Relevant Research Lecture April 1 on Mental Disorders: If one in four suffers, why don't we get help?

The Relevant Research Lecture for Spring 2011 will be delivered by Dr. Joshua Swift of the Department of Psychology this Friday.

In any given year, one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. In a group as small as 10, that means at least two people are struggling with some sort of psychological burden.These include depression, anxiety and stress disorders, often considered common elements of everyday modern life. In fact, these disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada. Depression is number one, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

So, why don't we get help? And when we do, what factors help us succeed?

Those issues are the subject of research for Dr. Joshua Swift, UAA professor of psychology, and this spring's speaker for the College of Arts and Sciences Relevant Research Lecture Series. His talk will review his own and current research that examines which individuals are more likely to engage, remain and improve in therapy.

The good news, according to Swift, is that these mental disorders are all highly treatable. Over the past 50 years, research has demonstrated that psychotherapy is highly effective in helping individuals address and overcome these problems.

To read the full press release, click here.