Cognitive behavioral therapy alone or combined with medication may help.

It is normal for many children, at various stages of development, to be concerned about symmetry and having things perfect, to insist on certain bedtime routines, or to develop superstitions and rituals like avoiding cracks in the sidewalk. But when such beliefs or behaviors become all-consuming and start interfering with school, home life, or recreational activities, the problem may be obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

OCD afflicts 1% to 2% of American adults. The disorder usually originates in childhood or adolescence, with symptoms appearing as early as age 3. Childhood OCD is ...

Evidence suggests that these two brain disorders may share biological roots.

Auditory hallucinations. Unusual feelings or sensations. Dreamlike alterations in consciousness. These can be symptoms of both schizophrenia and epilepsy. Evidence continues to accumulate that the two brain disorders overlap in ways that researchers are still trying to understand.

In a paper, researchers at the China Medical University in Taiwan analyzed medical records stored in a national registry to determine how many people initially diagnosed with schizophrenia later developed epilepsy — and vice versa. The results suggest that people who develop one of these disorders are at heightened risk for ...

Sudden confusion, especially in the elderly, may be a sign of delirium.

During illness, hospitalization, or recovery, some people experience delirium, a rapidly developing and severe confusion accompanied by altered consciousness and an inability to focus. It's one of the most common complications of hospitalization among older people, affecting as many as 20% of those ages 65 and over who are admitted to hospitals.

Anything that interrupts normal brain function can cause delirium. Inflammation or toxic substances can interfere with brain function, for example, by disturbing the neurotransmitters that nerve cells use to communicate. Though the causes of delirium are ...

Book offers advice about how to get organized.

According to the book Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life, the key to a less hectic, less stressful life is not simply to become more organized, but to change the way you think. The authors are Dr. Paul Hammerness, assistant professor of psychiatry and a researcher in brain sciences at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Margaret Moore, co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital — both Harvard-affiliated institutions.

In their book, Dr. Hammerness and Ms. Moore explore the latest brain science underlying organization and offer tips about how to use the ...

The American Academy of Pediatrics has amended its guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A study suggests that mindfulness training may help people who have quit smoking remain nonsmokers.

Q. I got divorced a few months ago. Recently I was diagnosed with depression. A friend suggested I try interpersonal therapy. She thinks the problem is my relationship with my former husband. I'd never heard of this type of therapy. Could you tell me more about it?

A. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a form of therapy originally developed to treat depression, but it is now used to treat other mental health problems. In three or four months of weekly meetings, therapist and patient discuss the patient's present relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. By focusing on interpersonal issues, the therapist ...