Non-stimulants may be used if: The side effects of stimulants are too great. You don’t respond to stimulants. You have a history of bipolar disorder. You have a history of certain heart conditions. You have a history of drug use. Non-stimulant medications include Strattera, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Effexor, Wellbutrin, and some high blood pressure medicines. Of these, Strattera has been studied most extensively for use in the treatment of ADHD in adults and children....

They have some famous fans, including podcaster Joe Rogan, who claim that they help to boost cognitive function. However, some scientists have disputed their effectiveness. They have just as many detractors as they do fans, and there are so many different types of nootropics—with the most popular including modafinil and methylphenidate (Ritalin)—that it can be tricky to know what the truth is. “In acute studies from my laboratory at the University of Cambridge, we have shown that methylphenidate and modafinil as compared with placebo do enhance cognition in healthy people,” says Barbara Sahakian, DSc, FBA, FMedSci, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge....

The plant, known by the scientific names Lophophora williamsii or Lophophora diffusa, is found in the southwest United States, northern Mexico, and Peru. It continues to be used in religious practices that involve ingesting peyote during night-long prayer ceremonies. Peyote buttons (protrusions found on the tops of the cactus plants) are usually dried and then chewed. They can also be soaked and consumed as a liquid (such as tea), ground into a powder that can be taken in capsules, or smoked with tobacco or cannabis....

What Is a Phobia? Phobias are classified as anxiety disorders. They are characterized by an irrational fear that is out of proportion to the actual threat of a specific object or situation. There are many different types of phobias. A phobia can be paralyzing, making it so that a person struggles to function in their everyday lives. The person may take steps big and small to avoid encountering whatever it is they fear....

Psychomotor retardation occurs commonly during depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, as well as during major depressive disorder. In these circumstances, the effects are usually temporary and recede as the depression lifts. That said, the development of psychomotor retardation does not always signal a depressive episode. Other situations and conditions, such as drug side effects and certain medical conditions, can also trigger slowed physical and mental activity. Symptoms of Psychomotor Retardation People with psychomotor retardation move, speak, react, and often think more slowly than normal....

The reality is that while the brain is capable of impressive feats, its capacity to store and recall details is limited. There are a few different ways and reasons that we forget things. So why are we often unable to retrieve information from memory? One possible explanation of retrieval failure is known as decay theory. According to this theory, a memory trace is created every time a new theory is formed....

Newfound Popularity of “Dark Empaths” Sparks Research Interest The two researchers at the forefront of studying the concept of dark empaths are Dr. Nadja Heym and Dr. Alexander Sumich, both of Nottingham Trent University. They co-authored a recent piece for The Conversation entitled, “‘Dark empaths’: how dangerous are psychopaths and narcissists with empathy?” Their writing called into question whether the concept of dark empathy, a term the pair had studied previously, was being misinterpreted as—one YouTuber they cited put it—“the most dangerous personality type....

Quite often, there are a variety of factors that come together to increase the likelihood that a teen will become violent. Individual Risk Factors A history of abuse, neglect, and trauma play a significant role in increasing aggressive or violent behavior. Being exposed to or witnessing violence increases risk. Research suggests that ongoing exposure to violence in the home and community normalizes the experience of violence. A history of aggressive behavior increases a teen’s risk of behaving violently....

When faced with an important exam, for example, students might stay out all night to avoid studying. Then when they do poorly, they can blame their poor scores on their friends for keeping them out late rather than their own lack of intelligence. Simply put, self-handicapping allows people to find an outside source to blame for possible failures. While this can be an effective strategy for protecting self-esteem, it can understandably have a significantly negative impact on success....

This article discusses what sensory adaptation is and how it works. It also explores examples of sensory adaptation and how it differs from habituation. What Is Sensory Adaptation? Sensory adaptation is a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it. While sensory adaptation reduces our awareness of a stimulus, it helps free up our attention and resources to attend to other stimuli in our environment. All five senses can experience sensory adaptation....

The ability to shift your focus can be a vital skill. If you’ve learned to shift your focus away from stress in your life to stave off rumination, here are some ways to go a little deeper with this skill. These largely unconscious mental habits are psychological defense mechanisms against stress that often create more stress than they relieve because they create other issues that can become problematic. When we are aware of these tendencies, we can consciously choose another path....

The predominantly inattentive type The predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type The combined type Some individuals with the predominately inattentive type of ADHD also display a subset of symptoms that are typified by sluggish-lethargic behavior and mental fogginess. It is this subset of characteristics that have been described as “sluggish cognitive tempo” (or SCT). Symptoms of SCT include: Drowsiness Frequent daydreaming Frequent staring into space Mental fogginess Poor memory retrieval Sluggish-lethargic behavior Slow processing of information Social passiveness, reticence, and withdrawal The tendency to become confused easily...

The experts say that in the next 20 years, the earth is likely to reach or surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming over pre-industrial levels. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said, “time is running out. Irreversible climate tipping points lie alarmingly close.” If you’re feeling anxious about the effects of climate change, you might be experiencing what’s being described as “eco-anxiety” or “climate grief”—terms used to describe feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and sorrow in relation to climate destruction....

For a fully remote randomized controlled trial testing a digital intervention for severe mental illness—the first of its kind—researchers created a smartphone app named CORE with daily game-like exercises to help people with a serious mental illness reassess their beliefs. “There are many barriers to treatment for individuals with serious mental illness (e.g., cost, accessibility, availability, stigma),” says co-author Guy Doron, a professor of psychology at Reichman University in Israel and co-founder of GGtude, the company that created the CORE app....

Also known as monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis, this condition is a very rare form of a delusion. It’s hard to convince people suffering from somatic delusions that their beliefs or symptoms are anything but correct. Parasitic infestations are the most common form of somatic delusion noticed in individuals. Other examples include body dysmorphia and unwavering mouth odor. Patients with this condition also experience anxiety and nervousness. Types of Somatic Delusions Instances of somatic delusions may be bizarre or non-bizarre....

But a new study suggests that for people who have had Covid-19, there’s an even greater risk for mental health challenges in the future. The Research Using data from the Veterans Health Administration, researchers were able to analyze outcomes experienced by more than 153,000 individuals that had survived at least 30 days after testing positive for Covid-19. According to the data, researchers observed a 60% increase in risk of new mental health diagnoses or new drug prescription related to mental health in individuals who survived the first 30 days of Covid-19 infection compared to those who avoided infection....

Through analysis of ten studies conducted in workplaces, researchers found that white men were more likely to perceive their privilege based on lived experience of marginalization, and at times, this understanding was increased following greater success at work. Research like this that highlights the factors that increase perception of privilege among white men may provide much-needed insight towards equitable outcomes for communities of color across the country. Understanding the Research This research was based on analysis of ten studies, and found evidence that white men who experienced disadvantage due to a social category such as a physical disability increased their perception of privilege and ability to empathize with racial minorities....

Especially in light of the last year, when many have had to navigate increased work-life balance issues with the pandemic, this research reinforces the need for breaks to be better incorporated into all spaces. Whether learning is being pursued by children at school or adults in the workplace, this research bodes well for the importance of breaks to be prioritized as part of the process given its impact on skill consolidation....

Studies show that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, with insomnia being the most common. A full 30 percent of adults report struggling with short-term symptoms, while 10 percent say that they deal with long-term complications. Insomnia can affect a person’s ability to fall asleep as well as stay asleep throughout the night. And with frequent nighttime disruptions, your brain may not go through all of the sleep stages required for good brain and body rest....