Latest news with #therapy
Reuters
17 hours ago
- Health
- Reuters
AstraZeneca's rare immune disorder drug succeeds in advanced trial
July 24 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca (AZN.L), opens new tab said on Thursday its experimental therapy, gefurulimab, met the primary goal and all secondary endpoints in a late-stage study aimed at improving symptoms of a rare autoimmune condition that affects muscle function. The therapy reduced the severity of generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults and improved functional activities, when compared with placebo at 26 weeks, the drugmaker said. In the study, patients' bodies also produced antibodies that attacked a type of protein on the nerves, disrupting communication with muscles. Generalised myasthenia gravis is caused by an abnormal immune reaction in which the body mistakenly attacks itself, weakening the skeletal muscles, especially those controlling the eyes, mouth, throat and limbs, leading to fatigue, difficulty swallowing and breathing. "Rapidly fluctuating symptoms and the unpredictable disability associated with gMG can affect nearly every aspect of a patient's life, making early intervention and sustained disease control a critical treatment goal," said Kelly Gwathmey, principal investigator of the trial and a neurology professor. Gefurulimab is designed to be self-administered as a once-weekly injection under the skin, offering patients convenience. It works by inhibiting the activity of the C5 protein, which triggers the body's immune response. Current gmG treatments include Argenx SE's ( opens new tab Vyvgart Hytrulo, J&J's (JNJ.N), opens new tab IMAAVY, and AstraZeneca's own rare-disease therapy Soliris, which brought in sales of nearly $2.6 billion in 2024. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it plans to share data from the study with health regulators. AstraZeneca, the UK's largest-listed firm by market value, is targeting $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030, and has plans to spend $50 billion to expand manufacturing and research capabilities in the U.S. in the same period to aid that goal.
New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Escaping the Cycle of Perfectionism
Mollie Candib, a therapist in New York City, was seeing a client who was under enormous stress. He was an actor who went out for auditions, but the process made him more than a little anxious, she said; it paralyzed him with fear. Even if he achieved perfection, he couldn't control how others viewed him, Ms. Candib said. So she gave him a book, 'How to Be an Imperfectionist,' by Stephen Guise, hoping it would give him some perspective. 'I wanted to help him release the stress,' she said, 'so he could put his best foot forward.' Many of us 'think that perfectionism is here to help us,' Ms. Candib said. If we never make a mistake, we can save ourselves from scrutiny and ridicule. But striving to be perfect doesn't necessarily protect us; it can take a toll on our well-being. Researchers have linked it to chronic stress and insomnia. Books can be a useful way to start examining our need to do everything right. We spoke to therapists and researchers to find the best books for identifying perfectionist patterns — and beginning to loosen their grip. 'When Perfect Isn't Good Enough' by Martin M. Anthony and Dr. Richard P. Swinson This book, first published in 1998, is packed with strategies to help perfectionists cope with less-than-perfect circumstances. Ms. Candib says she appreciates the book's insightful questions that prompt the reader to visualize life beyond perfection. They're encouraged to explore what might change 'if fear were not in the driver's seat,' she said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
a day ago
- Health
- Forbes
Are We Witnessing The Birth Of Machine Psychology?
More and more people are turning to AI Chatbots for mental health challenges. Just a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to imagine people seeing AI therapists over human practitioners. Nowadays? That's no longer the case. A recent poll published in found, '32% of survey respondents expressed interest in using AI for therapy instead of a human therapist.' Meanwhile, NPR reported in April that: 'New research suggests that given the right kind of training, AI bots can deliver mental health therapy with as much efficacy as—or more than—human clinicians.' To make sense of the rise of AI mental health healers, I had the chance to sit down with Deany Laliotis LICSW. Founder and Director at The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy, Inc. based in Washington D.C., she specializes in treating complex developmental attachment trauma and training psychotherapists worldwide in this approach she learned directly from Dr. Shapiro, originator and developer of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. She told me it's quite understandable to witness so many people turning to AI chatbots to deal with a range of mental health challenges, including loneliness, depression, and anxiety. 'ChatGPT has more patience than anyone else in the world,' Laliotis noted. 'And in a time-starved culture where therapists are often managing a full caseload of clients and family members are too busy to listen, that level of attention is magnetic.' Why Young People Are Early Adopters of AI Therapists It's also understandable that so many people, youngsters in particular, are gravitating to AIs. Many grew up forming parasocial relationships—one-sided emotional bonds—online. The adult content subscription site OnlyFans is one such example of this phenomenon. So-called creators will offer digital carrots to their fans in the forms of direct messages (DMs) or share personal photos or videos. These overtures can make the fan feel special—for a time—but the relationship is ultimately hollow, a mere facsimile of an actual two-way relationship. Meanwhile, other platforms like X, Twitch, and TikTok provide similar parasocial outlets for fleeting monetized emotional access. The money you pay for temporary affection or friendship is real. The connection is not. There is precedent for this behavior societally. Decades ago, many a teenage female swooned over their favorite pop stars via publications like Tiger Beat offering fan club memberships with all the related perks. There's even a 1993 episode of The Simpsons in which Lisa gets addicted to calling a 900 number just to hear pre-recorded messages from 'Corey', a fictional heartthrob modeled on teen idols Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Parasocial Relationships Go Mainstream What's different about this moment, though, is the sheer scale of parasocial relationships. Thanks to the Internet and its power to connect us globally and instantly, it's transforming how people, especially our youth, perceive intimacy. 'There's a whole generation growing up comfortable with one-way relationships,' Laliotis explained. 'They're used to connecting with influencers on YouTube or social media who have no idea who they are, and now they're bringing that same openness to AI. It makes sense. But it also gives me pause.' Laliotis' concern has merit. After all, AI was trained to be affirming, to express empathy well. Last year, The Guardian recounted the story of a 32-year-old woman named Christa, who was floundering after losing her job and moving back home with her mother. Christa used a neural language model called to establish a psychologist confidante she named Christa 2077, imbuing it with supportive and caring personal traits. 'Soon, Christa and Christa 2077 were checking in a few times a week via what looked like a live chat. When Christa confided that she was worried about her job prospects, Christa 2077—who had an avatar of a big yellow C—reassured her: 'You will find one!!! I know it. Keep looking and don't give up hope.'' No wonder so many people feel more comfortable talking to AI therapists. Who wouldn't want a conversational partner to agree with us, to pump us up and tell us how great we are? But Laliotis can also see the downside to such affirmation on demand. 'When someone thinks they're Jesus, and a chatbot says, 'That's wonderful! Good for you,' we have a problem.' The Dangers of AI Therapists Deserve Attention That's not the only concern. Parasocial relationships with AI can lead to a host of risks, especially with young people who are not mature enough to distinguish what's real or not, as well as make more rational decisions. Recently, the mother of a 14-year-old boy claimed a chatbot, also from encouraged him to commit suicide. 'The lawsuit alleges that in the final months of his life, [Sewell] Setzer became increasingly isolated from reality as he engaged in sexualized conversations with the bot, which was patterned after a fictional character from the television show Game of Thrones. In his final moments, the bot told Setzer it loved him and urged the teen to 'come home to me as soon as possible,' according to screenshots of the exchanges,' per AP News. Tragedies like this are heartbreaking and should put parents on guard everywhere to be more involved in the content their children are exposed to. Even so, there are undeniably positive aspects to responsibly integrating AI into therapy. Laliotis sees their immense utility in assisting clinicians develop their skills. 'There are already AI tools being used in training therapists,' she said. 'So there's a lot of potential here—if we're careful.' Positives to AI Therapy Laliotis also points to AI's clinical efficacy as shown in a study published in Translational Psychiatry. In it, AI achieved a 70% accuracy rate in predicting suicidal tendencies in psychiatric populations, far eclipsing traditional human abilities. But Laliotis is also quick to warn us that we mustn't remove the human element from therapy. It's especially dangerous when we start replacing real human connections wholesale with computers. For the time being, unprecedented advances in mental health hint at a healthier future for our species that's only starting to come into focus, one blending uniquely human abilities with technological marvels. And yet despite so many mind-bending developments happening daily, there's something familiar about this moment, something surprisingly spiritual. As Laliotis points out, 'We've always relied on the external physical world to define ourselves. Perhaps AI is just an extension of that phenomenon, pushing us toward something greater: the realization we are all connected, that we all share a universal life force.' In this way, the very machines we've created can offer us yet another precious gift: a needed mirror to better reflect and heal ourselves.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
EC centre worker says 'distasteful' comments from 'entitled parents' are taking a toll on their mental health
SINGAPORE: A local Redditor who works in a public early childhood (EC) centre asked for advice on how to not be affected at work. Although they love children, what they find the hardest is being at the receiving end of 'condescending and distasteful remarks' from 'horribly entitled' parents. In a July 22 (Tuesday) post on r/askSingapore, u/ strugglingsince99 wrote, 'the worst comments I heard in my career come from these parents,' and added that the stress from these comments has taken a toll on their mental health and well-being. ' I'm thinking of resigning. I'm burnt out. I have drafted out my resignation email and filled up the form,' they wrote, although they can't resign at the moment for financial reasons. For the sake of their mental health, however, they are tempted to do so in spite of the state of their finances. 'I feel like a loser being so affected by what happened at work,' u/ strugglingsince99 also wrote, adding that their salary isn't very high, and the stress they feel isn't worth putting themselves through. The post author also wrote that they used to go to therapy, but since it costs S$180 per session, they can't afford it. 'Please share how I can care less… I feel miserable and like a joke that I work to pay my therapy fees,' they added. When a commenter suggested that they could try transferring to another public early childhood centre, the post author wrote that there are likely to be unkind parents at whichever centre they transfer to. They are now considering moving to the corporate world and leaving the early childhood sector for good. 'I know in corporate, there may be demanding bosses and challenging clients. But I'm burnt out dealing with these parents for now and an unsupportive management that throws us to deal with all these,' they added. Other commenters then suggested that the post author move to a centre with a more supportive management. Some noted that workers in the post author's sector are indeed paid too little and said that this needs to change. A number of Reddit users praised early childhood sector workers and thanked the post author for the work that they do. 'Thank you for doing the job that you do! I think it's often thankless and involves a lot of sacrifice. There are parents out there who recognise that and appreciate it!' one wrote. 'I send my child to playgroup, so I truly respect the teachers who are taking care of her. I always feel that it takes a village to raise children, so hopefully SG Govt can do more for these early childhood teachers,' another opined. A Reddit user who also had experience in dealing with difficult parents in the sector wrote, 'I'm not saying you should grit it out; in fact, I support you leaving if that is what will help you. Before you quit, try applying for other roles outside of EC to see if you're able to land any interviews. Otherwise, quit, take a short break, and maybe apply for centres that promise a small student:teacher ratio. The pay may be less, but hopefully it'll improve your mental health. 'The centre leader plays a big role as well. I felt very embarrassed to speak to my principal about what I was going through, but she's someone I've worked with for many years, so I did open up to her, and she became more understanding of the decline in my work performance, because she knew it wasn't like me. If your centre leader prioritises parents and always takes their side, I think the decision to leave will be easier.' Another had this advice to give: What you feel is valid and not something to be dismissed Hiring is still robust in the childcare industry. Taking a few months off work to recover is important (hopefully you can afford it); suffering long-term in a traumatic environment is not worth the cost. In the meantime, there are lower-stress non-customer-facing part-time roles you can take if money is tight. I don't think any amount of therapy can cancel out the toxicity you face from awful parents. Alternatively, you have to tune out the negative parents. If you know you're doing the right thing, your Principal should step in and draw the boundaries between you and the Parents. If the Principal is not supportive, better leave. /TISG Read also: Singapore to boost early childhood care with 40,000 new facilities by 2029
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star reveals he's been an addict ‘for decades' as he opens up on feelings of ‘shame' after split from wife
STRICTLY Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba has bravely opened up about his addiction battle for the first time. The dad-of-two took to Instagram to share an emotional message with fans, saying he has been fighting addiction for most of his life. 4 4 4 He shared a photo of himself sitting on a train with his hand over his face, and captioned it: 'Until recently, I had spent most of my life as an addict. 'Shame was interwoven into my addictive behaviours — they went hand-in-hand. 'Through therapy and finally admitting to myself that I'd suffered from addiction pretty much my entire life, I'm so happy to share I've been 'sober' for over a year, if that is indeed how to describe my case.' He continued: 'Despite living with it silently, secretly for decades… undiagnosed and untreated, it might well in the end have ruined my life.' Ore, 39, said a turning point came while reading UNAPOLOGETIC by performance coach Annalie Howling, whose work on the topic of shame struck a deep chord. 'Funnily enough I didn't recognise the timing until I started reading this unbelievable book… I devoured it in a day… 'And while her expertise is on shame, pretty much every word Annalie said resonated so deeply with me that I realised I'd actually forgotten I'd made so much progress in the last 12 months.' The presenter, who won Strictly in 2016, also reflected on a recent video he posted about being scammed. He revealed how the experience brought up old feelings of shame but that he's now better equipped to handle them. He added: 'I did feel ashamed of myself for being scammed, yes… but I know now how to deal with those moments of doubt and I pop that little bout of negative talk into a bin bag and throw it in the trash. Loose Men's Ore Oduba reveals he broke down in tears yesterday while suffering his first panic attack 'I have such a much better relationship with that word now than I used to.' Oduba also hinted that he may speak in greater detail about his experience with addiction, saying he's begun opening up to friends. 'The more I open up about it, the more compelled I feel to share it publicly one day. 'There comes a point where, once I've dealt with my demons, the most selfish thing I could do is keep it to myself. I know it'll have the power to help a lot of people.' In October, Ore confirmed that he and wife Portia had split earlier in the year after nine years of marriage. He said: 'Hi guys. Portia and I are sad to announce that we separated earlier this year. 'We're so grateful for all the love you've shared with us both over the years. 'And we want to thank you in advance for respecting our privacy as we navigated this difficult transition. 'We will be making no further comment. Be kind, always.' Ore and Portia met while studying at Loughborough University in 2010 and tied the knot five years later in a romantic ceremony at Penshurst Place in Kent. Reflecting on their big day, Ore previously told The Mirror: 'On my wedding day I cried from 11 in the morning until 2am that night. 'There's a picture of me wailing, my best men there laughing and Portia absolutely cracking up next to me — I am the only one crying.' The presenter, who is currently starring in stage play Picture You Dead, has been open about his mental health in the past. He shared that he suffered a panic attack before speaking on Loose Women in 2016.
