Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Genetic mutations may be responsible for schizophrenia

The higher risk of schizophrenia among offspring of expectant mothers living through famine could help us understand the genetic basis for that debilitating mental disorder.

2 Aug 2006

fMRI shows "gambling" structures in the brain

From gamblers playing blackjack to investors picking stocks, humans make a wide range of decisions that require gauging risk versus reward.

2 Aug 2006

Placebo study - brain activity predicts treatment results before medication begins

Treating major depression can be quite a puzzle, and a newly published UCLA study suggests medication is just one of many potential pieces.

2 Aug 2006

Long-reaching damage of the tsunami on mental health

The December 2004 tsunami which devastated the coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and many other countries has left behind more than just untold damage to the environment, property and communities.

2 Aug 2006

Iraq war takes more of a toll on returning soldiers

According to a study which has looked at how U.S. soldiers fared following time spent on duty in Iraq, has found that feeling confused, having difficulty concentrating and memory lapses were quite common.

2 Aug 2006

Why reassurance fails in patients with unexplained symptoms

When patients are unconvinced by reassurance from their doctor that they have nothing to worry about, it may be because their emotional state makes it hard for them to remember all the information the doctor has given them, according to new research in PLoS Medicine.

2 Aug 2006

Anti-obesity vaccine keeps rats trim

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California in the U.S. have developed an anti-obesity vaccine that significantly slowed weight gain and reduced body fat in rats even when they over ate.

1 Aug 2006

Understanding postpartum depression critical to improving care for mothers and infants

Physicians should screen mothers for postpartum depression regularly for at least a year following childbirth to better identify women who develop symptoms throughout the year and those whose depression persists, University of Rochester Medical Center researchers say.

26 Jul 2006

Reduced levels of antiinflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic widespread pain

Chronic widespread pain, a common medical condition, can be difficult to treat and is often associated with fatigue, poor sleep and depression.

26 Jul 2006

Is there improvement of 'vascular depression' after carotid artery stenting?

Inserting a stent to open a narrowed carotid artery has been found to reduce symptoms of depression that may be associated with carotid stenosis, according to a study in the August issue of Radiology.

25 Jul 2006

Healthcare providers react more positively to men than women who reveal they're gay

Men and people over 40 are much more likely to report positive experiences when they tell healthcare providers they are not heterosexual, according research in the latest UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing.

24 Jul 2006

Researchers identify earliest neuron in the embryonic human cerebral cortex

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine and the University of Oxford have identified the very first neurons in what develops into the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that makes humans human.

24 Jul 2006

New natural contraceptive pill being trialled

University of Adelaide researchers, together with the Adelaide Hormone and Menopause Centre, are trialling a new natural contraceptive pill alternative.

24 Jul 2006

Treatment for ADHD: Is more complex treatment cost-effective for more complex cases?

A combination of medication and behavioral therapy is the most cost-effective treatment for children with attention problems complicated by other mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or aggression, according to a new analysis.

21 Jul 2006

Outlook on life is formed in childhood

A new study published in the recent issue of the Journal of Personality finds a correlation between adult pessimism and childhood in a low socioeconomic status (SES) family.

19 Jul 2006

Colorectal cancer patients suffer from psychological problems long after completion of treatment

According to a survey, colorectal cancer patients rate their quality of life after treatment as good, particularly if they have to cope with small physical restrictions only.

19 Jul 2006

Just how safe are some British hospitals?

Following the release of a new report, mental health trusts in the UK will be instructed to review its approach to patients' safety.

19 Jul 2006

Memory Pharmaceuticals achieves milestone for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders

Memory Pharmaceuticals is to receive approximately $2.3M in funding from Roche in 2007.

17 Jul 2006

Training for parents could help child anxiety disorders

Special skills workshops for parents of anxious young children could offer a breakthrough in addressing this difficult problem, according to psychologists at The University of Manchester.

From The University of Manchester 17 Jul 2006

Apathy and depression, separate issues in Parkinson's disease

According to researchers in the U.S. people suffering from Parkinson's disease can be apathetic without being depressed, and apathy may be a core feature of the disease.

17 Jul 2006