Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Bereaved patients have increased heart rate and reduced heart rate variability: Study

The death of a spouse or child can cause elevated heart rate and other potentially harmful heart rhythm changes among the recently bereaved, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010.

15 Nov 2010

Spontaneous mutations can cause mental retardation

Dutch geneticists affiliated with the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre present as a novel research paradigm that spontaneous mutations are an important cause of mental retardation.

15 Nov 2010

Researchers find structural deficits in gray matter may be associated with daytime sleepiness

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may blame their daytime difficulties on simple sleepiness, but new research suggests that their brains may be to blame. Specifically, their cognitive challenges may be caused by structural deficits in gray matter, brought on by the intermittent oxygen deprivation that comes with OSA. The good news is that these deficits may be partially or fully reversible with early detection and treatment, according to Italian researchers

15 Nov 2010

SAMHSA awards grants to improve care for children with mental health challenges

Half of all lifetime cases of mental and substance use disorders begin by age 14 and three-fourths by age 24. Proven interventions can prevent future disorders and mitigate the symptoms. To support communities and help families with the best mental health services available for children, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding nine new grants for a total of up to $70.9 million over the next six years to develop and expand systems of care for children and youth with serious mental health challenges and their families.

14 Nov 2010

Acne, acne medicine and mental health: Study

Acne drug Accutane (isotretinoin) has been plagued by serious controversies with some linking it to suicidal tendencies. Now the latest research finds that severe acne itself increases the risk for suicidal thoughts and actions, raising more questions about the role of the drug, if any, in suicide.

14 Nov 2010

30 seconds to predict possibility of Alzheimer’s disease

It could take a mere 30 seconds to spot signs of Alzheimer’s disease in 40 year-olds in the near future say scientists who are developing a new diagnostic test. Usually Alzheimer’s disease is detected much later in life after the symptoms begin to appear.

14 Nov 2010

Neurologix third quarter net loss decreases to $2.3 million

Neurologix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing innovative gene therapies for the brain and central nervous system ("CNS"), today reported its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

12 Nov 2010

Cortex third quarter net loss decreases to $528,000

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a net loss applicable to common stock of approximately $528,000, or $0.01 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, compared with a net loss applicable to common stock of approximately $3,243,000 or $0.06 per share, for the prior year quarter.

12 Nov 2010

Community-wide prevention strategy helps reduce student drinking

Heavy drinking among college students results in over 1800 deaths each year, as well as 590,000 unintentional injuries, almost 700,000 assaults and more than 97,000 victims of sexual assaults. In a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers report on the results of the Safer California Universities study, a successful community-wide prevention strategy targeted at off-campus settings. This is one of the first studies to focus on the total environment rather than on prevention aimed at individuals.

12 Nov 2010

Female veterans less likely to engage in binge drinking

According to a new spotlight by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), female veterans aged 20-39 are far less likely to engage in binge drinking or the use of substances such as cigarettes and illicit drugs than male veterans of the same age group.

12 Nov 2010

Eight students to receive Hartford Doctoral Fellowship in geriatric social work

Eight outstanding students have been chosen as the newest recipients of the prestigious Hartford Doctoral Fellowship in geriatric social work. The program is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, administered by The Gerontological Society of America, and directed by James Lubben, DSW, MPH.

12 Nov 2010

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation publishes articles on TBI

The November 2010 issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Official Journal of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, has published a set of 9 articles on traumatic brain injury (TBI) that will accelerate future research in the field by establishing common language for the degree of injury, how it is measured and classified, treatment and potential outcomes.

12 Nov 2010

Researchers study Rett neurons in a Petri dish

A collaborative effort between researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California, San Diego, successfully used human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from patients with Rett syndrome to replicate autism in the lab and study the molecular pathogenesis of the disease.

12 Nov 2010

People with anxiety disorders require additional cardiac test: Study

People affected by anxiety and depression should receive an additional cardiac test when undergoing diagnosis for potential heart problems, according to a new study from Concordia University, the Universit- du Qu-bec - Montr-al and the Montreal Heart Institute.

12 Nov 2010

Neuropsychologist advices soldiers struggling with mild traumatic brain injury

For soldiers who have suffered a head injury, it can be frustrating when problems linger after returning home. Because there may be no physical signs of injury, issues like memory complaints or sleep disturbances that follow mild traumatic brain injury can be underestimated or overlooked by veterans and their families.

12 Nov 2010

Seven stages of Alzheimer's disease

Now, during Alzheimer's Awareness month, is an important time to recognize Alzheimer's and its symptoms. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia that has a higher risk factor with increasing age. It is a progressive disease that worsens with time. Besides the most common early symptom of Alzheimer's, which is difficulty remembering new information, there are seven stages of Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It is important to track the different stages to have an understanding and be an efficient caregiver to a loved one.

12 Nov 2010

New report highlights effectiveness of bed rest for pregnant women

Despite lack of evidence about bed rest's effectiveness, doctors annually prescribe it for roughly 1 million pregnant women to delay preterm births. Judith Maloni, professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, said a comprehensive review of more than 70 evidence-based research articles challenges whether this is healthy for mothers or their babies.

12 Nov 2010

Research unveils epigenetic function of MECP2 gene tht cause neuropsychiatric disorders

The laboratory of Huda Zoghbi, where the discovery that mutations in the gene MECP2 cause the severe childhood neurological disorder Rett Syndrome was made, has taken yet another step toward unraveling the complex epigenetic functions of this gene, implicated also in cases of autism, bipolar disease and childhood onset schizophrenia. The November 11 issue of Nature reports that removing MECP2 from a small group of neurons that typically make the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, recapitulates many symptoms of Rett as well as numerous neuropsychiatric disorders.

12 Nov 2010

Veterans and caregivers face ongoing challenges

WebMD: "When veterans with service-related injuries or illness need caregivers, the role typically falls on women, usually spouses or partners," according to a new study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the United Health Foundation. The study "reports that 96% of veterans' caregivers are women, compared to an overall nationwide finding that 65% of family caregivers are women.

12 Nov 2010