Mental Health

Research shows a link between marijuana use and psychosis.

Health & Safety

Daily Marijuana Use And Highly Potent Weed Linked To Psychosis

7:32pm March 19, 2019

by Rhitu Chatterjee

As more places in the U.S. and Europe legalize marijuana, weed consumption is growing ever more popular. But researchers are studying a troubling health risk associated with the drug.

A chimpanzee hugs her newborn at Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, in 2010. Over the course of his long career, primatologist Frans de Waal has become convinced that primates and other animals express emotions similar to human emotions.

Sex, Empathy, Jealousy: How Emotions And Behavior Of Other Primates Mirror Our Own

4:03pm March 19, 2019

by Terry Gross

Primatologist Frans de Waal believes that the way humans experience emotion is not unique: "That's a spectrum of behavior that we have, and the same thing is true for many other species."

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For people with a rare condition known as misophonia, certain sounds like slurping, chewing, tapping and clicking can elicit intense feelings of rage or panic.

Misophonia: When Life's Noises Drive You Mad

2:22pm March 18, 2019

by April Fulton

Some people experience intense rage or fear when they hear the sound of people chewing, spitting, or throat-clearing. Turns out they may have a rare condition known as misophonia.

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Various forms of dementia can take very different courses, so it's important to get the right diagnosis.

Health & Safety

Is It Alzheimer's Or Another Dementia? The Right Answer Matters

10:49am March 18, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Many older people diagnosed with Alzheimer's actually have dementia caused by something else. Without the right diagnosis, these people are less likely to get the best care.

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In 2011, Esco's best friend from high school died of AIDS-related causes. One of Esco's exes also died of an AIDS-related condition. And another friend took his own life after he got his diagnosis — out of fear his family would find out.

Ending HIV In Mississippi Means Cutting Through Racism, Poverty And Homophobia

9:43am March 16, 2019

More than half the new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. are in Southern states, where the rates among gay and bisexual black men remain stubbornly high, despite the existence of medicine to stop the virus.

During the era that social media and smartphones has risen, depression and stress among young people has also risen.

Health & Safety

A Rise In Depression Among Teens And Young Adults Could Be Linked To Social Media Use

6:26pm March 14, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

A new study shows a rise in depression and stress among young people parallels the growth in smartphone and social media use.

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Robert Neilson, a 76-year-old veteran, is seeking treatment at the San Diego VA after contemplating suicide three years ago.

VA Struggles To Unlock The Reasons Behind High Suicide Rates Among Older Veterans

7:41pm March 11, 2019

by Steve Walsh

There's been an alarming rise in the suicide rate among younger veterans. But elderly veterans commit suicide at a rate higher than the non-veteran population. The VA wants to find out how to stop it.

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Health & Safety

FDA Approves Esketamine Nasal Spray For Hard-To-Treat Depression

7:26am March 06, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Three decades after Prozac arrived, consumers are getting a new kind of antidepressant. The medicine is based on the anesthetic ketamine, which has been used illicitly as a party drug.

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A screening test for signs of Alzheimer's disease takes only a few minutes, but many doctors don't perform one during older people's annual wellness visits.

Health & Safety

Alzheimer's Screenings Often Left Out Of Seniors' Wellness Exams

8:24pm March 05, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

A brief cognitive test can detect signs of Alzheimer's in older patients. Only half of primary care doctors routinely give one, despite coverage by Medicare as part of annual wellness visits.

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Given supportive, nurturing conditions, highly reactive "orchid" children can thrive when tackling challenges, pediatrician and author Thomas Boyce says, especially if they have the comfort of a regular routine.

Is Your Child An Orchid Or A Dandelion? Unlocking The Science Of Sensitive Kids

7:34pm March 04, 2019

by Dave Davies

Some kids seem resilient from the start — readily able, like dandelions, to cope with stress and adversity. But pediatrician Thomas Boyce says biologically reactive kids need more support to thrive.

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