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Boosting a single brain molecule can change 'dispositional anxiety' in nonhuman primates

Boosting a single molecule in the brain can change "dispositional anxiety," the tendency to perceive many situations as threatening, in nonhuman primates, researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found.

16 Aug 2019

Doctors can change opioid prescribing habits, but progress comes in small doses

When they started practicing medicine, most surgeons say, there was little or no information about just how many pain pills patients needed after specific procedures.

14 Aug 2019

Impulsive behavior associated with less sleep and more screen time

A paper published today in Pediatrics suggests that children and youth who do not sleep enough and use screens more than recommended are more likely to act impulsively and make poorer decisions.

14 Aug 2019

Warning signs of serious mental illness in children

A recent report by the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers University showed a rise in suicide attempts by pre-teens over the past 18 months -; a trend that has been seen across the nation.

13 Aug 2019

Adults who combine opioids and cannabis have more mental health issues

A researcher from the University of Houston has found that adults who take prescription opioids for severe pain are more likely to have increased anxiety, depression and substance abuse issues if they also use marijuana.

12 Aug 2019

New core curriculum designed to educate primary care providers on substance use disorders

Dr. Michelle Lofwall, professor of behavioral science and psychiatry in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, is one of three national addiction physician experts who led a team of healthcare professionals in developing a new core curriculum designed to educate primary care providers on the prevention, assessment and treatment of substance use disorders throughout the continuum of care.

3 Aug 2019

International report identifies the main actions necessary to reduce epilepsy treatment gap

Worldwide, more than 50 million people are living with epilepsy. Treatment can cost as little as US$5 a year and eliminates seizures in about two-thirds of people.

29 Jul 2019

Study finds rates of new persistent opioid use among women after vaginal or cesarean delivery

Nearly half of American women having a baby in the last decade received a prescription for a powerful opioid painkiller as part of their birth experience, a new study shows.

27 Jul 2019

Brain protein mutation from an autistic person alters behavior in mice

A de novo gene mutation that encodes a brain protein in a child with autism has been placed into the brains of mice.

24 Jul 2019

Recreational drugs more likely to be tried for the first time in summer, study shows

American teenagers and adults are more likely to try illegal or recreational drugs for the first time in the summer, a new study shows.

23 Jul 2019

Continuation of community-wide HIV testing could lead to reductions in new HIV cases

Continuation of community-wide HIV testing and prompt initiation of treatment as delivered in the HPTN 071 study in South Africa and Zambia could lead to substantial reductions in new HIV cases, be cost-effective, and help to achieve the UNAIDS 2030 targets, according to projections from mathematical modeling and cost-effectiveness analyses presented today at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City.

23 Jul 2019

How the Eastern Cherokee took control of their health care

Light pours through large windows and glass ceilings of the Cherokee Indian Hospital onto a fireplace, a waterfall and murals.

22 Jul 2019

Patients' physical health often overlooked in pursuit of treating the mind, finds study

The 18-year life expectancy gap between people with mental illness and the general population can only be bridged by protecting patients' physical and mental health, according to a new study.

19 Jul 2019

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Biden doubles down on Obamacare

Former Vice President Joe Biden has said if he's elected president he would build on the Affordable Care Act rather than move to a whole new health care system, such as the "Medicare for All" plan supported by some of his primary opponents for the Democratic nomination.

19 Jul 2019

Video games may help teens manage emotions

Video games have been blamed for emotional damage and numerous behavioural problems in children and teenagers. A new study turned it all around by using video games for an emotional intelligence training program and found that exposure to these games could help these adolescents express and manage their emotions better after the training.

15 Jul 2019

Biden calling ACA ‘breakthrough’ for mental health parity highlights gaps

In a sit-down interview with CNN, 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden touted the Obama administration's passage of the Affordable Care Act, asserting that this law evened out the playing field when it came to insurance coverage of mental and physical health.

11 Jul 2019

Gay men in China eight times more likely to face social discrimination

A new study highlights the importance of social and emotional support in homosexual men. Young adult gay men in China were found to be eight times more likely to feel rejected and criticized, fueling feelings of interpersonal sensitivity and loneliness.

10 Jul 2019