Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [psychiatry]

the study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal behavior.

42 questions
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Does standardized testing cause ADHD?

I hear students, parents, and -- some -- teachers pull this claim all the time: standardized tests causes a rise in ADHD in children. I know Sir Ken Robinson mentioned something like that in one of his presentations. Are there any studies to back…
Sal Rahman
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Is being a professional logician associated with serious mental health issues?

In Indiscrete Thoughts, Gian-Carlo Rota claims that: It cannot be a complete coincidence that several outstanding logicians of the twentieth century found shelter in asylums at some point in their lives: Cantor, Zermelo, Gödel and Post are…
Jayson Virissimo
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Will 25% of people in Western society develop a mental disorder during their life?

In a profile article published in the Cyprus Mail newspaper (Nov. 2012), Dr John Stein, Emeritus Professor of Physiology & Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, claimed: “a quarter of people in Western societies will get some mental disorder at…
Carlo Alterego
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Did 304 US soldiers kill themselves in 2009 compared to 149 killed in Iraq?

An image posted on reddit this week has been getting a lot of attention. The image is of a mural claiming that in 2009, 304 US soilders committed suicide compared to 149 killed in Iraq. What is the veracity of this claim? Additionally what is the…
TheJulyPlot
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Do light boxes help Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Light boxes are sold as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and seasonal mood swings. The claims listed are: Helps to ease seasonal mood swings and winter depression, and help improve sleeping patterns Can ease symptoms of SAD within…
AppliedSide
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Is ADHD a fictitious disease?

I found this meme: Inventor of ADHD's Deathbed Confession: "ADHD is a fictitious disease" US American psychiatrist Leon Eisenberg, born in 1922 as the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, who was the "scientific father of ADHD" said at the age of 87…
Aram Aram
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Do people with mental illnesses die equal to other health issues?

I have often heard having a serious mental illness it worse than diabetes and smoking. Mental illness is 'as bad for life expectancy as smoking', experts warn Mental illness is 'as bad for life expectancy as smoking' link
William
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Can phobias be genetic, but created in one generation and not by natural selection?

I have seen this article floating around. Pretty much they state that if a parent is traumatized, the child could be born with a phobia. Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, found that mice can pass on learned…
Andrey
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Are university research studies involving children a money making scheme?

I would like to point out that this question is from a dubious and unverified claim that I had encountered. I thoroughly searched the internet for any information on such claims but could not find anything so please close if you feel it is a poor…
maple_shaft
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Can mental state affect allergies?

I have heard see this sketchy reference that people with Multiple Personality Disorder, or other mental disorders, have different physical features when having different personalities. For example, their allergies will change. Is it true that…
Napoleonothecake
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Multiple personalities: Do they exist?

Has it ever been proven, or is there a consensus among any body of legitimate scientist (e.g. APA, NIHM, or another) that multiple personality disorder actually exists what are each sides points? And those that believe it to be true, what is the…
Napoleonothecake
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Are individuals with severe mental illness "much more likely" to be victims than perpetrators of violence?

From an NPR article discussing whether planning a shooting breaks the law: Advocates often bristle when people lump mental health into conversations about mass shooters. They argue that individuals with severe mental illness are much more likely to…
Barry Harrison
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Is there a link between strabismus and psychiatric illness?

I have an esotropic latent strabismus which causes my left eye to sometimes point inward rather than cooperating with the other eye. I read recently that youths with a strabismus are more likely to develop psychiatric illnesses such as depression…
rhrgrt
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Is it true that online therapy for mental conditions is as good, if not better, as in person?

I've red a number of articles claiming that online therapy, in particular for mental disorders, is more effective than in person therapy. Though they do site studies, I find this very hard to believe and am looking for details as to how such a study…
Celeritas
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Does the "Re-Timer" device help to alleviate "winter blues"?

The Re-Timer website states: Re-Timer is a wearable light therapy device for Winter Blues. Winter Blues is a low-mood experienced primarily during the winter months. Symptoms can include loss of energy, weight gain and difficulty…
P_S
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