Phil HarrisDec 9, 20212 min3 Factors Predict Mental IllnessThe causes of psychiatric disorders are poorly understood. Now, in work led by researchers at McGill University, there is evidence that a...
Phil HarrisOct 14, 20213 minWhy Sibling Aggression DiffersStructural differences in the area of the brain responsible for decision making could explain why two siblings living in the same family...
Phil HarrisOct 14, 20212 minThe Halo Effect & AnxietyFor some teenagers, the new school year means reuniting with their friends. For others, it means an increase in anxiety and in the...
Phil HarrisMar 22, 20213 minPerfect Parents & BurnoutIt's a first: approximately 100 scientists in 42 countries joined forces to learn about the incidence of parental burnout. They found...
Phil HarrisFeb 24, 20213 minADHD & College AchievementAccording to a 2017 UCLA study, students with ADHD make up about 6% of the college student population and represent the most common type...
Phil HarrisFeb 19, 20213 min"Frenemies": Bullying Re-examined Teens who bully, harass, or otherwise victimize their peers are not always lashing out in reaction to psychological problems or unhealthy...
Phil HarrisFeb 8, 20212 minBeyond Childhood Adversity It's well understood that a difficult childhood can increase the likelihood of mental illness, but according to new research from the...
Phil HarrisJan 31, 20214 minPerfect Diagnosis of ADHDA new study led by a University at Buffalo researcher has identified how specific communication among different brain regions, known as...
Phil HarrisNov 18, 20203 minWill COVID Cast a Long Shadow?Exposure to COVID-19 could pose a risk to the health and aging of individuals who aren't even born yet, according to a newly published...
Phil HarrisOct 23, 20203 minWord Recognition is Pre-WrittenHumans are born with a part of the brain that is prewired to be receptive to seeing words and letters, setting the stage at birth for...
Phil HarrisSep 11, 20203 minMarshmallows verses PrideAs my colleagues in Cornwall will testify, I love a Marshmallow test. The classic experiment has been reproduced several times in...
Phil HarrisJul 1, 20204 minRoughhouse Play: The Stuff of Emotional ControlThe golden rule of parenting is that roughhouse play always ends in tears. The rough and tumble of play fighting with dad however is...
Phil HarrisJun 16, 20203 minScreen time: Parent-Child Interaction EffectA first of its kind in Canada, the study found parents of young children reporting high levels of life or parenting stress were less...
Phil HarrisApr 27, 202017 minPersonality Part I: The Research BaseI recently watched the Netflix documentary “Three Identical Strangers.” Without too much of a spoiler alert, triplets who were separated...
Phil HarrisFeb 12, 20201 minThe End of Family?Outside of work, I am a very keen family historian. It fascinates me how people lived everyday lives in past millennia and how their...
Phil HarrisJan 14, 20203 minParenting: High Demand Children with Low Resourced Parents in HospitalI have long suggested that parenting does not belong solely to a parent. Parenting style is determined where the resources of a parent...
Phil HarrisJan 14, 20206 minInfection: What Role Does it Have in Schizophrenia?My first day back at work in 2020 was with a fantastic team of mental health housing workers. We had an extensive debate on the role of...
Phil HarrisDec 12, 201914 minAttachment Special: Where is the Internal Working Model?I have recently had a series of debates with psychologists, social workers and family workers around the country regarding Attachment...
Phil HarrisOct 3, 20193 minHearing Voices Starts in InfancySome people suffering from severe mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, hear "voices," known as auditory hallucinations. This...
Phil HarrisSep 23, 20193 minWhen is a Child an Adult?When does childhood end? That's the question international researchers are asking as they chart age cut-offs for paediatric services...