Denying to the Grave

SSRIs

What Are the Predominant Myths About SSRIs?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on March 24, 2025

Can SSRIs change your personality or make you more violent? Here are some common myths debunked.

Can SSRIs change your personality or make you more violent? Here are some common myths debunked.

Psychiatry

Antidepressants Controversy

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on March 3, 2025

20 years ago, concerns about suicidality and antidepressants triggered a black box warning. This is controversial and should be reconsidered.

20 years ago, concerns about suicidality and antidepressants triggered a black box warning. This is controversial and should be reconsidered.

Health

Do People Want to Hear About Uncertainty?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on January 28, 2025

We tend to think that people hate uncertainty. While this is generally true, communicating about uncertainty increases trust. Public communicators need to do a better job.

We tend to think that people hate uncertainty. While this is generally true, communicating about uncertainty increases trust. Public communicators need to do a better job.

Social Media

Debunking TikTok's Mental Health Misinformation

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on December 1, 2024

There are a wide range of misconceptions about mental health that interfere with proper procurement of treatment. Therapists should be aware of these forms of misinformation.

There are a wide range of misconceptions about mental health that interfere with proper procurement of treatment. Therapists should be aware of these forms of misinformation.

Child Development

Youth Mental Health Crisis and the Access to Help

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on October 31, 2024

There's a youth mental health crisis in this country that's only gotten worse. Insurers have exacerbated the situation by not allowing good access to mental healthcare.

There's a youth mental health crisis in this country that's only gotten worse. Insurers have exacerbated the situation by not allowing good access to mental healthcare.

Health

Is Vitamin D Supplementation an Evidence-Based Practice?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on September 30, 2024

Vitamin D supplementation is popular, but its health benefits have recently been called into question. How can we determine if and when supplementation is worth the effort?

Vitamin D supplementation is popular, but its health benefits have recently been called into question. How can we determine if and when supplementation is worth the effort?

Health

Without Trust, Hospitals Struggle to Promote Guidelines

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on August 30, 2024

Hospitals and physicians won't be able to help patients seek appropriate care and stick to medical guidelines unless we address the trust crisis in our healthcare system.

Hospitals and physicians won't be able to help patients seek appropriate care and stick to medical guidelines unless we address the trust crisis in our healthcare system.

Politics

Public Health Needs to Respond to RFK, Jr.

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on August 23, 2024

Personal Perspective: RFK, Jr. has been spouting conspiracy theories and fashioning himself a charismatic leader for quite some time. The public health community must respond now.

Personal Perspective: RFK, Jr. has been spouting conspiracy theories and fashioning himself a charismatic leader for quite some time. The public health community must respond now.

Trust

Is Trust Uniquely Human?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on August 7, 2024

While trust might be most sophisticated in humans, there's good reason to believe that other animal species also experience this fascinating phenomenon.

While trust might be most sophisticated in humans, there's good reason to believe that other animal species also experience this fascinating phenomenon.

Gender

The Debate About Sex Assigned at Birth

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on June 29, 2024

Our understanding of biological sex has become much more fluid of late. Some biological sciences continue to struggle with these changes. Can we come to more of a middle ground?

Our understanding of biological sex has become much more fluid of late. Some biological sciences continue to struggle with these changes. Can we come to more of a middle ground?

Trust

Do Doctors and Patients Understand Uncertainty in the Same Way?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on May 26, 2024

Do frank conversations between healthcare professionals and patients about medical uncertainty improve trust? There's still a lot we don't know.

Do frank conversations between healthcare professionals and patients about medical uncertainty improve trust? There's still a lot we don't know.

Pregnancy

Consequences of Being Mistreated by the Healthcare System

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on May 8, 2024

The Black maternal mortality crisis in this country has been widely acknowledged, but part of the story that gets less attention is outright mistreatment in the healthcare system.

The Black maternal mortality crisis in this country has been widely acknowledged, but part of the story that gets less attention is outright mistreatment in the healthcare system.

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.