Behavioral Health | Penn Today

A silhouette of a person in black on a red background. The person is holding a phone that reads "COVID-19" and the back of the head is open, with many different symbols flowing out, including a globe, a hospital, a needle, a vial, a mask, the dollar sign, and a TV screen that reads "Fake News."

Why COVID misinformation continues to spread

Penn Medicine’s Anish Agarwal discusses why false claims about the virus and vaccines arise and persist, plus what he hopes will come from NIH-funded research he and Penn Engineering’s Sharath Chandra Guntuku have recently begun.

New algorithm detects autism in infants. How might that change care?

According to David Mandell of the Perelman School of Medicine, the most important contribution of the Duke University algorithm keyed toward infant autism is its risk detection within the first 30 days of a child’s health care experience.

Why we keep falling for fad diets that don’t work

In a Q&A, Janet Chrzan of the School of Nursing and the School of Arts & Sciences discusses the cultural and anthropological research behind her recently co-authored book, “Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall for Fad Diets.”

American scientists make progress in decoding the genetics of insomnia

A co-authored study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has identified a new genetic pathway involved in regulating sleep from fruit flies to humans.

New year’s resolution: Don’t supersize me!

The Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the Perelman School of Medicine found that only 5% of people who go on fad diets like liquid or no-carb keep the weight off.

What should I eat or drink when I have a cold?

Colleen Tewksbury of the School of Nursing says that there isn’t strong enough evidence to recommend specific foods during a viral infection but suggests turning to hydrating and nourishing foods that are also comforting.

As alcohol-related liver disease rises in the U.S., a clinic takes a new approach to treatment

Henry Kranzler of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the message to quit drinking becomes more powerful when accompanied by tangible evidence like liver scans, rather than vague statements.

Struggling to keep your New Year’s resolutions? Here’s how to keep yourself on track

A referenced 2012 study by the Perelman School of Medicine’s Weight and Eating Disorders Program found that 65% of dieters return to their pre-diet weight within three years.

Stable vices vs. coping mechanisms

Sue McDonnell of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that a horse who’s exhibiting an undesirable behavior or stable vice isn’t necessarily behaving badly.

Clockwise from top left: Ran Barzilay, Elina Visoki, Jonathan Zandberg, Rebecca Waller

Restricted abortion access linked to increased suicide risk in young women

Research from the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia determined that this association exists for women of reproductive age, findings that hold potential clinical, policy, and ethical implications.

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