Mental Disorder News and Research

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Two Cardiff University academics elected Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences

Two Cardiff University academics, both leaders in different aspects of neuroscience research, have received one of the leading honours in medical science.

6 May 2010

Ventral striatum plays important role in circuitry of reward-oriented behavior: Researchers

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder every year, which equates to approximately 57.7 million adults. Severe psychiatric illness affects a much smaller number of people - about 6 percent, or 1 in 17. Worldwide, an estimated 340 million people suffer from an episode of major depression every year.

5 May 2010

New study searches for trauma-induced changes in genes of people with PTSD

A study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health suggests that traumatic experiences "biologically embed" themselves in select genes, altering their functions and leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

5 May 2010

Beta version of Mental Health Social Network launched

Mental Health Social, LLC launches first beta version of its Mental Health Social Network, announces Colin Spencer Wood, company President and Chief Executive Officer. The beta version includes a new design/layout, an updated status page, added options in the profile, the ability for users to blog on a Word press multi-user blog system, where users have the option of adding their own google adsense ads, and several other site features.

4 May 2010

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases risk of psychiatric problems in children

It is well-known that maternal smoking during pregnancy can have long-term effects on the physical health of the child, including increased risk for respiratory disease, ear infections and asthma. New research shows that prenatal smoking also can lead to psychiatric problems and increase the need for psychotropic medications in childhood and young adulthood.

4 May 2010

CalMHSA announces agreement with CDMH

The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), a newly formed California joint powers authority (JPA) of counties focused on the efficient delivery of California mental health projects and programs, announced today it has entered into a contract with the California Department of Mental Health (CDMH) to provide program development, administrative oversight, and fiscal management services to county members and other program participants choosing to assign specifically named mental health funds to the joint powers authority.

4 May 2010

Study finds servicemen and women at increased risk for suicide

When young servicemen and women return home from a tour of duty, their family and friends breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their loved ones finally are safe and sound. New research, however, shows that is not always the case.

3 May 2010

Green exercise decreases risk of mental illness, improves sense of well-being

How much "green exercise" produces the greatest improvement in mood and sense of personal well-being? A new study in the American Chemical Society's semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology has a surprising answer.

3 May 2010

SGB procedure holds potential promise for PTSD treatment

Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, has published case reports detailing the successful treatment of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder with a stellate ganglion block.

3 May 2010

States crack down on discount health plans

Kaiser Health News: "State regulators are cracking down on a health care product that targets the growing group of uninsured and underinsured Americans: the discount health plan.

30 Apr 2010

22% of Canadians have contemplated or attempted suicide

On the eve of Children's Mental Health Week (May 2 to 8), Kinark Child and Family Services, a not-for-profit child and youth mental health organization in Ontario that provides expert help to children, youth and their families, released the results of a nation-wide poll that found that one in five Canadians has contemplated or attempted suicide. The online survey was conducted between April 12 and 14, 2010 with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults. The results are accurate to within +/- 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level.

29 Apr 2010

Researchers receive grant to help people living with mental illness tackle tobacco dependence

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have won government funding to improve the services which help people living with serious mental illness to tackle their tobacco dependence.

22 Apr 2010

Unwarranted increase in use of psychotropic medications for children

A new study from the Journal of Marital & Family Therapy warns of the dramatic rise in the use of psychotropic medications for children. One in every fifty Americans is now considered permanently disabled by mental illness, and up to eight million children take one or more psychotropic drugs.

21 Apr 2010

State Round Up: Colorado's medical marijuana dispensaries; Insurance discounts for wellness; Florida's pain clinic oversight legislation

Hundreds of new medical marijuana dispensaries have cropped up in Denver, Boulder and other Colorado cities, causing the state to stop accepting walk-up applications from people seeking cards that allow them to buy the plant, CNBC/USA Today reports. Would-be medical-marijuana consumers will now have to mail in their applications. "The changes are necessary due to the explosive growth in the number of medical marijuana applications," said a state health official.

21 Apr 2010

Cannabis users are at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders: CAMH study

Research has shown possible links between cannabis use and the onset of Schizophrenia, but a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that people who use cannabis may also be at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders.

21 Apr 2010

AHRQ report shows highest hospital readmission rates among Medicaid patients

One of every 10 adult Medicaid patients who were hospitalized in 2007 for a medical condition other than childbirth had to be readmitted at least once within 30 days of their initial hospital stay that year, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

20 Apr 2010

Sexual minorities more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder

A new study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Children's Hospital Boston has found that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and heterosexuals who have ever had a same-sex sex partner are one-and-a-half to two times as likely to experience violent events, especially in childhood, than the general population.

16 Apr 2010

New scale more suitable for predicting depressive symptoms

A research team has tested the utility of the short version of WHO-DAS II, a tool to assess within five minutes disability in patients with depression, "which in the case of primary care is even more practicable than the long version of the instrument." In Spain, more than 10% of the population suffer from severe depression.

16 Apr 2010

Loyola University internist advises patients to complete their living wills

On April 16, Americans are being urged to complete living wills and other types of "advance directives" in observance of National Health-care Decisions Day.

15 Apr 2010

Common sense gun laws needed to stem crippling costs of gun violence

After a spate of random shootings and gun homicides, Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, along with doctors and medical professionals, convened at Children's Memorial Hospital to send an urgent plea to state lawmakers to require background checks on all handgun sales in order save lives and reduce escalating health care costs related to gun violence.

13 Apr 2010