Mental Health

Loneliness is such a prevalent problem that the British have appointed a minister for loneliness.

By Stell Simonton

Scientists studying the brains of football players find more disturbing news about the causes of CTE.

By John Donovan

Can a song or music really push a person that far to the edge?

By Diana Brown

Some people are afraid of snakes or heights or plane crashes. For people with telephobia, a phone call is a big fat "no-can-do."

By Jesslyn Shields

Secrets can take a measurable mental and physical toll on those who keep — and share — them.

By Laurie L. Dove

Hoarding is a serious mental illness that is extremely hard to treat. Find out what we've learned about the disorder over the years and how psychiatrists and psychologists are helping those who are living with the disease.

By Ed Grabianowski

Experts can't help noticing that people who are now addicted to opioids are characterized as victims, while crack addicts were labeled as criminals. Is race the reason?

By Dave Roos

Are you one of those people who can't fall asleep without the sound of a fan? The reason may have something to do with your "sleep spindles."

By Alia Hoyt

Experts are divided on whether animal hoarding should be considered a separate mental disorder from general hoarding.

By Alia Hoyt

Now in its fifth edition, the DSM is the bible of diagnosing mental disorders in the U.S. Adding or removing a condition from the manual can greatly impact public opinion, as well as pharmaceutical and insurance practices.

By Alia Hoyt

Doctoral programs are extremely grueling and stressful at times, but a new study shows they can even spark some serious psychiatric problems.

By Shelley Danzy

Although African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious psychological distress than white Americans, they are far less likely to get help. Here's why.

By Alia Hoyt

Many kids grow up with imaginary friends. Why do they rely on these make-believe playmates and are they a sign of trouble or great things?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Although internet addiction is classified as a national epidemic in some Asian countries, the U.S. has been slower to make that assumption. But is that caution justified?

By Dave Roos

A rare neurological disorder called Witzelsucht turns joking, punning and making inappropriate wisecracks into a compulsion.

By Jesslyn Shields

Even if the film is full of blasting bombs and flashing lights, it might not be enough to stop some folks from nodding off.

By Dave Roos

Scientists believe that coffee bubble phobia — a symptom of trypophobia, or a fear of holes — could be an evolutionary aversion to parasites.

By Alia Hoyt

Are facial expressions learned or innate? A study that looked at the facial expressions of people blind from birth found mixed results.

By Alia Hoyt

Short or tall, height affects us all — but does it have the power to determine how long we live, or whether we're happy?

By Laurie L. Dove

A new study shows that suicide afflicts farmers in the United States at a rate consistently higher than any other profession.

By Patrick J. Kiger

A new study links sleeping in on the weekends with an increased likelihood of heart disease.

By Dave Roos

Researchers have been analyzing Reddit posts to figure out which colleges have the most stressed-out students.

By Jonathan Strickland

Swedish speakers tend to measure time by distance, while Spanish speakers tend to say measure it by volume. But how does this difference in expression affect how people perceive time?

By Shelley Danzy

We've all performed this social ritual thousands of times but, as it turns out, there's a right way and a wrong way to shake hands. A psychologist who has studied the art and psychology behind handshakes explains.

By John Donovan

Sigmund Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis, although today many of his theories are viewed unfavorably. Why is his legacy still so important?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus