Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study reveals critical aspect of how frontopolar cortex contributes to decision making

Researchers at the University of Iowa, together with colleagues from the California Institute of Technology and New York University, have discovered how a part of the brain helps predict future events from past experiences. The work sheds light on the function of the front-most part of the frontal lobe, known as the frontopolar cortex, an area of the cortex uniquely well developed in humans in comparison with apes and other primates.

20 Jun 2012

New approach to decipher roles of genes associated with autism

Fish cannot display symptoms of autism, schizophrenia or other human brain disorders. However, a team of MIT biologists has shown that zebrafish can be a useful tool for studying the genes that contribute to such disorders.

20 Jun 2012

First Edition: June 19, 2012

Today's headlines include more speculation about the political implications of the Supreme Court's much-anticipated health law decision.

19 Jun 2012

In Calif. and Mass., reforms proceeding even as court causes uncertainty

News reports offer updates on California's health exchange as well as the important signal sent by Massachusetts' major health insurers.

19 Jun 2012

Loneliness can be debilitating to older adults and cause serious health problems

Loneliness - the unpleasant feeling of emptiness or desolation - can creep in and cause suffering to people at any age. But it can be especially debilitating to older adults and may predict serious health problems and even death, according to a new study by UCSF researchers.

19 Jun 2012

Mental health hospitals scrutinized in Calif., Mass.

The Los Angeles Times looks at former consultant who helped overhaul California's psychiatric hospitals. In Massachusetts, the future of Taunton State Hospital -- one of two remaining publicly run mental health hospitals there -- is uncertain.

19 Jun 2012

Childhood obesity, bullying, drug abuse and child abuse need to be addressed by presidential candidates

During this presidential election season, there will be plenty of debate between the candidates on the issues. But when it comes to childhood health concerns, a new poll shows many adults agree on the top priorities they want to see the candidates address: childhood obesity and bullying.

19 Jun 2012

Difficult childhood affects brain development and can increase risk of adolescent crimes

The legal system needs to take greater account of new discoveries in neuroscience that show how a difficult childhood can affect the development of a young person's brain which can increase the risk adolescent crimes, according to researchers. The research will be presented as part of an Economic and Social Research Council seminar series in conjunction with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

19 Jun 2012

Cheaper drug to treat wet AMD increases risk of serious eye inflammation

A Queen's University study of two eye drugs used to treat wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) has determined the cheaper of the two could lead to eye inflammation, a potentially blinding adverse effect.

19 Jun 2012

Psychological distress associated with higher risk of death from stroke

Psychological distress was associated with a higher risk of death from stroke, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

19 Jun 2012

State roundup: Calif. budget cuts; Texas hospitals cry foul over funding plan

Spending on welfare, child care and home care for the elderly and disabled would be reduced but not by as much as Brown wanted. CalWORKs, the state welfare program, is facing the biggest hit at $428 million. … In-Home Supportive Services, which allow some elderly residents to avoid being moved into nursing homes, would be reduced by about $90 million. The cut means 3.6 percent fewer hours of care for beneficiaries.

19 Jun 2012

WHO launches new tool to improve quality and human rights in mental health and social care

WHO urges countries to protect the rights and dignity of people with mental health conditions as it launches a new tool for countries to assess and eventually stop, these violations. The WHO QualityRights Tool Kit aims to ensure that quality of care and human rights standards are put in place in mental health and social care facilities around the world.

18 Jun 2012

CAMFT offers five simple mental wellness tips to help manage stress

While managing stress can seem like an impossible goal, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) reminds fathers to keep their mental wellness top of mind and seek help before stress leads to a larger issue, such as depression.

18 Jun 2012

Research roundup: Best health care for homeless, new business model for pharma

The cost and coordination of health care for homeless individuals can be a challenge for states. But as this brief describes, establishing supportive housing - which provides social services, usually on site - "can help improve health, increase survival rates, foster mental health recovery, and reduce alcohol and drug use."

16 Jun 2012

CMS awards nearly $18 million to spread collaborative care model for managing depression

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded almost $18 million to a local and national collaboration of partner organizations with the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) as lead organization.

16 Jun 2012

Addition of physical activity intervention to usual care does not reduce depressive symptoms

Current clinical guidance recommends physical activity to alleviate the symptoms of depression. However, new research published in the BMJ, suggests that adding a physical activity intervention to usual care did not reduce symptoms of depression more than usual care alone, even though it increased levels of physical activity.

16 Jun 2012

Health Canada approves Sunovion’s LATUDA NDA to treat schizophrenia

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. today announced that the New Drug Submission (NDS) for LATUDA (lurasidone HCl), for the treatment of adult patients with acute schizophrenia has been approved by Health Canada.

16 Jun 2012

Tips for how to help someone with PTSD

You don't have to be a member of the armed forces to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but nearly 20 percent of service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan reported having symptoms. In recognition of June as PTSD Awareness Month, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is offering 10 tips for how to help someone who may be suffering from PTSD.

16 Jun 2012

Roundup: Iowa redesign of mental health services raises concerns; Mich. lawmakers opposed to abortion restrictions are 'silenced'

State leaders hope their mental health redesign will bring better services to (rural areas of Iowa), but many front-line administrators doubt they'll see significant improvements soon. In fact, some worry that services could erode over the next year as money and some financial responsibilities are shifted from the counties to the state. Some long-term improvements are possible, they say, but cash likely will run short in the next few months.

15 Jun 2012

Emotion perception impaired in patients at risk for psychosis

Patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis, as well as those with first-episode schizophrenia, show significant impairments in facial and vocal emotion recognition, researchers report.

15 Jun 2012