Category: Mental Health

The Surprising Link Between High IQ And Schizophrenia

How schizophrenia and high intelligence are linked.

How schizophrenia and high intelligence are linked.

High IQ could protect against schizophrenia amongst those at genetic risk from developing the condition, a study finds.

The findings are in stark contrast to the conventional wisdom that those with high intelligence are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

A large study has found that intelligence actually has a protective effect.

The study’s lead author, Dr Kenneth S. Kendler, said:

“If you’re really smart, your genes for schizophrenia don’t have much of a chance of acting.”

The study was conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden and Virginia Commonwealth University.

It included data from 1.2 million Swedish males born between 1951 and 1975 whose IQ and any hospitalisations for schizophrenia were tracked over 24 years.

Dr. Kendler explained the results:

“What really predicted risk for schizophrenia is how much you deviate from the predicted IQ that we get from your relatives.

If you’re quite a bit lower, that carries a high risk for schizophrenia.

Not achieving the IQ that you should have based on your genetic constitution and family background seems to most strongly predispose for schizophrenia.”

It may be that factors which reduce intelligence, such as childhood trauma, can also contribute to the risk of schizophrenia.

There was no evidence that, for the most intelligence people, there was a higher risk of schizophrenia:

“The question is, might we see some upward bump at that high level of intelligence where really brilliant people have increased risk for the disease and we show no such trend.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (Kendler et al., 2014).

Why You Should Tackle Existential/Spiritual Struggles Head On (M)

Over 80 percent of people report having very strong existential and spiritual needs in the past month.

Over 80 percent of people report having very strong existential and spiritual needs in the past month.

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The 4 Spiritual Needs That 80% Of People Feel Very Strongly (M)

People do not talk much about their spiritual needs, but 80 percent report a very strong interest in issues like the meaning of life.

People do not talk much about their spiritual needs, but 80 percent report a very strong interest in issues like the meaning of life.

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The Personality Type Linked To Poor Mental Health

This personality type affects around one in six people in the US.

This personality type affects around one in six people in the US.

People with personality disorders are at double the risk of developing mental health problems by 35-years-old, research finds.

People with personality disorders are more likely to be socially disadvantaged, separated or divorced.

By 35, people with personality disorders are almost twice as likely to be experiencing depression and/or anxiety.

Personality disorders affect around one in six people in the US.

The three most common personality disorders in the US are:

  1. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
  2. Paranoid personality disorder.
  3. Antisocial personality disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is one of the most well-known of personality disorders

Those with OCPD are typically perfectionists who are also highly fearful or anxious.

They want to control everything and find it very hard to relax.

In contrast, those with a paranoid personality disorder are extremely mistrustful of others.

They are very sensitive and are always on the lookout for things that confirm their worst fears: that everyone is out to get them.

They assume others are hostile, they bear grudges and find it hard to have an emotional connection with others.

Finally, people with an antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for other people’s feelings or judgments.

They see themselves as free of society’s rules and standards and are similar to what we think of as a psychopath.

→ More details on how to spot personality disorders.

Dr Paul Moran, who led the Australian study of 1,520 people, said:

“At the age of 24, personality disorder was already linked with social disadvantage, substance misuse and poor mental health.

Eleven years later, the presence of personality pathology predicted the occurrence of anxiety and depression, as well as the absence of long-term relationships.

What is most striking is that these associations were not due to pre-existing mental health, substance use or social problems.

People with personality disorder appear to be a distinctly vulnerable group with regards to future mental health and relationship problems.”

The study was published in the The Lancet Psychiatry (Moran et al., 2016).

This Depression & Anxiety Treatment Beats Medication & Counselling By 50% (M)

The largest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women and healthy individuals.

The largest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women and healthy individuals.

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A Mental Sign of Vitamin D Deficiency

The vitamin may have a direct effect on the brain and has also been linked to Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

The vitamin may have a direct effect on the brain and has also been linked to Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Depression can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, recent research suggests.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a 75 percent higher risk of depression.

Symptoms of depression include moodiness, lack of motivation and tiredness.

Depression is also linked to physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, dizziness and muscle pain.

The results come from a study of almost 4,000 older adults in Ireland.

They were followed up over 4 years for any depression symptoms and vitamin D levels.

The results showed that people with vitamin D deficiency were 75 percent more likely to have depression symptoms.

Vitamin D may have a direct effect on the brain and has also been linked to Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Dr Robert Briggs, the study’s first author, said:

“This is the largest representative and most comprehensive study of depression risk and vitamin D status in older adults ever conducted in Ireland.

Our findings will provide useful information to help inform public health policy – particularly regarding the proposition of the usefulness of vitamin D treatment/supplementation for depression.”

The link between vitamin D and depression is not confined to older adults.

One recent study found that vitamin D deficiency is linked to depressive symptoms and more negative thoughts in young women.

Dr Eamon Laird, study co-author, said:

“This study shows that vitamin D is associated with a health condition other than bone health.

What is surprising is the large effect on depression even after accounting for other control variables.

This is highly relevant for Ireland as our previous research has shown that one in eight older adults are deficient in the summer and one in four during the winter.

Moreover, only around 8% of older Irish adults report taking a vitamin D supplement.”

The study was published in the The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (Briggs et al., 2018).

The Relationship Pattern Linked To Poor Mental Health

These types of relationships are linked to higher anxiety and depression.

These types of relationships are linked to higher anxiety and depression.

On-off relationships are linked to worse mental health, research finds.

These types of cycling relationships involve couples repeatedly breaking up and then getting back together later on.

Psychologists have found that on-off relationships are linked to higher anxiety and depression.

These couples are also likely to experience lower commitment, worse communication and higher levels of abuse.

As many as 60 percent of adults have had a relationship like this in the past, or are currently involved in one.

They can be caused by a variety of things such as jobs or homes in different locations or having little in common outside the bedroom.

Often couples like this return to each other for comfort and in the hope that the relationship will eventually become more stable.

Dr Kale Monk, the study’s first author, thinks that this pattern is not always a bad omen for a couple.

Breaking up can sometimes eventually cause the couple to realise what they have been missing and commit to the relationship.

However, couples that repeatedly break up and get back together should consider whether the relationship is toxic in the long run.

The study involved 545 couples, some of whom were heterosexual and others homosexual.

The results showed that about one-third of couples that lived together had broken up and got back together again.

The researchers also found that male-male relationships had the highest rate of cycling (on-off relationships).

Both heterosexual and female-female couples had lower, but similar, levels of cycling.

Dr Monk said:

“The findings suggest that people who find themselves regularly breaking up and getting back together with their partners need to ‘look under the hood’ of their relationships to determine what’s going on.

If partners are honest about the pattern, they can take the necessary steps to maintain their relationships or safely end them.

This is vital for preserving their well-being.”

The study was published in the journal Family Relations (Monk et al., 2018).

2 Positive Personality Traits That Support Good Mental Health

Both personality traits can be increased with practice.

Both personality traits can be increased with practice.

Working towards long-term goals is a trainable key to good mental health, research finds.

People who keep following their dreams are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or panic attacks.

The other trait that helps people maintain good mental health is being optimistic.

Both being optimistic and persistent can be increased with practice.

Ms Nur Hani Zainal, the study’s first author, said:

“Perseverance cultivates a sense of purposefulness that can create resilience against or decrease current levels of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

Looking on the bright side of unfortunate events has the same effect because people feel that life is meaningful, understandable and manageable.”

The study included 3,294 people who were surveyed three times over 18 years.

Each time they were asked about their goal persistence and positive reappraisals.

Along with other questions, they were asked if they agreed with statements like:

  • “When I encounter problems, I don’t give up until I solve them.”
  • “I can find something positive, even in the worst situations.”

People who agreed with these statements early in the study had a reduced incidence of depression, anxiety and panic disorders 18 years on.

Those who had better mental health at the start of the study also found it easier to focus on the positive and keep working at their long-term goals, the researchers found.

Ms Zainal said:

“Our findings suggest that people can improve their mental health by raising or maintaining high levels of tenacity, resilience and optimism.

Aspiring toward personal and career goals can make people feel like their lives have meaning.

On the other hand, disengaging from striving toward those aims or having a cynical attitude can have high mental health costs.”

Self-mastery, which the researchers also measured, was not linked to mental health.

Dr Michelle G. Newman, study co-author, said:

“This could have been because the participants, on average, did not show any changes in their use of self-mastery over time.

It is possible that self-mastery is a relatively stable part of a person’s character that does not easily change.”

Giving up can lead to vicious circle, said Ms Zainal:

“Clinicians can help their clients understand the vicious cycle caused by giving up on professional and personal aspirations.

Giving up may offer temporary emotional relief but can increase the risk of setbacks as regret and disappointment set in.

Boosting a patient’s optimism and resilience by committing to specific courses of actions to make dreams come to full fruition despite obstacles can generate more positive moods and a sense of purpose.”

The study was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (Zainal et al., 2019).