Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Younger women with SCAD may benefit most from conservative treatment

Patients who suffer from a type of heart attack that affects mainly younger women, called spontaneous coronary artery dissection or SCAD, may benefit most from conservative treatment, letting the body heal on its own.

22 Feb 2018

Neuroscientists discover novel mechanism of action behind schizophrenia

An international team of researchers led by a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine scientist has uncovered a novel mechanism in which a protein--neuregulin 3--controls how key neurotransmitters are released in the brain during schizophrenia.

21 Feb 2018

Study reveals a significant link between heavy alcohol use and dementia

New research has found alcohol use disorders to be one of the most vital avoidable risk factors for the onset of all types of dementia, early-onset dementia in particular.

21 Feb 2018

People with major depressive disorder have reduced arginine levels, study shows

People suffering from major depressive disorder, MDD, have reduced arginine levels, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. Arginine is an amino acid which the body uses to produce, e.g., nitric oxide.

21 Feb 2018

Sleep disruptions in menopause correlated with hot flashes and depression

Sleep disruptions are one of the most commonly reported complaints among menopausal women. A new study of middle-aged women found that sleep problems vary across the stages of menopause, yet are consistently correlated with hot flashes and depression.

20 Feb 2018

Study aims to examine effects of PTSD symptoms in police officers

Police officers are often called to situations that require a quick decision: fire a shot and risk harming, or killing, innocent bystanders; don't fire and there's the potential for being killed in the line of duty.

20 Feb 2018

MS patients who feel stigmatized more likely to suffer from depression

People with Multiple Sclerosis -- MS -- who feel stigmatized are more likely to suffer from depression, according to researchers, who add that having a support system of friends and family and a sense of autonomy may help reduce the harmful effects of stigma.

20 Feb 2018

Postnatal depression impacts mother-child relationships for longer time frame

PND is well-known to have an adverse effect on mothers' relationships with their children. This has a subsequent impact on child development from early infancy to adolescence and influences emotional, cognitive, and physical development in children.

20 Feb 2018

Tiny 'brains on chips' reveal mechanisms underlying brain's wrinkling process

Being born with a "tabula rasa" - a clean slate - in the case of the brain is something of a curse. Our brains are already wrinkled like walnuts by the time we are born. Babies born without these wrinkles - smooth brain syndrome - suffer from severe developmental deficiencies and their life expectancy is markedly reduced.

20 Feb 2018

Father's age can affect offspring lifespan, mice study shows

How does the father's age at conception affect his children? Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and fellow scientists have studied this question in mice.

20 Feb 2018

Trump administration proposes rule to loosen curbs on short-term health plans

Insurers will again be able to sell short-term health insurance good for up to 12 months under a proposed rule released Tuesday by the Trump administration that could further roil the marketplace.

20 Feb 2018

Interventions to improve self-concept could be critical in treating mental health patients

Improving how mental health patients perceive themselves could be critical in treating them, according to a study from the University of Waterloo.

20 Feb 2018

Father's stress affects the brain development of offspring, mice study shows

New research in mice has found that a father's stress affects the brain development of his offspring. This stress changes the father's sperm, which can then alter the brain development of the child. This new research provides a much better understanding of the key role that fathers play in the brain development of offspring.

19 Feb 2018

Inert gas may limit blast-induced brain injury

The inert gas has been used for the first time to try and reduce the impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by blasts such as those in conflict zones and terror attacks.

15 Feb 2018

Intermountain Medical Center launches rooming-in program to support bonding between mothers and newborns

Mothers and babies belong together - which is why Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City has launched a rooming-in program to support early bonding between mothers and newborns.

15 Feb 2018

MRI and machine learning could predict whether OCD patients will benefit from treatment

Washing hands needlessly dozens of times of day. Spending so much time perfecting schoolwork that it never gets turned in.

15 Feb 2018

Idaho Blue Cross jumps into controversial market for plans that bypass ACA rules

That didn't take long. It's barely been two weeks since Idaho regulators said they would allow the sale of health insurance that does not meet all of the Affordable Care Act's requirements — a controversial step some experts said would likely draw legal scrutiny and, potentially, federal fines for any insurer that jumped in.

15 Feb 2018

Emotional state affects operation of the entire brain instead of being restricted to specific regions

The brain mechanisms of basic emotions such as anger and happiness are fairly similar across people. Differences are greater in social emotions, such as gratitude and contempt.

14 Feb 2018

Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity linked to more gray matter in older adults’ brains

Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity – such as house cleaning, walking a dog and gardening, as well as exercise – are associated with more gray matter in the brains of older adults, according to a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center.

14 Feb 2018