Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Assay analyzing multiple biomarkers could be valuable aid to diagnose major depression

The initial assessment of a blood test to help diagnose major depressive disorder indicates it may become a useful clinical tool. In a paper published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, a team including Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers reports that a test analyzing levels of nine biomarkers accurately distinguished patients diagnosed with depression from control participants without significant false-positive results.

2 Feb 2012

Researchers reveal how antipsychotics affect metabolism by SMAD3 activation

In a paper published January 31 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) reveal how antipsychotic drugs interfere with normal metabolism by activating a protein called SMAD3, an important part of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) pathway.

2 Feb 2012

State roundup: Mass. lawmakers fight Medicare charges

A Monterey County hospital district, which came under fire last year for giving its chief executive one of the largest public pensions in California history, announced this week that several other top officials are receiving generous retirement packages.

2 Feb 2012

Annual Depression on College Campuses Conference to be held March 7-8

How can college students draw upon their own strengths, resilience, and sense of social connectedness to help them maintain mental health and wellness? Researchers, students and U-M community members will discuss this question at the annual Depression on College Campuses Conference, held March 7-8. The conference - which is marking its 10th anniversary - features workshops and sessions focused on reframing the discussion about mental health on college campuses by emphasizing the importance of student strengths in preventing depression.

2 Feb 2012

State roundup: Iowa reconsiders lawmakers' benefits

Two bills introduced in the Iowa House last week would curtail benefits for lawmakers. ... House File 2118 also removes per diem and daily allowances from inclusion in lawmakers' pension calculations, but also requires members and employees of the General Assembly to pay a portion of their health-insurance premiums. That premium payment would have to be at least $100 a month.

1 Feb 2012

Study finds no link between BDV and psychiatric illness

Over the past 30 years, numerous studies have linked Borna disease virus (BDV) with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder and dementia. Genetic fragments and antibodies to this RNA virus, which causes behavior disorders in a range of mammals and birds, have been found to be prevalent in psychiatric patients, but study results have been inconsistent. Now, the first blinded, case-control study to examine this issue finds no association between the virus and psychiatric illness.

1 Feb 2012

Exercise training can combat depressive symptoms in patients with chronic illness

Combat feelings of sadness that often accompany chronic illness with a good work-out, say University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers in a study published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

1 Feb 2012

Most young people do not receive emergency mental health assessment after deliberate self-harm

A national study of Medicaid data shows most young people who present to emergency departments with deliberate self-harm are discharged to the community, without receiving an emergency mental health assessment.

1 Feb 2012

Link between maternal nurturing and size of hippocampus in healthy children

School-age children whose mothers nurtured them early in life have brains with a larger hippocampus, a key structure important to learning, memory and response to stress. The new research, by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is the first to show that changes in this critical region of children's brain anatomy are linked to a mother's nurturing.

31 Jan 2012

Caffeine intake may change a woman’s estrogen levels: Study

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at more than 250 women ages 18 to 44, and found that for white women, caffeine appeared to lower estrogen levels, while in Asian women it seemed to raise them.

31 Jan 2012

AAP report addresses new phenomenon, 'Facebook Depression'

Since its very beginnings, Facebook seems to have had a love-hate relationship with its users. Now, another controversy has emerged following the release of an American Academy of Pediatrics report addressing a new phenomenon described as "Facebook Depression."

31 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Contraceptive controversy; Revising mental health definitions

It was good news that the Obama administration withstood pressure from Roman Catholic bishops and social conservatives to deny contraceptive coverage for millions of American women who work for religiously affiliated employers. Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services secretary, rejected broad exemptions from a new rule requiring all health plans to cover birth control, without a deductible or co-payment.

31 Jan 2012

Ariz. hospitals fighting losses in political shift and in court; Ga. seeking second cancer center

A look at hospital news around the country also includes reports on a Mayo collaboration in Minnesota on immigrant health, plans for a proton cancer therapy center in South Florida and efforts by Tufts Medical Center to get a level one trauma center.

31 Jan 2012

China Botanic fourth quarter net revenue increases 12.8% to $18.8M

China Botanic Pharmaceutical Inc., a developer, manufacturer and distributor of botanical products, bio-pharmaceuticals and Traditional Chinese Medicines in China, today announced financial results for the three months and fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

31 Jan 2012

States roundup: 'Cost-conscious' coverage in Mass.; Health exchange planning to Gov. in Minn.; Kansas judges gave to anti-abortion PAC

In just three years, a new way of paying for medical care has spread rapidly across Massachusetts, and now more than 1.2 million people are covered by plans that put providers on a budget in an effort to restrain health spending.

30 Jan 2012

Negative outlook need not have to be permanent in chronic melancholics

Good news for the 13 per cent of the population with depressive personality traits: their negative outlook does not have to be permanent. This has been shown by psychologist Rachel Maddux in new research from Lund University in Sweden.

30 Jan 2012

Family participation in school-based interventions can help reduce problem behavior in teens

When parents of middle school students participate in school-based, family interventions, it can reduce problem behavior, according to new research released online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

30 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Health law's consumer safeguards; Shredding Medicare's safety net; Georgia's trauma crisis

Requiring the makers of drugs and medical devices to disclose most payments and gifts to physicians will protect patients and reduce medical costs. ... [the federal health law] requires the makers of drugs and medical devices to disclose most payments and gifts to physicians (1/27).

30 Jan 2012

States redesigning mental health programs, coverage and care

States are grappling with mental health issues including a redesign of a program in Iowa, increased coverage for the mentally ill in California and a mental health first aid pilot program in Pennsylvania.

30 Jan 2012

Working 11 hours or more a day linked to depression

New research suggests that working for 11 hours or more a day may not only tire an individual but also raise the risk of depression.

29 Jan 2012

Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Assay analyzing multiple biomarkers could be valuable aid to diagnose major depression

Researchers reveal how antipsychotics affect metabolism by SMAD3 activation

State roundup: Mass. lawmakers fight Medicare charges

Annual Depression on College Campuses Conference to be held March 7-8

State roundup: Iowa reconsiders lawmakers' benefits

Study finds no link between BDV and psychiatric illness

Exercise training can combat depressive symptoms in patients with chronic illness

Most young people do not receive emergency mental health assessment after deliberate self-harm

Link between maternal nurturing and size of hippocampus in healthy children

Caffeine intake may change a woman’s estrogen levels: Study

AAP report addresses new phenomenon, 'Facebook Depression'

Viewpoints: Contraceptive controversy; Revising mental health definitions

Ariz. hospitals fighting losses in political shift and in court; Ga. seeking second cancer center

China Botanic fourth quarter net revenue increases 12.8% to $18.8M

States roundup: 'Cost-conscious' coverage in Mass.; Health exchange planning to Gov. in Minn.; Kansas judges gave to anti-abortion PAC

Negative outlook need not have to be permanent in chronic melancholics

Family participation in school-based interventions can help reduce problem behavior in teens

Viewpoints: Health law's consumer safeguards; Shredding Medicare's safety net; Georgia's trauma crisis

States redesigning mental health programs, coverage and care

Working 11 hours or more a day linked to depression

Digital pathology and the PathoVerse: A conversation with Dr. Singh

Bioprocess Efficiency with Cell Density Monitoring

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Digital pathology and the PathoVerse: A conversation with Dr. Singh

Bioprocess Efficiency with Cell Density Monitoring

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

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