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.''

Chromosome 3p21.1 locus contains common genetic risk for bipolar disorder

One of the biggest challenges in psychiatric genetics has been to replicate findings across large studies. Scientists at King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry have now performed one of the largest ever genetic replication studies of bipolar affective disorder, with 28,000 subjects recruited from 36 different research centers. Their findings provide compelling evidence that the chromosome 3p21.1 locus contains a common genetic risk for bipolar disorder, the PBRM1 gene.

15 Oct 2012

NRG1 gene plays an important role in cannabis dependence

A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synaptic development and function.

12 Oct 2012

Social, metacognition deficits in schizophrenia predict dysfunction type

Research findings suggest that deficits in social cognition and metacognition among individuals with schizophrenia represent different forms of dysfunction and symptomatology.

4 Oct 2012

New spontaneous genetic mutations play a significant role in schizophrenia

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified dozens of new spontaneous genetic mutations that play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia, adding to the growing list of genetic variants that can contribute to the disease.

4 Oct 2012

Genetics, trauma independently influence subthreshold psychosis

Study findings published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica confirm that both genetics and environmental factors such as trauma independently influence the development and persistence of subthreshold psychotic symptoms.

2 Oct 2012

Cannabis abuse in FEP patients predicts poor symptom control

Patients with first-episode psychosis and comorbid cannabis abuse are at high risk for poor symptom control even when on medication, suggest findings published in Schizophrenia Research.

1 Oct 2012

Study looks at rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism that has no known treatment

Fewer than 100 people in the world are known to be affected by a movement disorder called rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP), but its symptoms are life-changing. Seemingly normal young people are suddenly and dramatically unable to control movement of their arms or legs and have trouble speaking or swallowing. A normal life is nearly impossible.

27 Sep 2012

Maternal obstetric problems linked to schizophrenia risk

Certain maternal pregnancy complications are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia spectrum psychoses among individuals at high genetic risk for the condition, Finnish research shows.

25 Sep 2012

Prevalence of sexual violence against mental health patients ‘alarming’

Around a fifth of patients with mental illnesses report being the victims of sexual violence, results from a Brazilian study show.

21 Sep 2012

CAPE effective for detecting patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis

The Community Assessment of Psychic Experience questionnaire is an effective instrument for identifying individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis, researchers report.

18 Sep 2012

Social cognition reduced in FEP, UHR patients

First-episode psychosis patients show widespread impairments in social cognition, and such impairments are also evident, albeit to a lesser extent, in those at ultra-high risk for psychosis, researchers report.

13 Sep 2012

Kynurenic acid levels reduced in suicide attempters with schizophrenia

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of kynurenic acid are significantly lower in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with a history of suicide attempts than in those without, researchers report.

13 Sep 2012

SUDs common in youth at high risk for bipolar disorder

Around a quarter of young people at high risk for mood disorders have a substance use disorder, results from a Canadian study suggest.

12 Sep 2012

Social cognition reduced in FEP, UHR patients

11 Sep 2012

Hebrew University researcher develops anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs

A synthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs to combat a variety of illnesses while avoiding detrimental side effects has been developed by a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.

7 Sep 2012

Enrollment complete in ACADIA's pimavanserin Phase III trial for Parkinson's disease psychosis

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders, today announced the completion of enrollment in its ongoing pivotal Phase III trial with pimavanserin in patients with Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP).

5 Sep 2012

Smoking rates increased in relatives of schizophrenia patients

The unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia are more likely to be smokers than individuals without a family history of the disorder, researchers report.

31 Aug 2012

Patients at risk for psychosis report increased childhood trauma

Patients at clinical high risk for psychosis are more likely to have a history of traumatic childhood experiences than mentally healthy individuals, Finnish researchers report.

30 Aug 2012

DUP may differentiate schizoaffective disorder from BD

Among individuals with a first episode of psychotic mania (FEPM), a longer duration of untreated psychosis may differentiate patients with schizoaffective disorder from those with bipolar I disorder, study results suggest.

29 Aug 2012

Mallinckrodt receives FDA approval for 32 mg tablet strength of EXALGO

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of Covidien, that it has approved a 32 mg tablet strength of EXALGO (hydromorphone HCI) Extended-Release Tablets (CII) for opioid-tolerant patients with moderate-to-severe chronic pain requiring continuous around-the-clock opioid analgesia for an extended period of time.

27 Aug 2012