Psychiatry News and Research

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Psychiatry is the treatment, study and prevention of mental disorders.

Neurochemical basis for sleep deprivation's effects on memory

From high-school students to surgeons, anyone who has pulled an all-nighter knows there is a price to be paid the next day: trouble focusing, a fuzzy memory and other cognitive impairments. Now, researchers at Penn have found the part of the brain and the neurochemical basis for sleep deprivation's effects on memory.

18 May 2011

Experts urge McDonald’s to stop marketing junk food to kids

McDonald’s has incurred the wrath of over 550 health professionals and organizations who have signed a letter to McDonald's Corp. asking the maker of Happy Meals to stop marketing junk food to kids and retire Ronald McDonald.

17 May 2011

Early exposure to social deprivation and neglect linked to prematurely shortened telomeres in children

Studies in institutionalized Romanian children have found that the length of time spent in conditions of social deprivation and neglect correlates with lower IQ and behavioral problems. A new study, led by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and Tulane University, shows that early adversity even affects children's chromosomes – prematurely shortening the chromosome tips, known as telomeres, and hastening how quickly their cells "age."

17 May 2011

Scientists identify 'de novo' genetic mutations in autism spectrum disorder children

Scientists at the University of Washington (UW) Department of Genome Sciences have identified several sporadic or "de novo" genetic mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder. The researchers applied leading edge molecular biology techniques and massively parallel sequencing to simultaneously examine all of the protein coding portions of the genome, collectively called the exome.

17 May 2011

'Mu opioid' receptors in the brain linked to smoking relapse

Nearly everyone who has tried to quit smoking says it's incredibly difficult, and the struggle is due in part to genetic factors. Now, a new study from the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania sheds light on how one specific genetic risk for smoking relapse may work: Some of the difficulties may be due to how many receptors, called "mu opioid" receptors, a smoker has in his or her brain.

17 May 2011

Obese, asthmatic children more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness

Obese, asthmatic, anxious or depressed children are more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, according to Penn State College of Medicine sleep researchers.

17 May 2011

Imaginary bugs flummox dermatologists

It is known that some people have the “delusional bug syndrome” and are convinced that bugs, worms, germs, or other creepy crawlers are infesting their skin and often see skin doctor after skin doctor to find out what is causing the infestation. Often, patients bring in samples of the insect and request a skin biopsy.

17 May 2011

Study reveals role of KLF14 regulatory gene in type 2 diabetes

A team of researchers, led by King's College London and the University of Oxford, have found that a gene linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol levels is in fact a 'master regulator' gene, which controls the behaviour of other genes found within fat in the body.

16 May 2011

Researchers discover depression-related DNA region

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and King's College London have independently identified DNA on chromosome 3 that appears to be related to depression.

16 May 2011

VAYA Pharma's Vayarin now available in South, North Carolina and Texas for children with ADHD

\VAYA Pharma announced the availability of Vayarin in pharmacies throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas for children suffering with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

16 May 2011

Otsuka Pharmaceutical reports OPC-34712 Phase 2 trial results in major depressive disorder

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (OPC) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) today announced results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of OPC-34712, a novel D2 dopamine partial agonist investigational product.

16 May 2011

Genetic link for depression found: Study

Researchers have for the first time confirmed a specific genetic link to depression, according to new evidence published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on Monday. This finding was made independently by research teams in the UK and US, is expected to lead to a better biological understanding of the condition and eventually to more effective antidepressants.

15 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

InTouch Health applauds FDA for recent announcement on Medical Device Data Systems

In response to the recent announcement issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding Medical Device Data Systems, InTouch Health affirms its position of compliance, and applauds the agency for issuing regulations governing the use of hardware and software in the healthcare information technology space.

12 May 2011

Two new research studies on schizophrenia

Two new research studies published in Biological Psychiatry point to progressive abnormalities in brain development that emerge as vulnerable individuals develop schizophrenia.

12 May 2011

Naurex announces completion of $18 million Series A financing

Naurex Inc., a clinical-stage company developing innovative treatments to address unmet needs in psychiatry and neurology, today announced the completion of an $18 million Series A financing led by Adams Street Partners and Latterell Venture Partners.

11 May 2011

Second subject enrolled in human embryonic stem cell therapy trial for subacute thoracic spinal cord injury

Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) recently enrolled their first subject in a national clinical research trial of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy for participants with a subacute thoracic spinal cord injury.

11 May 2011

Long ring finger linked to Lou Gehrig’s disease

In some of the latest studies it has been found that finger length could be linked to various traits in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. These people tend to have longer ring fingers, compared with their index fingers, than do people without the disease.

11 May 2011

Successful treatment of depression in mothers improves behavior of children

Children whose mothers are successfully treated for depression show progressive and marked improvement in their own behaviors even a year after their moms discontinue treatment, new UT Southwestern Medical Center-led research shows.

10 May 2011

Study reveals autism prevalence may be higher than current estimates in Korean children

Autism may be more common worldwide than previously thought, according to researchers from the George Washington University and Yale University.

9 May 2011

Psychiatry News and Research

Further Reading

Neurochemical basis for sleep deprivation's effects on memory

Experts urge McDonald’s to stop marketing junk food to kids

Early exposure to social deprivation and neglect linked to prematurely shortened telomeres in children

Scientists identify 'de novo' genetic mutations in autism spectrum disorder children

'Mu opioid' receptors in the brain linked to smoking relapse

Obese, asthmatic children more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness

Imaginary bugs flummox dermatologists

Study reveals role of KLF14 regulatory gene in type 2 diabetes

Researchers discover depression-related DNA region

VAYA Pharma's Vayarin now available in South, North Carolina and Texas for children with ADHD

Otsuka Pharmaceutical reports OPC-34712 Phase 2 trial results in major depressive disorder

Genetic link for depression found: Study

Mental health initiatives get a major boost

InTouch Health applauds FDA for recent announcement on Medical Device Data Systems

Two new research studies on schizophrenia

Naurex announces completion of $18 million Series A financing

Second subject enrolled in human embryonic stem cell therapy trial for subacute thoracic spinal cord injury

Long ring finger linked to Lou Gehrig’s disease

Successful treatment of depression in mothers improves behavior of children

Study reveals autism prevalence may be higher than current estimates in Korean children

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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