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Screening, treatment initiation, and referral for substance use disorders
A new model called STIR, which includes medication at initial visits, shows promise for treating substance use disorders. Two studies found it effective in reducing tobacco and opioid use in emergency room settings.
Modulation of Reward-related Neural Activation on Sensation Seeking Across Development
Sensation seeking, linked to seeking novel and risky experiences, has a genetic basis and is tied to brain reward systems. Studies show that adolescents exhibit heightened reactivity to rewards in a specific brain region.
Stress and Decision Making: Effects on Valuation, Learning, and Risk-taking
Research into how stress affects decision-making shows inconsistent findings. Methodological differences in how stress is defined and applied across studies, such as timing and type of stressor, contribute to this variability.
Adolescence and Reward: Making Sense of Neural and Behavioral Changes Amid the Chaos
Adolescence is a time of major changes, including increased exploration and sensation-seeking behavior. Research into brain development during this period can help understand and prevent health risks.
But Is Helping You Worth the Risk? Defining Prosocial Risk Taking in Adolescence
This article introduces "Prosocial Risk Taking," a new concept exploring if adolescents take risks to benefit others. It suggests viewing adolescence as a time of opportunity for positive development, not just vulnerability.
vlPFC-vmPFC-Amygdala Interactions Underlie Age-Related Differences in Cognitive Regulation of Emotion
Adolescents and children show less ability to manage negative emotions than adults. This study explored brain pathways, finding that age improves emotion regulation via a specific brain region's influence on emotional responses.
If I’m Certain, Is It True? Accuracy and Confidence in Eyewitness Memory
A new study finds that eyewitness confidence strongly relates to accuracy under ideal conditions. However, when conditions are not ideal, accuracy, even with high confidence, is significantly compromised.
Eavesdropping on Memory
The author, a scientist, details her experiences receiving both vitriolic and grateful emails regarding her work on memory. She also recounts a childhood marked by her mother's death and a house fire, influencing her later career.
Trauma is a Public Health Issue
Exposure to trauma is widespread globally, impacting individuals and societies.
The Social Determinants of Refugee Mental Health in the Post-Migration Context: A Critical Review
A record 65.6 million people were forcibly displaced in 2016. While refugees often experience mental health issues, many recover within a year if resettled into supportive environments.
Mental Health for Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Displaced Persons: A Call for a Humanitarian Agenda
Millions of people are forcibly displaced globally, often facing mental health challenges and poor access to care. Receiving countries exhibit varied responses, impacting displaced persons' well-being and integration.
Testifying About Trauma: A Call for Science and Civility
The article finds that focusing on a PTSD diagnosis in legal cases can hinder understanding the true impact of trauma. It suggests trauma-informed evaluations are a more ethical approach than strictly adhering to diagnostic labels.
An Integrated Neuroscience Perspective on Formulation and Treatment Planning for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Educational Review
PTSD, first diagnosed in 1980, describes lasting difficulty recovering from trauma. It is caused by the brain's learned fear responses, where neutral cues become triggers for distress and avoidance.
Mental Health and Trauma in Asylum Seekers Landing in Sicily in 2015: a Descriptive Study of Neglected Invisible Wounds
Forcibly displaced individuals, including asylum seekers in Italy, often face significant mental health challenges due to trauma and post-migration stress. Access to mental health care is limited for these vulnerable populations.
A Neuroscience Perspective on Sexual Risk Behavior in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Young people (15-24) account for 50% of new STIs and have high rates of unintended pregnancies. This is linked to low condom use and multiple partners, and "heat of the moment" decisions despite knowing risks.