Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Integrated eating disorders center to be launched shortly

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in affiliation with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, announced the creation of an integrated eating disorders center. Opening today is a key clinical component of this new center -- The Outlook at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division in White Plains.

2 Dec 2009

New PBS documentary examines why people view happiness as an elusive goal

On the eve of a new year, as millions of Americans struggle to find more meaning in their lives, Vulcan Productions and NOVA/WGBH have teamed up with Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness, Professor Daniel Gilbert, to produce This Emotional Life. This three-part documentary premieres on PBS January 4-6, 2010 (at 9:00 p.m. check local listings) and examines why people find happiness to be such an elusive goal.

2 Dec 2009

NAF and Bristol-Myers Squibb take initiative to launch 'Positive Charge'

The National AIDS Fund (NAF) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today their intention to launch “Positive Charge,” a new multiyear initiative aimed at helping to break down the barriers that prevent people living with HIV from receiving HIV care, treatment and necessary support.

2 Dec 2009

Galenea and Otsuka Pharmaceutical extend their research and development collaboration

Galenea Corp. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today the further extension of their research and development collaboration through 2011. This latest extension increases the collaboration term to seven years and brings the total committed funding to approximately $90 million.

2 Dec 2009

MRI pioneer honored with MRC Millennium Medal

Sir Peter Mansfield, The University of Nottingham's Nobel Laureate for Physiology and Medicine, is to be recognised, once again, for his part in one of the most important breakthroughs in medical science.

2 Dec 2009

Study finds ethnic pride may be as important as self-esteem, particularly for boys

Ethnic pride may be as important as self-esteem to the mental health of young African-American adolescents, according to a new study in the Nov./Dec. issue of the journal Child Development.

2 Dec 2009

Antipsychotic medications increase the levels of inflammation markers, find researchers

Overall, antipsychotic medications are reasonably effective, and fairly well tolerated treatments for mood and psychotic disorders. However, treatment with a number of antipsychotic medications is associated with weight gain, and for some, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

2 Dec 2009

Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in hospice pateints

Add guitars and other musical instruments to the tools caregivers can use to help patients in hospice care. That's what University of Alabama senior Sarah Pitts found when she brought her music therapy skills to patients in Hospice of West Alabama.

1 Dec 2009

Human-animal bond offers significant benefits

A pet owner knows the enormous joy and comfort that an animal can provide, especially in troubled times. Most pets are considered important members of the family and irreplaceable companions.

1 Dec 2009

Masimo Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring receives FDA clearance

Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, today announced FDA clearance of its latest innovation -- Masimo Rainbow SET Acoustic Monitoring(TM)( -- )providing noninvasive and continuous respiration rate (RRa(TM)) that is accurate, easy-to-use, and enhances patient compliance.

1 Dec 2009

Guidelines for using videoconferencing for mental health services approved

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) announced the availability of formal practice guidelines for the use of videoconferencing for the delivery of mental health services.

1 Dec 2009

Cannabis as a substitute for heavy alcohol usage?

Substituting cannabis in place of more harmful drugs may be a winning strategy in the fight against substance misuse. Research published in BioMed Central' open access Harm Reduction Journal features a poll of 350 cannabis users, finding that 40% used cannabis to control their alcohol cravings, 66% as a replacement for prescription drugs and 26% for other, more potent, illegal drugs.

1 Dec 2009

Framework for Canada's national mental health strategy released

In a first step toward changing Canada's status as the only G8 country without a mental health strategy, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) today released the framework for Canada's national strategy.

1 Dec 2009

New research shows people who feel lonely spread that feeling to others

Loneliness, like a bad cold, can spread among groups of people, research at the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard shows.

1 Dec 2009

Eli Lilly's Cymbalta receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) for the maintenance treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults, announced Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY).

30 Nov 2009

Early intervention for young children with autism improves IQ, communication and social interaction

A novel early intervention program for very young children with autism - some as young as 18 months - is effective for improving IQ, language ability, and social interaction, a comprehensive new study has found.

30 Nov 2009

Leading mental health experts to hold conference in Vancouver

Leading experts in the field of mental health are holding one of the largest conferences of its kind in Vancouver, November Sunday 29 - Tuesday December 1. The conference, titled 'Into the Light,' is being jointly organized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Vancouver Coastal Health and Simon Fraser University and will be looking at mental health issues across Canada.

28 Nov 2009

BodyLogicMD opens 13 new bioidentical hormone specialty practices in 2009

For many businesses, 2009 has been a painful year. Not so for BodyLogicMD. The nation's largest and fastest growing network of expert physicians specializing exclusively in medically supervised bioidentical hormones has grown the number of physicians in its network since November 2008 - from 21 to 36 physicians - and is in progress to add more physician-owned centers, including one in Puerto Rico, by the end of this year.

26 Nov 2009

Strategies to reduce greenhouse gases benefit human health, show new studies

Today, new studies published in the Lancet show that strategies to reduce greenhouse gases also benefit human health. The Lancet series highlights case studies on four climate change topics - household energy, transportation, electricity generation, and agricultural food production.

26 Nov 2009

Rate of HIV/AIDS among Hispanics continues to rise

FINDINGS: Researchers from UCLA's Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research surveyed 600 Hispanics recruited from Los Angeles County sexually transmitted disease clinics, community-based organizations and needle-exchange programs.

26 Nov 2009