Psychosis News and Research

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Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality". People suffering from psychosis are said to be ''psychotic.''

Cannabis use leads to increased risk of depression in young people with specific genotype

Young people who are genetically vulnerable to depression should be extra careful about using cannabis: smoking cannabis leads to an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms.

10 Oct 2011

AstraZeneca settles SEROQUEL XR patent infringement litigation

AstraZeneca today announced it has entered into a settlement agreement in its U.S. SEROQUEL XR patent infringement litigation against Handa Pharmaceuticals, LLC regarding Handa's proposed generic version of AstraZeneca's SEROQUEL XR extended-release tablets.

30 Sep 2011

Benefits and harms vary among atypical antipsychotics for off-label use

A review of previous studies suggests that even though atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for off-label conditions such as behavioral symptoms of dementia, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, these medications are effective for only a few off-label conditions, and that the benefits and harms of these medications for these uses vary, according to an article in the September 28 issue of JAMA.

28 Sep 2011

Researchers confirm strong bidirectional relation between epilepsy, schizophrenia

Researchers from Taiwan have confirmed a bidirectional relation between schizophrenia and epilepsy. The study published today in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), reports that patients with epilepsy were nearly 8 times more likely to develop schizophrenia and those with schizophrenia were close to 6 times more likely to develop epilepsy.

19 Sep 2011

First-ever comprehensive study of species origins of nature-derived drugs

In a first-ever comprehensive study of the species origins of nature-derived drugs, it is shown that drug-producing species are concentrated and clustered in a limited number of families, refuting the conventional view that as every nature species produces biologically active molecules, one can find drugs from almost any major block of species groups if one looks for them hard enough.

8 Sep 2011

Narcolepsy more prevalent in China during April

New research shows that the occurrence of narcolepsy in China is highly correlated to a seasonal pattern, with onset most frequent in April.

22 Aug 2011

Study suggests ways to remediate cognitive errors

Concern about the capacity of individuals with schizophrenia to consent to clinical research studies has largely focused on impairment due to psychotic symptoms associated with the disorder. Less attention has been given to the cognitive errors that prospective participants make when undergoing a formal assessment of decisional capacity.

10 Aug 2011

Risperidone does not appear to reduce military-related PTSD symptoms

Patients with military-related, chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms that were not improved with use of an antidepressant medication did not experience a reduction in PTSD symptoms with use of the antipsychotic medication risperidone, according to a study in the August 3 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.

3 Aug 2011

Post-traumatic stress disorder drug risperidone not working: Study

According to a new study a medication commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans may not be effective in reducing overall PTSD severity.

3 Aug 2011

FDA approves Covidien's morphine sulfate oral solution for chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted approval to the company's Mallinckrodt business for morphine sulfate oral solution, used to relieve moderate to severe acute and chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients. The solution will be available as a generic in 100 milligrams per 5 mL (20 milligrams per 1 mL).

1 Aug 2011

MHCC, U of C partner to evaluate 'The Mind Course' for medical students

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has partnered with the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine to evaluate a special course for second year medical students which aims to reduce the prejudice and discrimination associated with mental illness.

25 Jul 2011

Stimulant addiction from bath salts causing serious and long term problems

A new stimulant addiction is causing concern among emergency doctors. At Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, Pa. people were arriving so agitated, violent and psychotic that a small army of medical workers was needed to hold them down. They had taken new stimulant drugs that people are calling “bath salts,” and sometimes even large doses of sedatives failed to quiet them.

18 Jul 2011

University of Helsinki psychiatric professor to receive Nordic Public Health Prize 2011

The Nordic Public Health Prize 2011 will be awarded to Professor of Psychiatry Jouko Lönnqvist for his internationally acclaimed research on the causes, spread and prevention of mental illness at population- and individual level.

21 Jun 2011

Study: Early intervention can reduce recurrences, prevent psychosis

Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that most often comes on in late adolescence or young adulthood and can devastate patients' lives. Many physicians and researchers believe that early intervention can increase the chances for recovery, reduce recurrences and even prevent the warning signs of psychosis from progressing to the actual disease.

15 Jun 2011

New findings from Deplin clinical trial on major depressive disorder presented at NCDEU

New findings from a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study of Deplin 15mg added to commonly prescribed antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors showed that all patients who achieved remission at 30 days using Deplin 15mg adjuvant therapy, and who chose to enter a 12 month maintenance phase, maintained their remission after a year of treatment.

14 Jun 2011

Too much coffee can make you hear things: Study

According to a new study as much as five cups of coffee a day could be enough to make a person develop hearing hallucinations.

13 Jun 2011

Survey reveals increase in drinking, cannabis use and psychological distress

The latest survey of Ontario adults from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) shows increasing rates of daily drinking and cannabis use and high levels of psychological distress. The results of the 2009 CAMH Monitor survey, the longest running survey tracking mental health and addiction indicators among adults in Ontario, were published today.

13 Jun 2011

Evotec, PsychoGenics partner to offer integrated CNS drug discovery solutions

PsychoGenics Inc. today announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Evotec AG to provide integrated CNS drug discovery solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

25 May 2011

Study: MMN might predict risk of developing schizophrenia

There is a significant need for objective tests that could improve clinical prediction of future psychosis. One strategy has been to determine whether physiologic measures that are abnormal in people diagnosed with schizophrenia might also be useful in estimating the risk for developing this illness. This is the strategy taken by German and Swiss researchers in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry.

18 May 2011

Mental health initiatives get a major boost

The Federal Government is taking initiatives in introducing preventive metal health steps. One of them is introduction of mental health checks for three-year-olds.

12 May 2011