Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

CARNA releases health consultation report

Mary-Anne Robinson, chief executive officer of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA), was a member of the advisory committee which prepared the health consultation report released today.

17 Sep 2010

Illicit drug usage increases among Americans: SAMHSA survey

The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2009 according to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows the overall rate of current illicit drug use in the United States rose from 8.0 percent of the population aged 12 and older in 2008 to 8.7 percent in 2009. This rise in overall drug use was driven in large part by increases in marijuana use.

17 Sep 2010

WHO urges development programs to include mental and psychosocial disabled patients

People with mental and psychosocial disabilities are among the most marginalized groups in developing countries. Even though development actors have pledged to focus their work on the most vulnerable in a community, many programmes continue to ignore and exclude this vulnerable group.

17 Sep 2010

Federal health care reform legislation can help removing financial barriers to treat Americans

New government data released today demonstrate the continued, urgent need for more Americans to have access to drug and alcohol addiction treatment, according to an analysis by the Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap (CATG) initiative. If implemented properly, federal health care reform legislation could help remove financial barriers to treatment for millions of Americans.

17 Sep 2010

Researchers reveal Prozac reactions to increase serotonin level

The response time to antidepressants, such as Prozac, is around three weeks. The adaptation mechanisms of the neurons to antidepressants has, until now, remained enigmatic. In particular, the researchers have revealed, for the first time, a sequence of reactions caused by Prozac at the neuron level, which contributes to an increase in the amounts of serotonin, a chemical "messenger" essential to the brain, and deficient in depressive individuals.

17 Sep 2010

Severe acne linked to suicidal thoughts in teenagers

According to a new study on Norwegian youth, compared to clear-skinned peers, teens who have bad acne are more than twice as likely to have mental health problems and are at greater risk of having suicidal thoughts.

16 Sep 2010

Forest Pharmaceuticals to pay $300 million as penalty for criminal actions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working in close coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), today announced that Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. entered into a plea agreement in which the company accepted responsibility for criminal actions including distribution of an unapproved new drug, distribution of a misbranded drug, and obstruction of an FDA inspection.

16 Sep 2010

Survey reveals physicians’ misperception on misuse, abuse of opioids

Findings from a new national survey, sponsored by the American Pain Foundation, reveal misperceptions among physicians regarding the misuse and abuse of opioids. The results come in light of government statistics to be released today looking at the broader U.S. population, showing 2009 rates of nonmedical use of these products nationwide.

16 Sep 2010

Lofty altitudes increase prevalence of suicides

The Intermountain West is renowned for the beauty of its towering mountains and high deserts, but according to new research from an investigator with the University of Utah Brain Institute the region's lofty altitudes significantly influence a deadly problem: the high prevalence of suicides in this part of the country.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers to contribute to brain circuit mapping in Human Connectome Project

Thirty-three researchers at nine institutions will contribute to the Human Connectome Project (http://www.humanconnectome.org/consortia). Using powerful, custom-built brain scanners, a supercomputer, new brain analysis techniques and other state-of-the-art resources, they will trace the anatomical 'wires' that interconnect thousands of different regions of the human brain's gray matter.

16 Sep 2010

Abbott issues statement in response to FDA's mixed vote for weight loss medication sibutramine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today held an Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee to review the results of SCOUT and the weight loss medication sibutramine (sold as Meridia® in the United States).

16 Sep 2010

Caregivers at higher risk for PTSD when cancer patients die in hospital

Cancer patients who die in the hospital or an intensive care unit have worse quality of life at the end-of-life, compared to patients who die at home with hospice services, and their caregivers are at higher risk for developing psychiatric illnesses during bereavement, according to a study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers find clue behind ASD affecting males than females

New research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), both in Toronto, Canada provides further clues as to why Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects four times more males than females. The scientists discovered that males who carry specific alterations of DNA on the sole X-chromosome they carry are at high risk of developing ASD. The research is published in the September 15 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

16 Sep 2010

Research suggests methodical approaches to control severe aggression among children with ADHD

Joseph C. Blader, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and colleagues, found that almost half of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder whose aggressive behaviors had not been effectively controlled during routine outpatient care could achieve near absence of aggressive, explosive behavior when implementing "first-line" stimulant treatments for ADHD tailored to individual needs, along with behavioral therapy.

16 Sep 2010

Overprotection during childhood leads to heart-focused anxiety in adults with congenital heart disease: Study

Adults with congenital heart disease are more likely to suffer heart-focused anxiety - a fear of heart-related symptoms and sensations - if their parents were overprotective during their childhood and adolescence. Dr. Lephuong Ong from Orion Health Services in Vancouver, and colleagues from University Health Network and York University in Toronto, Canada, suggest that health care professionals could encourage greater independence for adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease to improve their psychosocial adjustment. Dr. Ong's work1 is published online in Springer's International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.

16 Sep 2010

NAMI launches new, interactive, online resource center to support children, adults with ADHD

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has launched a new, interactive, online resource center to support children and adults living with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

16 Sep 2010

Milwaukee sees fast rise in costs of benefits; N.J. Gov. outlines cuts to public workers' benefits; Hawaii teachers file suit over health changes

"The cost of health benefits appears to be rising at a much faster pace in the Milwaukee area than the national average. Employers reported that the cost of health benefits increased 11% to 13% on average in the Milwaukee area this year, according to the 2010 Greater Milwaukee Employer Health Care Benefits Survey

16 Sep 2010

Study finds aerobic exercise improves chronic insomnia

The millions of middle-aged and older adults who suffer from insomnia have a new drug-free prescription for a more restful night's sleep. Regular aerobic exercise improves the quality of sleep, mood and vitality, according to a small but significant new study from Northwestern Medicine.

16 Sep 2010

Scientists reveal techniques to extend organ transplant life

Experts from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Transplantation at King's College London, based at Guy's Hospital, have revealed exciting new scientific developments for people with an organ transplant, intended to help prevent rejection of the new organ and extend its life.

16 Sep 2010

NIH awards grants to map human brain's connections in high resolution

The National Institutes of Health today awarded grants totaling $40 million to map the human brain's connections in high resolution. Better understanding of such connectivity promises improved diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders.

16 Sep 2010

Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

CARNA releases health consultation report

Illicit drug usage increases among Americans: SAMHSA survey

WHO urges development programs to include mental and psychosocial disabled patients

Federal health care reform legislation can help removing financial barriers to treat Americans

Researchers reveal Prozac reactions to increase serotonin level

Severe acne linked to suicidal thoughts in teenagers

Forest Pharmaceuticals to pay $300 million as penalty for criminal actions

Survey reveals physicians’ misperception on misuse, abuse of opioids

Lofty altitudes increase prevalence of suicides

Researchers to contribute to brain circuit mapping in Human Connectome Project

Abbott issues statement in response to FDA's mixed vote for weight loss medication sibutramine

Caregivers at higher risk for PTSD when cancer patients die in hospital

Researchers find clue behind ASD affecting males than females

Research suggests methodical approaches to control severe aggression among children with ADHD

Overprotection during childhood leads to heart-focused anxiety in adults with congenital heart disease: Study

NAMI launches new, interactive, online resource center to support children, adults with ADHD

Milwaukee sees fast rise in costs of benefits; N.J. Gov. outlines cuts to public workers' benefits; Hawaii teachers file suit over health changes

Study finds aerobic exercise improves chronic insomnia

Scientists reveal techniques to extend organ transplant life

NIH awards grants to map human brain's connections in high resolution

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Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

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