Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Latest Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Longer looks: Prenatal care for dads; rise in bipolar diagnosis for children

Perhaps it's because mom has the burgeoning belly, but dads have largely been left out of prenatal care. That could be damaging to the family's health, contends research in a recent issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

24 Jun 2011

Naurex commences GLYX-13 Phase II trial in treatment-resistant depression

Naurex Inc., a clinical-stage company developing innovative treatments to address unmet needs in psychiatry and neurology, today announced that it has initiated a Phase II clinical trial of its lead compound GLYX-13.

22 Jun 2011

Risperidone recall by J&J

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a unit of Johnson & Johnson, recalled about 16,000 bottles of its Risperdal schizophrenia drug on reports of an uncharacteristic odor. The recall affects one lot that was shipped between Aug. 27, 2010, and Feb. 15, 2011.

19 Jun 2011

SPI and Neuralstem sign licensing agreement for major depression drug, NSI-189

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has signed an exclusive agency licensing agreement with Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan (SPI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation Group.

8 Jun 2011

Brain areas responsible for motor behavior might represent therapeutic targets for bipolar disorder

A new study by motor control and psychology researchers at Indiana University suggests that postural control problems may be a core feature of bipolar disorder, not just a random symptom, and can provide insights both into areas of the brain affected by the psychiatric disorder and new potential targets for treatment.

25 May 2011

New clinical research study to compare two medications for bipolar disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder may be eligible for a new clinical research study comparing two medications -- quetiapine, a widely prescribed second-generation antipsychotic mood-stabilizing medication, and lithium, the gold-standard mood stabilizer.

25 May 2011

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Johns Hopkins University bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions.

24 May 2011

Johns Hopkins bioethicists urge disaster preparedness for mentally impaired

Johns Hopkins bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions. Survivors already diagnosed with schizophrenia, dementia, addictions and bipolar disorder are vulnerable long before a disaster strikes, they point out.

23 May 2011

Cognitive behavioral group therapy may help prevent new episodes of bipolar disorder

In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a randomized controlled trial indicates that group therapy may affect the course of bipolar disorder. This study evaluated the effectiveness of adjunctive cognitive behavioral group therapy to prevent recurrence of episodes in 50 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder types I and II followed up for at least 12 months in an outpatient service and whose disease was in remission.

23 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

Psychotherapeutic treatment can cure cyclothymic disorder

In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a group of Italian investigators headed by Giovanni Fava published a randomized controlled trial on psychotherapeutic treatment of cyclothymic disorder, a disturbance that is characterized by rapid alternation of mood swings.

9 May 2011

Summit Entertainment, Participant Media create depression awareness campaign

Inspired by Participant Media and Summit Entertainment's THE BEAVER, Participant has created a Social public Action Campaign to increase awareness about depression, teaming with three leading non-profit organizations known for effectively providing hope and help to those affected by depression and other forms of mental illness: the National Alliance on Mental Illness, To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the Kristin Brooks Hope Center.

7 May 2011

Roundup: Vt. House vote on universal health care could come today; Calif. group warns of rising costs of retiree health care and pensions

The House is slated Thursday to take up a conference committee report on a bill designed to put the state on the path to universal health care by 2017 if not sooner. The bill sets up a new Green Mountain Care Board to design a system to provide health insurance to every Vermont resident.

6 May 2011

Lithium shows hope for Alzheimer’s disease

According to scientists Alzheimer’s disease, a progressively damaging motor neuron condition, could be treated by lithium, a naturally occurring element that is extremely inexpensive and already in use for other psychiatric disorders.

29 Apr 2011

Positive results from Shire's Vyvanse clinical trial in schizophrenia

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive results from a signal-finding study of Vyvanse(R) Capsules assessing its effect in a prospective examination of adults with negative symptom predominant schizophrenia.

28 Apr 2011

Veterans with mental illness show increased rates of substance use disorders

A new study published in The American Journal on Addictions reveals that Veterans who suffer from mental health disorders also have high rates of substance use disorders.

21 Apr 2011

America’s best loved drugs: Report

According to the latest report from consulting firm IMS Health, Americans are consuming a lot of prescription drugs. And they seem especially fond of those to lower their cholesterol, relieve heartburn, aid in depressive disorders and lessen pain. Overall, however, their spending on such drugs is slowing.

20 Apr 2011

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder now available in Nova Scotia Formulary

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness has approved the listing of LITHMAX (Lithium Carbonate Sustained-Release 300mg Tablets) in the Nova Scotia Formulary, effective April 19th, 2011. This announcement comes as welcome news to patients in need of the sustained-release formulation of Lithium Carbonate who require help to pay for prescribed medications.

20 Apr 2011