Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life, Page 116

New research has apparently disproved the popular theory that deficits in certain visual processes cause the spelling and reading woes commonly suffered by dyslexics; dyslexia affects between 5 and 10 percent of children in the U.S.

Over eight million adult Americans, or 4.3 percent of working-age adults, struggle with the inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity of ADHD. According to an analysis presented at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) costs U.S. households nearly $77 billion in lost income every year.

Schizophrenia is not hopeless. It’s not the result of bad parenting or a weak personality. Schizophrenia is not the same as split personality disorder. In an effort to set the record straight and reduce these kinds of misconceptions in the general public, the US National Schizophrenia Foundation has declared May 22-28 to be Schizophrenia Awareness Week. This year’s theme is Schizophrenia: It’s Not What You Think!

A new study of clinical trials involving nearly five thousand patients has reaffirmed that St. John’s Wort reduces symptoms of depression among adults suffering mild to moderate symptoms but questions the herbal extract’s effectiveness for moderate to severe depression. The study also indicates that serious drug interactions can occur between St. John’s Wort and other frequently used anti-depressants.

A new website that gives young people a chance to have their say about mental health services will be launched on Tuesday 31 May by the UK’s Mental Health Foundation. The charity wants to find out what people aged 16-25 think about current services, and hopes that SpeakUp! will help to improve mental health provision across the UK.