Mental Disorder News and Research

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Shocking new figures reveal the extent of Britain's alcohol problem

According to government figures revealed in the UK, six per cent of all hospital admissions are related to illness or injuries caused by alcohol.

22 Jul 2008

Forensic psychiatric inpatients with tattoos are significantly more likely to suffer from ASPD

The presence of tattoos on forensic psychiatric inpatients should alert clinicians to a possible diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), and also about the potential for histories of suicide attempt, substance abuse, and sexual abuse, according to research published in the UK Journal 'Personality and Mental Health'.

16 Jul 2008

Incorrectly cleaved protein leads to schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disease that strikes an average of 4,000 Belgians every year. The causes of this psychiatric disorder are not yet clear.

14 Jul 2008

An analysis of food's affect on the brain

In addition to helping protect us from heart disease and cancer, a balanced diet and regular exercise can also protect the brain and ward off mental disorders.

9 Jul 2008

Effects of magic mushrooms long-lasting

Researchers in the United States say the "spiritual" effects of sacred mushrooms can last for more than a year.

2 Jul 2008

Spiritual effects of 'sacred mushrooms' appear to last more than a year

In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in "sacred mushrooms," produces substantial spiritual effects, a Johns Hopkins team reports that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year.

1 Jul 2008

Multiple vaccinations have not caused ill health in UK soldiers in Iraq

Multiple vaccinations have not been a cause of ill health in UK service personnel deployed to Iraq, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

30 Jun 2008

Canada's mental health crisis

No one is safe from mental illness; it strikes without regard for age, gender, or social status. And even though one in four Canadians suffer from a mental illness, it remains a stigma, shrouded in misconceptions.

24 Jun 2008

Alcohol and drug misuse fuels Scottish suicide and homicide rates

Alcohol and drug misuse mean Scots are almost twice as likely to kill or take their own life compared to people living in England and Wales, research published Monday, June 16 reveals.

From The University of Manchester 16 Jun 2008

Drug used to treat alcohol dependence also works for pathological gamblers

Scientists in the U.S. have found that a drug commonly prescribed for the treatment of alcoholism and drug dependence, also works for pathological gamblers.

8 Jun 2008

Job stress causing depression in workers in Victoria

A study by researchers at Melbourne University has found that almost one in six cases of depression among workers in Victoria are caused by job stress.

3 Jun 2008

Almost 1 in 6 cases of depression among working Victorians are caused by job stress

Almost one in six cases of depression among working Victorians are caused by job stress. This means more than 21,000 cases of preventable depression are caused by job stress each year, a new University of Melbourne study shows.

1 Jun 2008

Minnesota Health Care Group to launch pilot 'pay-for-performance' initiative to reduce treatment costs for depression

The Buyers Health Care Action Group, a health care purchasing coalition in Minnesota for large employers, on Wednesday announced a pay-for-performance pilot program that will reward physicians who effectively treat depressed patients, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

30 May 2008

Gulf Coast area children who lived in trailer units at risk for long-term illnesses

Tens of thousands of Gulf Coast area children who lived in trailer units provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 might have increased risk for long-term health problems, according to physicians and federal health officials, the AP/Denver Post reports.

28 May 2008

Drug testing for exam students could be on the cards

Experts are warning that schools and universities may soon need to test students sitting exams for drugs, in much the same way that athletes are currently tested.

22 May 2008

New insights into the neural circuitry of trust

The brain centers triggered by a betrayal of trust have been identified by researchers, who found they could suppress such triggering and maintain trust by administering the brain chemical oxytocin. The researchers said their findings not only offer basic insights into the neural machinery underlying trust; the results may also help in understanding the neural basis of social disorders such as phobias and autism.

21 May 2008

Sexual offending in women and psychiatric disorders

Women who commit sexual offences are just as likely to have mental problems or drug addictions as other violent female criminals. This according to the largest study ever conducted of women convicted of sexual offences in Sweden.

15 May 2008

Washington Post series examines errors in psychiatric diagnoses, medications of detained immigrants

The Washington Post as part of a four-day series, titled "Careless Detention," is examining how some immigrants to the U.S. do not receive needed health care while in immigration detention centers.

13 May 2008

Researchers find link between altered dopamine activity and social anxiety disorder

Using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), researchers in The Netherlands were able to detect biochemical differences in the brains of individuals with generalized social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), providing evidence of a long-suspected biological cause for the dysfunction.

12 May 2008

FDA approves Strattera for ADHD in children and adolescents

Eli Lilly and Company announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Strattera (atomoxetine HCI) for maintenance treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Strattera, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is the first FDA-approved non-stimulant to treat ADHD in children, adolescents and adults.

8 May 2008