Nachnivsesnachalostart over: a guide to psychological wellbeing

An independent guide to psychological wellbeing. We do not diagnose and do not replace a doctor or psychotherapist; we are not affiliated with the previous website on this domain. If you feel very bad or your life is in danger, call 112 (or your local emergency number).

Research

Research overview

Psychology news comes out all the time: one day a "happiness hormone" has been found, the next a certain habit is said to make people unhappy. Many of these stories retell real studies but lose important caveats along the way. This section helps you read them calmly and critically.

Good research usually speaks with caution. The louder the headline, the more questions are worth asking before you change anything in your life.

— Editor's note

Survey, observation and experiment

Type of studyHow it is doneWhat it can tell us
SurveyPeople answer questions about their own feelings and habitsHow people rate their own state, but not why it is that way
ObservationGroups of people are compared and followed over timeWhether two things are linked, but not necessarily the cause
ExperimentParticipants are randomly split into groups and the outcomes comparedWhether a specific intervention has an effect under set conditions
Review of many studiesResults of different studies on one topic are comparedThe most balanced picture available today

How to read a "scientists have proven" headline

  1. Find out which study it is about

    Does it say who did the research and where? If you can't find the original source, treat the story with caution.

  2. Look at the number of participants

    A conclusion drawn from a small group may turn out to be chance. Large, long-running studies have fewer chance coincidences.

  3. Tell a survey from an experiment

    When people report on themselves, that is valuable information, but not proof of a cause. A link between two things may be explained by something else entirely.

  4. Find out who funded it

    A study paid for by someone who sells a course or service is not necessarily wrong, but its conclusions need independent checking.

  5. Check who the conclusion is about

    A result obtained from students at one university or from animals cannot be directly applied to any person.

  6. Compare with professional organizations

    If a story contradicts WHO recommendations and the views of doctors, it is wiser to wait until it is confirmed.

Phrases worth double-checking

  • "Scientists have proven": often this is about one small study
  • "A simple way to get rid of anxiety forever": no such way exists
  • "This personality type is doomed": studies describe groups, not the fate of an individual
  • "The cause of depression has been found": complex conditions usually have many causes
  • "This method works for everyone": people respond to help in different ways
  • Sources

    What this guide relies on, why it contains so few numbers, and how to check advice about mental health on your own.

  • Quick-fix claims (in Russian)

    Archived page: signs of dubious promises of quick personal change and how to check them.

  • Glossary

    Words from conversations about mental health in plain language, from stress and anxiety to sleep hygiene and helplines.

  • Topics

    Topics by group: stress and tension, sleep and rest, anxious thoughts, professional help, checking claims; plus the article catalogue.

Sources

  • WHO: Depression fact sheet

This guide draws on the WHO guidelines on physical activity, the WHO fact sheet on depression and the recommendations on sleep duration for adults as they were available at the time of writing. Recommendations are refined over time, so questions about your own health are best discussed with a doctor.