Psychiatry News and Research

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Psychiatry is the treatment, study and prevention of mental disorders.

Concussion victims have unique spatial patterns of brain abnormalities that change over time

Patients vary widely in their response to concussion, but scientists haven't understood why. Now, using a new technique for analyzing data from brain imaging studies, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center have found that concussion victims have unique spatial patterns of brain abnormalities that change over time

8 Jun 2012

Low pre-morbid IQ not associated with psychosis risk

The strong correlations currently observed between low IQ and risk for psychosis are most likely linked to the influence that psychosis onset has on cognitive functioning rather than a shared genetic background, suggest study findings.

7 Jun 2012

Pathophysiologic differences evident between schizophrenia, bipolar

Review findings reveal differences in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, relating specifically to the medial temporal lobe and associated limbic regions.

7 Jun 2012

Novel guidelines manage youth maladaptive aggression

Recommendations for the engagement, assessment, treatment, and management of maladaptive aggression in youth have been developed by US experts to improve treatment planning and selection.

6 Jun 2012

Bariatric surgeon breaks new ground in the treatment of sleep apnea

Dr. Michael Feiz, a Beverly Hills bariatric surgeon, is breaking new ground in the treatment of sleep apnea with his approach to bariatric surgery.

6 Jun 2012

UCSD researchers receive $4M NIMH grant to study accelerated biological aging in schizophrenia

Researchers at the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego have received a $4 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, to study accelerated biological aging in schizophrenia.

6 Jun 2012

D-cycloserine may increase response to PTSD psychotherapy

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most common, distressing, and disabling medical consequences of combat or other extremely stressful life events. The first-line treatment for PTSD is exposure therapy, a type of behavioral therapy where patients confront their fears in a safe environment. Although it is an effective treatment, many patients still experience symptoms after treatment and there is a relatively high drop-out rate.

5 Jun 2012

Chicago psychological center serves as model for treatment of binge eating

As experts discuss major changes in binge eating, a Chicago psychological center serves as a model for treatment of the most common eating disorder.

5 Jun 2012

Treating adolescents for major depression can also reduce risk of drug abuse

Treating adolescents for major depression can also reduce their chances of abusing drugs later on, a secondary benefit found in a five-year study of nearly 200 youths at 11 sites across the United States.

5 Jun 2012

Several key discoveries in palliative care

What is the best way to talk to someone about prognosis and quality of life when serious illness strikes? It turns out that no one had studied that question through direct observation, until the University of Rochester Medical Center audio-recorded 71 palliative care discussions.

2 Jun 2012

Subtle executive impairments indicate familial schizophrenia risk

The unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia show subtle executive function impairments, and these deficits are associated with negative symptoms, investigators report.

1 Jun 2012

Factors linked to relapse risk in bipolar disorder identified

A higher number of previous mood episodes and living in a mixed urban/rural area are associated with an increased risk for relapse in patients with bipolar disorder, Spanish researchers report.

1 Jun 2012

NAC reduces irritability in children with autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills. Irritability is a symptom of autism that can complicate adjustment at home and other settings, and can manifest itself in aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior. These disruptive behaviors are frequently observed in children with autism, which may considerably affect their ability to function at home or in school.

1 Jun 2012

Over half of FEP patients achieve symptomatic remission

More than half of patients with a first episode of psychosis achieve symptomatic remission after 2 years of treatment, but recovery rates are lower, results from a Singaporean study show.

31 May 2012

Obstetric, perinatal difficulties ‘not linked to bipolar disorder risk’

Results from a US study indicate that obstetric and perinatal difficulties are not associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder in children.

31 May 2012

Smoker's genetic makeup can help predict response to drug therapy

The same gene variations that make it difficult to stop smoking also increase the likelihood that heavy smokers will respond to nicotine-replacement therapy and drugs that thwart cravings, a new study shows.

31 May 2012

Ketamine reduces suicidal thoughts in patients with bipolar depression

Bipolar disorder is a serious and debilitating condition where individuals experience severe swings in mood between mania and depression. The episodes of low or elevated mood can last days or months, and the risk of suicide is high. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to treat or prevent the depressive episodes, but they are not universally effective. Many patients still continue to experience periods of depression even while being treated, and many patients must try several different types of antidepressants before finding one that works for them.

31 May 2012

RUSM, KMC announce 10-year affiliation agreement

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) and Kern Medical Center (KMC) in Bakersfield, Calif. today announced a 10-year affiliation agreement to allocate, on an annual basis, a significant number of core clinical rotation slots to RUSM students.

31 May 2012

New guidelines for management of childhood aggression

Mayo Clinic researchers, in collaboration with other research institutions and youth mental health experts, are publishing new guidelines for primary care providers and mental health specialists to manage the common but often complex problem of childhood aggression. The goals include improving diagnosis and care and avoiding inappropriate use of medication.

31 May 2012

Interim data from UCLA and NeuroSigma’s eTNS Phase I trial on PTSD, MDD

Today, at the 52nd annual New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) Conference in Arizona, Ian Cook, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Senior Medical Advisor to NeuroSigma, Inc., presented the results from the first 6-subject cohort of a 10-subject Phase I open-label clinical trial studying the effects of external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy.

31 May 2012