News Mentions for the week of July 3, 2023

Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and author of the new book "Addiction: A Very Short Introduction" discusses the fentanyl epidemic, “harm reduction,” and many issues surrounding drug addiction and treatment.

Habits are like shortcuts for our brains. Once we form a habit -- say, putting on a seat belt whenever we get into a car -- the behavior becomes almost automatic in the right context. But habit formation isn't always a boon. The same neural circuitry that helps us buckle up underlies binge eating disorders, according to a new study by Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators. Using brain imaging, researchers saw differences in the neural circuitry that promotes habit formation in people with binge eating disorders, which involves consuming excessive amounts of food in a short time period. The differences were more pronounced in those with more severe disorders. The habitual element of these conditions, the researchers say, could be part of the reason they are so hard to treat. Cara Bohon, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed.

With an estimated 75 million active users each month, Tinder is the most popular dating app in the world. But a new study by Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators has found, surprisingly - though perhaps not to users of the app - that many users are not swiping for dates. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder marked by neuropsychological deficits and neurocircuitry brain damage that can lead to serious negative consequences for family, work, and personal well-being. Edie Sullivan, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted on the subject.

As the summer months roll along, you might feel powerless to tear your eyes and thumbs from the phone and actually get outside to enjoy the weather. But it's not your fault, experts say, because the companies that design our devices are intentionally working to make them addictive. Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.