953 Results
Mental Health Parity: New Proposed Rule
On July 25, 2023, the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services released a proposed rule intended to strengthen enforcement of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and improve patients’ ability to access care for mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD). At the same time, the agencies also released a Technical Release, seeking feedback on data requirements related to network composition and a possible enforcement safe harbor; a second Report to Congr
100 Day Step Challenge for Mental Health
Many employers offer wellness programs for their employees. A team of researchers in Australia wanted to explore the potential mental health benefits of a short-term workplace wellness program. Their study involved nearly 2,000 participants in a 100-day, 10,000-step challenge program. They found a small, but consistent effect on several measures of mental health over the term of the program. The positive mental health effect appeared regardless of whether a person reached the 10,000-step goal
For Women, Quitting Alcohol Can Lead to Improved Mental Well-Being
Completely abstaining from alcohol may be beneficial for mental well-being, especially for women, according to a new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. These benefits were seen in women who were lifetime abstainers and in women who quit drinking alcohol.
Treatments are Available for the So-called Winter Blues
As we move toward winter with shorter daylight hours and falling temperatures, many people begin to feel the cloud of seasonal depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs seasonally, typically in the winter months. SAD is not just the winter blues – SAD is a subtype of major depressive disorder. It can also occur during summer, but it is much less common that time of year.
Mental Health Pathfinders: APA President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D. Dr.Med.Sc.
Current APA President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D. Dr.Med.Sc. joins us to discuss his journey to psychiatric leadership and the early life events that inspired him to make a lifelong commitment to lifestyle medicine.
Pandemic Experience Shows Benefits of Telepsychiatry in Increasing Access to Care
New research finds that after the shift to mostly remote appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at psychiatric appointments increased significantly, potentially leading to more effective treatment. The research was published online in March in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
Special Issue of APA’s Official Journal Focuses on Psychedelic Medication
As the body of research grows around the potential promise of psychedelic medications in psychiatry, many questions and challenges remain. The January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry features a series of articles, including new research, reviews and commentaries, on the use of these treatments.
Americans’ Pets Offer Mental Health Support to Their Owners, 1 out of 5 Pet Owners Has an Emotional Support Animal
They say in Washington, if you want a friend, get a dog. The results of an American Psychiatric Association Healthy Minds Monthly Poll released jointly with the American Veterinary Medical Association seem to align with that adage: Among the many mental health benefits of pets, nearly two-thirds of pet owners say that their animals offer companionship (65%), are a true friend (65%) and provide unconditional love and support (64%).
On the Phone, In a Group, Online: New Study Evaluates Effectiveness of Different Therapy Delivery Methods
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown an effective treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. CBT helps people identify and change thinking and behaviors that are harmful or ineffective and, instead, focus on solving current problems. In addition to being delivered in individual therapy, CBT can be offered in other ways, such as group therapy and self-help programs. A new meta-analysis examining various delivery formats found group, telephone-administered, and gui
Celebrating Women’s History Month and Resilience
Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women to events in history and modern society. Initially a weeklong celebration in 1980, it quickly evolved into a month in 1987 when the nonprofit organization, National Women’s History Project (NWHP) successfully lobbied Congress. Today, Women’s History Month is celebrated during March in the United States and other countries and corresponds with International Women’s Day on March 8. The 2019 theme is “Visionary women: Champions of Peace an
As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Americans Feel Good About Their Social Connections, Value Friendships for Mental Health Impact
As heart-shaped candy boxes line the aisles of pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide, the majority of Americans (62%) said their friends had a mostly positive impact on their mental health, ahead of their children (48%), their extended family (47%), their spouse or partner (46%) and their parents (42%), among others.
Americans, Psychiatrists Agree: Sports Can Be Good for Mental Health
APA July 2024 Healthy Minds Monthly Poll on Mental Health and Sports