Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Latest Bipolar Disorder News and Research

DISC1 linked to proper development and migration of neurons in the brain

Scientists now have a better understanding of a perplexing gene that is associated with susceptibility for a wide spectrum of severely debilitating mental illnesses. Two independent research studies published by Cell Press in the September 24th issue of the journal Neuron provide fascinating insight into the molecular mechanisms that link disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) with the proper development and migration of neurons in the hippocampus, a brain area involved in learning and memory and associated with the pathology of schizophrenia.

24 Sep 2009

Late diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adults

75% of the cases of paediatric bipolar disorder are diagnosed late - up to 18 months - due to the symptoms manifesting themselves in a different manner depending on whether the patient is a child or adult. Moreover, 25% of sufferers have a delay in their medical diagnoses of up to three years and four months, according to a study by the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the University Hospital of Navarra, in collaboration with the Paediatric Psychopharmacology Unit at the l Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University (Boston, United States).

22 Sep 2009

Bioscience Research offers mental health care at no cost

Psychiatrists at Bioscience Research, LLC, understand the mental health burden that can accompany unemployment and the day-to-day stress of looking for a new job or worrying about losing an existing job.

22 Sep 2009

Bipolar disorder patients impaired in work, family and social life

In a review by a group of Spanish investigators in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics what happens in terms of functioning and disability to patients with bipolar disorder is described.

22 Sep 2009

NIH to fund grants for epigenetic research

The National Institutes of Health announced today that it will fund 22 grants on genome-wide studies of how epigenetic changes -- chemical modifications to genes that result from diet, aging, stress, or environmental exposures -- define and contribute to specific human diseases and biological processes.

17 Sep 2009

Andersonville Arts Weekend art sales proceeds to support HIV-affected families

During the Arts weekend, over 25 of Olmetti's works and installations will be featured at SIR Spa. Proceeds from art sales will benefit the Chicago House, in support pf the mission of Chicago House and Social Service Agency to provide housing and supportive services to HIV-affected families and individuals who may also be impacted by poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness.

15 Sep 2009

Preliminary results of Phase 2b clinical trial of AZ-104 announced by Alexza Pharmaceuticals

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) today announced preliminary results from its 366 patient Phase 2b clinical trial of AZ-104 (Staccato(R) loxapine) in patients with migraine headache.

14 Sep 2009

Final results of SAPHRIS clinical study released

Schering-Plough Corporation today reported final results of a SAPHRIS(R) (asenapine) long-term schizophrenia relapse prevention clinical study.

14 Sep 2009

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks. In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

11 Sep 2009

New protocol to tackle postpartum depression

Up to 80 percent of women experience depressive symptoms postpartum, with one in eight reporting the emergence of major depression within weeks of delivery.

10 Sep 2009

Brown University neuroscience professor awarded EUREKA grant

Brown University neuroscience professor Gilad Barnea will receive a nearly $1.3 million, four-year federal grant toward development of a method to selectively monitor the activation of each of the five receptors for the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.

4 Sep 2009

Pfizer pleads guilty of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and other government-funded health care programs

Pfizer, Inc. announced today it has agreed to plead guilty to criminal conduct and to pay more than $2 billion in criminal and civil fines, penalties and damages to settle allegations made in multiple whistleblower lawsuits that the pharmaceutical giant defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and other government-funded health care programs in connection with its market practices for four of its drugs. The settlement is the largest qui tam settlement in U.S. history.

3 Sep 2009

Alexza completes acquisition of Symphony Allegro after sharholders' approval

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) announced that during a special meeting of stockholders held today, its stockholders approved the proposal to issue shares of the Company's common stock and warrants to purchase shares of the Company's common stock to Symphony Capital Partners, LP and their co-investors. Subsequent to this vote, Alexza completed its acquisition of Symphony Allegro, and as a result, Alexza reacquired all rights to AZ-004, AZ-104 and AZ-002.

27 Aug 2009

Cortex Pharmaceuticals receives delisting notification from NYSE Amex

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex (COR)) reported that it has received a delisting notification from the NYSE Amex LLC indicating that it has not accepted the Company’s plan to regain compliance with the Exchange’s continued listing standards, as submitted by the Company in June.

21 Aug 2009

Sleep patterns can identify adolescents at greatest risk for depression

Sleep patterns can help predict which adolescents might be at greatest risk for developing depression, a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center has found in a five-year study.

13 Aug 2009

Landmark legislation brings much-needed reform to New Jersey

New Jersey significantly reformed its mental illness treatment law on August 11th when Governor Corzine signed Senate Bill 735 into law. Senator Richard Codey and countless advocates battled for years to give New Jersey a way to better help those who refuse treatment because of incapacitating symptoms of illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. “Our goal is to minimize time in the hospital and keep patients in the least restrictive environment that will help foster their recovery,” said Codey.

11 Aug 2009

Mental health care costs soar

A new report finds mental health care costs are exploding, according to U.S. News & World Report.

7 Aug 2009

Using anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate when pregnant can lower IQ of offspring

Interim results of a study being conducted by scientists at the University of Liverpool suggest that children aged three years and younger, who are born to women taking the anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate whilst pregnant, are likely to have an IQ of six to nine points lower than average.

21 Jul 2009

Cognitive behavioural therapy for major psychiatric disorder: does it really work?

Research co-led by an academic at the University of Hertfordshire, concludes that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is of no value in schizophrenia and has limited effect on depression.

28 Jun 2009

Skin cells provide new knowledge about brain functions

Until now diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have been difficult to study biologically, since this would entail taking samples from the patient's brain.

3 Jun 2009