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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/brief-digital-mindfulness-interventions-show-lasting-impact-on-depression/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Brief digital mindfulness interventions show lasting impact on depression</a>
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<p><p>An experimental study of individuals experiencing emotional distress found that brief digital mindfulness-based interventions can effectively reduce depression, primarily by fostering nonreactivity to inner experiences. The researchers tested three types of interventions—mindfulness alone, a multicomponent mindfulness-based intervention, and a multicomponent mindfulness-based intervention with human support—and found that all three led to improvements in depressive symptoms compared to a control group. The findings were published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02548-1"><em>Mindfulness</em></a>.</p>
<p>Brief mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are structured, short-term programs designed to teach mindfulness skills over a limited timeframe, typically ranging from a single session to a few weeks. These programs aim to cultivate present-moment awareness, emotional regulation, and a nonjudgmental attitude toward thoughts and feelings. They often include guided meditations, breathing exercises, and body awareness practices.</p>
<p>Due to their accessibility and time efficiency, brief MBIs are increasingly implemented in clinical, educational, and workplace settings. Research suggests that even short-duration MBIs can reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Although not as comprehensive as longer mindfulness programs, brief MBIs still offer meaningful psychological benefits, especially for individuals who may not have the time or resources for extended interventions.</p>
<p>Lead author Yuan Zheng and colleagues highlight that digital MBIs—those delivered through websites or mobile apps—have several advantages over in-person programs, including greater scalability, standardization, and anonymity. To investigate how different components influence the effectiveness of digital MBIs, the researchers tested four types of self-help interventions and a waitlist control.</p>
<p>The study involved 375 Chinese adults experiencing emotional distress but with no history of mental illness. Participants had an average age of 28, and 84% were women. Most (66%) had no prior mindfulness experience. They were recruited through social media advertisements promoting an online emotion regulation program.</p>
<p>Participants were randomly assigned to one of five groups. One group received mindfulness training alone (MA). A second group completed a multicomponent intervention combining mindfulness and non-mindfulness practices (MM), while a third group received the same multicomponent intervention with additional human support via a chat group (MM-H). A fourth group practiced non-mindfulness cognitive techniques alone, and a fifth group was placed on a waitlist and received no intervention during the study period.</p>
<p>All interventions were delivered over 22 days via a secure website, with a maximum duration of 25 days. The mindfulness-only group completed 21 days of guided meditation (10–15 minutes daily) and supplementary reading on mindfulness. The cognitive practice group received exercises based on positive psychology and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The multicomponent groups combined both approaches, with the MM-H group also receiving professional support through WeChat from a trained facilitator.</p>
<p>Participants completed assessments of depression, mental well-being, and mindfulness before and after the intervention, as well as one and three months later. They also evaluated the feasibility of the intervention they received.</p>
<p>Results showed that all three mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms and increased nonreactivity—a core component of mindfulness reflecting the ability to experience internal thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed. These improvements were small to medium in size. Notably, only the multicomponent groups (MM and MM-H) maintained reductions in depression at the three-month follow-up. The improvements in the mindfulness-alone group faded over time.</p>
<p>Other aspects of mindfulness, such as observing, describing, nonjudging, and acting with awareness, did not show consistent improvement across groups. Mental well-being scores also did not differ significantly from the waitlist control, suggesting that the brief intervention may not have had a strong impact on broader well-being outcomes.</p>
<p>According to the authors, “Brief digital MBIs can effectively reduce depression, with nonreacting as a key mediator. The mediating role of observing in well-being may depend on intervention components. Combining mindfulness, non-mindfulness practices, and human support may enhance long-term effects on depression. Targeting nonreacting and observing in MBIs may facilitate improvements in depression and well-being, respectively.”</p>
<p>The study provides valuable insight into how digital MBIs work and which components are most effective. However, it also has limitations. All outcomes were based on self-report questionnaires, which are vulnerable to bias. Participants likely knew which intervention they were receiving, increasing the possibility of expectancy effects or the Hawthorne effect—where people modify their behavior because they know they are being studied.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02548-1">The Effects of Non‑Mindfulness Practices and Human Support on Depression, Mental Well‑Being, and Mindfulness in Digital Mindfulness‑Based Interventions: A Four‑Armed Randomized Dismantling Trial</a>,” was authored by Yuan Zheng, Zenan Dou, Tingting Guo, Yunheng Wang, and Xianglong Zeng.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/screen-time-and-physical-activity-habits-linked-to-adolescent-stress-and-depression/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Screen time and physical activity habits linked to adolescent stress and depression</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 2nd 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMA Network Open</a></em> suggests that higher physical activity and lower screen time from childhood through adolescence are associated with lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms by age 15. The research followed over 500 Finnish children for eight years and found that young people who engaged in more supervised exercise and spent less time on computers and mobile devices reported better mental health outcomes in their teen years. The associations were particularly strong for screen time, especially mobile device use, which was linked to higher levels of perceived stress and depression.</p>
<p>Mental health problems like depression and anxiety are major public health concerns among adolescents worldwide. These conditions often begin during the teenage years and are the leading cause of disability among young people. In Finland, mental health disorders are the most common reason adolescents receive sickness benefits.</p>
<p>Given the widespread nature of these challenges, the researchers wanted to explore which lifestyle behaviors—such as physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, and diet—might act as risk or protective factors for developing mental health problems.</p>
<p>“Mental health problems in adolescents are an increasing issue also in Finland, and we need more information about possible risk and protective factors. We know that a variety of lifestyle factors—such as physical activity, screen time, and diet—may influence mental health, but there is still little information on how these factors from childhood are related to later mental health in adolescents,” said study author <a href="https://haapalalab.com/">Eero A. Haapala</a>, a senior lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä.</p>
<p>Previous studies have shown mixed findings about the impact of physical activity and screen use on mental health. Many have relied on cross-sectional designs that capture just one point in time, rather than tracking habits over a longer period. To build a clearer picture, the researchers designed a prospective study to examine how lifestyle behaviors from childhood through adolescence might relate to stress and depression later on.</p>
<p>The researchers used data from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study, which began in 2007 in Finland. The PANIC study initially included 504 children aged 6 to 9 years. Over the next eight years, researchers conducted follow-ups at two and eight years, collecting data on physical activity, screen time, diet, sleep, and mental health.</p>
<p>At the final follow-up, 187 adolescents (mean age around 15.8 years) had complete self-reported data on lifestyle behaviors and mental health symptoms, while 170 had valid data from wearable devices that measured activity and sleep.</p>
<p>Physical activity and screen time were assessed through both questionnaires and wearable accelerometers. The questionnaires captured how often participants engaged in supervised exercise (such as sports teams), unsupervised physical activity (like playing outdoors), and screen time behaviors (including time spent watching TV, using computers, or mobile devices). Diet quality was evaluated using food diaries, and a Baltic Sea Diet Score was used to rate overall diet quality. Sleep was measured through devices worn continuously for at least four days.</p>
<p>Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Finnish version of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Researchers also recorded background factors such as body fat percentage, pubertal development, and parents’ educational levels to control for their effects in the analyses.</p>
<p>The researchers found that self-reported physical activity—particularly supervised exercise—was linked to lower levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms in adolescence. On the other hand, higher total screen time, especially mobile device use, was associated with higher stress and depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>These associations held even after controlling for body fat and other lifestyle behaviors. For example, adolescents who reported more total screen time across the eight years had moderately higher levels of depression and stress. This was especially true for mobile device use, which had stronger links to depressive symptoms than TV or computer use.</p>
<p>Interestingly, device-assessed physical activity did not show the same strong relationships with mental health outcomes. In fact, light activity measured by devices was linked to higher stress and depression scores in boys. This unexpected finding could be because light activities like walking or commuting don’t provide the same psychological benefits—such as a sense of accomplishment or social interaction—as structured or vigorous physical activity.</p>
<p>“For parents, I would say that they should balance their kids’ behaviors between active play and screen time,” Haapala told PsyPost. “Some screen time won’t harm if other aspects of life, such as seeing friends, free play, and developing self-esteem through sports, are in balance. It is good to remember that if a kid has two hours of screen time daily, it adds up to almost one month per year—it always replaces something.”</p>
<p>Unexpectedly, the associations between screen time and mental health problems were generally stronger than those of physical activity. Specifically, total screen time and mobile device use showed moderate links to higher levels of depressive symptoms and perceived stress, while the associations between physical activity—especially supervised exercise—and mental health were smaller and less consistent. In fact, many of the beneficial effects of physical activity were reduced when screen time was taken into account.</p>
<p>“That was surprising because we still have better evidence on beneficial effects of physical activity on mental health from randomized controlled trials than we have for screen time,” Haapala said.</p>
<p>The study also found that boys benefited more than girls from higher levels of total and unsupervised physical activity in terms of mental health. In contrast, screen time’s negative association with mental health was consistent across sexes.</p>
<p>While the study had several strengths, such as using both self-reported and device-based measures and tracking behaviors over eight years, it also had limitations. The sample size at the final follow-up was relatively small, which could reduce the ability to detect more subtle effects. There was also a significant amount of missing data, which could bias results.</p>
<p>Another limitation was that the researchers did not assess the specific content of screen time—such as whether adolescents were using social media, playing games, or watching videos—which may have different psychological effects. The study also measured only sleep duration, not sleep quality or disturbances, which can also affect mental health.</p>
<p>Because the study was observational, it cannot establish cause and effect. It’s possible that adolescents with more stress or depressive symptoms may gravitate toward screens or avoid physical activity, rather than the other way around. “We just had an observational study, so cause and effect should be interpreted cautiously,” Haapala said.</p>
<p>To better understand causality, the research team is now applying for funding to run a full-scale randomized controlled trial. This future study will compare the effects of reducing screen time, increasing physical activity, or combining both strategies on mental health outcomes in adolescents.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Childhood Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescence</a>,” was authored by Eero A. Haapala, Marja H. Leppänen, Silja Kosola, Kaija Appelqvist-Schmidlechner, Siiri-Liisi Kraav, Juuso J. Jussila, Tommi Tolmunen, David R. Lubans, Aino-Maija Eloranta, Ursula Schwab, and Timo A. Lakka.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/authoritarianism-in-parents-may-hinder-a-key-cognitive-skill-in-their-children/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Authoritarianism in parents may hinder a key cognitive skill in their children</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 2nd 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>Children develop the ability to understand what others think and feel—an ability known as theory of mind—through early social interactions, especially with caregivers. A new study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254241289319" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Behavioral Development</a></em> suggests that parents’ beliefs about social hierarchy and obedience to authority may shape the development of this socio-cognitive ability.</p>
<p>The researchers set out to explore how broader social and political attitudes held by parents might be linked to their children’s ability to understand others’ perspectives. Previous studies had already shown that children’s theory of mind can be supported by hearing language that refers to thoughts, feelings, desires, and beliefs—what is often called mental state talk.</p>
<p>However, less was known about how parental attitudes toward authority and inequality might influence this kind of talk, especially when discussing people from groups perceived as different. The new study aimed to fill that gap by examining two belief systems: social dominance orientation—the belief that some groups deserve to be dominant over others—and right-wing authoritarianism, or the belief that people should submit to established authorities and social norms.</p>
<p>“I’ve always been interested in social sensitivity and human interactions, but I fell into the topic by virtue of knowing I wanted to work with children, and there being two professors I could work with. One, David R. Olson, was exceptionally nice and happened to be studying theory of mind. I wanted to work with him because I liked him,” said study author Ted Ruffman, a professor of psychology at the University of Otago.</p>
<p>The research team recruited 79 mother-child pairs in New Zealand. All participants were of European ethnicity and spoke English. The children ranged in age from two to nearly six years old, with an average age of about 3.7 years. The researchers assessed the mothers’ social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism using standard psychological questionnaires.</p>
<p>They also measured the children’s language ability and their theory of mind skills using well-established tasks. These included activities like identifying when a character in a story held a false belief or had different desires from others—tasks commonly used in developmental psychology to assess children’s social understanding.</p>
<p>In addition to these assessments, the mothers participated in a picture description task. Each mother was randomly assigned to view a series of images showing either European or Chinese children and asked to describe the pictures to their child “as if reading a storybook.” The photos depicted children expressing different emotions or reaching for objects, and the mothers’ descriptions were recorded and analyzed. The researchers focused on how often the mothers used mental state words like “think,” “feel,” “want,” or “hope,” and categorized them by type, such as cognition, emotion, or desire.</p>
<p>The researchers found that mothers who scored higher in social dominance orientation or right-wing authoritarianism used fewer mental state words when describing the Chinese children, who were considered an outgroup. However, this relationship was not seen when they described pictures of European children, who were considered part of their ingroup. This suggests that the mothers’ attitudes influenced their willingness—or perhaps their ability—to engage in perspective-taking when the target of discussion belonged to a different ethnic group.</p>
<p>Importantly, the researchers also found a broader link between these maternal attitudes and children’s theory of mind scores. Regardless of which set of pictures the mother described, children whose mothers scored higher on social dominance orientation or right-wing authoritarianism performed worse on the theory of mind tasks.</p>
<p>This held true even after accounting for the children’s age, language ability, and the mother’s education level. These results suggest that a parent’s social and political attitudes may influence a child’s social development in more general ways—not just through moment-to-moment interactions, but possibly through broader patterns in parenting and communication.</p>
<p>The study’s findings highlight a potentially important link between a parent’s worldview and a child’s social-cognitive development. If parents who see the world through a lens of hierarchy or strict obedience tend to talk less about thoughts and feelings—especially when discussing people from different backgrounds—children may miss out on opportunities to practice understanding others’ minds. Over time, this could hinder the development of empathy and perspective-taking.</p>
<p>“There are things you can say to your child, talk to them about the mental states and feelings of others, that will help the child become a cooperative and insightful human being,” Ruffman told PsyPost.</p>
<p>As with all research, there are limitations to consider. One is that the study was cross-sectional, meaning it cannot establish cause and effect. It’s possible—though less likely—that children with lower theory of mind somehow influence their parents’ beliefs, or that both are shaped by a third factor like shared temperament or household dynamics. Additionally, the study only included mothers of European ethnicity in New Zealand, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other cultural and demographic groups.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the researchers suggest that longitudinal studies could provide stronger evidence about the direction of the relationship between parental beliefs and children’s theory of mind. Such studies could also explore whether other factors, like parental empathy or subtle nonverbal behaviors, help explain how these beliefs are transmitted. Given that both social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism have been linked to prejudice and reduced empathy in adults, the idea that they could shape children’s ability to understand others is worth further investigation.</p>
<p>“Don’t fear the truth,” Ruffman added. “Infants might not actually know very much, so let’s not work so hard to show that they do. ‘Big’ journals shouldn’t have a bias to publish early-onset findings (which they clearly do).”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254241289319" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What she believes or what she says? The relation between maternal social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, mental state talk, and children’s theory of mind</a>,” was authored by Qiuyi Kong, Harry Fraser, Felicia Crysta Elwina, and Ted Ruffman.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/neuroscience-breakthroughs-surprising-truths-about-memory-revealed-in-7-recent-studies/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Neuroscience breakthroughs: Surprising truths about memory revealed in 7 recent studies</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 1st 2025, 20:00</div>
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<p><p>Recent discoveries in psychology and neuroscience are reshaping how we think about memory. Far from being a passive storehouse of past experiences, memory is an active, adaptable system influenced by emotion, attention, repetition, and even bodily processes like chewing.</p>
<p>These seven studies highlight how memories can blend together, become overly generalized under stress, or even form in non-neural cells. Together, they offer a clearer picture of the biological and psychological forces that shape our recollections and how those processes can go awry.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/emotional-arousal-can-cause-memories-to-blur-together-especially-in-anxious-individuals/"><strong>1. Anxiety and emotion can blur similar memories together</strong></a></h3>
<p>New research from the University of California, Los Angeles reveals that when we experience similar events repeatedly—such as parking in the same spot daily—our memories can blend together, especially when one of those events is emotionally charged. This “memory attraction” was strongest in people with higher levels of anxiety and greater physiological reactivity to emotional stimuli. The study challenges the idea that our brains always exaggerate differences between similar memories to avoid confusion. Instead, it found that under certain emotional conditions, similar memories are remembered as being even more alike than they actually were.</p>
<p>The researchers tested this using pairs of similar-looking objects and faces, some paired with startling sounds to induce emotional arousal. Memory for the object colors was later tested, and people often remembered the colors as more similar than they really were—particularly if they were more anxious or had stronger physical responses to the aversive noise. The results suggest that emotional events can cause memories to blend rather than separate, which may help explain how anxiety can lead to overgeneralized fears or confusion between threatening and safe experiences. This blending may sometimes be adaptive, but in other cases, it could contribute to emotional disorders.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-how-repeated-exposure-to-emotional-events-shapes-memory/"><strong>2. Emotional memories get stronger with repetition—and the amygdala plays a key role</strong></a></h3>
<p>A study published in <em>The Journal of Neuroscience</em> found that emotionally charged memories become more stable and vivid when they are repeated. This effect is driven by the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotional processing. When participants viewed negative images multiple times, their brain formed increasingly consistent patterns of activity in areas involved in memory, such as the prefrontal and parietal cortices. These consistent patterns helped the participants remember emotional images better than neutral ones, even after several viewings.</p>
<p>The researchers discovered that this memory stabilization depended on the initial response of the amygdala. A strong emotional reaction during the first exposure to an image predicted more consistent brain activity in later repetitions, especially in the superior parietal lobule. This shows that the amygdala not only makes emotional events stand out initially but also strengthens how they are stored with repeated exposure. While this may help us learn from emotionally significant experiences, it also offers insight into why negative memories, such as those in post-traumatic stress disorder, can feel so enduring.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/chewing-wood-may-boost-memory-and-brain-antioxidants-study-finds/"><strong>3. Chewing hard foods may boost memory by increasing brain antioxidants</strong></a></h3>
<p>Chewing on harder substances like wood sticks—as odd as it sounds—may help improve memory, according to a study published in <em>Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience</em>. Researchers found that chewing wood increased levels of glutathione, a key antioxidant in the brain, in a region linked to cognitive control. Participants who showed the largest increases in glutathione also performed better on memory tests, particularly those measuring short-term recall.</p>
<p>The study compared participants who chewed gum to those who chewed wooden sticks for five minutes. Only the wood group showed significant increases in brain glutathione levels. While the exact reason remains unclear, one theory is that the physical act of chewing harder materials stimulates blood flow and metabolic processes that support brain health. Though the study was small and involved only young adults, the findings raise intriguing possibilities for how diet and everyday behaviors could influence cognitive functioning.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientist-show-how-stress-reshapes-fear-memories-via-the-brains-endocannabinoid-system/"><strong>4. Acute stress can distort memory and generalize fear</strong></a></h3>
<p>Stress doesn’t just heighten our memories—it can also make them less accurate. A study published in <em>Cell</em> found that when mice experienced acute stress before learning, their brains formed larger and less specific memory traces. As a result, the animals showed fear responses to safe stimuli that resembled threatening ones, a behavior linked to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>
<p>This overgeneralization occurred because stress disrupted the normal formation of memory networks in the brain’s amygdala. Typically, memories are encoded in a small, selective group of neurons. But under stress, more neurons than usual were recruited, blurring the boundaries between safe and threatening cues. The researchers traced this effect to the endocannabinoid system, which became overactive under stress and reduced the brain’s ability to limit which neurons were involved in memory formation. Blocking the system’s activity restored memory precision, pointing to potential targets for treating stress-related memory issues.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-just-discovered-memory-processes-in-non-brain-cells/"><strong>5. Memory-like processes aren’t limited to neurons</strong></a></h3>
<p>A surprising study published in <em>Nature Communications</em> suggests that memory isn’t exclusive to brain cells. Researchers found that human kidney and nerve-derived cells could “remember” chemical stimulation patterns in a way similar to neurons. These cells responded more strongly to chemical pulses that were spaced out over time—mirroring the “spaced learning” effect observed in neural memory studies.</p>
<p>The study used a glowing protein to track cellular responses, revealing that cells retained information about stimulation patterns for over 24 hours. This effect was driven by molecules like CREB and ERK, which are also critical for memory in neurons. The findings challenge long-standing assumptions about memory being unique to the nervous system and suggest that cells across the body may use similar mechanisms to process and retain information. This could open up new frontiers in medicine, such as training cells to behave in desired ways through patterned stimulation.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/scientists-discover-glue-that-holds-memory-together-in-fascinating-neuroscience-breakthrough/"><strong>6. Long-term memory may rely on a “molecular glue”</strong></a></h3>
<p>How do memories last for years when the molecules that store them degrade in days? A study published in <em>Science Advances</em> may have the answer. Researchers discovered that a molecule called KIBRA acts as a stabilizing anchor for another enzyme, PKMζ, which helps strengthen synapses—the connections between neurons. This interaction ensures that synapses involved in memory remain strong even as individual proteins are replaced.</p>
<p>When the researchers disrupted the KIBRA-PKMζ interaction in mice, the animals lost previously learned spatial memories. This suggests that KIBRA helps maintain long-term memory by continually guiding new PKMζ molecules to the correct synapses. Like replacing the planks of a ship while keeping its shape intact, this system allows memories to persist despite ongoing molecular turnover. The discovery could lead to new treatments for memory disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.psypost.org/how-does-memory-shape-attention-scientists-have-a-fascinating-answer/"><strong>7. Memory’s influence on attention is not automatic</strong></a></h3>
<p>A study published in the <em>Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition</em> found that memory only directs our attention when we actively hold that memory in mind. Participants in the study were asked to retrieve, suppress, or substitute memories of specific objects associated with scenes. When allowed to freely recall the memories, participants’ eyes were drawn to the remembered objects, even if they weren’t relevant to the task.</p>
<p>However, when participants were instructed to suppress or replace those memories, their attention was no longer guided by them—especially in the case of tools, which were easier to suppress than faces. This finding suggests that attention isn’t automatically hijacked by memory. Instead, memory influences attention only when it’s actively engaged. The study sheds light on how people might learn to control distracting or distressing thoughts, with potential applications for managing intrusive memories in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/antidepressant-withdrawal-may-be-more-persistent-than-doctors-realize/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Antidepressant withdrawal may be more persistent than doctors realize</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 1st 2025, 18:00</div>
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<p><p>People who stop taking antidepressants can experience lingering withdrawal symptoms that last months or even years, according to a new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S204579602500023X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences</a></em>. The review, which systematically examined the scientific literature on post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), found that symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, and sleep disturbances sometimes persist long after medication is discontinued.</p>
<p>The researchers were motivated by growing concerns about the long-term use of antidepressants and the lack of scientific attention paid to what happens when people try to stop. Antidepressants are among the most widely prescribed medications in the world, and a significant number of users stay on them for years.</p>
<p>Although short-term withdrawal symptoms are well-documented, there has been little research into what happens when withdrawal symptoms linger—what some researchers call post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This study aimed to systematically gather and evaluate existing data on how often PAWS occurs, how long it lasts, how severe it is, what factors might influence it, and what treatments are available.</p>
<p>To do this, the researchers conducted a comprehensive search of major scientific databases, looking for original studies that reported persistent withdrawal symptoms after stopping newer antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. They used a predefined protocol and included a wide range of study types—case reports, observational studies, and surveys—so long as they contained original data. Ultimately, the review included seven studies that met their criteria.</p>
<p>The included studies varied widely in methodology and quality. Some were peer-reviewed analyses of posts on online support forums, while others were clinical case reports or small prospective studies. One of the strongest pieces of evidence came from a large real-world randomized controlled trial in the United Kingdom. That trial followed patients who discontinued antidepressants over several months and found that withdrawal symptoms could persist for up to 39 weeks.</p>
<p>In terms of prevalence, one small study provided a rough estimate: in a group of 20 patients who had been prescribed paroxetine for panic disorder and agoraphobia, three individuals (15%) developed PAWS after gradually tapering their medication. This is a limited finding, drawn from a narrow patient population, and cannot be generalized to all antidepressant users. Still, it raises the possibility that persistent withdrawal symptoms are not rare.</p>
<p>When it came to duration, the studies offered a wide range. Reports of PAWS lasting between one and a half months and nearly 14 years were found. On average, durations spanned from several months to a few years. One study based on online self-reports noted an average symptom duration of over two years. The most commonly reported symptoms included mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and sleep difficulties. In some cases, the symptom pattern resembled that of other mental health conditions, making it difficult to distinguish withdrawal from a relapse or a new disorder.</p>
<p>As for severity, several studies described PAWS as having a serious impact on quality of life. One case series reported that symptoms such as emotional instability, agitation, and physical discomfort significantly disrupted patients’ daily functioning. In another study, individuals self-identifying as experiencing PAWS reported that their symptoms were severe and persistent, sometimes causing them to seek help in online forums and support groups.</p>
<p>The study also explored possible risk factors. Long-term use of paroxetine—a commonly prescribed antidepressant—was repeatedly mentioned as a potential contributor to prolonged withdrawal. Other factors, such as the speed of tapering, did not consistently predict the severity or duration of symptoms. In some cases, people who tapered slowly still experienced long-lasting symptoms, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood.</p>
<p>In terms of treatment, the available options appeared limited and inconclusive. Some individuals found that reinstating the original antidepressant helped alleviate their symptoms, while others did not. A few patients tried other medications like benzodiazepines or beta blockers, with mixed results. One case series reported that cognitive-behavioral therapy seemed to help some patients over the course of several months, but this was based on only a few cases and lacked a control group.</p>
<p>One of the most notable findings of this review was how little high-quality research exists on PAWS. Most studies were based on self-reported data from online communities, which, while valuable, cannot provide definitive evidence due to selection bias and lack of medical verification.</p>
<p>Only one study used a randomized controlled design, and even that study did not include drugs like paroxetine or venlafaxine, which are known to cause more severe withdrawal symptoms. The authors note that this lack of rigorous research makes it impossible to estimate how common or severe PAWS truly is in the general population.</p>
<p>This evidence gap has significant implications for clinical practice. Many doctors may be unaware of PAWS or may misinterpret persistent withdrawal symptoms as a return of the original mental health condition. This can lead to patients being placed back on medication unnecessarily or being diagnosed with a new disorder. Without clearer diagnostic guidelines or validated tools to distinguish PAWS from relapse, clinicians may struggle to provide appropriate care.</p>
<p>The researchers conclude that much more work is needed to understand PAWS. Larger, well-designed studies are necessary to determine how widespread the problem is and to identify which patients are most at risk. Randomized controlled trials are also needed to test potential treatments.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S204579602500023X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) after stopping antidepressants: a systematic review with meta-narrative synthesis</a>,” was authored by Andri Rennwald and Michael P. Hengartner.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/playing-fortnite-linked-to-stronger-peer-relationships-in-boys/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Playing Fortnite linked to stronger peer relationships in boys</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 1st 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2024.0048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Games for Health Journal</a></em> suggests that the types of digital games elementary school boys play—and the amount of time they spend playing them—are related to their social skills. While some games like Clash of Clans and Fortnite were linked to stronger peer relationships and positive social behaviors, others such as Mortal Kombat were associated with higher aggression and antisocial tendencies. How long a child plays appears to matter more than what they play, with longer playtimes generally predicting more negative social outcomes.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted this study to better understand how digital games affect children’s social development, a topic that has long been debated. Some argue that video games promote isolation and aggression, while others suggest that games—especially those that are collaborative—can improve communication and teamwork. Given the growing popularity of games among children and shifting parental and educational attitudes toward gaming, the researchers saw a need for more targeted investigation.</p>
<p>The study focused on male students in the fourth through sixth grades in Iran. Using a cluster random sampling method, the researchers selected 192 boys from elementary schools who played digital games, along with an equal number of non-players for comparison. The game players were divided into four groups based on the specific games they played: Clash of Clans, Fortnite, Mortal Kombat, and PES (Pro Evolution Soccer).</p>
<p>The researchers used a validated social skills questionnaire to evaluate multiple dimensions of social behavior, including appropriate social interaction, impulsiveness, antisocial tendencies, desire for dominance, and relationships with peers. They also assessed the amount of time spent playing and whether the games were played on mobile or console platforms.</p>
<p>The results showed meaningful differences between players and non-players in several areas. Although there were no significant differences in overall appropriate behavior or aggression, players scored higher in antisocial behavior, a desire to dominate, and peer relationships. This seemingly contradictory pattern—more antisocial tendencies but also better peer relations—may reflect the social nature of many games, which can both foster connection and promote competitiveness.</p>
<p>Grade level also played a role. Fifth-grade students showed higher levels of aggression and dominance-seeking behavior than their younger and older peers. This could be linked to developmental changes, as children in this age group are often navigating shifts in identity, independence, and social roles. The study authors noted that exposure to aggressive game content might amplify these tendencies, particularly among children already experiencing emotional and physical changes associated with early adolescence.</p>
<p>The type of game played had a noticeable influence on specific aspects of social behavior. Clash of Clans, a strategic game with team-based elements, was associated with more appropriate social behaviors and stronger peer relationships. Fortnite, which involves online collaboration and competition, also appeared to improve relationships with peers.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Mortal Kombat, known for its violent one-on-one combat, was linked to higher levels of aggression and antisocial behavior compared to the other games studied. Children who played Mortal Kombat tended to score higher in impulsiveness and lower in peer-related skills.</p>
<p>The researchers found that playing time predicted social outcomes more strongly than game type. In other words, the longer a student played, the more likely they were to experience changes—positive or negative—in their social behavior. Regression analysis showed that time spent playing digital games was a significant predictor across all measured dimensions. For example, longer playing times were associated with more impulsive behavior, stronger desires for dominance, and weaker peer relationships.</p>
<p>The study also explored how age and game type interacted. For instance, younger students who played Mortal Kombat showed more antisocial behavior than older students who played the same game. Meanwhile, younger players of Clash of Clans scored better in social interaction than older players of the same game. These findings suggest that age-specific responses to game content may influence how gaming affects children’s social skills.</p>
<p>There are some limitations to consider. The sample was limited to male students in one country, which may affect how well the findings apply to other populations, such as girls or children in different cultural settings. The data was also cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than long-term developmental effects. As a result, the study cannot definitively determine cause and effect.</p>
<p>The authors recommend further research that includes more diverse samples and investigates the long-term impacts of digital gaming on social development. They also call for studies that evaluate how structured gaming programs—such as those used in schools or therapeutic settings—can be designed to promote positive social outcomes. Exploring whether digital games can be used as tools for teaching prosocial behavior, particularly in children with social difficulties, could be especially useful.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2024.0048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Impact of Computer Games on the Social Skills of Elementary School Students: A Comprehensive Analysis</a>,” was authored by Mahboubeh Alborzi and Mahsa Torabi.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/ai-powered-study-sheds-light-on-how-qanon-beliefs-shatter-family-bonds/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">AI-powered study sheds light on how QAnon beliefs shatter family bonds</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 1st 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02654075251328116"><em>Journal of Social and Personal Relationships</em></a> has shed light on how belief in the QAnon conspiracy theory affects family dynamics. By analyzing over 75,000 sentences referencing “family” from the subreddit r/QAnonCasualties, the study revealed a wide range of emotional, psychological, and practical impacts on those with QAnon-believing loved ones. From grief and fear to fractured holiday gatherings and broken ties, the findings offer one of the most comprehensive portraits to date of the interpersonal consequences of conspiracy belief.</p>
<p>The study focuses on a relatively unexplored but increasingly relevant issue: how belief in QAnon—an elaborate conspiracy theory alleging a global cabal of child-trafficking elites—is damaging family bonds. While research has frequently examined how conspiracy beliefs affect individuals and societies, few studies have explored how they disrupt intimate relationships. This study, led by Justin B. Phillips from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, addresses that gap by using advanced machine learning techniques to analyze real-world discussions from people seeking support and understanding.</p>
<p>“In one of my courses we explore the consequences of conspiracy beliefs. We don’t actually care much about whether conspiracy theories are true or false, but instead we’re more interested in the—typically negative—effects of such beliefs,” explained Phillips, a senior lecturer in the School of Law, Politics, and Philosophy. “Over the years I would routinely point my class to r/QAnonCasualties for examples of negative, interpersonal effects of conspiracy beliefs on families. So, I decided I might as well write about it.”</p>
<p>The QAnon movement, which emerged in 2017, centers on the claim that a secret government insider known as “Q” is revealing hidden truths about a satanic, child-abusing cabal. Followers believe that Donald Trump is leading a covert war to expose and defeat this group. Despite its fringe origins, QAnon quickly gained momentum. By 2022, about two-thirds of Americans had heard of it, and one in five reported knowing a supporter personally. The theory’s mix of political extremism, apocalyptic messaging, and internet-driven community has made it particularly polarizing and emotionally charged.</p>
<p>Phillips designed the study to investigate how people describe the effects of QAnon beliefs on their family relationships. To do this, he collected all posts and comments from the public Reddit forum r/QAnonCasualties that contained the word “family.” This subreddit serves as a support space for people who feel estranged or harmed by a loved one’s belief in QAnon. The final dataset included nearly 75,000 unique sentences from over 6,000 posts and more than 53,000 comments, spanning from mid-2019 to the end of 2023.</p>
<p>To analyze this vast dataset, Phillips used a technique called BERTopic, a machine learning method that identifies and groups related themes in large text corpora. This approach allowed him to identify 58 distinct categories of family-related discussion on the subreddit. These categories covered everything from emotional reactions and relationship breakdowns to attempts at reconciliation and broader reflections on the nature of QAnon as a belief system.</p>
<p>The results were striking in both their emotional depth and thematic variety. Many posts reflected intense emotional pain, with topics such as grief, devastation, anxiety, and fear appearing frequently. Posters described feeling as if they had lost a loved one to a “cult,” comparing the emotional fallout to mourning a death. In some cases, family members expressed concerns about safety—both their own and that of others—due to the increasingly erratic or extremist behavior of their QAnon-believing relatives.</p>
<p>For example, one poster wrote, “I am devastated. I have lost my family. I am grieving the living.” Others voiced concerns that their Q-believing family members were unstable or potentially violent. Some shared stories of loved ones stockpiling weapons or becoming hostile to marginalized groups, including racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people.</p>
<p>But not all posts were focused solely on loss and fear. A smaller but meaningful portion of discussions centered on hope, reconciliation, and coping strategies. Users exchanged advice on navigating family gatherings, managing conversations about COVID-19 and politics, and maintaining emotional boundaries. Some shared success stories of reconnecting with relatives who had left QAnon behind, offering encouragement to others in similar situations.</p>
<p>The most popular topics, based on upvotes from other users, often involved practical concerns. These included navigating pandemic-related conflicts—such as disagreements over vaccinations, mask-wearing, and social distancing—as well as managing holiday events with QAnon-believing family members. Posts that asked for understanding or advice on how to talk to a loved one were also widely engaged with, suggesting a strong desire among community members to preserve relationships where possible.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the data also revealed that users frequently discussed the specific roles of QAnon believers within their families. Posts mentioned mothers, fathers, siblings, and partners, highlighting the wide range of family members who had embraced the conspiracy. This diversity suggests that QAnon belief is not confined to any single demographic or relationship role, further complicating efforts at understanding and intervention.</p>
<p>The subreddit also served as a support network in its own right. Many users found comfort in hearing that others were experiencing similar struggles. Posts frequently expressed gratitude for the community and emphasized the need to build “chosen families” when biological ones became too toxic or unsafe.</p>
<p>Another recurring theme was the labeling of QAnon as a “cult.” Many users explicitly described their loved ones as having been “lost to a cult,” and some said that QAnon had become their relative’s new family or identity. The forum became a space to discuss the parallels between QAnon and other forms of radicalization or addiction, with users sometimes likening deprogramming efforts to interventions for substance abuse.</p>
<p>“The forum’s contributors talk at length about how conspiracy beliefs have negatively impacted their family, the support network they desire as a result, and the strategies they deploy to resolve the family friction,” Phillips told PsyPost. “For example, some urged patience, compassion and avoiding talking about politics, whereas others recommended dissolving marriages and issuing restraining orders.”</p>
<p>“We know these are typical strategies to resolve interpersonal relationships under threat, but the sad irony is that both believers and non-believers are seemingly using these strategies of confrontation and avoidance for largely the same reason (i.e. to save the family). The subreddit’s posters also desperately called out for more academic research on the effects of conspiracy beliefs on families, something which I found quite personally compelling.”</p>
<p>These findings align with earlier research on the interpersonal effects of QAnon. A 2024 qualitative study, also published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, identified four key themes through interviews with 15 individuals affected by a loved one’s QAnon involvement. These included radical personality changes in the believer, emotional and physical distance, intense conflict, and varied attempts at reconciliation. Participants in that study reported a decline in the emotional quality of their relationships and often had to choose between maintaining contact or preserving their well-being.</p>
<p>The present study builds on that work by analyzing a much larger dataset. Rather than relying on interviews or surveys with a small sample, Phillips leveraged the natural language of tens of thousands of Reddit posts to understand the collective voice of those affected. This approach provides a broader and more nuanced picture of the personal costs of QAnon belief, while still capturing the raw emotional texture of lived experience.</p>
<p>Still, the study has limitations. The r/QAnonCasualties subreddit is explicitly for people negatively affected by QAnon. It does not represent the full spectrum of QAnon-related family dynamics, and it excludes the perspectives of those who may have experienced reconciliation or perceived positive change. Additionally, the study does not include demographic information, which limits its ability to assess how factors like age, gender, political identity, or religion might influence these experiences.</p>
<p>“A reviewer quite rightly points out that the forum was likely populated by those negatively affected by conspiracy beliefs,” Phillips said. “So, anyone wanting to use this research should be aware of that. Some might also point to the specificity of QAnon beliefs as another limitation, but I’d argue that conspiracy theories have existed well before and will continue well after, and so there’s some potential for generalization here.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251328116">‘I’m so worried about my whole family’: Modeling r/QAnonCasualties to better understand the effects of (QAnon) conspiracy beliefs on families</a>,” was published March 21, 2025.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-study-maps-psychological-pathway-from-childhood-abuse-to-adolescent-addiction/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New study maps psychological pathway from childhood abuse to adolescent addiction</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jun 1st 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>A study of high school students in China found that individuals who experienced childhood abuse were more likely to display addictive behaviors compared to their peers without such experiences. Part of this relationship was mediated by irritability and impulsivity. The research was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.200"><em>Journal of Affective Disorders</em></a>.</p>
<p>Childhood abuse refers to harmful or threatening treatment of a child, which can be physical, emotional, or sexual, or can involve neglect. Physical abuse includes hitting, shaking, or otherwise causing physical harm. Emotional abuse involves behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth, such as constant criticism, rejection, or humiliation. Sexual abuse includes any sexual activity with a child, including inappropriate touching, exposure, or exploitation.</p>
<p>Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, medical care, education, or emotional support. Abuse can seriously affect a child’s development, leading to long-term mental health issues like anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and difficulties in relationships. Brain development may also be impacted, especially in areas related to stress response and emotion regulation.</p>
<p>Study author Zhengyi Liu and his colleagues aimed to explore the links between childhood abuse experiences and addictive behaviors. They hypothesized that childhood abuse could make an individual more prone to addictive behaviors both directly and indirectly by increasing irritability and impulsivity. The study particularly focused on smoking, drinking, and internet addiction.</p>
<p>Study participants were 1,601 high school students from a vocational school in Zhejiang Province, China. Students were in grades 10 and 11. Of the participants, 757 were girls. Their ages ranged from 15 to 19 years.</p>
<p>Participants completed assessments of childhood abuse (the Childhood Abuse Questionnaire), impulsivity (the Dual-Mode of Self-Control Scale), irritability (the Brief Irritability Scale), substance use (the Global School-based Student Health Survey), and internet addiction (the Internet Addiction Disorder Diagnostic Scale for middle school students).</p>
<p>Results showed that girls tended to be slightly more impulsive and irritable than boys, but boys smoked and drank more. There were no significant gender differences in childhood abuse experiences or the severity of internet addiction symptoms.</p>
<p>As expected, participants reporting more severe childhood abuse experiences tended to score higher on measures of irritability and impulsivity. They were also more likely to display symptoms of internet addiction, to smoke more tobacco, and to drink more alcohol.</p>
<p>The researchers tested a statistical model proposing that childhood abuse increases impulsivity and irritability, which in turn increase the likelihood of engaging in addictive behaviors. The results supported this model, but also indicated that impulsivity and irritability do not fully explain the link between childhood abuse and addiction.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on how early adversity may shape vulnerability to addiction. However, it is important to note that all data were self-reported, and childhood abuse data were retrospective (i.e., based on participants’ memories). This leaves room for reporting bias and memory inaccuracies to have influenced the results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.200">The association between childhood abuse and addictive behaviors in adolescents: Understanding the role of impulsivity and irritability</a>,” was authored by Zhengyi Liu, Yunyi Xiao, Yingying Ye, Yifan Li, Zijian He, Nanshu Peng, and Xiao Zhou.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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