same result, as people who have incorporated the practice regularly can attest to. The Read More...
Spirituality associated with thicker brain cortex and protection against depression
Using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to create detailed anatomical images of the brain, the scientists compared people based on whether they reported a low, moderate or high importance of religion or spirituality in their lives. They found that the brains of people for whom religion or Read More...
Optimism 2.0
How an optimistic outlook can help improve your state of health, not just your state of mind. Mary Desmond Pinkowish | September 2010 issue Admit it. Secretly you think optimistic people are just a little annoying—their constant, insufferable smiling; the way they’re always looking on the Read More...
“Cultural activities improve mental health”
Sweden has recently launched a pilot project to help patients suffering from chronic depression; stress; anxiety; or back, shoulder and neck pain by prescribing cultural activities. Karin Berg, project manager at Capio clinic in Helsingborg, which hosts the trials, explains. Marco Visscher | Read More...
A kinder, gentler way to deal with depression
By concentrating on asking the question "how", not "why", we become less judgmental on ourselves. David Servan-Schreiber | June/July 2009 issue Gail is no stranger to depression, so she finds the psychiatrist’s advice puzzling. He suggests that instead of wondering why she feels powerless and Read More...