Introduction In autumn 2023, Danish psychiatrist Søren Dinesen Østergaard raised a question in Schizophrenia Bulletin  that many considered premature: could generative AI-based chatbots trigger psychotic episodes in predisposed individuals? (Østergaard, 2023). Two years later, that question has ceased to be speculative. Clinicians, psychiatrists, and researchers around the world are confronting a new phenomenon — still lacking a shared nosographic name, yet already present in

The film Steve  (Mielants, 2025), available on Netflix and adapted from Max Porter's short novel Shy  (2023), offers a rare and clinically relevant portrayal of some of the most pressing challenges in contemporary mental health: burnout among care professionals, moral injury in underfunded institutional settings, atypical presentations of adolescent male depression, and the phenomena of mirroring and countertransference in caregiving relationships. Through an analysis of the

Article co-authored with @may.psychologist Abstract Chronic pain represents a complex clinical condition that transcends the simple physiological response to a harmful stimulus, configuring itself as a multidimensional experience characterized by biological, psychological, and social components. This article examines the neurobiological basis of pain chronicity, the mechanisms of central sensitization and neuroplasticity, as well as the psychological components that modulate

Abstract Vulnerability represents a fundamental paradox in intimate relationships: what we perceive as weakness is actually the foundation of authentic intimacy. This article explores the connection between attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1980) and the capacity to be vulnerable in adult relationships, integrating contemporary research on shame and courage (Brown, 2012, 2015). Through analysis of attachment styles and their behavioral correlates, it is highlighted how i

Abstract Parental language represents one of the most influential factors in children's psychological, emotional, and cognitive development. This article reviews the scientific evidence on the impact of parental verbal communication on children's and adolescents' identity formation, self-esteem, and cognitive abilities. Through an analysis of recent literature in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and attachment theory, it emerges that parental words do not constitute si

Article written in collaboration with @martinaorlando_psicologa Introduction: Why do we react like this? Understanding your emotional reactions is one of the most complex challenges in everyday life. Many people experience moments of hyperactivation or hyposatisfaction without being able to explain what "triggered” that response. In psychology, two theoretical and practical tools prove particularly useful for giving order to what happens inside us: the ABC model , initially p

Introduction In recent years, the consumption of audiovisual content has undergone a profound transformation following the widespread diffusion of digital streaming platforms. The possibility of instant access to entire seasons of television series has substantially modified viewing habits, promoting increasingly prolonged and continuous patterns of consumption. Within this context, the phenomenon of binge-watching has emerged, defined as the consecutive viewing of multiple e

Article written in collaboration with @valentina.salerno.psi Identity as a relational construction Personal identity is often thought of as something internal, stable, and autonomous, but clinical psychology and psychoanalysis show how it is the result of a deeply relational process. From the earliest stages of life, the Self is not constituted in isolation, but rather within an intersubjective field in which the gaze of the other plays a foundational function. Winnicott (196

Introduction Daniel Keyes's book The Minds of Billy Milligan (The Minds of Billy Milligan) represents one of the most controversial and controversial texts in the history of clinical and forensic psychology. Published in 1981, the volume tells the true story of Billy Milligan, the first American defendant acquitted of insanity based on a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder (DID), then known as multiple personality disorder. Keyes's work lies in liminal territory betwe

Article written in collaboration with @ martinaorlando_psicologa Introduction Emotional regulation represents one of the most central skills for psychological well-being. Over the past few decades, several neuroscientific models have helped clarify how humans manage stress, emotions, and relationships. Among these, the Window of Tolerance is today one of the most used concepts in contemporary psychotherapy to explain how the nervous system works in conditions of equilibrium o

Article written in collaboration with  @spazioemozione Introduction: Why Talk About Executive Functions and Neurodivergence Today In recent years, the concept of neurodivergence has gained increasing visibility both in scientific debate and in public discourse, profoundly reshaping the way neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism, and specific learning disorders are understood. This shift concerns not only the language used, but also implies a substantial revision o

Article written in collaboration with  @donatellabevacqua_psicologa Grief as a Complex Neuropsychological Process Grief is a multidimensional process that involves emotional, cognitive, bodily, and relational aspects, and it cannot be reduced to a linear sequence of universal stages. Contemporary theories of grief emphasize that loss activates attachment systems, emotional regulation mechanisms, and meaning-making processes, with highly variable outcomes across individuals (S

Article written in collaboration with   @psicoatelierpordenone Defining Procrastination Beyond Common Misconceptions Procrastination is commonly defined as the intentional delay of a planned course of action despite awareness that this delay will lead to negative consequences (Steel, 2007). This definition is particularly important because it distinguishes procrastination from simple time management difficulties or the need to reorganize priorities. Procrastination, in fact,

Article co-authored with @PSY.CORE___ The Rorschach Test represents one of the most complex and studied psychodiagnostic tools in the history of clinical psychology. Introduced by Hermann Rorschach in 1921, the test is based on the idea that the perception of ambiguous stimuli can reveal profound aspects of psychological functioning, not always accessible through self-report methods (Rorschach, 1921).  Contrary to the collective imagination that reduces it to a simple interpr

Article written in collaboration with @CUPOFTHERAPY Introduction: Mental health and the digital environment In recent years, the smartphone has become a constant presence in daily life, accompanying moments of pause, anticipation, boredom, and even emotional regulation. Continuous access to social media has transformed the way people seek distraction, connection, and emotional restraint, making the line between functional use and automatic use increasingly blurred. Many users

Article written in collaboration with @_psicoparole What Are Lucid Dreams Lucid dreams are a phenomenon in which individuals become aware, while dreaming, that the experience they are living is in fact a dream. This particular form of awareness has been described in the scientific literature as a hybrid state combining cognitive processes typical of wakefulness with the vivid imagery of REM sleep. The first systematic experimental work on lucidity dates back to Stephen LaBerg

Post created in collaboration with @parolesvelate Introduction Throughout history, mental health has been the subject of deep-rooted misunderstandings, fears, and stereotypes. The collective imagination, fueled by films, media and social narratives, has often portrayed the figure of the psychologist as that of a professional “for madmen” or a “reader of the mind”. These representations, in addition to being inaccurate, have contributed to an aura of mystery and distrust aroun