Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Depression reduces efficacy of shingles vaccine

Research suggests that the varicella zoster, or shingles, vaccine is less effective in older people with untreated depression.

15 Feb 2013

Manic symptoms similar for children and adolescents

The nature of mania symptoms appears to be similar in young people with bipolar disorder, irrespective of whether they occur in childhood or adolescence, say researchers.

15 Feb 2013

Substance use common in young mental health patients

Young people using mental healthcare services have a high frequency of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, Australian study results show.

15 Feb 2013

Substance use common in young mental health patients

Young people using mental healthcare services have a high frequency of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use, Australian study results show.

15 Feb 2013

Nightmare of insomnia could explain suicide link in patients with depression

The link between insomnia and suicidal thoughts in patients with depression may be mediated by nightmares and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, research suggests.

15 Feb 2013

First Edition: February 15, 2013

Today's headlines include news about how the health law's insurance exchanges are taking shape.

15 Feb 2013

Study discovers new predictor for suicidal thinking

When people lose hope that they will ever get another good night's sleep, they become at high risk for suicide, researchers report.

15 Feb 2013

Physical activity may reduce risk of depression in patients undergoing bariatric surgery

Adults undergoing bariatric surgery who are more physically active are less likely to have depressive symptoms and to have recently received medication or counseling for depression or anxiety than their less active counterparts, according to new research led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

15 Feb 2013

Virgin HealthMiles announces partnership with vielife

vielife, the global provider of health and wellness solutions, has today announced a partnership with Virgin HealthMiles. The partnership will enable Virgin HealthMiles to offer its customers' employees online health coaching as a flexible tool to encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyle choices.

15 Feb 2013

Viewpoints: FDA needs more power to regulate compounding pharmacies; Time to revamp military benefits, including health

Traditionally, the licensing and control of pharmacies has been left to the states, but their performance has been uneven. The federal role has been thrown into question in recent years by lawsuits. ... compounding pharmacies are not generally required to inform the FDA that they are in business nor to register with the FDA or disclose what products they are making.

15 Feb 2013

Roundup: States get insurance exchange weapon on abortion; N.Y. budget woes include Medicaid money worry; Ga. hospital 'bed tax' might not offer budget solution

Abortion opponents have found a new way to restrict access to abortion -- by using the authority states have over the new health insurance exchanges, which will be up and running in a year. At least 21 states have legislation in place or in the works that will stop health insurance companies from paying for abortions for women.

15 Feb 2013

Schizophrenia dampens volition

Patients with schizophrenia and negative symptoms are less likely than mentally healthy people to increase their efforts for higher levels of reward, research shows.

14 Feb 2013

US health system failing unaccompanied immigrant children

Unaccompanied immigrant or “alien” children arriving in the USA with no papers or family often receive no or inadequate mental healthcare, says the author of an article published in JAMA Pediatrics.

14 Feb 2013

Poor facial recognition hints at schizophrenia risk in children

Impaired facial emotion recognition may suggest an increased vulnerability to schizophrenia in children, and may therefore represent a target for early intervention, researchers report.

14 Feb 2013

Circumcision at 3 to 6 years does not impair psychosexual function in adulthood

Circumcision performed between ages 3 to 6 years does not adversely affect men’s psychosexual function during adulthood, report Turkish researchers.

14 Feb 2013

Bipolar disorder ‘frequent’ in depressive borderline personality disorder

Study results indicate that bipolar disorder may occur in up to half of individuals with co-existing borderline personality disorder and depression.

14 Feb 2013

New study reveals racial disparities in chronic pain management

Opioids are frequently prescribed for pain management in noncancer patients, but recommended clinical guidelines for monitoring effectiveness and signs of drug abuse are often not implemented. Alongside well-documented racial disparities in prescribing opioid medications for pain, researchers report racial differences in the use of recommended opioid monitoring and follow-up treatment practices.

14 Feb 2013

Stress and mental illness: an interview with Professor Akira Sawa

As a psychiatrist I am interested in how stress may play a role in the pathology of adult mental disorders. You may know that most of the major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, mood-disorder, substance abuse or even anxiety disorder, become prominent in early adulthood.

14 Feb 2013

Researchers identify new way to influence the vital serotonin signaling system

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the University of Houston has found a new way to influence the vital serotonin signaling system - possibly leading to more effective medications with fewer side effects.

14 Feb 2013

Threat vigilance can protect soldiers against PTSD

The onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is unpredictable. Because it depends on the unforeseeable occurrence of traumatic events, it is difficult to identify preventative or causative factors. Scientists typically turn to patients who have already developed PTSD to study the disorder, but that means they can't draw comparisons to their psychological state prior to experiencing trauma.

14 Feb 2013