The Science of Mental Health

Personality

Eat Oily Fish and Seafood For Borderline Personality Disorder

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids from fish could reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder, highlighting the benefits of fish and seafood to mental health.

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids from fish could reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder, highlighting the benefits of fish and seafood to mental health.

Gratitude

Carpe Diem and Gratitude Through Museums

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on April 25, 2023

Seize the day and enhance your gratitude thinking by visiting a museum that makes you grateful to live in the present day.

Seize the day and enhance your gratitude thinking by visiting a museum that makes you grateful to live in the present day.

Psychiatry

Why Things Can Smell Wrong in Schizophrenia

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on March 22, 2023

Signs of olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia include poor odour memory and not distinguishing between different smells.

Signs of olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia include poor odour memory and not distinguishing between different smells.

Career

Miracle Workers Available 24-7, and Other Toxic Expectations

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on February 22, 2023

Personal Perspective: A recent ad for an “always on” teacher that made headlines in the UK reminds us that expecting employees to achieve the unachievable is toxic.

Personal Perspective: A recent ad for an “always on” teacher that made headlines in the UK reminds us that expecting employees to achieve the unachievable is toxic.

Gaslighting

Is the U.K. Media Gaslighting Prince Harry?

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on January 13, 2023

Personal Perspective: When Harry alleged his brother attacked him, many vilified him for talking about it publicly, not unlike how victims of domestic violence are gaslit.

Personal Perspective: When Harry alleged his brother attacked him, many vilified him for talking about it publicly, not unlike how victims of domestic violence are gaslit.

Stress

You Don't Need Christmas Gifts to Be Happy

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on December 14, 2022

Charles Dickens inspired many modern Christmas traditions—including, perhaps, gift-giving. But giving and receiving gifts may not actually be a path to happiness.

Charles Dickens inspired many modern Christmas traditions—including, perhaps, gift-giving. But giving and receiving gifts may not actually be a path to happiness.

Career

Employment, Arguments and Borderline Personality Disorder

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on November 29, 2022

A new study found that having a job, not cutting back on work hours, having fewer arguments, and living with others are factors associated with recovery from BPD.

A new study found that having a job, not cutting back on work hours, having fewer arguments, and living with others are factors associated with recovery from BPD.

Conformity

People-Pleasing, Trussonomics, and Tussles in Parliament

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on October 28, 2022

How free speech and a boisterous Parliament contrasted with treachery against a friend and tax-cutting economic policies. Why trying to please many can end up pleasing very few.

How free speech and a boisterous Parliament contrasted with treachery against a friend and tax-cutting economic policies. Why trying to please many can end up pleasing very few.

Psychiatry

The Mysterious Case of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on September 29, 2022

Is it ethical to expose people's brains to electric currents, or can studies showing that ECT is effective in reducing some types of mental illness be trusted?

Is it ethical to expose people's brains to electric currents, or can studies showing that ECT is effective in reducing some types of mental illness be trusted?

Self-Harm

Hallucinations About Harm in Borderline Personality Disorder

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on August 30, 2022

New research found that 76 percent of people with BPD and hallucinations hear voices telling them to hurt themselves.

New research found that 76 percent of people with BPD and hallucinations hear voices telling them to hurt themselves.

Psychosis

When Dehydration Leads to Mental Health Problems

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on July 28, 2022

Dehydration could be linked with hallucination and psychosis with excessive thirst, but water intoxication contributes to many deaths; close support from caretakers is needed.

Dehydration could be linked with hallucination and psychosis with excessive thirst, but water intoxication contributes to many deaths; close support from caretakers is needed.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Do More People Have PTSD After Covid-19?

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on July 1, 2022

About 30 percent of people with severe infections of Covid-19 might have PTSD, and particularly at risk are those with persistent Covid symptoms and a personal history of mental illness.

About 30 percent of people with severe infections of Covid-19 might have PTSD, and particularly at risk are those with persistent Covid symptoms and a personal history of mental illness.

Stress

The Epidemic of 1962—of Laughter

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on May 30, 2022

A laughter epidemic spread widely and was accompanied by physical symptoms. Was it a contagious mass psychogenic illness?

A laughter epidemic spread widely and was accompanied by physical symptoms. Was it a contagious mass psychogenic illness?

Freudian Psychology

What We Can Still Take From Freud, On His Birthday

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on April 29, 2022

Many psychology curricula only briefly teach about Freud as a footnote in the subject’s history, yet he influenced the way that many psychologists think, write and practice today.

Many psychology curricula only briefly teach about Freud as a footnote in the subject’s history, yet he influenced the way that many psychologists think, write and practice today.

Positive Psychology

How to Seize the Day Like Dogs Do

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on March 28, 2022

Personal perspective: Dogs can teach us how to make the most of each day by being inquisitive about the wonders of nature, being playful, and disconnecting from intrusive technology.

Personal perspective: Dogs can teach us how to make the most of each day by being inquisitive about the wonders of nature, being playful, and disconnecting from intrusive technology.

Career

Some Workaholic, Perfectionist Micromanagers Might Have OCPD

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on February 28, 2022

Perfectionism, workaholism, hoarding, and micromanaging might—together with other traits—be warning signs of an obsessive-compulsive personality.

Perfectionism, workaholism, hoarding, and micromanaging might—together with other traits—be warning signs of an obsessive-compulsive personality.

Depression

Why Parents Need to Beware of What Kids Eat

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on January 27, 2022

Parents need to be aware of what their children are eating; research shows that some food additives are linked with hyperactivity, and fast foods are linked with suicidal ideas.

Parents need to be aware of what their children are eating; research shows that some food additives are linked with hyperactivity, and fast foods are linked with suicidal ideas.

Career

What Chess Can Teach Us About Life

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on December 28, 2021

Chess is a fascinating analogy about how to be the best you. The present doesn't limit your future.

Chess is a fascinating analogy about how to be the best you. The present doesn't limit your future.

Happiness

4 Things That Dogs Can Teach Us About Happiness

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on December 1, 2021

Dogs don’t park their happiness into the future, and neither should you. Seize your day by being intellectually or physically playful, and finding comfort in routine.

Dogs don’t park their happiness into the future, and neither should you. Seize your day by being intellectually or physically playful, and finding comfort in routine.

Personality

Borderline Personality Disorder and Relationship Violence

Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on October 29, 2021

When anger and paranoia get dangerous, and when fearing being abandoned is exploited: studies show that BPD correlates with relationship violence among perpetrators and victims.

When anger and paranoia get dangerous, and when fearing being abandoned is exploited: studies show that BPD correlates with relationship violence among perpetrators and victims.