Writing With Integrity

Media

Mental Health Misinformation and Pseudoscience Are Rampant

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on June 25, 2024

The wellness industry is rife with practices that lack evidence or are even known to be harmful. Here's why it's important to make science-informed decisions about your mental health.

The wellness industry is rife with practices that lack evidence or are even known to be harmful. Here's why it's important to make science-informed decisions about your mental health.

Integrative Medicine

Prince Charles’ Love Affair With Alternative Medicine

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on February 15, 2022

Prince Charles has been one of the most persistent champions of alternative medicine in the United Kingdom.

Prince Charles has been one of the most persistent champions of alternative medicine in the United Kingdom.

Health

Combating Anti-Science Propaganda

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on June 22, 2021

Anti-vaccine and anti-science groups are well-funded and well-organized. A more coordinated counteroffensive is needed.

Anti-vaccine and anti-science groups are well-funded and well-organized. A more coordinated counteroffensive is needed.

Media

The Dangers of Rampant Fentanyl Misinformation

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on May 25, 2021

We need to curb rampant misinformation in both mainstream and social media about the overdose crisis and fentanyl.

We need to curb rampant misinformation in both mainstream and social media about the overdose crisis and fentanyl.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How to Tackle COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on January 26, 2021

Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based communication style.

Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based communication style.

Addiction

Pseudoscientific Treatments for Addiction are Everywhere

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on December 11, 2020

...and they're harmful.

...and they're harmful.

Depression

Can Cannabis Help With Depression?

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on December 4, 2020

While cannabis users commonly report that they use cannabis to help manage symptoms of depression, the evidence is mixed, and not in its favor.

While cannabis users commonly report that they use cannabis to help manage symptoms of depression, the evidence is mixed, and not in its favor.

Integrative Medicine

The Potential Harm of Alternative Medicine

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on December 2, 2020

Pseudoscientific therapies are widely used and promoted for ailments including COVID-19, often under the guise of the term “alternative medicine.”

Pseudoscientific therapies are widely used and promoted for ailments including COVID-19, often under the guise of the term “alternative medicine.”

Health

The Plural of Anecdote Is Misinformation

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on November 18, 2020

Scientific expertise matters and lives are at stake. It’s time to park egos, politics, conjecture, pseudoscience, propaganda—and anecdotes.

Scientific expertise matters and lives are at stake. It’s time to park egos, politics, conjecture, pseudoscience, propaganda—and anecdotes.

Psychiatry

The Dangers of Anti-Psychiatry Ideology: An Interview

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on September 24, 2020

Part 2: How anti-psychiatry rhetoric stigmatizes people who experience psychiatric disorders.

Part 2: How anti-psychiatry rhetoric stigmatizes people who experience psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatry

Is Anti-Psychiatry Ideology Dangerous?

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on September 23, 2020

Part 1: Why the extremism of anti-psychiatry can undermine legitimate issues.

Part 1: Why the extremism of anti-psychiatry can undermine legitimate issues.

Personality

Why Do People Troll Online?

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on August 21, 2020

Trolling isn’t caused by any one reason, but rather by many reasons that can add up and interact with each other in a perfect storm to produce trolling.

Trolling isn’t caused by any one reason, but rather by many reasons that can add up and interact with each other in a perfect storm to produce trolling.

Health

The War Against Pseudoscience Is Ideological, Not Personal

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on June 17, 2020

The general public is the audience of the science communicator, not the ideologically possessed.

The general public is the audience of the science communicator, not the ideologically possessed.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Vagina Bible Empowers Women with Accurate Information

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on May 14, 2020

"The Vagina Bible" aims to empower women by providing them with accurate information about their bodies, and ultimately, helps women to connect with themselves.

"The Vagina Bible" aims to empower women by providing them with accurate information about their bodies, and ultimately, helps women to connect with themselves.

Anxiety

Welcome to Anxiety Management 101

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on May 8, 2020

Dr. Joel Minden gets it—he understands the nature of anxiety and how to successfully treat its symptoms when they become debilitating.

Dr. Joel Minden gets it—he understands the nature of anxiety and how to successfully treat its symptoms when they become debilitating.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Cannabis Misinformation and COVID-19

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on May 4, 2020

While many bogus COVID-19 cures have been circulated, the internet would be remiss to neglect its notoriously favorite panacea for all ailments: cannabis.

While many bogus COVID-19 cures have been circulated, the internet would be remiss to neglect its notoriously favorite panacea for all ailments: cannabis.

Health

Gaps in Scientific Knowledge Doesn't Justify Pseudoscience

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on April 6, 2020

The next time that you hear someone say, “Science doesn’t have all of the answers,” you might want to question exactly what they mean.

The next time that you hear someone say, “Science doesn’t have all of the answers,” you might want to question exactly what they mean.

Health

The Dullest Tool in the Belt of a Pseudoscientific Agenda

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on March 27, 2020

"Scientists know that the plural of anecdote is not data; no matter how many testimonials you accumulate, they can’t ever prove that the treatment works."

"Scientists know that the plural of anecdote is not data; no matter how many testimonials you accumulate, they can’t ever prove that the treatment works."

Addiction

Drug Addiction vs. Drug Dependence

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on March 6, 2020

People commonly confuse the terms "drug addiction" and "drug dependence." To understand why, it's important to situate the distinction in its historical-medical context.

People commonly confuse the terms "drug addiction" and "drug dependence." To understand why, it's important to situate the distinction in its historical-medical context.

Health

Why Do People Fall for Fake Science News?

Jonathan N. Stea Ph.D., R. Psych on February 4, 2020

Fake science news is not a benign topic, particularly when it comes to the treatment of medical conditions.

Fake science news is not a benign topic, particularly when it comes to the treatment of medical conditions.