Psychotherapy News and Research

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Psychotherapy is “talk” therapy. It involves talking with a mental health professional to treat a mental illness. Psychotherapy can occur one-on-one or in a group. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of therapy.

Stable sleep patterns and regular routines may improve outcomes in bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic-depressive disorder, is highly influenced by the circadian system - the body's internal clock - and a specific kind of psychotherapy may help decrease irregularities in the circadian system that can trigger key symptoms of bipolar disorder, according to a study presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting.

10 Dec 2007

New psychiatric medication treatment guidelines for preschoolers

The number of preschool-age children being treated with stimulants, antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs is on the rise, despite limited research and a lack of clinical practice guidelines.

4 Dec 2007

What happens when alcohol-dependent subjects view alcohol associated pictures?

Several studies demonstrated that alcohol-dependent patients show altered responses to alcohol-related cues. It is assumed that the regular association of these cues with the ingestion of alcohol leads to conditioned reactions, motivating reward or relief craving and instigating drug intake.

13 Nov 2007

Psychosomatic symptoms may improve with a short term course of psychotherapy in the general hospital

Psychosomatic patients are not thought to be very suitable for psychotherapy, but a German study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics seems to show the contrary.

13 Nov 2007

Zen meditation by psychotherapists matters

An investigation by German researchers headed by Professor Nickel which was published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics indicates the practicing Zen meditation by psychotherapists matters. .

13 Nov 2007

Nausea during chemo may be worse with psychological problems

A group of Danish researchers has investigated the psychological circumstances of nausea during chemotherapy in cancer patients and has reported the findings in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

13 Nov 2007

Role of psychological well-being in premature delivery

A group of researchers of the University of Modena has investigated the role of psychological well-being in premature delivery. The study is reported in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

13 Nov 2007

Is the inability to express emotions hereditary?

The inability to express emotions (alexithymia) is thought to be hereditary. The largest study so far has provided new data in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

13 Nov 2007

Do life events trigger mental disorders?

A new epidemiological study performed in Italy addresses an old question in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

13 Nov 2007

Trial of the antidepressant fluoxetine for teens with depression and substance use disorders

The antidepressant fluoxetine combined with cognitive behavioral therapy appears as effective for treating depression among teens who also have substance use disorders as among those without substance abuse problems, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

6 Nov 2007

Key findings for all veterans seen in depression and suicide study

The largest and most up-to-date study of suicides among depressed veterans provides important new data that may help guide screening and treatment for all veterans.

31 Oct 2007

Veterans' suicide study yields key findings

The largest and most up-to-date study of suicides among depressed veterans provides important new data that may help guide screening and treatment for all veterans.

30 Oct 2007

Genetics of alcoholism

While both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing alcohol dependence, it is believed to be a largely heritable – 52 to 64 percent – disease.

24 Oct 2007

When it comes to cancer 'mind over matter'...doesn't matter

Scientists in the United States have found that a person's emotional state makes little difference to the progression of, or survival from cancer.

23 Oct 2007

Emotional well-being not an independent factor affecting the prognosis of head and neck cancers

A patient's positive or negative emotional state has no direct or indirect effect on cancer survival or disease progression, according to a large scale new study.

22 Oct 2007

Little evidence to support therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma; it affects significant numbers of people, in particular military personnel and veterans, who have seen active duty in war zones.

22 Oct 2007

Review of PTSD treatments

Many people, including significant proportions of active duty military personnel and veterans, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often in conjunction with other injuries or illnesses.

19 Oct 2007

Depression among patients with coronary artery disease

Depression has long had a popular link to cardiovascular disease and death. However, only during the last 15 years scientific evidence supporting this common wisdom has been available (Glassman et al., 2007a).

16 Oct 2007

Depressed adolescents respond best to psychotherapy and antidepressant medication

A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication appears to be the most effective treatment for adolescents with major depressive disorder - more than medication alone or psychotherapy alone, according to results from a major clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

2 Oct 2007

$2.19 million grant to study therapy for women with depression

A University of Rochester Medical Center psychologist has received a $2.19 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health that will fund a study of the effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy in the treatment of women with depression and a history of childhood sexual abuse.

27 Sep 2007