Denying to the Grave

Conspiracy Theories

How Stable Are Conspiracy Theory Beliefs?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on April 10, 2024

Are conspiracy theory beliefs permanent? A new study suggests that belief in these ideas can change, offering possibilities of more intervention.

Are conspiracy theory beliefs permanent? A new study suggests that belief in these ideas can change, offering possibilities of more intervention.

Health

Gun Violence and Mental Illness

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on March 4, 2024

Does mental illness cause gun violence? The evidence suggests not, but the idea often persists in public perception.

Does mental illness cause gun violence? The evidence suggests not, but the idea often persists in public perception.

Health

How Poor Communication Can Cause Harm

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on February 2, 2024

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a confusing report on GMOs. It's important for us all to think more carefully about our communication and not stoke panic.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a confusing report on GMOs. It's important for us all to think more carefully about our communication and not stoke panic.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How Political Partisanship Can Be Deadly

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on January 4, 2024

A recent paper found that polarization was often behind the failure to follow recommendations around masking, distancing, and vaccination during the pandemic.

A recent paper found that polarization was often behind the failure to follow recommendations around masking, distancing, and vaccination during the pandemic.

Replication Crisis

Is Psychology Research Unreliable?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on December 23, 2023

Recent years have seen a range of accusations that psychology research is unreliable due to a "replication crisis." A new study may restore some trust in the field.

Recent years have seen a range of accusations that psychology research is unreliable due to a "replication crisis." A new study may restore some trust in the field.

Cognition

A Jolt to What We Believe

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on November 1, 2023

Are you under the impression that thought suppression has no place in a therapeutic setting and doesn't work? You might have to update your views with new research in this area.

Are you under the impression that thought suppression has no place in a therapeutic setting and doesn't work? You might have to update your views with new research in this area.

Deception

Can You Test Your Susceptibility to Misinformation?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on October 3, 2023

Can we predict who might fall for misinformation? It's very hard to know, but a new test suggests there are some ways to find out.

Can we predict who might fall for misinformation? It's very hard to know, but a new test suggests there are some ways to find out.

Pregnancy

What Causes Most Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the U.S.?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on September 6, 2023

Many people know that the rates of death among pregnant people are particularly high in the U.S. But most people don't know that many of these are caused by suicide and overdoses.

Many people know that the rates of death among pregnant people are particularly high in the U.S. But most people don't know that many of these are caused by suicide and overdoses.

Conspiracy Theories

Personality Traits and Conspiracy Theories

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on August 4, 2023

Are certain personality types more likely to believe in conspiracy theories? New research is taking this question to a whole new level.

Are certain personality types more likely to believe in conspiracy theories? New research is taking this question to a whole new level.

Transgender

Listening to Trans and Nonbinary People

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on July 5, 2023

If science can't tell us everything we need to know about sex and gender, then we need to do a better job of listening to transgender and nonbinary people.

If science can't tell us everything we need to know about sex and gender, then we need to do a better job of listening to transgender and nonbinary people.

Memory

How Long Until We All Forget About COVID?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on June 4, 2023

Will the next generation remember anything about COVID? What psychology tells us about how collective memories get passed down.

Will the next generation remember anything about COVID? What psychology tells us about how collective memories get passed down.

Transgender

What the Data Tell Us About Transgender Care

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on May 6, 2023

We've seen the utility and safety of transgender, gender-affirming care in the news lately. Looking at the data, there is no question that transgender care saves lives.

We've seen the utility and safety of transgender, gender-affirming care in the news lately. Looking at the data, there is no question that transgender care saves lives.

Ketamine

Is Ketamine a Safe Treatment?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on April 3, 2023

Is ketamine treatment safe? We have to appropriately weigh the risks of severe depression against the potential risks of ketamine treatment.

Is ketamine treatment safe? We have to appropriately weigh the risks of severe depression against the potential risks of ketamine treatment.

SSRIs

Antidepressants Get a Bad Rap. Why Do So Many Take Them?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on March 6, 2023

Have you seen a lot of negative coverage of antidepressants in the news lately? Here's part of what's behind that, and what's really true.

Have you seen a lot of negative coverage of antidepressants in the news lately? Here's part of what's behind that, and what's really true.

Therapy

Are “Psychosomatic” Illnesses a Thing of the Past?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on February 3, 2023

Are poorly understood illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome and Long COVID all in the mind? We need a more modern conception of the mind-body relationship.

Are poorly understood illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome and Long COVID all in the mind? We need a more modern conception of the mind-body relationship.

Psychiatry

Public Policymakers Need to Use Data on Homelessness

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on January 6, 2023

Is Mayor Adams' attempt to institutionalize homeless people with mental illness a good idea? The answer is complex.

Is Mayor Adams' attempt to institutionalize homeless people with mental illness a good idea? The answer is complex.

Psychology

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Misinformation?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on December 7, 2022

Wondering what makes people prone to misinformation? The current state of the research at the very least suggests it's not a lack of knowledge.

Wondering what makes people prone to misinformation? The current state of the research at the very least suggests it's not a lack of knowledge.

Psychiatry

The Role of Psychological Distress in Long Covid

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on October 4, 2022

Is psychological distress at the heart of long COVID? A recent study thinks it has the answers.

Is psychological distress at the heart of long COVID? A recent study thinks it has the answers.

SSRIs

We Still Don’t Know How Antidepressants Work

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on September 3, 2022

How do SSRIs work? That is still unclear.

How do SSRIs work? That is still unclear.

Health

What if Your Doctor Is Spreading Disinformation?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on August 3, 2022

A select group of doctors and others dealing in disinformation is worsening Americans' health.

A select group of doctors and others dealing in disinformation is worsening Americans' health.