Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Key risk features predictive for suicide in bipolar disorder identified

Study findings suggest that patients with bipolar disorder who present with mixed-states, melancholic depressive features, or have multiple antidepressant treatment episodes are at increased risk for suicide.

13 Jul 2012

Adding functional skills training to CRT improves schizophrenia functioning

Adding functional skills training to cognitive remediation therapy significantly improves functional competence and real-world behavior in patients with schizophrenia, show study findings.

13 Jul 2012

Five rare mutations in single gene increase chances of boys developing ASD

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified five rare mutations in a single gene that appear to increase the chances that a boy will develop an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

13 Jul 2012

Opioids for chronic noncancer pain discouraged

US experts have called for more selective and cautious opioid prescribing for chronic noncancer pain, because of concerns over misuse of the drugs and continued uncertainty over when and for how long they should be prescribed.

12 Jul 2012

Altered immune function in relatives of schizophrenia patients

Schizophrenia patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives exhibit immune system alterations compared with mentally healthy individuals, researchers report.

12 Jul 2012

Abused children may become obese adults

Severity of abuse in childhood or adolescence is associated with an increased risk for overall and central obesity in adulthood, report researchers.

12 Jul 2012

Overweight, obesity prevalent in psychiatric inpatients

Most inpatients with psychiatric disorders are overweight or obese, say Australian researchers who urge closer monitoring of the physical health of patients with mental illnesses.

12 Jul 2012

Family physicians’ continuity of care pivotal in depressed terminally ill patients

The long-standing relationship between a family physician and his/her terminally ill patient is pivotal in the management of depression during palliative care, show Dutch study results.

12 Jul 2012

Smokers at risk for recurrent hepatitis post-liver transplantation

Transplant recipients who smoke or have smoked increase their risk of viral hepatitis reinfection following liver transplantation according to new research available in the July issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

12 Jul 2012

In-patient suicides continue to fall across all countries: Report

Deaths by suicide among mental health patients treated at home have reached 150 to 200 a year in England, latest national figures reveal - but suicides among patients on mental health wards continue to fall.

12 Jul 2012

IOM report: Nation lacks health workers trained to meet seniors' mental health needs

The Institute of Medicine report, released Tuesday, found the continued lack of health care providers will make it difficult to meet the growing demand for mental health services from the nation's growing senior population.

12 Jul 2012

Researchers identify set of laboratory-based biomarkers that aid in diagnosis of schizophrenia

In the current online issue of PLoS ONE, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say they have identified a set of laboratory-based biomarkers that can be useful for understanding brain-based abnormalities in schizophrenia. The measurements, known as endophenotypes, could ultimately be a boon to clinicians who sometimes struggle to recognize and treat the complex and confounding mental disorder.

12 Jul 2012

Mindfulness techniques show health benefits

Specific types of "mindfulness practices" including Zen meditation have research-proven benefits for patients with certain physical and mental health problems, according to a report in the July Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

12 Jul 2012

Novel molecular mechanism responsible for most important symptom of major depression

Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have laid bare a novel molecular mechanism responsible for the most important symptom of major depression: anhedonia, the loss of the ability to experience pleasure.

12 Jul 2012

Man Therapy launches in Colorado

Man Therapy, a groundbreaking new approach to suicide prevention and other men's mental health issues, was launched in Colorado today. Man Therapy reshapes the conversation, using humor to cut through stigma and tackle issues like depression, divorce and even suicidal thoughts head on, the way a man would do it.

12 Jul 2012

Daily temperature linked to bipolar admissions

Results from a Taiwanese study suggest that high daily temperatures are associated with increased hospitalization rates for mood symptoms among patients with bipolar disorder, particularly women.

11 Jul 2012

Visual, auditory hallucinations often co-occur in psychosis patients

Visual hallucinations are common in patients with psychosis spectrum disorders and often co-occur with auditory hallucinations, researchers report.

11 Jul 2012

Substance use linked to poor memory, reasoning in BD

The presence of comorbid substance use disorder is associated with significantly poorer visual memory and conceptual reasoning skills in patients with bipolar disorder, US study results show.

11 Jul 2012

Physicians need to know how chemical intolerance affects people: Study

Chemical intolerance contributes to the illnesses of 1 in 5 patients but the condition seldom figures in their diagnosis, according to clinical research directed by a UT Medicine San Antonio physician.

11 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 11, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the scheduled House vote on repealing the health law as well as how stakeholders -- whether it be certain governors or wall street investors -- are responding to the Supreme Court's decision on the Medicaid expansion.

11 Jul 2012