Psychiatry News and Research

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

Heavy use of cannabis triggers psychotic illnesses

Scientists in the UK say the heavy consumption of the drug cannabis may trigger psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

30 Apr 2007

Teaching about evolution in a biomedical context

Three of America's best known voices in the debate about evolution in the teaching of science will meet to discuss the issue on Sunday, April 29, 2007 in Washington, DC.

26 Apr 2007

Swedish Big Brother behind lobotomies in the 1940s and 1950s

Sweden was more accepting than the U.S. in its attitude toward lobotomy in the 1940s and 1950s. A possible explanation for this may be the strength of paternalism in Sweden, that is, a greater tendency to make decisions on behalf of the patient in Swedish medical culture than in its American counterpart. This is according to Kenneth Ogren from Umea University in Sweden.

25 Apr 2007

Symposium on depression and bipolar disorder

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will hold its 21st annual Mood Disorders Symposium titled Bipolar Revisited: Where We've Been, Where We're Going, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, April 24, to draw attention to new findings in basic and clinical research on depression and bipolar disorder.

24 Apr 2007

Spousal choices can influence alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence (AD) is more common among partners of alcoholics than among partners of non-alcoholics.

24 Apr 2007

Female alcoholics may sustain greater cognitive damage than male alcoholics

Researchers and clinicians already know that alcohol abuse and/or dependence can lead to severe and potentially irreversible brain damage.

24 Apr 2007

Protein called CREB key to memory storage in brain

Scientists know little about how the brain assigns cells to participate in encoding and storing memories.

20 Apr 2007

Bill broadening prescribing rights to psychologists unsafe

Setting the stage for another legislative battle that puts mental health patients in the middle, a bill seeking to give licensed psychologists prescribing privileges for dangerous medications is scheduled to be heard on April 23, 2007 in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.

20 Apr 2007

First large-scale study to assess treatment for prescription drug addiction

UCSF is launching a new study to evaluate treatments for addiction to prescription painkillers and has openings for patients to enroll.

19 Apr 2007

Psychological treatments versus treatment as usual for obsessive compulsive disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are distracted by obsessive thoughts that cause intense anxiety.

19 Apr 2007

Switching to a low-fat diet can bring on stress

Changing one's diet to lose weight is often difficult. There may be physical and psychological effects from a changed diet that reduce the chances for success.

19 Apr 2007

Cigarette smoking status can be used as a clinical indicator for alcohol misuse

Where there is cigarette smoking there is probably misuse of alcohol too, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

19 Apr 2007

Prazosin shows promise for post traumatic stress disorder sleep disturbances

For sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances are among the most treatment-resistant symptoms and can lead to drug and alcohol abuse and even suicide.

19 Apr 2007

New hope for people with therapy-resistant depression

A study at the University Clinics of Bonn and Cologne gives people with therapy-resistant depression reason for hope.

19 Apr 2007

Antidepressants safe for children and adolescents - black box warnings questioned

Antidepressants are safe and effective for treating anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder in children and adolescents, according to a meta-analysis of 27 major studies.

18 Apr 2007

Bullying widespread in elementary students

Nine out of 10 elementary students have been bullied by their peers, according to a simple questionnaire developed by researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

15 Apr 2007

Lower educational level makes some men more vulnerable to the effects of prostate cancer

Among men who have received similar treatments for prostate cancer, those with less education , particularly those who did not graduate from high school , experience a significant drop in their quality of life after treatment compared with men who have more education, according to a study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).

15 Apr 2007

Aftermath of suicide attempts - helping families cope

When a child attempts suicide, these emotions hit families like a Mack truck. Some family members bury their feelings deep inside and refuse to accept the stark reality.

15 Apr 2007

Study describes impact of post-9/11 media exposure to dreams

Dream journals being kept by students in a college psychology class have provided researchers with a unique look at how people experienced the events of 9/11, including the influence that television coverage of the World Trade Center attacks had on people's levels of stress.

14 Apr 2007

Prazosin drug helps posttraumatic stress disorder nightmares

A generic drug already used by millions of Americans for high blood pressure and prostate problems has been found to improve sleep and lessen trauma nightmares in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

12 Apr 2007