A sunset hike two days before a full moon

I slept very well last night. Getting a good night's sleep doesn't always come easy when the day's work is closer than it should be, when...

Natural sleep aids are worth trying

I have suffered from insomnia for many years. My doctor prescribed Ambien, but it doesn't seem to be working very well anymore....

The many ways to share bad news

After her breast cancer diagnosis in December, Ederlen Casillas of Downey found herself overcome by more than just her cancer treatments.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ episode about suicide hits the mark

"Grey's Anatomy"

Never mind the party, listen to your heart

I shouldn't have had a heart attack 11 days shy of my 55th birthday.

Heart disease is a killer you can help to control

Cancer, diabetes, accidents — heart disease trumps them all, killing more people in the United States than any other condition.

For families, caring from a distance takes effort

"Sorry I couldn't be there today. Some questions re: Dad."

Lonely, under pressure

Loneliness doesn't just cause wear and tear on the psyche -- it may also affect blood pressure. University of Chicago researchers surveyed...

First Person: Asperger’s is a label worth keeping

If current plans hold, my 16-year-old son will turn autistic about the time he's old enough to vote. To my mind — and to his —...

Depressed parents’ negative effects on kids are combatable

Gary McMane, 50, of Fontana, is convinced that his own depression has taken a toll on the three children he adores. "They're all good kids,...

Resources for depressed parents

One Los Angeles parent who says a sudden, unexpected depression nearly cost her her life has created a local group to help other parents.

Screening, care for parental depression recommended

Not only should parents and children be screened more routinely for depression, they also need access to care, says last year's report by...

Tears for more than fears

I cry.

'Vaccines court' rejects mercury-autism link in 3 test cases

The federal "vaccines court" ruled Friday in three separate cases that the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal does not cause autism,...

In Seattle, a suicide barrier for a deadly bridge

The lonely heights of bridges have often been magnets for suicide -- San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge in...

Robert E. Litman dies at 88; co-founder of suicide prevention center

Dr. Robert E. Litman, a psychiatrist who co-founded the nation's first comprehensive suicide prevention center more than 50 years ago in Los...

Sex addiction divides mental health experts

Tiger Woods, who recently admitted to multiple extramarital affairs, said he is receiving treatment. David Duchovny, who plays a sex-...

Music is good for you at any age

Let's face it: Many of us looking to sharpen our intellectual edges have already passed the age when becoming a prodigy is an option. We...

Life span may be as wide as your smile

People who smile a lot are usually happier, have more stable personalities, more stable marriages, better cognitive skills and better...

Playing along with the Mozart effect

Five months after we are conceived, music begins to capture our attention and wire our brains for a lifetime of aural experience. At the...

Naps can refresh brain power

Leonardo da Vinci took them, as did Napoleon Bonaparte, Johannes Brahms and Winston Churchill. You could probably use one right now.

Study sheds light on 'teenage night owl syndrome'

Riding in school buses in the early morning, then sitting in poorly lighted classrooms are the main reasons students have trouble getting to...

Imaging helps diagnosis of severity of brain injuries

In the last 20 years, it's become more likely that a patient will survive an injury to the brain. But with better lifesaving techniques...

Alexander McQueen dies at 40; iconoclastic fashion designer

The Briton was known for his technical and creative prowess and unconventional, sometimes macabre, work. The death was an apparent suicide,...

Genes linked to stuttering identified

Government researchers have discovered the first genes linked to stuttering -- a complex of three mutated genes that may be responsible...

Revising the book on mental illness

After years of research, professional infighting and maneuvering from various interest groups, the nation's psychiatrists Tuesday...

Industrial chemical OSR#1 used as autism treatment

An industrial chemical developed to help separate heavy metals from polluted soil and mining drainage is being sold as a dietary...