The Checkup Archive: Mental Health

Which diet makes you happy?

In the ongoing debate about which diet is the best, here's a question you may not have heard before: Which diet is most likely to make you happy? A new study, surprisingly, indicates that when it comes to elevating your mood, not all diets are created equal....

Sneezes spread paranoia

During these days of swine flu fears, common sneezes and coughs are spreading more than just colds and the flu. They're spreading paranoia, according to new research. University of Michigan psychologist Spike Lee and colleagues decided to test whether people's fears of sneezes and coughs spilled over into other areas....

In pain? Look at photos of your children

Are you facing a painful medical procedure? If you're looking for a way to help deaden the pain, you might think about taking along a photo of your husband or wife, according to new research. A study involving 25 women found that those who looked at photos of loved ones...

The Health Hazards of Pessimism

Can your attitude affect your health? Yes, according to a new study. Optimism appears to be good for your health and pessimism seems to be bad, the study found. In the largest study of its kind, Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh and her colleagues studied 97,253 postmenopausal women...

Is IQ Linked to Longevity?

Contrary to previous research, a new study out today finds that people with lower IQs are not necessarily more likely to die prematurely. Previous studies have found low IQ to be associated with a greater risk of dying young. To try to examine that more closely, Tomas Hemmingsson of the...

Suicide Warnings Required for Anti-Smoking Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is requiring the smoking-cessation drugs Chantix and Zyban to carry the strongest type of safety warning possible to alert patients that the medications can cause serious mental health problems, including depression and suicide. The agency said it took the action requiring...

Older Entries in This Category »

Can Your Marriage Make You Sick?, Rob Stein , March 5, 2009

Can Tetris Treat PTSD?, Rob Stein , January 8, 2009

A Dangerous Web, Frances Stead Sellers , April 11, 2008