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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · 24d

Clay-Colored Sparrow seen at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (Newbury, MA) #birds #birding #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

Last but not least: I am *always* happy to speak to folks interested in examining these questions. For anybody with ideas, questions, or plans for putting this model into action: my email is in the paper!

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

We also dedicate space to best practices for measuring constructs like:

✔️Self-labeling
✔️Beliefs about mental illnesses
✔️The meanings people derive from mental illness labels

We hope these sections offer concrete tools that researchers can use right away.

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

In our paper, we provide examples of how this general approach can be used to investigate specific questions. One example: Can anxiety self-labeling become a “self-fulfilling prophecy”? (as articulated by the prevalence inflation hypothesis @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social @jackandrews.bsky.social)

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

The model goes like this: When people identify with mental illness labels, beliefs they hold about the mental illness become personally relevant. New identities may inform clinically relevant constructs like perceived control, coping strategies, and help-seeking.

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

So far, these questions have produced more opinions than evidence. We need empirical research.

The good news: Psychologists are not starting from scratch! Sociologists have studied (self-)labeling for decades. We review this literature and extend it in a new conceptual model.

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 6

Forthcoming in CPS (@psychscience.bsky.social): Are mental illness identities helpful? Harmful? Can thinking you have a mental illness become a “self-fulfilling prophecy”... and how would this happen?

doi.org/10.1177/2167...

🧵⬇️

The Mental Illness Self-Labeling Model: A Conceptual Model for Studying the Effects of Mental-Illness Self-Labeling on Clinical Outcomes - Isaac L. Ahuvia, Bruce G. Link, 2025

Self-labeling with a mental illness, for example, deciding that one “has depression,” has the potential to affect clinical outcomes through multiple cognitive a...

doi.org

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Reposted by Isaac Ahuvia

Awais Aftab @awaisaftab.bsky.social · Aug 22

Clinicians across medicine are familiar with an odd feature of descriptive diagnoses: they can bring patients real relief & provide an explanation, even without offering causes. In a new paper, @alanlevinovitz.bsky.social and I call this the Rumpelstiltskin effect.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

The Rumpelstiltskin effect: therapeutic repercussions of clinical diagnosis | BJPsych Bulletin | Cambridge Core

The Rumpelstiltskin effect: therapeutic repercussions of clinical diagnosis

www.cambridge.org

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 5

The prevalence inflation hypothesis is heavily featured! @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social @jackandrews.bsky.social

Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Sep 5

I had a blast speaking with the Centre for Studies on Human Stress about the the benefits - and risks - of everybody talking so much about mental health. You can read the entire (fascinating!) issue here:

tinyurl.com/2v3dvnbu

humanstress.ca

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Jul 16

The ducklings spent some time feeding among (and on top of!) the lilies, before drying off on a log

Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Jul 16

Mama wood duck leading her eight chicks through a pond at Olmstead Park (Boston, MA)

#birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2025

Video below🦆📽️⬇️

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Jun 12

American Oystercatcher family at Nickerson Beach #birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2025

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Jun 4

This article is now published in Clinical Psychological Science! Here's the link: doi.org/10.1177/2167...

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 27

Springtime warblers (and two of my favorites) at the Forest Park water hole: Magnolia and Chestnut-Sided

#birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 27

On a gloomy day in Central Park, I leaned into the low light for this shot of a Great Egret

#birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2024

Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 22

Now published in the Journal of Affective Disorders! Free link: authors.elsevier.com/c/1l8RG_3m9t...

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 20

📢New preprint!

Depression affects adults of all ages and races. But not everybody seeks care - or receives it - at the same rates.

Read our new analysis, in press @ JAD: osf.io/preprints/os...

Led by @kellykwong.bsky.social (applying to grad programs soon!) w/ myself + @jschleiderphd.bsky.social

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 19

This was a great team effort with many fantastic contributors: @eminegurbuz.bsky.social, Josephine Cuda, @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, Abigail Houck, Jacquelyn Gates, @jschleiderphd.bsky.social, and @avanicole23.bsky.social

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · May 19

📢New preprint!

Relative to autistic adults w/ a dx, adults who self-identify experience worse well-being and higher rates of unmet need. While most self-identifying adults want a dx, barriers to services go far beyond diagnostic gatekeeping.

Read on: osf.io/preprints/ps...

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Apr 30

Springtime at the Forest Park waterhole! Ovenbird + Black and White Warbler

#birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2025

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Apr 4

Maybe she's born with it...

Greater roadrunner in Las Vegas, NV #birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2025

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Mar 28

📣 New preprint!

Can identifying with mental illness labels impact our mental health? So far, empirical research has lagged behind public interest. We propose a conceptual and methodological toolkit to help.

Free preprint: psyarxiv.com/nye7s

(Publication coming soon...)

The Mental Illness Self-Labeling Model: A Conceptual Model for Studying the Effects of Mental Illness Self-Labeling on Clinical Outcomes

Self-labeling with a mental illness, for example deciding that one “has depression,” has the potential to impact clinical outcomes through multiple cognitive and behavioral pathways. Despite such...

psyarxiv.com

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Mar 25

American Woodcock in Bryant Park #birds #birding #photography #birdphotography #naturephotography

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Isaac Ahuvia @isaacahuvia.bsky.social · Mar 17

📢New preprint!

Relationship dynamics can exacerbate - or alleviate - symptoms in relationship OCD. We explain how, and give recommendations for assessment and treatment

With Clare Beatty, Joanne Davila, and Dina Vivian

Read it for free: psyarxiv.com/he6rx

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