Why these conditions often occur together and how to treat them when they do.

Everyone experiences pain at some point, but in people with depression or anxiety, pain can become particularly intense and hard to treat. People suffering from depression, for example, tend to experience more severe and long-lasting pain than other people.

The overlap of anxiety, depression, and pain is particularly evident in chronic and sometimes disabling pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, headaches, and nerve pain. For example, about two-thirds of patients with irritable bowel syndrome who are referred for follow-up care ...

 

Psychological strategies that people can use to improve mental performance.

Many people want to remain mentally (as well as physically) fit, so that they can perform well at school and at work. A controversial way to improve focus and mental functioning is to take a "smart pill" — the slang term for using prescription stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) or methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) to try to boost mental functioning rather than to treat a problem like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. One survey of U.S. college students found that 7% had used prescription stimulants in an effort to improve academic ...

Interventions are most effective when targeted to youths most at risk.

Each year, about 1% to 6% of children and teenagers develop major depression. This mood disorder not only interferes with school achievement and relationships, but also increases the risk of suicide (the third leading cause of death in adolescents). Early onset of depression also raises the risk of developing more severe and chronic symptoms later in life.

Several reviews have concluded that interventions to prevent or delay depression are modestly effective, at least in the short term. More recent research suggests that these programs are most effective when ...

A study of people with bipolar disorder found that those who took lithium, either alone or in combination with valproate, were less likely to relapse than those who took valproate alone.

If you've ever had a song stuck in your head, you're not alone. Researchers in England found that every person they interviewed had had such an experience.

I've recently started dating a man who is afraid of dogs. The problem is, I've owned a black lab for 10 years and don't want to surrender my pet. Are there any treatments for this type of phobia?

I have a friend who was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. What is this disorder and what causes it?