The most common psychological functions assigned to religion are emotional. Religion, by giving the person identity, security, and courage, succeeds in reducing, relieving, and allaying anxiety, fear, tension, and stress. This chapter focuses on those studies on non-Western societies which make direct or indirect reference to the psychological and/or psychiatric functions of these new groups,...
Background Academic stress is associated with (a) increased food intake and (b) choosing calorie-dense food choices in higher education students. In this research, mindfulness was used to alleviate academic stress and, in effect, promote healthier eating behaviours and decision-making. Participants and procedure Ninety students were randomly allocated to either a mindfulness or a control...
Neural plasticity-the ability to change and adapt in response to stimuli-is an essential aspect of healthy brain function and, in principle, can be harnessed to promote recovery from a wide variety of brain disorders. Many neuropsychiatric diseases including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders arise from an inability to weaken and/or strengthen pathologic and beneficial circuits,...
Background: Comorbidity of anxiety and mood disorders is rather common, making the treatment of each disorder more difficult. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the anxiety disorders with a high degree of association with depression; PTSD-depression comorbidity can significantly affect the quality of life of the ones affected. Hence, using the best way to deal with each of these...
The West African iboga plant has been used for centuries by the Bwiti and Mbiri tribes to induce hallucinations during religious ceremonies. Ibogaine, the principal alkaloid responsible for iboga's psychedelic properties, was isolated and sold as an antidepressant in France for decades before its adverse effects precipitated its removal from the market. An ibogaine resurgence in the 1960s was...
BMC PsychologySeptember 13, 2018Oskar Lundgren, Peter Garvin, Margareta Kristenson et al.
Psychological distress with symptoms of depression and anxiety is common and unrecognized in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Efforts have been made to treat psychological distress in CAD with both conventional methods, such as antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy, and non-conventional methods, such as stress management courses. However, studies focusing on the experiences of...
Indian psychology lays enormous importance on the research of religious experiences and the expansion of approaches by which to accomplish them. In addition to that, it also provides understanding of the different states of consciousness. Hence, it is undeniable that Indian psychology will be able to make a definite therapeutic contribution to many psychological problems. For mental health...
Cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmaceuticals have traditionally been used to treat trauma-related anxiety in children. Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and meditative breathing with guided imagery have been used as alternative treatments to help reduce the nightmares, regain the sense of control, and rescript the negative internal dialogue created by the trauma-related anxiety. Combining drawing...
Clinical GerontologistSeptember 11, 2018H. Hazlett-Stevens, Jonathan B. Singer, Adrienne K. Chong
ABSTRACT Objective: Many older adults cope with various chronic physical health conditions, and in some cases, with mental health and/or cognitive difficulties. Mindfulness-based interventions offer an evidence-based, mind-body complementary treatment approach for a wide range of comorbidities, yet most investigations were conducted with young or middle-aged adults. The purpose of this review...
tial impact of psychedelic drugs on psychiatry to that of the microscope on biology and, while this analogy may strike some as laughable, let us reflect for a moment that human research with psychedelics has been effectively moribund since the restrictive drug policy reforms of the 1960s-70s, and has only recently been revived. Classic serotonergic psychedelics – such as LSD, psilocybin and...