972 Results
Understanding Stimming: Repetitive Behaviors with a Purpose
One key symptom of autism spectrum disorders is repetitive behaviors, such as repetitive actions like self-stimulation behavior, or stimming. These behaviors can involve one part of the body, the entire body or an object. While they may seem distractive or disruptive, and while it may not be obvious to others, stimming often serves a purpose for the individual.
Exploring the Complexities of Resilience
Many children experience adversity and traumatic events. Researchers continue to try to understand resilience, or the trait that makes some children, and adults, better able than others to cope and adapt to adversity.
Kickoff of APA’s “Looking Beyond Series” Explores the Social Determinants of Mental Health
The social determinants of health and mental health were the focus of a recent APA Mental Health Equity Fireside Chat hosted by APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity and moderated by Division Chief and Deputy Medical Director Regina James, M.D.
What to Do About Workplace Bullying
Bullying is often thought of as a kids’ problem. But it also often happens to adults in the workplace. Workplace bullying involves multiple, repeated, intentional acts of aggression, hostility, social isolation, disrespect or mistreatment of an employee by another employee(s). It can include work sabotage or behaviors perceived as threatening, intimidating, or humiliating. These acts often happen in person but also can occur through email, text messaging, and social media.
Voices for Change: Substance Use and Addiction in Minoritized/Marginalized Communities
APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., has prioritized substance use disorders and addictive behaviors. His goal is to bring together diverse constituencies to offer education, treatment, and support to patients, families, and practitioners.
The Basics of Augmented Intelligence: Some Factors Psychiatrists Need to Know Now
Following the release of GPT4 in ChatGPT, augmented intelligence (AI) has been in the news more than ever. You may have tried out ChatGPT on your own for something fun (e.g., “Write a joke from the perspective of a cat,”) or something serious (e.g., “Write a draft lesson plan for a psychiatry residency program about treatment-resistant depression in adults”). A simultaneous strength and challenge of AI is that core to the technology is “learning” and evolution, making it difficult to define a st
Hoarding: A Look at the Motivations to Save Things
Possessions have a magical quality for all of us. Our most cherished ones contain an essence that goes beyond their physical qualities, like a ticket stub from a favorite concert, a gift from a dear friend or a piece of clothing belonging to a lost loved one. Most of us own many things of this sort, but our ownership does not interfere with our ability to live. For some people, however, ownership goes awry, and possessions accumulate and clutter living spaces, making them unusable.
Animal-assisted Interventions: Companion Animals and Mental Health
As many as 70% of US households have companion animals, evidence of our strong emotional connection with them. What does science say about how animals can improve mental health?
APA Praises House COVID-19 Relief Package; Calls Upon Senate to Pass Legislation
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today applauded the mental health and addiction-related resources included in the Heroes Act (H.R. 8406) passed by the U.S. House. Evidence is mounting that the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating mental health conditions, while the economic consequences of the pandemic have been reducing the mental health and substance use treatment capacity across the country. The resources in the House-passed Heroes Act constitute a needed step toward treatment for men
New Research Details Links Between COVID and Mental Health
Several new studies highlight links between mental health disorders and COVID-19. People with mental health disorders and intellectual disabilities are more at risk for contracting COVID and people who have had COVID are at greater risk for developing mental disorders. Understanding these risks can potentially help health professionals and individuals to improve prevention, assessment, and treatment.
Myths and Facts Concerning Abortions and Mental Health
The APA Council on Women’s Mental Health has put together a series of Myths and Facts everyone needs to know about abortion and mental health.
‘Outbreak’ of Sudden Tics Among Teen Girls
Researchers in several countries are reporting that the pandemic has triggered an increase in the number of teen girls with tic-like behaviors that are severe, frequent and disabling.