Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a disabling psychiatric disorder characterised by an excessive fear and avoidance of social situations. About 10 – 15% of individuals will develop SAD over the life-course, and while treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy are effective for some, symptoms are often chronic and unremitting. Despite a pressing need, the biological […]
Harnessing social media data to improve mental health outcomes
In recent years, social media has taken the world by storm. During the 12 years since it’s launch, Facebook – the most popular social media network – has amassed over 1.79 billion active users. Social media websites, such as Facebook, are able to collect huge amounts of personal information about their users. While much of the media coverage […]
Understanding changes in the adolescent brain.
It’s well known that when children enter adolescence, they tend to experience dramatic social and behavioural changes. While these changes are often a natural part of development, this period is also associated with increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Furthering our understanding of human brain maturation during adolescence would help us to gain a better picture […]
Carrots and sticks fail to change behavior in cocaine addiction.
Cocaine abuse can have severe, life-threatening effects on those with serious addictions. On top of the severe impact that it can have on individuals who become addicted, cocaine addiction also has significant social and economic repercussions and is recognised as a major public health issue. The majority of approaches to the treatment of cocaine addictions […]