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Judge slams ‘vexatious’ psychologist for stalling tactics
A psychologist in George has failed in yet another attempt to stop the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) from instituting disciplinary action...
Impact of second victim syndrome on surgeons
Nearly 50% of healthcare providers face second victim syndrome (SVS) – the trauma after a medical complication or error – at least once, and...
Kiwifruit improves vitality in just four days – New Zealand study
Kiwifruit has proven itself as a powerful mood booster, with researchers now suggesting it can improve vitality in just four days, and that the...
Ultra-processed foods should be labelled ‘addictive’, say scientists
People might change their diets if some foods were labelled as “addictive”, says a group of international scientists, whose estimates suggest that one in...
Soft touch technique gives hope to nail-biters, hair-pluckers – German study
Scientists estimate that about 5% of people worldwide are afflicted with body-focused repetitive behaviours – like compulsively pulling or picking at their hair or...
Childhood lead exposure possibly linked to lower IQ levels – US study
Researchers have calculated that exposure to car exhausts from leaded petrol during childhood stole a collective 824m IQ points from more than 170m Americans...
Insomnia study shows the way on adapting trials to better represent minorities
In April, the journal JAMA Psychiatry published a study that was reported to be the first of its kind – a randomised clinical trial...
Playing instruments linked to better cognition – Scottish study
Evidence suggests that people who play musical instruments are able to perform better in cognitive tests – and that even two years of such...
To expose a liar, introduce multi-tasking into the equation – UK study
It is well documented that lying during interviews takes up more cognitive energy than telling the truth. Investigators can use this finding to their...
Positive psychology and the distress of the cancer experience
Positive psychological factors that affect morbidity and mortality have not been extensively studied in diverse oncologic populations, although they could be extremely influential in...
San Diego Wisdom Scale successfully abbreviated to just 7 questions
An abbreviated, seven-item scale can help determine, with high validity, a person’s level of wisdom, a potentially modifiable personality trait that has been shown...
When older couples are spatially close their heart rates synchronise
When older couples are in close proximity, their heart rates synchronise in complex patterns of interaction, found a study from the University of Illinois that examines...
UK study finds no evidence that violent video games trigger real-life violence
There was no evidence that violence against other people increased after a new violent video game was released, found a University of London study....
Major hurdles for SA's autistic children
Children with autism face huge barriers in accessing healthcare and special schools, researchers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) have found, and often, there’s...
Fans matter: Effect of empty stadiums on ‘home advantage’ — 11-country, 15-league analysis
The elimination of so-called “home advantage” because pandemic restrictions meant games were played in football stadiums empty of spectators meant fewer goals, fewer points...
Realisation that COVID will be ‘a long warʼ sparks anger and denial
The prospect of a prolonged COVID-19 outbreak and constantly evolving roster of restrictions has brought back another feature of pandemic living — anger —...
‘Laughing gas’ has rapid, lasting antidepressant effect — Phase II trial
The anaesthetic drug nitrous oxide - otherwise known as laughing gas - can significantly improve symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression, found a University...
Daily prebiotic intake has positive impact on anxiety — Small UK study
Four weeks of daily galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) prebiotic intake can reduce anxiety levels and result in an overall improvement in wellbeing, including gut health, in...
Positive outlook predicts less memory decline – 9-year longitudinal study
A US study found that people who feel enthusiastic and cheerful – what psychologists call "positive affect" – are less likely to experience memory...
Depression worsens over time for caregivers of newly diagnosed dementia patients
Caring for a partner or spouse with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's or related dementia is associated with a 30% increase in depressive symptoms,...
Violence and trauma in childhood accelerate puberty
Violent or traumatic childhooed experiences led to accelerations in pubertal development, brain development, and cellular ageing, found a Harvard study.
Experiencing adversity early in life...
Natural lithium in drinking water linked with lower suicide rates
Naturally occurring lithium in public drinking water may have an anti-suicidal effect – according to a study from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)...
PTSD service dogs: Effective at warning of anxiety and disrupting it
Service dogs assist military veterans in coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by alerting owners to signs of anxiety, awaking them from nightmares, and...
Hedonism as important as self-control for happiness – European study
Relaxing on the sofa or savouring a delicious meal: Enjoying short-term pleasurable activities that don't lead to long-term goals contributes at least as much...
People, even in bad circumstances, are optimists for most of their lives
The largest study yet on optimism surveyed 75,000 American, German and Dutch people between the ages of 16 and 101 to determine how optimistic...
Study finds evidence that loneliness makes it harder to quit smoking
In a study published in the journal Addiction, researchers at the University of Bristol have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience...
Key factors in elite military training are psychological — US Marine study
The biggest determinants of success in elite military training are not physical factors but psychological factors, according a small study conducted among US Marine...
Depression's link with CVD and mortality especially marked in urban areas
In this 21-nation, population-based cohort study, adults with depressive symptoms were associated with having increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in economically...
Cannabis temporarily relieves PTSD symptoms but tolerance may build
People suffering from post-traumatic distress disorder report that cannabis reduces the severity of their symptoms by more than half, at least in the short...
Mindfulness training shows promise for people with MS
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent the four-week mindfulness training not only improved more compared to those who did nothing – they also...
Hearts that drum together beat together
Group drumming stimulates behavioural and physiological synchronisation that contribute to the formation of social bonds and a consequent ability to cooperate. What role can...
Vegetarians and vegans more likely to be depressed than meat eaters
A research review concludes that vegetarians and vegans had “significantly” higher rates or risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm. The research found that one...
Gratitude interventions don't help with depression, anxiety
A study by researchers at The Ohio State University analysed results from 27 separate studies that examined the effectiveness of gratitude interventions on reducing...
Inactivity linked to increased risk of depression in adolescents
A University College London study has found that an additional 60 minutes of light activity (such as walking or doing chores) daily at age...
40-nation survey finds that almost three out of four unhappy with breast size
The majority of women worldwide may be dissatisfied with the size of their breasts, found a 40-nation study. The authors note that this has...
Eating disorders linked to exercise addiction
A meta-analysis found that people displaying characteristics of an eating disorder are 3.7 times more likely to suffer from addiction to exercise than people...
Estimated 1 in 4 children and young people have problematic smartphone usage
A study by researchers at King’s College London has estimated that one in four children and young people use their smartphones in a way...
Social media's impact on mental health: An 8-year longitudinal study
However, research led by Sarah Coyne, a professor of family life at Brigham Young University, found that the amount of time spent on social...
Kindness — the quality most sought globally in a life-long partner
One of the top qualities that we look for in a long-term partner is kindness, according to an international study by Swansea University. Researchers...
Just do it: Happy introverts may simply choose to be extraverts
If you are an introvert, force yourself to be an extravert — you'll be happier, found a small US personality study. That's the...