Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Potential new therapeutic option for prevention of PD-associated neuropathology

Scientists have identified a synergistic interaction that disrupts normal intracellular transport mechanisms and leads to the accumulation of neuron-damaging clumps of protein associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a specific loss of neurons in the midbrain and brainstem. The research, published by Cell Press in the December 24 issue of the journal Neuron, identifies a new potential therapeutic option for preventing PD-associated neuropathology.

24 Dec 2009

Interdisciplinary approach essential for treating men’s' sexual dysfunction

Modern, couple-oriented treatment for male sexual dysfunction takes the psychosocial aspects of sex into account, as well as focussing on the purely physical aspects of the problem.

24 Dec 2009

Ligand Pharmaceuticals acquires Neurogen

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Neurogen Corporation, following approval of the transaction by Neurogen stockholders earlier today. As a result, Ligand gains a fully funded partnership with Merck & Co., additional pipeline assets, drug discovery resources and additional cash balances.

23 Dec 2009

National MS Society calls for grant applications to examine the impact of CCSVI hypothesis

2009 saw exciting research progress, unprecedented opportunities on the horizon, and more scientists than ever working on resolving important questions. Despite the year's economic and financial challenges, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society continues to propel research forward to end MS. In 2009 the Society provided over $33.5 million to support 345 new and ongoing projects in its research portfolio, plus $1.5 million for Fast Forward, the Society's drug development subsidiary which continues to attract new funding streams.

23 Dec 2009

Postnatal depression treatments are not cost effective, say York researchers

Routine screening for postnatal depression in primary care - as recommended in recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - does not appear to represent value for money for the NHS, researchers at the University of York have concluded.

23 Dec 2009

New book on psychological reactions to storms

Director of LSU's Life Course and Aging Center, or LCAC, Katie Cherry, along with several LSU colleagues, has published a book titled, "Lifespan Perspectives on Natural Disasters: Coping With Katrina, Rita and Other Storms," through Springer Publishing.

23 Dec 2009

Back pain problems continue to rise in U.S.

The Bonati Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive laser spine surgery, reports the results of studies that Americans are increasingly reporting back pain and spending more on back pain, but cautions consumers to carefully research the experience and the surgical outcome results when choosing their spine team.

23 Dec 2009

Magnetic stimulation therapy can treat depression

Magnetic stimulation therapy can beat depression when medication and therapy haven't worked, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

23 Dec 2009

CompCare to provide managed behavioral health services for Universal Health Care Group members

Comprehensive Care Corporation (CompCare) today announced it will provide managed behavioral health services for Universal Health Care Group’s 100,000 Medicaid, Medicare, and Private Fee-for-Service plan members in eleven states.

22 Dec 2009

Samaritans of New York expands suicide prevention campaign for holiday season

The Samaritans of New York is providing resources that could save people's lives to more than 250 NYC hotels, bars, department stores and health clubs to help staffers identify and respond to customers who are in crisis and may be suicidal over the holiday season.

22 Dec 2009

Rural Health Institute receives funds to expand telemedicine in rural Alabama

The University of Alabama's Rural Health Institute for Clinical and Translational Science has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program to expand telemedicine efforts in rural Alabama.

22 Dec 2009

Depressed patients are unable to sustain positive emotions, says study

A new study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that depressed patients are unable to sustain activity in brain areas related to positive emotion.

22 Dec 2009

Avatar clinical software solution implemented for Monterey County Health Department Behavioral Health Division

Netsmart Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise-wide software and services for health and human services organizations, recently completed implementation of its Avatar clinical software solution for the Monterey County (Calif.) Health Department Behavioral Health Division.

22 Dec 2009

Neurocrine to advance its NBI-98854 VMAT2 Inhibitor into a multiple repeated dose Phase 1 study

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. today announced their highly selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, NBI-98854, will be advanced in clinical development.

21 Dec 2009

Intra-Cellular Therapies announces results of its ITI-007 antipsychotic drug Phase I study

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (ITI) announced at a recent conference on neuropsychiatric diseases the results from a recently completed Phase I clinical study demonstrating ITI-007, the Company's lead antipsychotic drug, interacts with important targets in the living human brain. These key targets are critical to drug action in many neuropsychiatric and related disorders.

21 Dec 2009

NSHAP study sheds new light on health and intimate relationships of older people

Researchers and the general public have a new resource for information on the health and intimate relationships of older people, thanks to a newsupplemental issue of The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences (Volume 64B, Supplement 1).

19 Dec 2009

Several maladaptive eating behaviors can affect women, says new study

Several maladaptive eating behaviors, beyond anorexia, can affect women. Indeed, some 10 to 15 percent of women have maladaptive eating behaviours and attitudes according to new study from the Universit- de Montr-al and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

19 Dec 2009

CIGNA suggests the 'To Do' list to stay healthy during this holiday season

‘Tis the season for celebrating with family and friends -- and searching for those perfect gifts. CIGNA suggests adding another item to the top of the holiday “To Do” list: Be sure to take needed medications to stay healthy this holiday season and into the New Year.

19 Dec 2009

GSK receives European CHMP positive opinion for Revolade

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that its partner GlaxoSmithKline has received a positive opinion for Revolade® (eltrombopag/Promacta®) from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the oral treatment of thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count) in adults with the blood disorder chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

18 Dec 2009

New Thermal-Aid products reduce pain and swelling in arthritis patients

Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc., manufacturers of Burner Balm and Energy-X lip balms, today announced the launch of their new Thermal-Aid product line. These 100% natural therapeutic heating/cooling treatment packs are specifically designed to reduce swelling and relieve pain and have been developed in a variety of applications

18 Dec 2009