Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Depression leads to elevated inflammatory proteins in the human body: Study

To help solve this long standing chicken and egg conundrum, researchers led by Jesse Stewart, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis asked two critical questions. Does depression lead to elevated inflammatory proteins in the human body? Or does an increase in these proteins lead to depression? They found that the answer to the first question appears to be "yes," and the answer to the second question may be "no" among healthy adults.

6 Oct 2009

Pico-Tesla commences Phase III clinical trial its Resonator system for treating Parkinson’s disease

Pico-Tesla, The Magneceutical™ Therapy Company, announced today that it has commenced a Phase III clinical trial of its patented Resonator™ system that facilitates the Company’s proprietary magnetic (Magneceutical™) therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease patients.

6 Oct 2009

Butler Hospital leads clinical study for effectiveness and safety of DBS for OCD

Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., is leading a clinical study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

6 Oct 2009

Health reform a chance for mental health care changes

The Baltimore Sun reports that congressional efforts to reform the health care system could lead to improvements in care for the nation's mentally ill.

5 Oct 2009

Supportive housing program is cost-effective option for people with mental illness

In the wake of a landmark decision by Federal District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who in early September ruled that New York State is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by segregating individuals with mental illness from the general population and fostering "learned helplessness," detrimental to rehabilitation and recovery, Community Access is inviting neighbors, local businesses and friends to tour its supportive housing sites in New York City this October

5 Oct 2009

GVK Biosciences and Quantitative Solutions to develop and market clinical trial outcome databases

GVK Biosciences (GVK BIO), Asia’s leading integrated research services provider and Quantitative Solutions (QS), a modeling and simulation (M&S) consultancy to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, announced a strategic partnership to develop and market clinical trial outcome databases.

5 Oct 2009

Study shows that GSK-3 gene determines the total number of neurons required for brain

In populating the growing brain, neural stem cells must strike a delicate balance between two key processes - proliferation, in which the cells multiply to provide plenty of starting materials - and differentiation, in which those materials evolve into functioning neurons.

5 Oct 2009

Study finds that visual impairment in T1D patients may be decreasing

People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in recent years are less likely to develop diabetes-related vision loss than those diagnosed in earlier years, says a new study funded by the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Forecasts of visual impairment prevalence in T1D patients may need to be amended, the researchers suggest, since current predictions assume that the earlier incidence rates will continue.

3 Oct 2009

Clinical scientists call for a reform in clinical psychology training programs

The prevalence of mental health disorders in this country has nearly doubled in the past 20 years. Who is treating all of these patients? Clinical psychologists and therapists are charged with the task, but many are falling short by using methods that are out of date and lack scientific rigor. This is in part because many of the training programs-especially some Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) programs and for-profit training centers-are not grounded in science.

3 Oct 2009

University of Florida to study whether exercise can prevent disability in older people

The University of Florida will receive $29.5 million in federal stimulus funds over the next two years from the National Institute on Aging to begin a six-year study on whether a program of structured physical activity can prevent or delay major movement disability in older adults.

3 Oct 2009

Opening Minds launched to reduce stigma of mental illness

Opening Minds, the largest systematic effort in Canadian history to reduce the stigma of mental illness, was launched today by the Honourable Michael Kirby, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. "More than seven million Canadians will experience a mental health problem in 2009. Many of these people will not seek help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness. In fact, people who live with mental illness tell us that the stigma is often worse than the disease itself", says Kirby.

3 Oct 2009

NIMH awards USC scientists $9M for mapping gene expression during human brain development

Two University of Southern California (USC) neuroscientists have been awarded nearly $9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to map how genes are expressed in different regions of the human brain throughout development.

3 Oct 2009

RWJF to honor 10 unsung heroes for improving health care in their communities

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will honor 10 unsung heroes with the announcement of the 2009 recipients of its Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award on October 8, 2009, at the Mayflower Hotel.

3 Oct 2009

Teens with chronic disease often have expensive, uncertain coverage

ABC News profiles teens living with chronic diseases, and examines their insurance coverage and the cost of such care. The article notes: "Chronic diseases affect 1 in 10 Americans and are the leading cause of disability, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are also expensive."

3 Oct 2009

"The Holistic Success Show" to premiere on Web-TV

More and more people are driven beyond their limits trying to keep up with everyday life. Haunted by their desire to achieve success and happiness, they become obsessed with money, their job, and providing material possessions for their family. They strive for contentment, but find themselves exhausted and unfulfilled at the end of the day. They fail to understand what it takes to truly make them happy.

3 Oct 2009

IRSF awards $2M for research into a cure for Rett syndrome

The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) announced today that it is awarding grants totaling $2 million to support 18 innovative research projects in 2009. Each project will explore bold new ideas that have the potential to drive the field forward and speed the translation of research into treatments and a cure for Rett syndrome.

3 Oct 2009

Breast milk should not be stored and fed later

The levels of the components in breast milk change every 24 hours in response to the needs of the baby. A new study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience shows, for example, how this milk could help newborn babies to sleep.

3 Oct 2009

Electronic medical records may help doctors spot or predict abuse

As the data stored in electronic medical records grow, the technology may be able to help doctors predict domestic abuse and other medical conditions, a new study in the British Medical Journal finds, Reuters reports. Patients with injuries, poisoning and alcoholism were more likely than others to report domestic abuse.

1 Oct 2009

Orexigen's Empatic Phase 2b results demonstrate weight loss

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that its 24-week, Phase 2b trial for Empatic(TM) (bupropion SR/zonisamide SR), the Company's second late stage investigational combination drug for the treatment of obesity, met its primary efficacy endpoint by demonstrating statistically significantly greater weight loss for both Empatic doses compared to monotherapies and placebo.

1 Oct 2009

Program to improve the lives of parents and children

Kids’ Turn (KT,) a San Francisco-based non-profit organization today announced results of a landmark study by Dr. Jeffrey Cookson, Department of Psychology at San Francisco State University.

1 Oct 2009