Smoking and risk of schizophrenia: new study finds a dose-response relationship

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Marcus Munafò looks at the mounting evidence about smoking and risk of schizophrenia, including a new case-control study that provides clear evidence of a prospective association between cigarette smoking and a subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia.

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Nature vs. nurture: the case of depression. How do your genetic make up and life experiences affect your chances of developing depression?

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One of the first lectures I attended at Medical School was an introduction to the “nature vs. nurture” debate. I recall the general consensus was a bit of both, however it wasn’t until many years later and well into my public health career that I began to see the value of this perspective in improving [read the full story…]

Children of parents who commit suicide are more likely to commit suicide themselves

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Suicide is rarely far from the headlines these days, but the last week has seen a number of high profile stories in the mainstream media. First there was the tragic death of the much loved footballer Gary Speed, which has been followed by a huge amount of press coverage.  Then on Saturday The Sun newspaper [read the full story…]