Mood Problems Prevalent After Katrina, Survey Finds
By: Benedict Carey
Published December 4, 2007, NY Times

Summary:
Researchers from seven universities conducted a continuing survey of 1,043 adults from New Orleans and surrounding areas. The survey consisted of 30 items which included an open-ended inquiry. The results indicated that 17% of the people in the city reported signs of serious mental illness one month after the disaster. Nearly half of the participants reported some significant symptoms of anxiety in the first month after the storm.

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Infected with Insanity: Could Microbes Cause Mental Illness?
Author: Melinda Wenner
Published: April 17, 2008, Scientific American

Summary:
Scientists are now investigating whether the causes of mental illness can be linked to viruses. It has been recognized for years that microbes, such as syphilis and Streptococcus, if left untreated, can lead to serious psychiatric problems. The most compelling evidence is for schizophrenia. Scientists have found that schizophrenia is more likely to develop between 5 to 8 percent more frequently than average in children who were born in the winter and spring and that children born to mothers exposed with rubella, were 10 times more likely than other children to develop schizophrenia. Researchers hope that by finding the causes of mental illness, they can work on developing a cure.

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The Medicated Americans: Antidepressant Prescriptions on the Rise
Author: Charles Barber
Published: February 27, 2008, Scientific American

Summary:
The New England Research Institute found that 43 percent of those who had been prescribed antidepressants had no psychiatric diagnoses or any mental health care beyond the prescription. Furthermore, twice as many psychiatric drugs are prescribed to women compared to men. In contrast, according to the U.S. surgeon general’s 1999 report, large percentages of people with severe and persistent mental illness do not receive appropriate care. The author argues that the problem with overprescription exists because of inaccurate and broadly defined diagnoses.

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Low Vitamin D Boosts Depression Risk in Seniors
By: Reuters Health
Published: May 5, 2008

Summary:
Dutch researchers report that people with low levels of Vitamin D and high levels of parathyroid hormone are more likely to be depressed. A study that examined 1,282 men and women found that nearly 40 percent of men and 57 percent of women had low levels of Vitamin D in their blood. Among the 169 participants who self-reported mild to moderate levels of depression, their levels of Vitamin D were 14% lower than individuals who do not suffer from depression.

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Traditional Acupuncture Might Help Ease Migraines
Author: Amy Norton
Published: April 11, 2008

Researchers from the University of Padua evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture versus sham treatments on migraine relief. One-hundred sixty participants who suffer from migraines were randomly assigned to one of four groups: traditional acupuncture with needles touching pressure points, sham acupuncture without needles touching pressure points, sham acupuncture with needles touching pressure points, and a pure control group (no acupuncture, no preventative medication). The results indicated that the group who received traditional acupuncture had shown an improvement in migraine relief.

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Iraq War Strains U.S. Army Mental Health System

Author: Claudia Parsons
Published: May 6, 2008, Scientific American

Summary:
There is a growing concern regarding the number of U.S. soldiers that are returning from the war with mental health problems (e.g., PTSD, Depression) and the limited numbers of mental health professionals to treat them. An advocacy group at Fort Drum reported that soldier’s were receiving inadequate mental health services. Furthermore, when soldiers received psychological care, it was in the form of group therapy and/or prescribing medications, when the problems presented required more individualized care.

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Psychological Test at Work: Can You Study?
Author: Marci Alboher
Published: November 7, 2007, NY Times – Shifting Careers blog

Summary:
The author of this article discusses the potential problems surrounding personality testing in the workplace. These evaluations often are used in the hiring process of employees because they are quick and easy to administer. However, the author argues that these tests often ask personal questions that are irrelevant to the job assignment, are not scientifically valid and the results should not be taken seriously.

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Hitting it Off, Thanks to Algorithms of Love
Author: John Tierney
Published: January 29, 2008, NY Times

Summary:
This article addresses the benefits of on-line compatibility testing which is used to match potential dating partners. Leading industries in personality testing for compatibility include eHarmony, Perfectmatch.com, and Chemistry.com which require customers to complete personality tests. Based on the results, attempts are made to match potential partners. Dr. Galen Buckwalter, a research psychologist created an algorithm to match people on 29 core traits. The hypothesis is that similarities in personality lead to better matches. However, the scientific evidence supporting online matching is lacking. Therefore, Dr. Buckwalter plans to conduct a longitudinal study evaluating whether this online system works.

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Dilbert the Inquisitor
Author: Lisa Belkin
Published: April 3, 2008, NY Times

Summary:
The article discusses a growing trend of companies who are using computerized testing instruments to aid in the selection and hiring process of employees. Creators of these assessments argue that they are more objective in selecting job candidates than the personal interview, and when administered and scored properly, they correlate highly with job performance and satisfaction. However, the creators of these assessments warn that assessments should only be considered as a small piece of the overall evaluation.

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Older Americans Are More Socially Engaged than Many People Think
Author: Science Daily newswire
Published: April 17, 2008

Summary:
A new study is reported that finds that senior adults seek out social interaction and spend more time with other people than individuals in their 50s. The details of the study of over 3,000 adults are reported including what type of activities individuals engage in to stay socially connected.

After reading the article, please answer the Critical Thinking Questions that follow.