PsyBlog

From childhood to old age, studies are uncovering surprising links between vitamin D and mental health and cognition.

The personality trait of perfectionism is linked to higher depression risk, a review of ten different studies finds. Perfectionists are often worried about making mistakes and tend to be highly self-critical. Feeling societal pressure to perform to a high standard, they often believe others are continually judging them. When perfectionists fail to meet their lofty standards, they tend to get depr…

The type of food that increases hyperactivity, anxiety, fearfulness, and aggression in preschool children.

Inadequate daily intake of this vitamin-like compound can lead to an enlarged heart, liver damage, weight gain as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

It turns out the size of an expense isn’t always what determines how much it affects your stress levels.

Many thoughts enter our minds without our conscious awareness or control.” Although we can decide to think about certain things, there are other mental processes that get started automatically. For example, we count things automatically, without willing it. The conclusion comes from a study in which people were given a task involving an array of objects. They were specifically told not to count t…

The way people explain uncertain events may provide an early warning sign of future mental health difficulties.

A simple mental habit may help protect people from some of the toughest effects of loneliness and social disconnection.

From the hippocampus to the amygdala, research links cannabis use to some unexpected structural benefits.

Larks tend to rise earlier while owls stay up late -- each type extends the part of the day at which they feel their best.

After surveying experts across 11 disciplines, researchers found surprising agreement on the foundations of positive mental health.

Regular travel makes people happier overall, with people who frequently travel more than 75 miles from home being around 7 percent happier overall. Dr Chun-Chu Chen, the study’s first author, said: “While things like work, family life and friends play a bigger role in overall reports of well-being, the accumulation of travel experiences does appear to have a small yet noticeable effect on self-re…

Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD is the founder and author of PsyBlog. He holds a doctorate in psychology from University College London and two other advanced degrees in psychology. He has been writing about scientific research on PsyBlog since 2004. View all posts by Dr Jeremy Dean

A hidden bias that could be causing people to overlook their most creative ideas.

The drive to be perfect is rising. So is the damage it causes. Find out what research says -- and how to break free.

Optimists are most likely to hold positive beliefs about aging. Critically, optimists believe they can control their lives and make improvements. This means that believing in a healthy, engaged old age is a self-fulfilling prophecy — people with these views tend to experience better health and are more active and social. Ms Shelbie Turner, the study’s first author, said: “How we think about who w…

Researchers found that some plant-based diets were linked to lower dementia risk, while others were not.

The scent also has practically no side-effects in comparison to drugs like benzodiazepines and SSRI antidepressants.

The right mix of music and sound patterns help quiet anxious thoughts and feelings.

Drinking three or more caffeinated drinks per day may trigger a migraine. One or two cups of coffee, or other caffeinated beverages, were not linked to a migraine on that day for regular caffeine drinkers, researchers have found. However, three or more were linked to a greater risk of experiencing a migraine that same day. People who do not regularly consume caffeine raised their risk of a migrai…