A recent study uncovered why so many individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum conditions are fond of video games as a pastime. The new findings suggests that individuals with autism spectrum conditions may play video games for escapism, specifically self-suppression escapism when experiencing negative moods and self-expansion escapism when experiencing positive moods.

The study, which appears in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, adds to existing knowledge about the purpose of v…….

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COMMENTARY

*Editor’s note: All references in the first person are references to the first author, Daven E. Morrison, III, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist.

As readers of Psychiatric Times™, you all are well educated and likely familiar with the story of how, when asked why he stole from banks, Willie Sutton famously said, “Because that’s where the money is.” It is a clever quip, but unfortunately, …….

Three out of four children as young as 12 dislike their bodies and are embarrassed by the way they look, increasing to eight in 10 young people aged 18 to 21.

The findings come from a major new study warning that social media represents a significant risk to the current and future health of today’s young generations.

Nearly half of all children and young people aged from 12 to 21 questioned said they have become withdrawn,…….

Green Grove, Elk Grove Village logo for environmental sustainability. (Image submitted)

Elk Grove Village officials unveiled a new village logo, focused on sustainability, with the slogan, “Green Grove, Elk Grove Village”.

Mayor Craig Johnson said the village has been quietly becoming more “green,” or environmentally sustainable, for several years.

The village conducted a recent self-study of environmentall…….

Blurring the lines between the utilitarian and the decorative is the design signature for lighting studio Trueing. The New York-based studio, helmed by self-taught designers Aiden Bowman and Josh Metersky, has steadily grown and evolved since its founding in 2017, and even achieved viral status on Tiktok with its recognisable Cerine light fixtures, an homage to the ubiquitous chain link. 

Rather than jump into the rigorous global design circuit, Bowman and Metersky have intentionally …….

A study from Singapore has evaluated the effectiveness of mental health chatbots in helping alleviate symptoms of depression.

Previous studies have pointed out chatbots’ potential in helping people with depression in treating their symptoms.

This new study by clinician doctors from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University Singapore set out to evaluate the dialogues between chatbots and users for the first time. 

FINDINGS

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According to a new research study, eating two ounces of walnuts a day for 16 weeks improved self-reported mental health indicators in undergraduate university students. It was also protective against the negative effects of academic stress and improved long-term sleep quality.

University life can be incredibly stressful, with 8 out of 10 students reporting regular bouts of stress and 61% seeking counseling for anxiety, depression,…….