Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Research roundup: Medicaid peer support; doctor Jokes; ACA's asset rules for coverage

Since 2009, the eight states (Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin) participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Maximizing Enrollment program have worked to streamline and simplify enrollment systems, policies, and processes for children and those eligible for coverage in 2014. ... States [focused] on five key areas: 1) applications, 2) eligibility determinations, 3) renewals and transfers, 4) notices, and 5) business processes.

3 Mar 2014

Many children admitted with mental health problems mistaken for physical disease

Many children are admitted to general acute wards with mental health problems mistaken for physical disease.

3 Mar 2014

Five women scientists to receive ‘L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards'

On March 19th the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO will present the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science awards to five outstanding women scientists.

3 Mar 2014

Photoreactive compounds open new routes to treatment of neurological diseases

Photoreactive compounds developed by scientists of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich directly modulate nerve-cell function, and open new routes to the treatment of neurological diseases, including chronic pain and certain types of visual impairment.

3 Mar 2014

Twin brains reveal similar progressions of neuropathological changes

Despite widespread use of a single term, Alzheimer's disease is actually a diverse collection of diseases, symptoms and pathological changes.

3 Mar 2014

Despite prevention strategies, suicide rates among young men remain high

Suicide among young men is a major public health concern in many countries, despite great efforts to find effective prevention strategies.

3 Mar 2014

Study: Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks, a new UCLA-led study shows.

3 Mar 2014

Study of Gulf War veterans finds link between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter

A new study of Gulf War veterans found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain's frontal lobe, which helps control important processes such as working memory and executive function.

3 Mar 2014

Study explores risks associated with using herbal cannabis for treatment of rheumatic conditions

Patients with rheumatic conditions are in need of symptom relief and some are turning to herbal cannabis as a treatment option. However, the effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana to treat symptoms of rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or fibromyalgia is not supported by medical evidence.

3 Mar 2014

Psychiatric APNs share 'comprehensive response' to Marathon bombings

Psychiatric advanced practice nurses (APNs) played a critical role in supporting psychological recovery after the Boston Marathon bombing-not only for injured patients, but also for family members and hospital staff, according to an article in Clinical Nurse Specialist, official journal of the the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

3 Mar 2014

New study may open door to better diagnosis, treatment for chronic insomnia

Johns Hopkins researchers report that people with chronic insomnia show more plasticity and activity than good sleepers in the part of the brain that controls movement.

3 Mar 2014

Study: College athletes often struggle to stay active in later years

An Indiana University study found that elite college athletes -- typically the picture of health and vitality -- often struggle to stay active in later years, facing limitations to their day-to-day activities in middle age that could be a result of injuries during their athletic career.

3 Mar 2014

Elevated homocysteine not gender-specific in schizophrenia

Japanese researchers have demonstrated that both men and women with schizophrenia have significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels than healthy controls.

28 Feb 2014

BDNF abnormalities may predict bipolar disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder show abnormalities in the conversion of pro-brain derived neurotrophic factor to the mature form, which may be used to aid diagnosis of the condition.

28 Feb 2014

States: N.C.'s Medicaid managed care proposal; narrow provider networks; Planned Parenthood's big plan

Gov. Pat McCrory's health agency is backing away from initial proposals to fix Medicaid costs by hiring a handful of big managed care organizations to run North Carolina's $13 billion health care system. The state Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday presented its framework for revamping Medicaid to an advisory group set up by McCrory (Dalesio, 2/26).

28 Feb 2014

Study investigates how biology, social factors interact within marriage to affect heart health

Does the stress of marriage contribute to heart disease, which accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States?

28 Feb 2014

Protein that controls Drosophila nervous system may play role in reversing brain injuries in human

A protein that controls the metamorphosis of the common fruit fly could someday play a role in reversing brain injuries, said Duke University researchers.

28 Feb 2014

Millions of mentally ill will lack coverage in states not expanding Medicaid, report finds

The Washington Post takes a look at the report by a group representing mental health professionals, and also how the issue is playing out in the Virginia legislature, where there is strong support to reform the state's mental health care system following the death of a state lawmaker's son.

28 Feb 2014

Further support for hippocampal volume as psychosis biomarker

Findings from the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes provide further evidence that reduced hippocampal volume is a consistent feature of schizophrenia.

27 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 27, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of stories about Obama past and present administration officials -- notably, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden -- who are stepping up to "sell" people on enrolling in new health law insurance coverage.

27 Feb 2014