Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Identifying cardiorespiratory neurocircuitry involved in central command during exercise in humans

For almost one hundred years the brain's ,central command, system , whose charge includes controlling the body's cardiorespiratory response to exercise , has been pursued. Animal experiments and functional imaging studies have provided clues to the location of this system, but the underlying electrophysiological activity has never been measured.

30 Apr 2007

New test for liver disease

A researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine has helped confirm the reliability of a new test for liver disease that is ushering in the long-promised era of personalized medicine based on each individual's genetic makeup.

30 Apr 2007

Mail 'shot' helps reduce binge drinking

Mailing a simple information pamphlet to interested drinkers in the general population reduced binge drinking by 10 per cent, and is a promising public health approach to reduce the health and social problems associated with heavy drinking, shows a new study led by the University of Alberta.

30 Apr 2007

INVEGA granted positive opinion recommending approval in Europe

Janssen-Cilag International NV has announced that the Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) in the European Union, has granted a positive opinion recommending approval of INVEGA (paliperidone prolonged release tablets).

30 Apr 2007

FDA approves INVEGA treatment for schizophrenia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INVEGA (paliperidone) Extended-Release Tablets, a new once-daily, atypical antipsychotic, for the long-term maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

30 Apr 2007

Oxytocin affects the heart's response to social isolation

A team of researchers investigating the effects of oxytocin, a peptide produced by the brain that regulates social behavior, has found that it can prevent detrimental cardiac responses in adult female animals exposed to social isolation.

30 Apr 2007

Heavy use of cannabis triggers psychotic illnesses

Scientists in the UK say the heavy consumption of the drug cannabis may trigger psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

30 Apr 2007

Headaches may act like tiny transient strokes

Migraines may be doing more than causing people skull-splitting pain. Scientists have found evidence that the headaches may also be acting like tiny transient strokes, leaving parts of the brain starved for oxygen and altering the brain in significant ways.

30 Apr 2007

Ratio of women stricken with MS rockets by 50% each decade

According to a study in the United States although women have always had a greater susceptibility for developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) than men, the numbers have rocketed in the last six decades.

29 Apr 2007

New Parkinson's Disease diagnostic test

While Florey researchers have also created a genetic test for Parkinson's Disease (PD) [10% of PD cases are caused by genetic factors], this new test has a broader application by screening for many different types of PD and monitoring treatment, as well as measuring the effectiveness of drugs being developed to treat the disease.

27 Apr 2007

Health gap between social groups widens in later life

The health divide between the most affluent and the worst off in society increases in later life, finds a study published on bmj.com.

27 Apr 2007

Drugs that adjust dopamine levels in the brain greatly affect how people react to success and failure

In a first-of-its-kind study on humans, researchers measured how dopamine-related drugs affect the striatum, a part of the brain that is stimulated by rewards.

27 Apr 2007

Depression among retired professional football players

A new study from the University of Michigan Health System highlights the issues faced at the other end of the career spectrum, after players retire.

27 Apr 2007

Brits over-react to threat of crystal meth

In order to prevent the illegal production of the highly addictive drug, crystal meth, authorities in Britain are considering making some cold medicines available on a prescription-only basis.

26 Apr 2007

Frequent self-weighing is not associated with depression in women

A study being published in a recent issue of Preventive Medicine found no strong evidence linking frequent scale stepping and depression in women. In addition, self-weighing daily, rather than once every week or month, was associated with lower Body Mass Index (BMI) levels in women 40 years or older.

26 Apr 2007

Report identifies schizophrenia patients likely to receive depot medication

A report in the April 2007 issue of Psychiatric Services has identified a unique subgroup of schizophrenia patients in the United States who tend to receive depot antipsychotic medications.

26 Apr 2007

Many older adults with HIV have unprotected sex

One out of three sexually active older adults infected with HIV has unprotected sex, according to a study by Ohio University researchers.

26 Apr 2007

New study on prisoner health

People with chronic illnesses can experience great difficulties in prison, but people such as drug addicts and the homeless may find their healthcare improves, according to a study in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

26 Apr 2007

Difficult to distinguish bipolar symptoms in children

At least one-third of the time, the symptoms of bipolar disorder first appear in childhood or adolescence.

26 Apr 2007

Latest research findings on autism to be discussed in Seattle

More than 900 scientists, parents and activists from around the world who are focused on understanding the causes of autism and finding treatments for the developmental disorder will gather in Seattle May 3-5 to share the latest research findings at the sixth annual International Meeting for Autism Research.

26 Apr 2007