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Magic Markers
Scott Alexander critiques a study claiming to have found biomarkers for suicide risk, arguing that the results are overstated and such a test would have limited clinical utility even if accurate.
13 min read 1,958 words
A thread through the archive
mental health
Essays tagged “mental health”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on mental health
69 essaysSSC
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CBT In The Water Supply
Scott Alexander explores the declining effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, proposing that its core ideas have become part of popular culture, potentially explaining its decreased impact.
21 min read 3,127 words
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Things That Sometimes Work If You Have Anxiety
Scott Alexander reviews a wide range of treatments for anxiety disorders, from lifestyle changes and therapy to medications and alternative remedies, emphasizing the importance of exploring multiple options.
28 min read 4,251 words
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The Case Of The Famous Physicist
Scott analyzes a case of apparent psychiatric misdiagnosis, explaining the complexities and challenges faced by psychiatrists in evaluating patients' claims.
18 min read 2,705 words
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Reflections From The Halfway Point
Scott reflects on his psychiatry residency experiences, discussing the realities of psychiatric hospitals, patient care challenges, and his transition to outpatient work.
18 min read 2,766 words
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Links 5/15: Link Floyd
A curated collection of interesting links spanning medicine, economics, social issues and quirky stories, with Scott's commentary on various developments and findings.
11 min read 1,656 words
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Effective Altruists: Not As Mentally Ill As You Think
The post analyzes survey data to examine if effective altruism attracts people with mental disorders, finding slightly higher rates of autism but no evidence of unusual self-hate or scrupulosity.
5 min read 711 words
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Links 2/15: Land of Linkin’
A collection of interesting links covering various topics including medical discoveries, scientific studies, social issues, and economic findings, with brief commentary on each.
15 min read 2,217 words
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Prisons Are Built With Bricks Of Law And Brothels With Bricks Of Religion, But That Doesn’t Prove A Causal Relationship
Scott criticizes interpretations of a study suggesting psychiatric care might cause suicide, arguing this ignores the more likely explanation of selection bias.
11 min read 1,619 words
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Radicalizing the Romanceless
Scott Alexander critiques feminist discourse around 'nice guys', arguing it can be unfair and counterproductive, potentially driving lonely men towards anti-feminist ideologies.
49 min read 7,509 words
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The Wonderful Thing About Triggers
Scott Alexander defends trigger warnings as tools for informed choice, not censorship, and criticizes arguments against them, especially those based on non-consensual exposure therapy.
15 min read 2,216 words
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Getting A Therapist
Scott Alexander discusses finding therapists, shares a helpful resource, and asks readers for therapist recommendations in specific areas.
2 min read 271 words
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Do You Believe Me, Doc?
Scott Alexander critiques standard psychiatric responses to psychotic patients and proposes more honest, nuanced alternatives based on individual patient circumstances.
9 min read 1,272 words
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What Universal Human Experiences Are You Missing Without Realizing It?
Scott Alexander explores the idea that people might be missing universal human experiences without realizing it, using examples from various senses and personal anecdotes.
9 min read 1,343 words
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A Response To Apophemi on Triggers
Scott Alexander responds to an essay about trigger warnings in rationalist spaces, arguing that the community's purpose is dispassionate discussion and that everyone, not just marginalized groups, has triggers.
47 min read 7,238 words
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Aretaeus On Bipolar Disorder
Scott compares ancient and modern descriptions of bipolar disorder, finding significant similarities that suggest the condition is biologically grounded rather than culturally determined.
7 min read 941 words
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Implicit Association Tests and Suicidality
Scott Alexander reviews a study using Implicit Association Tests to measure suicidal intent, expressing both excitement for the research direction and skepticism about its methodology and practical applications.
8 min read 1,191 words
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Calibrate your self-assessments
Scott discusses how people's subjective self-assessments are often miscalibrated, using his own exam experiences and research on physical attractiveness and likeability to argue for replacing internal feelings with objective external measurements.
14 min read 2,050 words