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Gray Matter: How Depressives Surf the Web
The New York Times / NYTimes.com ^ | Published: June 15, 2012 | By SRIRAM CHELLAPPAN and RAGHAVENDRA KOTIKALAPUDI

Posted on 06/17/2012 9:42:41 AM PDT by thecodont

IN what way do you spend your time online? Do you check your e-mail compulsively? Watch lots of videos? Switch frequently among multiple Internet applications — from games to file downloads to chat rooms? Enlarge This Image

Brian Cronin We believe that your pattern of Internet use says something about you. Specifically, our research suggests it can offer clues to your mental well-being.

In a study to be published in a forthcoming issue of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, we and our colleagues found that students who showed signs of depression tended to use the Internet differently from those who showed no symptoms of depression.

In February of last year, we recruited 216 undergraduate volunteers at Missouri University of Science and Technology. First, we had the participants fill out a version of a questionnaire called the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, which is widely used for measuring depression levels in the general population. The survey revealed that 30 percent of the participants met the criteria for depressive symptoms. (This was in line with national estimates that 10 to 40 percent of college students at some point experience such symptoms.)

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: 2suspicious; behavior; depression; internet; psychobabble
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To: thecodont
Such software could also be used at universities, perhaps installed on campus networks to notify counselors of students whose Internet usage patterns are indicative of depressive behavior. (This proposal, of course, raises privacy concerns that would have to be addressed.)

_________________

Ya think?

61 posted on 06/17/2012 12:28:26 PM PDT by x
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To: null and void

Yes, we do.


62 posted on 06/17/2012 12:30:09 PM PDT by fanfan (.http://www.ontariolandowners.ca/index.php?p=1_50_Your-Rights)
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To: Lady Lucky

Having been treated for depression in the past, that’s my experience. They usually don’t try very hard to figure out the root cause and help you overcome the underlying issues, because it is so much easier to give you a prescription and send you on your way.


63 posted on 06/17/2012 12:31:02 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: little jeremiah
I used to suffer from severe depression. Thoughts of suicide

Well, that's a pretty large club and I'm a member.

Frustration (unable to solve a problem) leads to Depression. But, as I said a few posts back, it starts with the physical.

Right now, slump your shoulders, hang your head down, breath shallow, bend your back slightly forward.

How do you feel?

Now, sit up straight, or stand up, chin high, put a big smile on your face. Do you feel depressed? Is is possible to be erect and smiling like that, and feel depressed?

If you can 'control' the physical, then you have a much better chance of dealing with the mental. Without doing so, you have no chance. It is like a Pavlovian response.

Best thing is that the 'treatment' (controlling the physical) doesn't cost a penny and has no ill side effects (except being depressed about getting happy).

64 posted on 06/17/2012 12:32:27 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Aevery_Freeman
"We hope to use our findings to develop a software application that could be installed on home computers and mobile devices. It would monitor your Internet usage and alert you when your usage patterns might signal symptoms of depression."

As you said - what could possibly go wrong? This will be like the evolution of vehicle data recorders with protestations that none of the data will be available to law enforcement, then the data can be used in crime scene investigations, then admitted to court and now integrated with GPR type recorded data and sent to your insurance carrier to determine your policy limits and rates. Next will come mandatory data transmission, etc.

65 posted on 06/17/2012 12:32:27 PM PDT by Truth29
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To: fanfan; blam; SunkenCiv

I should clarify, it wasn’t necessarily your posts, blam, that made me post that, it was the threads you start.

Additionally, I make a a point not to go into those threads and say anything derogatory about the subject or the thread because I think it is an important subject that many people need exposure to them.

I assure you, I meant no disrespect. I have read your posts on FR for a while and generally respect your views.


66 posted on 06/17/2012 12:45:26 PM PDT by rlmorel ("The safest road to Hell is the gradual one." Screwtape (C.S. Lewis))
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To: rlmorel; blam; SunkenCiv

Yes, I was refering to the threads blam posts as well, not all his posts.

You’re a good person here rlmorel. :-)


67 posted on 06/17/2012 12:51:55 PM PDT by fanfan (.http://www.ontariolandowners.ca/index.php?p=1_50_Your-Rights)
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To: freedumb2003
A difference without a distinction.

Only in the mind.

From what I have seen, it is a multidisciplinary approach.

Agreed.

But if you have a way to deal with physical problems other than with medical (psychology is considered medical) science, let's hear it.

I wasn't saying that. I was saying that depression is a widespread problem, and that most, not all, of it stems from physical habit. If you can't fix it with that, you need medical help.

I am honest when I ask: where do they do it better?

Likely, nowhere better than the variety and skills found in the US, but I've been wrong before. That doesn't mean we cannot get even better by dealing with 'cause', not 'effect'.

If you control the physical, you have a chance to control the mental. And as someone pointed out, they are often indistinguishable, but most understand we are talking about things like 'will' and 'habit'.

68 posted on 06/17/2012 1:05:06 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: fanfan; rlmorel
"You’re a good person here rlmorel. :-) "

I agree.

No problem

Maybe you just got to close to a spot already sore, eh?

I really do try to find real good news to post too.

(Ahem) I was instrumental in starting the catastrophism group too, lol. (If you study anthropology IMO, you have to be a catastrophist).

Let's all move on.

69 posted on 06/17/2012 1:13:07 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
"...If you study anthropology IMO, you have to be a catastrophist..."

Well, that explains it, then!

(Thanks!)

70 posted on 06/17/2012 1:27:14 PM PDT by rlmorel ("The safest road to Hell is the gradual one." Screwtape (C.S. Lewis))
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To: UCANSEE2

There are many ways to ameliorate, reduce or even ultimately eliminate depression.

Breathing - many different ways, yogic pranayam is one of the most powerful ways.

Diet - including avoidance of intoxicants and chemicals.

Habits - exercise especially ones like swimming, walking, non-competetive kinds. But even the competetive might help some people. The posture thing is true. Once I experimented with posture and breathing and found I could actually induce fear, depression and anger just by wrong breathing and posture. Another funny experiment - tried making laughing sounds artificially - in a couple of mintues or less - started laughing with real laughter, uproariously - my kids were doing it with me. Pretty soon we were all rolling on the floor with true laughter. Body effects mind/mind effects body. Makes me smile just remembering that day.

Herbs and essential oils

Prayer and meditative type prayer

Getting out in the country or nature - I used to have to do that when I lived in a city or I went totally starkers

Massage

Being active in things that are beneficial to oneself and/or others

Regular hours - going to bed early and getting up early

Environment - being in a chemically toxic environment can affect health, both mental and physical. This includes “home chemicals”.


71 posted on 06/17/2012 2:04:22 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: blam

Collapse doesn’t make me feel depressed, it’s inevitable, one way or another. The entire world has ruins all over the place from previous civilizations. Who would want this one to last forever? I just find it fascinating to watch.


72 posted on 06/17/2012 2:07:31 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: rlmorel
"Well, that explains it, then! "

One of my all time favorites posted almost 10 years ago:

The Dark Ages: Were They Darker Than We Imagined?

The Dark Ages were dark and also a worldwide event.

73 posted on 06/17/2012 2:43:28 PM PDT by blam
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To: Sequoyah101

MY perusing of gun porn would definitely raise some red flags


74 posted on 06/17/2012 7:20:21 PM PDT by chemical_boy
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To: little jeremiah

Hi lj:

you have freepmail


75 posted on 06/17/2012 8:00:31 PM PDT by Kevmo (SUCINOFRAGOPWIASS: Shut Up, CINOs; Free Republic Aint a GOP Website. It's A Socon Site.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

Can you tell me the jist of the article? I was too busy switching around web pages, twitter and my email. And ESPN.


76 posted on 06/17/2012 8:04:21 PM PDT by Tea Party Terrorist (they all stink)
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To: blam

Just reading that now. Fascinating.


77 posted on 06/17/2012 10:36:09 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: Tea Party Terrorist

College study detects moods of students by tracking their web-surfing, or something like that. I skimmed.


78 posted on 06/18/2012 5:21:50 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (they have no god but caesar)
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To: thecodont
Brian Cronin We believe that your pattern of Internet use says something about you. Specifically, our research suggests it can offer clues to your mental well-being.

Which means if 'we' track your every mouse click, every webpage you visit and how long you spend there, 'we' can make sweeping generalizations about your mental health. Of course, 'we' decide what is 'healthy' and what is not.

This information, and the conclusions drawn from it, wrong or right, will be used against you to deprive you of your rights.

79 posted on 06/18/2012 5:26:10 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: OrangeHoof
The depressed visited more sites on how to commit suicide.

Visiting websites on how to commit suicide would be depressing.

80 posted on 06/18/2012 5:36:35 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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