Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study finds association between psychotic disorders and urbanicity

The association between psychotic disorders and living in urban areas appears to be a reflection of increased social fragmentation present within cities, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

7 Sep 2010

Endocrine Society releases new clinical practice guideline on congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Today, The Endocrine Society released a new clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The guideline features a series of evidence-based clinical recommendations developed by an expert task force.

7 Sep 2010

Geometric pattern preference may be an early identifier of autism

Using eye-tracking methods, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shown that toddlers with autism spend significantly more time visually examining dynamic geometric patterns than they do looking at social images - a viewing pattern not found in either typical or developmentally delayed toddlers.

7 Sep 2010

Combined treatment may benefit early-stage schizophrenia patients: Report

Patients with early stage schizophrenia who receive a combination of medication and a psychosocial intervention appear less likely to discontinue treatment or relapse and may have improved insight, quality of life and social functioning than those taking medication alone, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

7 Sep 2010

Babies weaned on junk food: Study

According to a recent study in Perth, Australia, babies here are being fed high calorie junk foods like biscuits, cakes, hot chips and ice cream before they turn one. This practice affects their eating habits for life say researchers. The report appeared in the Australian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. The study was undertaken by the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research, University of Western Australia and Curtin University and South Australia's Flinders University.

7 Sep 2010

State News: Ohio, Florida take advantage of federal health funds; Mass. psychiatrists win court case

The Columbus Dispatch: "Gov. Ted Strickland's administration announced today that nearly $200 million in recently freed up state funds will go to Ohio hospitals, community mental health services, and a program which provides medication to low-income residents with HIV/AIDS. … The state money became available after Congress agreed to continue paying a higher share of the cost of state Medicaid programs that provide insurance coverage to the poor.

3 Sep 2010

TNS therapy improves depression: Study

Major depression is a common and disabling brain condition marked not only by the presence of depressed mood but also by its effects on sleep, energy, decision-making, memory and thoughts of death or of suicide.

3 Sep 2010

More support needed for erectile dysfunction says sexologist

According to sexologist Bettina Arndt, there are thousands of Australian men with erectile dysfunction who are sexually impotent because of their condition and the lack of affordable treatments. Arndt said that funds distribution for breast prostheses for female cancer patients is one of the examples of mismatches in funding.

3 Sep 2010

Tibotec submits MAA for investigational HIV drug TMC278 to European Medicines Agency

Tibotec Pharmaceuticals today announced its submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for TMC278 (rilpivirine, as hydrochloride), an investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) for the treatment of HIV. The proposed indication would make TMC278 available for once-daily use with other antiretroviral agents in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected adults.

3 Sep 2010

Early marker for infants at higher-risk for autism may be infrequent gazing, study shows

Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today new study results showing an early marker for later communication and social delays in infants at a higher-risk for autism may be infrequent gazing at other people when unprompted. Published in the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the study also found that six-month-old high-risk infants demonstrated the same level of cause and effect learning skills when compared to low-risk infants of the same age.

3 Sep 2010

ECRI Institute's 17th Annual Conference to be held October 19-20, at NIH

With the advent of healthcare reform, the United States is embarking on an unprecedented effort to determine which health care intervention works best for the diagnosis or treatment of a given disease or condition. While comparative effectiveness and personalized medicine evolved separately, these significant trends interface, increasingly, in the healthcare systems.

3 Sep 2010

TCC gears up early intervention programs for families, children with autistic spectrum disorders

In preparation for the new school year The Children's Center's is gearing up their early intervention programs for families and children with autistic spectrum disorders between the ages 18 months to 6 years old. The Children's Center recognizes one of the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States affecting our children is Autism. That's why TCC is offering back to school support to families of children with autism spectrum disorder.

3 Sep 2010

Dilemmas created for healthcare professionals by medicinal use of cannabis

Nurses have a responsibility to respect and support patients who use cannabis for medicinal purposes, but must stay within the law and follow professional guidance at all times, according to a research review in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

3 Sep 2010

Implementation of electronic health records in England likely to be a long, complex and iterative process

Interim results from the first comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of electronic health records in secondary care in England have found delays and frustration with the system, according to research published on bmj.com today.

3 Sep 2010

PCOS Challenge creates television series to help women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

In an effort to bring greater awareness to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS Challenge, Inc. has created a 13-week television series to help women with PCOS. PCOS is estimated to affect one-in-ten women of childbearing age. It can lead to other serious conditions including endometrial cancer, obesity, diabetes and infertility.

3 Sep 2010

BAP releases new guidelines on treatments for sleep disorders

Insomnia and other sleep disorders are very common, yet are not generally well understood by doctors and other health care professionals. Now the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) has released up-to-the-minute guidelines in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE, to guide psychiatrists and physicians caring for those with sleep problems.

3 Sep 2010

Study reveals factors linked to cognitive impairment in Type 2 diabetes

Older adults with diabetes who have high blood pressure, walk slowly or lose their balance, or believe they're in bad health, are significantly more likely to have weaker memory and slower, more rigid cognitive processing than those without these problems, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.

3 Sep 2010

National Drug Control Policy announces $22 million grant in DFC program

Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), today announced $22 million in new Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grants to 169 communities and 16 new DFC Mentoring grants across the country.

3 Sep 2010

Lack of sleep linked to depression and anxiety disorders in young

According to Australian research, youngsters getting inadequate sleep are at risk of mental ailments. Researcher Nicholas Glozier of the University of Sydney said, the increase in incidence of mental ailments in the young has been puzzling health experts. The answer may lie in inadequate sleep.

2 Sep 2010

Short sleep duration increases risk of psychological distress

Young adults who get fewer than eight hours of sleep per night have greater risks of psychological distress, a combination of high levels of depressive and anxious symptoms, according to a study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 Sep 2010