Desire initiates the process, but learning sustains it.

The word "addiction" is derived from a Latin term for "enslaved by" or "bound to." Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction — or has tried to help someone else to do so — understands why.

Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. While overcoming addiction is possible, the process is often long, slow, and complicated. It took years for researchers and ...

Treating an underactive thyroid gland may improve mood.

When someone develops depression, the brain usually becomes the focus of attention. But other organs can be the source of the problem. A common example is when the thyroid gland produces too little hormone — a condition known as hypothyroidism.

Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from hypothyroidism. The condition is much more common in women than in men, and becomes more prevalent with age. As many as one in five women will develop hypothyroidism by age 60.

Although researchers aren't entirely sure why there is a link between hypothyroidism and depression, it ...

Putting an experience into words may ease stress and trauma.

Stress, trauma, and unexpected life developments — such as a cancer diagnosis, a car accident, or a layoff — can throw people off stride emotionally and mentally. The natural response is to wonder why something bad happened and what to do next. In some people, this can lead to rumination — dwelling on the event — and possibly to a mental health problem, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Expressive writing — a technique that involves writing about thoughts and feelings that arise from a traumatic or stressful ...

Deep brain stimulation is still considered an experimental treatment for depression, but one small study suggests that some patients could benefit from it.

Another study adds to the evidence that exercise helps protect the brain from cognitive decline in older age.

Parents, advocacy groups, and some scientists have long worried about a possible link between artificial food colorings and hyperactivity in children. In March 2011, an FDA panel concluded that there isn't enough evidence to prove that artificial food colorings contribute to hyperactivity, distractibility, and other behavior problems in most children. They did not find evidence that the substances are inherently toxic to the nervous system. Rather, the panel wrote that certain children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be uniquely vulnerable, not just to food colorings, but to any number of food additives. On that theme, only a small ...