The ‘drugs v talking’ debate doesn’t help us understand mental health

Mental illness and how we treat it is back in the spotlight – but confusion and false distinctions create problems for both doctors and patients

Should men invest more in friendships?

Research shows that male rats are less stressed if they spend more time together - the same could be true for humans

Can the cold make you stronger?

Wim Hof claims that a regime of cold baths and breathing techniques will stave off the flu and boost your immune system

Me! Me! Me! Are we living through a narcissism epidemic?

From attention-seeking celebrities to digital oversharing and the boom in cosmetic surgery, narcissistic behaviour is all around us. How worried should we be about our growing self-obsession?

How to pick (and stop) an argument

Are you rowing with your partner? Saying one thing but implying another?

Household electromagnetic radiation doesn’t make you ill or give you cancer. Here’s why

People suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity are ill. But when you look at the evidence, it’s not electromagnetic radiation that’s the problem

Gratitude: yes please or no thanks?

I’ve long espoused the benefits of gratitude. But critics have a point

Wearing a bike helmet might make you more dangerous

Wearing safety equipment boosts appetite for danger, even in unrelated activities, a study has found

Is mindfulness making us ill?

It’s the relaxation technique of choice, popular with employers and even the NHS. But some have found it can have unexpected effects