ScienceDaily: Psychiatry News

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:53 EDT

The relationship between the heritable risk for schizophrenia and low intelligence (IQ) has not been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with cognitive impairments that may cause functional disability. Researchers have now found that individuals with a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia had a lower IQ at age 70 but not at age 11.

Posttraumatic stress disorder associated with type 2 diabetes

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:38:38 EDT

The presence of posttraumatic stress disorder is significantly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Suicide risk is higher among military personnel with more lifetime TBIs, even after controlling for clinical symptom severity. Results of the study show that multiple TBIs, which are common among military personnel, may contribute to increased risk for suicide.

Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Flu in pregnant mothers has been linked to a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child might develop bipolar disorder in adulthood. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza.

Brain-imaging study links cannabinoid receptors to post-traumatic stress disorder: First pharmaceutical treatment for PTSD within reach

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:50:50 EDT

In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronic, disabling condition that can plague trauma victims with flashbacks, nightmares and emotional instability.

To suppress or to explore? Emotional strategy may influence anxiety

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:33:33 EDT

When trouble approaches, what do you do? Run for the hills? Pretend it isn't there? Hide? Or do you focus on the promise of rain in those looming dark clouds? New research suggests that the way you regulate your emotions, in bad times and in good, can influence whether -- or how much -- you suffer from anxiety.

Study supports alternative model for personality disorders in upcoming DSM-5

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:45 EDT

A new "alternative model" included in the upcoming Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lines up well with the current approach to diagnosis of personality disorder, according to a new study.

Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

Patients coping with chronic pain should also be evaluated for anxiety disorders, according to new research.

Link between intimate partner violence and depression

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:56 EDT

Not only are women who have experienced violence from their partner (intimate partner violence) at higher risk of becoming depressed, but women who are depressed may also be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, according to a new study.

Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:10:10 EDT

Certain types of anti-depressants have been linked to an increase in the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) finds a new study. Awareness of this link should improve identification and early treatment of CDI.

Nearly 20 percent of suicidal youths have guns in their home

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a new study.

90 percent of pediatric specialists not following clinical guidelines when treating preschoolers with ADHD

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:33:33 EDT

A recent study by pediatricians examined to what extent pediatric physicians adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics clinical guidelines regarding pharmacotherapy in treating young patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The results showed that more than 90 percent of medical specialists who diagnose and manage ADHD in preschoolers do not follow treatment guidelines recently published by the AAP.

PTSD research: Distinct gene activity patterns from childhood abuse

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

A study of adult civilians with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that individuals with a history of childhood abuse have distinct, profound changes in gene activity patterns, compared to adults with PTSD but without a history of child abuse.

Psychological trauma after miscarriage is more likely in women using assisted reproduction

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

Subfertile women who conceive through assisted reproduction are more likely to experience a greater traumatic impact following early pregnancy loss compared with women who conceive naturally, suggests a new study.

Risk of depression influenced by quality of relationships

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:40:40 EDT

After analyzing data from nearly 5,000 American adults, researchers found that the quality of a person’s relationships with a spouse, family and friends predicted the likelihood of major depression disorder in the future, regardless of how frequently their social interactions took place.

Shedding light on the long shadow of childhood adversity

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Childhood adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability in adult life and have an effect on the next generation, underscoring the importance of research, practice and policy in addressing this issue, according to a new article.

Over-diagnosis and over-treatment of depression is common in the U. S.

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:57 EDT

A new study finds when assessed for major depressive episodes using a structured interview, only 38.4 percent of adults with clinician-identified depression met a 12-month criteria for depression, despite the majority of participants being prescribed and using psychiatric medications.

Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

New research has discovered that people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have abnormal connections throughout their brain. BDD is a disabling but often-misunderstood psychiatric condition in which individuals perceive that they're disfigured and ugly, even though they look normal to others.

Poor parenting -- including overprotection -- increases bullying risk

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:40:40 EDT

Children who are exposed to negative parenting -- including abuse, neglect but also overprotection -- are more likely to experience childhood bullying by their peers, according to a meta-analysis of 70 studies of more than 200,000 children.

Forced exercise may still protect against anxiety and stress

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Being forced to exercise may still help reduce anxiety and depression just as exercising voluntarily does, according to a new study.

Examine social factors to explain rise in diagnoses of mental disorders

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:32:32 EDT

Examining social factors is vital to better explaining and understanding the dramatic rise in the number of Americans diagnosed with mental disorders in recent years, according to a new analysis.

Use of anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Maternal use of valproate (a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders) during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism in offspring, according to a new study. The authors caution that these findings must be balanced against the treatment benefits for women who require valproate for epilepsy control.

Nearly half of U.S. veterans found with blast concussions might have hormone deficiencies

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:20:20 EDT

Up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. A new study finds about 42% of screened veterans with blast injuries have irregular hormone levels indicative of hypopituitarism. Many conditions associated with hypopituitarism mimic other common problems that veterans can suffer, such as PTSD and depression.

Intranasal neuropeptide Y may offer therapeutic potential for post-traumatic stress disorder

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:38:38 EDT

Stress triggered neuropsychiatric disorders take an enormous personal, social and economic toll on society. In the US more than half of adults are exposed to at least one traumatic event throughout their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating anxiety disorder associated with exposure to a traumatic event outside the range of normal human experience.

High levels of glutamate in brain may kick-start schizophrenia: Implications for early diagnosis and new treatment strategies

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

An excess of the brain neurotransmitter glutamate may cause a transition to psychosis in people who are at risk for schizophrenia. The findings suggest a potential diagnostic tool for identifying those at risk for schizophrenia and a possible glutamate-limiting treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Mindfulness therapy might help veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EDT

A new study shows that veterans with PTSD who completed a mindfulness-based group treatment plan showed a significant reduction in symptoms as compared to patients who underwent treatment as normal.

Drug could improve working memory of people with autism, study finds

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

Investigators found that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety and panic, improves the working memory performance of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Electroconvulsive therapy can restore quality of life for some severely depressed patients

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:49:49 EDT

Patients whose severe depression goes into remission for six months following electroconvulsive therapy report a quality of life similar to that of healthy individuals, researchers say.

Pain improves during first year but mental-health problems linger in returning veterans with major limb injuries

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:40:40 EDT

Few studies document short- and long-term pain and behavioral health in combat-injured service members with major limb trauma. In a 2-year longitudinal study, multiple post-injury pain and related outcomes are reported.

Most effective PTSD therapies are not being widely used, researchers find

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 million adults in any given year, federal statistics show. Fortunately, clinical research has identified certain psychological interventions that effectively ameliorate the symptoms of PTSD. But most people struggling with PTSD don't receive those treatments, according to a new report.

Do drugs for bipolar disorder 'normalize' brain gene function?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:58:58 EDT

Every day, millions of people with bipolar disorder take medicines to stabilize their moods. But just how these drugs work is still a mystery. Now, a new study of brain tissue helps reveal what might actually be happening. And further research using stem cells programmed to act like brain cells is already underway.

Subtle hallmarks of psychiatric illness can reveal themselves even remotely

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:59:59 EDT

Researchers discovered that healthy people and those with borderline personality disorder displayed different patterns of behavior while playing an online strategy game, so much so that when healthy players played people with borderline personality disorder, they gave up on trying to predict what their partners would do next.

Teachers in Ireland regard medication for ADHD as last resort

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Teachers in the Republic of Ireland consistently view medication treatment for Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a last resort, even when they view the disorder as biologically based.

Google searches about mental illness follow seasonal patterns

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Google searches for information across all major mental illnesses and problems followed seasonal patterns, suggesting mental illness may be more strongly linked with seasonal patterns than previously thought.

Minocycline, an antibiotic, improves behavior for children with fragile X syndrome

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:44:44 EDT

Minocycline, an older, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the tetracycline family, provides meaningful improvements as a therapeutic for children with fragile X syndrome, a study has found.

Findings from most in-depth study into UK parents who kill their children

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:44:44 EDT

Experts have revealed their findings from the most in-depth study ever to take place in the UK into the tragic instances of child killing by parents, known as filicide. The research found 37 per cent of parents and step-parents who killed their children were suffering from some form of mental illness and 12% had been in contact with mental health services within a year of the offense.

Multiple factors predict repeat suicide-related behavior in youth

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:44:44 EDT

New research has found that multiple factors independently predict what makes youth more likely to make repeat suicide-related behavior.

Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Schizophrenia patients experiencing relapse are 29 times more likely than healthy individuals to have a urinary tract infection, researchers report.

Research identifies co-factors critical to PTSD development

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

New research has found that the action of a specific gene occurring during exposure to adolescent trauma is critical for the development of adult-onset post-traumatic stress disorder.

Targeting mental defeat among pain patients could prevent anxiety and depression

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:19:19 EDT

A new study of Hong Kong chronic pain patients suggests that targeting feelings of mental defeat could prevent severe depression, anxiety and interference with daily activities.

New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:24:24 EDT

A broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, "developmental brain dysfunction," rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes, new research suggests.

Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

Our emotional responses to the stresses of daily life may predict our long-term mental health, according to a new study.

Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

A new review summarizes the results of a systematic review of clinical interventions for adults exposed to at least one traumatic event such as war, a natural or human-made disaster, motor vehicle accidents, community violence, sexual assault or domestic violence.

Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

People with mental illnesses are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly compared to people without a mental illness, according to new research.

Many emergency department providers don't ask suicidal patients about gun access

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Although guns are used in over half of all American suicides, a new study shows many emergency room doctors do not routinely ask suicidal patients about their access to firearms.

Common gene variants explain 42% of antidepressant response

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:17:17 EDT

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, but many individuals do not experience symptom relief from treatment. New research found that only approximately one-third of patients responded within their initial medication trial and approximately one-third of patients did not have an adequate clinical response after being treated with several different medications.

Serious mental illness no barrier to weight loss success

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

Through a program that teaches simple nutrition messages and involves both counseling and regular exercise classes, people with serious mental illness can make healthy behavioral changes and achieve significant weight loss.

Primary care physicians missing early signs of serious mental illness

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:13:13 EDT

Primary care providers could help people with warning signs of psychosis get critical early treatment and potentially reduce the current burden on emergency departments and inpatient units, finds a new study.

Adults with mental illness or substance use disorder more likely to smoke

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Adults aged 18 or older who experienced any mental illness or who have had a substance use disorder in the past year are more likely to smoke and to smoke more heavily than others, according to a new report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Somatic symptom disorder: New disorder could classify millions of people as mentally ill

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:23:23 EDT

Millions of people could be mislabeled as mentally ill when psychiatry's bible of diagnoses is updated in May, warns a doctor.

Anxiety, depression identify heart disease patients at increased risk of dying

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:21:21 EDT

Heart disease patients who have anxiety have twice the risk of dying from any cause compared to those without anxiety. Patients with both anxiety and depression had triple the risk of dying. The findings suggest more frequent monitoring is needed for heart patients with anxiety and depression.

Rapid rise in antipsychotic treatment of medicaid-insured children

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:08 EDT

More benefit/risk information is needed in community care efforts, says a researcher.

Mindfulness at school reduces (likelihood of) depression-related symptoms in adolescents

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:59:59 EDT

Secondary school students who follow an in-class mindfulness program report reduced indications of depression, anxiety and stress up to six months later. Moreover, these students were less likely to develop pronounced depression-like symptoms.

Postpartum depression: Surprising rate of women depressed after baby

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EDT

A surprisingly high number of women have postpartum depression, reports a new, large-scale study of 10,000 women. A high rate of women had considered harming themselves. The study's screening likely saved several lives. Most postpartum women with depression are not identified or treated even though they are at a higher risk for psychiatric disorders. It's a major public health problem because a woman's mental health affects her child's physical and emotional development.

No attention-boosting drugs for healthy kids, doctors urge

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:20:20 EDT

The practice of prescribing drugs to boost cognitive function, or memory and thinking abilities, in healthy children and teens is misguided, according to a new statement by the American Academy of Neurology.

Scientists find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:35:35 EDT

Autism spectrum disorders affect the brain activity of children and adults differently, according to new research.

Neuron loss in schizophrenia and depression could be prevented, study suggests

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:55:55 EDT

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits have been implicated in schizophrenia and depression. In schizophrenia, deficits have been particularly well-described for a subtype of GABA neuron, the parvalbumin fast-spiking interneurons. The activity of these neurons is critical for proper cognitive and emotional functioning. It now appears that parvalbumin neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, a factor that may emerge commonly in development, particularly in the context of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, where compromised mitochondrial function plays a role.

Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:20:20 EDT

Children with an autism spectrum disorder may be at greater risk for contemplating suicide or attempting suicide than children without autism, according to researchers.

Children who avoid scary situations likelier to have anxiety

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:10:10 EDT

Children who avoid situations they find scary are likely to have anxiety a study of more than 800 children ages 7 to 18 found.