Behavioral Health

Cigarette nicotine levels to make ‘monumental’ shift, and Pa. needs to prepare

In an Op-Ed, postdoc Teresa DeAtley of the Perelman School of Medicine urges Pennsylvania to prepare for the FDA’s new proposal to reduce the maximum level of nicotine in cigarettes.

These are the daily behaviors an expert in sleep medicine does to get the best night’s rest

Richard Schwab of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests some daily behaviors that can contribute to a good night’s sleep, including his own sleep routines.

New Penn medical school program matches service dogs with veterans

The School of Veterinary Medicine’s Warrior Canine Connection program will bring therapeutic service dog training to veterans on campus.

Ten innovators shaping the future of health

Katy Milkman of the Wharton School is lauded for co-founding the Behavior Change for Good initiative, which seeks to dramatically accelerate the development of interventions that work to change common human behaviors.

A gloved hand holds a COVID-19 Vaccination Record card. Blurred in the background are a closed needle, a vial of medication, and a sheet of paper that reads "COVID-19 Testing/Vaccination."

Unpacking barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in Latino communities

A study from Penn Nursing and others finds that for Latino or Hispanic populations in the U.S. four main barriers come into play: access to health care services, money, immigration concerns, and misinformation.

Two women stopped binge eating after an implant started zapping their brains with electricity, a small study found

A study by Casey Halpern of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues found that electric shocks to the brain took away the cravings of two patients with binge eating disorder.

A shadowy figure walking away on a brick street.

Despite lower crime rates in 2020, risk of victimization grew

Research out of Penn and the Naval Postgraduate School found that early in the pandemic the possibility of getting robbed or assaulted in a public place in the U.S. jumped by 15% to 30%, a rate that has stayed elevated since.

Pulses to their brains and two women’s binge eating went away

A pilot study led by Casey Halpern of the Perelman School of Medicine finds that deep brain stimulation can curb the urge to overeat.

Boost your happiness in just three minutes a day—really

A study from Martin Seligman of the School of Arts & Sciences found that writing down three good things that happened each day leads to long-term increases in happiness and decreases in depressive symptoms.

Five steps to take to become a morning person

Philip Gehrman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that people’s internal clocks are 30-40% dependent on genetic factors.

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