News Mentions for the week of October 30, 2023
Our faculty are often called upon to provide insight on current events and topics in the news.
Explore some of the articles that they have contributed to or been quoted in recently below.
- CBS News
Virtual reality therapy for hoarding
A first-of-its-kind Stanford study takes a look at the use of virtual reality for people with hoarding disorder. Carolyn Rodriguez, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explains how VR can help ease the anxiety and stress, and make it easier to declutter.
- Axios
Here's how psychedelics can help treat PTSD in veterans
The push to use psychedelics as treatment for veterans with PTSD is gaining momentum across the country — and the Bay Area is taking the lead. Trisha Suppes, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.
- Healio
‘Reset your tech life’ with a 24-hour smartphone fast
Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, invited the Lifestyle Medicine 2023 health care audience to do a 24-hour fast from their smartphones and other digital devices. “And the reason is to give you some inkling on what it feels like for our patients who are addicted to be in withdrawal,” she said. “Because I think most of us experience literal physiologic withdrawal when we go without our devices for even a short period of time.
- Spectrum | Autism Research News
Teasing apart insistence on sameness with Mirko Uljarević
Restricted and repetitive behaviors are one of autism’s hallmarks, as noted in the DSM. These behaviors may manifest as repetitive movements, restricted interests, insistence on sameness, and atypical responses to sensory stimuli, according to the DSM. But these four types of repetitive behavior may erroneously lump together distinct characteristics, says Mirko Uljarević, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “It’s really clear from our work that each of these buckets is just too heterogenous.”
- National Geographic
When you go sober for even a month, your body will change. Here’s how.
Dry January. Sober October. More and more people are attempting to curb their alcohol use—so we asked experts what benefits you can really expect to see. Steven Tate, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.
- CNET
Sleep Paralysis: I Hallucinated a Giant Spider, but My Doctor Said It Was Fine
Have you been experiencing sleep paralysis? Here's what to know. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Surprising finding links sleep, brain insulation, and neurodegeneration
Erin Gibson’s lab has discovered that the precursor cells to myelin-producing oligodendrocytes are regulated by the circadian system in mice. When that regulation breaks down, the researchers saw abnormal myelination — but also fragmented sleep.