Mental Health

The program BAM (Becoming a Man) works with teenagers and uses cognitive behavior therapy to reduce violence in Chicago.

On the Knife's Edge: Using Therapy To Address Violence Among Teens

12:00am February 21, 2017

We hear a lot about senseless violence: people who lose their lives or their freedom over a stolen backpack, or perceived slight. Two researchers think social science might help prevent these crimes.

There might not be much science to support the benefits of art therapy, but students in a poetry class in Los Angeles say creating art brings them joy.

Can Poetry Keep You Young? Science Is Still Out, But The Heart Says Yes

7:33am February 20, 2017

by Ina Jaffe

Scientific evidence showing health benefits from engaging in the arts is still weak. But Los Angeles students in their 80s say their poetry class gives them joy, solace, community and a voice.

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An early draft of Card III in Hermann Rorschach's psychological test.

How Hermann Rorschach's 'Inkblots' Took On A Life Of Their Own

6:46pm February 17, 2017

by NPR Staff

These days, you're more likely to come across the concept of a Rorschach test in a cultural context than a clinical one. In a new book, author Damion Searls traces the history of the famous inkblots.

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At 70, Donald Trump is the oldest person to become president.

As Presidents Live Longer, Doctors Debate Whether To Test For Dementia

8:00am February 17, 2017

by Bret Stetka

The true health of politicians has likely been cloaked in secrecy since the days of Mesopotamian kings, but definitely since the Wilson administration. Has the time come to test presidents' cognition?

Uncertainty about the future can raise stress levels, psychologists say. Here, students in Charlotte, N.C., hold hands during a Sept. 21 protest after Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by a police officer.

Feeling Way More Stressed Out? You're Not Alone

3:04pm February 15, 2017

by Jess Boddy

A January poll finds that people's stress levels have spiked since August, with two-thirds of people saying they're worried about the future of the nation.

A doctor at a Boston Medical Center clinic counsels a patient who has become addicted to opioid painkillers, and wants help kicking the habit. Addiction specialists say drugs like suboxone, which mitigates withdrawal symptoms, can greatly improve his odds

Another Big Health Insurer Loosens Rules For Covering Addiction Treatment

1:35pm February 15, 2017

by Shefali Luthra

Doctors treating people addicted to opioids often need approval from insurers before giving drugs that ease withdrawal. The delay can be risky for patients. Insurers are starting to come around.

Scientists have genetically engineered mice (but not this cute one) to be resistant to the addictive effects of cocaine.

A Brain Tweak Lets Mice Abstain From Cocaine

4:36pm February 13, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have created addiction-resistant mice by altering the reward system in their brains. The findings shed light on the biochemistry of addiction.

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A new study suggests that teen girls experience more bouts of depression than teen boys.

Depression Strikes Today's Teen Girls Especially Hard

9:30am February 13, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

A study tracking depression rates among U.S. teens from 2005 to 2014 finds an increase — especially among girls. A steady diet of harsh judgments from social media may play a role, researchers say.

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(Left) Bob Hardin's son has fought alcoholism for decades. (Right) Cary Dixon's adult son has been in and out of treatment for opioid addiction.

W. Va. Families Worry About Access To Addiction Treatment Under Trump

6:59pm February 09, 2017

by Sarah McCammon

If President Trump fulfills his promise to repeal Obamacare, families in the state hit hardest by the opioid epidemic are concerned their loved ones will lose coverage for alcohol and drug treatment.

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Jay Zimmerman (left) and his father, Buddy, in July 2016. Buddy, who was also a veteran, passed away last September.

Veteran Teaches Therapists How To Talk About Gun Safety When Suicide's A Risk

4:39pm February 09, 2017

by April Dembosky

The VA is now training counselors in how to better understand and bring up guns and gun safety without alienating clients who are combat veterans.

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