Understanding anxiety and mental health stigma

Pete Etchells: On the one hand, anxiety is a serious and debilitating disorder. On the other, it can be a useful evolutionary response to threat. Understanding how anxiety works might help to destigmatise mental health issues

The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton – review

A book that goes beyond cliche to view the world through a psychopath's eyes, writes Victoria Segal

Pure OCD: a rude awakening

You mentally undress your friends, Tony Blair, the lollipop lady. Your thoughts are X-rated. You wonder if you're a paedophile – or just losing your mind. Rose Bretécher describes the nightmare – and dark comedy – of living with pure OCD

What do we really know about the effects of screen time on mental health?

Pete Etchells: A recent briefing from Public Health England warns that too much screen time is causing emotional problems in children. But is it that simple?

The 20 online talks that could change your life

Tom Meltzer: From TED talks to online seminars, video channels crammed with inspirational and thought-provoking lectures are educating us on everything from town planning and depression to body language, animal morality and dangers of sugar in just a few minutes. Here is our pick of the best

We don’t know if antidepressants work, so stop bashing them

Pete Etchells: Recent attacks on antidepressants simplify a complicated picture about their effectiveness, and people with depression suffer for it

This column will change your life: the guru who didn’t believe in gurus

'The Theosophical Society decided Jiddu Krishnamurti was the messiah. Awkwardly,' Oliver Burkeman says, 'Krishnamurti came to believe this was bunkum'

Afraid of spiders? Try sleeping on it

Daniel and Jason Freeman: The therapist's couch may make a comeback – for taking a nap after sessions for phobias, anxiety and depression

Could ‘listening to your body’ help you lose weight?

Corrinne Burns: A new study has linked people's ability to gauge their heart rate to how well they keep their weight under control

Smoking, democracy, plain packaging and the Soviets

Richard P Grant: It's too soon to say whether plain packaging works, and even if it does, it is undemocratic

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health