Psychopharmacology News and Research

RSS

Psychopharmacology is the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior.

Prolonged duration of untreated early-onset psychosis predicts lower functional improvement in children

A review of 35 studies of early-onset schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis (EOS) identified the most common psychotic symptoms and the disorders that most often co-occur in children and adolescents with EOS.

2 Aug 2016

Overcoming gene silencing barriers to target neurological conditions: an interview with Dr Errol de Souza

Many gene mutations that cause neurological disorders have been identified. For example, in a rare neurological disorder such as Huntington’s disease, an autosomal dominant mutation through expansion of CAG (cytosine-adenine-guanine) triplet repeats in the gene coding for the Huntingtin protein results in abnormal protein production.

1 Aug 2016

Study highlights effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drug in treating children with TD

A meta-analysis of clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of aripiprazole for the treatment of Tourette's disorder (TD) in children and adolescents showed a significantly greater overall improvement in total tics and tic severity from pretreatment to post-treatment for the aripiprazole compared to the placebo group.

21 Jul 2016

Researchers study impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in adolescents with anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions affecting children and adolescents. While antidepressants are frequently used to treat youth with anxiety disorders, sometimes, antidepressants may be poorly tolerated in children who are at high risk of developing bipolar disorder.

20 Jul 2016

Regular drug use may hamper moral decision making

Regular cocaine and methamphetamine users can have difficulty choosing between right and wrong, perhaps because the specific parts of their brains used for moral processing and evaluating emotions are damaged by their prolonged drug habits.

13 Jul 2016

Factors linked to sexual victimization risk among college students

Sexual victimization on college campuses may be more or less likely depending on institutional characteristics of the school such as size, type (public or private), sex ratio, selectivity, and percentage of students involved in Greek life (fraternities and sororities).

12 Jul 2016

New study reveals conversion of oral cannabidiol to THC by acidic fluids in the stomach

A new study demonstrating the conversion of oral cannabidiol (CBD) to the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the presence of gastric fluids could explain why children given CBD to treat epilepsy had an unexpectedly high rate of adverse effects such as sleepiness and fatigue.

22 Jun 2016

New study explores sexual assault victimization among bisexual, gay college students

A new study of sexual assault on college campuses found that nearly 2 of every 5 bisexual female college students experienced sexual assault after four years in college. About 1 in 4 gay and bisexual men are victims of sexual assault during college, which is similar to the frequency reported by heterosexual women, according to the study published in the journal Violence and Gender, from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

1 Jun 2016

Neuroimaging studies offer new insights into cognitive vulnerability to depression

Neuroimaging studies of interconnected brain networks may provide the "missing links" between behavioral and biological models of cognitive vulnerability to depression, according to a research review in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

10 May 2016

Long-term medication use reduces risk of relapse and improves symptoms in BDD patients

People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) fare better and are less likely to relapse when treated with medication on a long-term basis, according to researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

11 Apr 2016

Studies raise hope for new treatments, preventive approaches for schizophrenia

Emerging evidence on the development, "prodromal" characteristics, and long-term course of schizophrenia provide reasons for optimism for developing new treatments and preventive approaches for this devastating disorder, according to the special March/April issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

11 Mar 2016

AKT1 gene moderates mind-altering effects of smoking cannabis in young people

Researchers at the University of Exeter and UCL (University College London) have identified a gene which can be used to predict how susceptible a young person is to the mind-altering effects of smoking cannabis. The finding could help identify otherwise healthy users who are most at risk of developing psychosis.

17 Feb 2016

Study provides new insight into how drug addicts' brains wired differently

A study out today provides new insight into how the brains of drug addicts may be wired differently. The findings, which appear in the journal Psychopharmacology, show that while drug users have very strong motivation to seek out "rewards," they exhibit an impaired ability to adjust their behavior and are less fulfilled once they have achieved what they desire.

11 Feb 2016

New brain imaging technique may help identify children at risk of developing depression

A new brain imaging study from MIT and Harvard Medical School may lead to a screen that could identify children at high risk of developing depression later in life.

22 Jan 2016

Mood disorder experts question effectiveness of metyrapone drug

Pioneering research by mood disorder experts at Newcastle University has questioned the effectiveness of metyrapone, a drug suggested to treat depression.

21 Jan 2016

New study examines link between sexting behavior, relationship satisfaction among married couples

Married couples do report sexting, but it is much less common than in young adult relationships and consists more of intimate talk with their partners than sending nude or nearly nude photos via mobile phones, according to a new study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

29 Oct 2015

Nicotine reinforcement demonstrated in study with ‘never-smokers’

In a study with 18 adults who had never smoked, scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have demonstrated one of the earliest steps — nicotine “reinforcement” — in the process of addiction, and shown that some people are far more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than others.

10 Sep 2015

Special issue provides update on mental health diagnosis and treatment of older adults

The aging of the population, shifting diagnostic criteria, and new health care policy initiatives are some of the factors driving changes in mental health treatment for older Americans, according to the September special issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

10 Sep 2015

Study points to genetic/metabolic factors that make people vulnerable to nicotine addiction

In a study with 18 adults who had never smoked, scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have demonstrated one of the earliest steps — nicotine "reinforcement" — in the process of addiction, and shown that some people are far more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than others.

10 Sep 2015

Consumption of B-GOS prebiotic has positive effect on gut microbiota, immune systems of elderly people

Clasado Biosciences Limited, the producers and suppliers of the second generation prebiotic Bimuno, a unique trans-galactooligosaccharide, and the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, UK, today announce the results of human research demonstrating the positive effects of an advanced prebiotic on the immune system of the elderly.

29 Jul 2015

Psychopharmacology News and Research

Further Reading

Prolonged duration of untreated early-onset psychosis predicts lower functional improvement in children

Overcoming gene silencing barriers to target neurological conditions: an interview with Dr Errol de Souza

Study highlights effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drug in treating children with TD

Researchers study impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in adolescents with anxiety disorders

Regular drug use may hamper moral decision making

Factors linked to sexual victimization risk among college students

New study reveals conversion of oral cannabidiol to THC by acidic fluids in the stomach

New study explores sexual assault victimization among bisexual, gay college students

Neuroimaging studies offer new insights into cognitive vulnerability to depression

Long-term medication use reduces risk of relapse and improves symptoms in BDD patients

Studies raise hope for new treatments, preventive approaches for schizophrenia

AKT1 gene moderates mind-altering effects of smoking cannabis in young people

Study provides new insight into how drug addicts' brains wired differently

New brain imaging technique may help identify children at risk of developing depression

Mood disorder experts question effectiveness of metyrapone drug

New study examines link between sexting behavior, relationship satisfaction among married couples

Nicotine reinforcement demonstrated in study with ‘never-smokers’

Special issue provides update on mental health diagnosis and treatment of older adults

Study points to genetic/metabolic factors that make people vulnerable to nicotine addiction

Consumption of B-GOS prebiotic has positive effect on gut microbiota, immune systems of elderly people

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

Latest News