By BENEDICT CAREY
The suicide rate increased 3 percent during the 2001 recession and has generally ridden the tide of the economy since the Great Depression, a comprehensive government analysis found.
By NICHOLAS WADE
An analysis implies that modern language originated only once, in southern Africa, a surprising finding.
Advertising
By ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN
Sold in glittery boxes decorated with hearts, stars and swirls (which are also printed on the pads themselves), the products would look at home on the set of “Hannah Montana.
Reporter’s File
By AMY LENNARD GOEHNER
A half million children with autism will enter adulthood in the next decade. How will they be cared for?
Consults
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Dr. Fred Volkmar of the Yale Child Study Center and Dr. Lisa Wiesner respond to reader questions about autism.
By DUFF WILSON
The multibillion-dollar market is being driven by novel applications to compete with coming generics.
By KEVIN SACK
An effort to reduce the spread of infections is showing good results and may have broad implications nationwide.
By ANDREW POLLACK and KEITH BRADSHER
Doctors say people are experiencing phantom quakes as well as other symptoms of “earthquake sickness.”
By BARRY MEIER
The Government Accountability Office found that the F.D.A. is continuing to approve dozens of high-risk medical devices annually with little review.
By ROBERT PEAR
The debate over Medicare is no longer whether or not to restructure the program, but rather how to do it.
Well Column
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Having a spouse with a life-threatening illness is hard enough. But what happens when both partners get sick?
By WALT BOGDANICH and KRISTINA REBELO
A state review found 27 instances where infants were irradiated without proper shielding.
By WILLIAM GRIMES
Dr. Latham waged a long battle for the promotion of breastfeeding over infant formulas in developing countries.
By RONI CARYN RABIN
Pressure to marry young and be all things to all people contributes to a problem, rabbinic leaders say, and a stigma against mental health problems complicates treatment.
By GINA KOLATA
Older men are getting screened for prostate cancer at a higher rate, though many experts discourage screening for men whose life expectancy is 10 years or less.
18 & Under
By PERRI KLASS, M.D.
New guidelines suggest tonsillectomy for recurrent sore throats only if frequent or severe, but the operation may be considered for children with trouble breathing while they sleep.