Thursday, March 20, 2014

Some Infant Care Practices May Contribute to Later Obesity

A new study reveals that many parents partake in infant feeding and activity behaviors that increase a child’s risk for obesity later in life...


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.


Suppression of Memories Can Be Beneficial

New research posits suppression of unwanted memories is helpful as the action prevents the memories from influencing future behavior.
Investigators say the findings challenge the idea that suppressed memories remain fully preserved in the brain’s unconscious, allowing them to be inadvertently expressed in someone’s behavior...


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.


Social Connections Can Help to Reduce Depression

A new study finds that belonging to a social group helps to alleviate depression and prevent relapse. And, it appears the closer the tie to the group, the better the results. In the paper, currently in press at the Journal of Affective Disorder...


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Psychological Problems Plague Many Survivors of Serious Accidents

The good news is that contemporary medical care and technology saves lives after critical illnesses and accidents; the bad news is that long-term hospitalizations and need for mechanical ventilation is associated with serious psychosocial issues.
A new study discovers the first few months after discharge from a facility are critical, said professor of clinical epidemiology Dr. Henrik Toft Sørensen of Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark...

Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Emotional Stress Linked to Women's Heart Problems

Researchers have found that emotional stressors — such as those provoking anger — may cause changes in the nervous system that controls heart rate and trigger a type of coronary artery dysfunction that occurs more frequently in women than men.
In men with coronary artery disease, the large arteries feeding the heart tend to become clogged by plaque, and these blockages are evident on coronary angiograms.
Women, however...
Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Resolve Hidden Shame with Humor

Hidden shame can be the most damaging emotion and is believed to be the force behind many of the behaviors that occur in our current society.
In fact, the words “shame on you,” can temporarily — or, when used too often, permanently — destroy an individual’s sense of value and self-worth.
“In modernity, shame is the most obstructed and hidden emotion, and therefore the most destructive,” said Thomas Scheff, professor emeritus of sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara.
“Emotions are like breathing — they cause trouble only when obstructed.”...
Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Soldiers Near Blast May Suffer Brain Injury, Even Without Symptoms

Veterans who have been exposed to nearby explosions, but who lack clear symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may still have damage to the brain’s white matter similar to veterans with TBI, according to new research at Duke Medicine and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...



Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Traumas May Have Immediate Impact on Kids' Health

Children who have experienced three or more stressful events are six times more likely to suffer from a mental, physical, or learning disorder than children who have never faced a traumatic experience, and these health problems may take hold immediately, according to a University of Florida (UF) study...



Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

APA Informs Federal Officials of Policy Changes Related to Detainee Welfare and Interrogation in National Security Settings

Calls on federal agencies to avoid placing health providers in roles and situations that conflict with professional ethics

The American Psychological Association has sent letters to key federal agency officials, including the secretary of defense, U.S. attorney general and the CIA director, reiterating APA’s strict prohibition against psychologist involvement in torture or other types of inhumane treatment of national security detainees and informing them of recent modifications to the association’s longstanding policy related to psychologists' involvement in national security settings.

The letters, which were also sent to leaders of relevant congressional committees, call on the officials to “take all possible action to prohibit the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in interrogations and any other detainee-related operations.”...


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

APA Task Force Report Highlights Problem of Human Trafficking of US Women and Girls

Points out shortcomings in current policies, programs; calls for research, public education


Preventing the trafficking of women and girls is a complex problem that requires cross-disciplinary research, training and education, public awareness and new policies at every level of government, according to the report of a task force appointed by the American Psychological Association.

“There is no typical case of human trafficking, which often overlaps with other closely related crimes, such as human smuggling, prostitution, intimate partner violence and child abuse,” according to the Report of the Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls. “Human trafficking is also extremely difficult to measure. The clandestine nature of the crime, the lack of a comprehensive centralized database of human trafficking cases, the sheer diversity of trafficking situations and experience, and the difficulty in accessing...


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.


Personality May be Key Risk Factor in Preventive Health Care

When it comes to helping young adults avoid serious health problems later in life, assessing their personalities during routine medical exams could prove as useful as recording their family medical histories and smoking habits, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

“Health care reform provides a great opportunity for preventive care, with physicians seeing more young adults who may not previously have had insurance,” said lead author Salomon Israel, PhD, of Duke University and Duke University Medical Center. “Our research found that if a doctor knows a patient’s personality, it is possible to develop a more effective preventive health care plan


Reposted by:
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.