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In the Rorschach inkblot test, the person is asked to describe what they see in ambiguous inkblot images. The therapist then interprets the person’s answers. This projective test often appears in popular culture and is frequently portrayed as a way of revealing a person’s unconscious thoughts, motives, or desires. What Is the Rorschach Inkblot Test? The Rorschach inkblot test is a type of projective assessment in which subjects look at 10 ambiguous inkblot images and describe what they see in each one....

What Is a Schizophrenic Episode? Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder. It is a mental illness that is characterized by psychosis, which is when people have trouble distinguishing between what is real and what is imagined. Symptoms of psychosis can include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and incoherence, says Deepak D’Souza, MD, a psychiatry professor at Yale School of Medicine. A schizophrenic episode can last days or weeks, and in rare cases, months, says Dr....

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 3 women report sexual assault. A study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior found that sexual trauma may negatively impact the health of a woman’s brain. Key Takeaways A new study found that traumatic experiences were associated with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), which are early markers for dementia.Of all the traumatic events reported, sexual assault was the most significantly related to WMHs....

Differences in speech between children and their peers may be pronounced as they begin to interact with one another in a formal learning environment like preschool. Some will speak in simple sentences, while others can string multiple words together in more complex sentences. And some may struggle to pronounce specific sounds or stutter when they are speaking quickly. When these differences become evident, parents naturally worry that their children are not developing at the appropriate rate....

The trauma of a heart attack is more than just physical—it’s a life-changing event that leaves many people feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and stressed out. And just how well a person manages those emotions may make a major impact on their recovery and the future of their heart health, new research shows. Key Takeaways New research shows that high levels of distress may double the risk of future cardiovascular problems in younger heart attack survivors....

How does the color blue make you feel? People have long believed that certain colors can evoke different moods and feelings, and some research has supported the idea that colors can have psychological effects. Blue is a color often found in nature, such as the pale blue of a daytime sky or the rich dark blue of a deep pool of water. It is for this reason, perhaps, that people often describe the color blue as calm and serene....

There is almost nothing as stressful as being a parent with a sick child. We worry our children will get sicker and need urgent medical care or hospitalization. We worry they’ll spread their ick to our other kids. We worry they’ll spread it to us. Dealing with sickness as a parent was bad enough, but throw a global pandemic into the mix, and our nerves are on edge. We worry that every cold symptom our children have may be a sign that they’ve caught COVID....

In late 2019, there began rumblings of a novel virus that was potentially dangerous, but far away. By early 2020, all corners of the world were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lives of almost everyone on the planet was altered in some way. What couldn’t be seen, however, but most certainly could be felt, was the pervasive and overwhelming anxiety and sadness that was the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic....

Androids, avatars, and animations aim for extreme realism but get caught in a disturbing chasm dubbed the uncanny valley. They are extremely realistic and lifelike—but when we examine them, we see they are not quite human. When a robotic or animated depiction lies in this “valley,” people tend to feel a sense of unease, strangeness, disgust, or creepiness. Uncanny Valley The uncanny valley is a term used to describe the relationship between the human-like appearance of a robotic object and the emotional response it evokes....

Smoking during pregnancy is certainly well-known to be harmful to both the mom-to-be and the baby. Despite this, many women continue to smoke during their pregnancies. There are many organizations and programs that are aiming to lower this because most women say that lowering the number of cigarettes per day and eventually quitting is important to them. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U....

In a normal, healthy pregnancy, the blood vessels running between the fetus and the placenta are contained in the umbilical cord. In an estimated one in 2,500 pregnancies, however, a serious complication called vasa previa occurs. With vasa previa, some of the blood vessels grow along the membranes in the lower part of the uterus at the cervical opening. If the condition is not detected in advance, the blood vessels can rupture during labor, causing massive blood loss for both mother and baby and potentially resulting in a stillbirth....

Childhood is a vulnerable time, and what happens to us then has long deep impacts. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) describe traumatic experiences that can have lasting effects into adulthood. The more ACEs someone experiences, the more challenging they may be to overcome. Let’s take a look at what adverse childhood experiences are, what impacts they may have, how to prevent them—and most importantly, how you can cope if you are someone who endured traumatic experiences in childhood....

What Does the Term ‘CisHet’ Mean? The term CisHet refers to a gender identity as well as a sexual identity. This two-part identity means that a person is both cisgender and heterosexual. What Does It Mean to Be Cisgender? To be cisgender means that you identify with the gender you were assigned at birth. If you are cisgender, which is often shortened in discussion to “cis,” chances are you have not experienced gender dysphoria, where you feel unaligned with your assigned gender....

If your baby is in a frank breech position, that means that their bottom is down toward the cervix rather than the head. The part of the baby that is near the birth canal is called the presenting part. It’s the part of the baby’s body that is born first and is usually the head (vertex presentation). In a small number of deliveries, a baby’s bottom or feet are in a position to be born first....

Late fall and winter can be a little rough. The colder, darker days can take a toll on your mood. And if you’ve lost a loved one, the holiday season might feel extra painful. But, decorating for the holidays—even when you don’t feel like it—might be really good for your psychological well-being. Stringing some lights and trimming a tree could make you happier. Decorating for the holidays might even improve your social life....

The term “special needs” has come under increasing scrutiny over the years, and for good reason. It’s a vague, euphemistic phrase that can be offensive to many people. Nevertheless, it is still said within educational and community settings throughout the United States, and is often used interchangeably with diagnostic terms or words like “disabled.” Incidentally, the term “special needs” has no legal meaning. We’ve turned to the experts to learn about the origins of the term “special needs,” understand more about why the term is problematic, and what to say instead....

The first case of polio in the United States after nearly a decade was confirmed in New York on July 21, 2022. State and county health officials reported that the virus was identified in Rockland County and transmitted by someone who received the oral polio vaccine. Experts believe the infection may have originated outside of the United States since the oral form of the vaccine has not been administered in the country for more than 20 years....

If you’re trying to come up with baby names and want to follow a theme, why not consider going by a specific letter? Perhaps you want all your kids to have names that start with the same letter, or perhaps you want their initials to spell out a word. In either case, a letter-by-letter guide to baby names can come in handy. If you think baby names that start with “S” might fit the bill, there are plenty of unique names here, as well as plenty of popular names....

Optimism isn’t about being oblivious to the bad stuff. That’s denial. Optimism defines how we interpret and think about ourselves and the world around us. It’s about: knowing how much control you have in a situationexpecting a good outcome when you take steps to control what you can It’s probably not a surprise that optimistic thinkers tend to be happier than pessimistic thinkers. But there are other benefits to being optimist....

Some health conditions can mimic the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Some medications can also cause similar symptoms as a side effect. Healthcare providers often screen for these conditions while diagnosing depression, or if treatment for depression isn’t working the way it should, says Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “Understanding Bipolar Disorder.” This article explains what major depressive disorder looks like, and explores other conditions that look like major depressive disorder....