Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

New ways to treat substance abuse, neurological diseases and mental illnesses

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have found a way to change alcohol drinking behavior in rodents, using the emerging technique of optogenetics, which uses light to stimulate neurons.

7 Jan 2014

Portage acquires approximately 54% equity in Biohaven

Portage Biotech Inc., is pleased to announce that it has acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited, a private corporation formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, for $3.5 million, payable as $1.75 million upfront and the balance in three installments over the next eleven months.

6 Jan 2014

People with severe mental illness may have higher risk for substance use

People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk for substance use, especially cigarette smoking, and protective factors usually associated with lower rates of substance use do not exist in severe mental illness, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

5 Jan 2014

Negative symptoms and cognition ‘relatively independent’ in schizophrenia

Diminished expression, a core negative symptom in people with schizophrenia, is significantly correlated with an array of cognitive functions, research by a Hong Kong team shows.

3 Jan 2014

Chinese herbal medicine effective at alleviating acute inflammatory and nerve pain

A compound derived from a traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been found effective at alleviating pain, pointing the way to a new nonaddictive analgesic for acute inflammatory and nerve pain, according to UC Irvine pharmacology researchers.

3 Jan 2014

Resting-state connectivity and metabolism dissociated in schizophrenia

A neuroimaging study suggests that patients with schizophrenia have difficulty deactivating the default mode network, rather than having increased absolute metabolic activity.

2 Jan 2014

Study finds only small therapeutic effect of CBT on schizophrenic symptoms

Health organisations around the world recommend a form of psychotherapy, known as cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT, for patients with schizophrenia. Now, however, the most extensive study ever undertaken into its effect on the symptoms of the disorder finds little impact, according to a team of international researchers.

2 Jan 2014

Rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are higher among people with psychotic disorders

In the largest ever assessment of substance use among people with severe psychiatric illness, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Southern California have found that rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are significantly higher among those who have psychotic disorders than among those in the general population.

2 Jan 2014

Researchers find inhibition of basic cellular process that contributes to schizophrenia

Surprisingly little is known about schizophrenia. It was only recognized as a medical condition in the past few decades, and its exact causes remain unclear. Since there is no objective test for schizophrenia, its diagnosis is based on an assortment of reported symptoms.

30 Dec 2013

Schizophrenia brain marker matches genetic risk

Polygenic risk for schizophrenia correlates with neural inefficiency in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, say researchers.

24 Dec 2013

Treating depression fails to reverse cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder

Successful treatment of depression with total sleep deprivation does not improve neuropsychologic deficits in bipolar patients, despite improving clinical symptoms, Italian researchers report.

24 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Impact of 'meddling with' health law; antibiotics on farms; 'Let thirtysomethings' join Medicare

[A]ll of these last-minute policy shifts confuse people who were already struggling to understand a complex new system, ... The cumulative effect is that at least some people - we hope not many - will misunderstand their responsibilities under the law or be deterred from seeking coverage. The biggest danger is that the Obama administration is encouraging politicians to meddle in the health-care system every time a few vocal constituents get upset about its requirements (12/21).

24 Dec 2013

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

New findings suggest the oxytocin receptor, a gene known to influence mother-infant bonding and pair bonding in monogamous species, also plays a special role in the ability to remember faces. This research has important implications for disorders in which social information processing is disrupted, including autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the finding may lead to new strategies for improving social cognition in several psychiatric disorders.

24 Dec 2013

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Humans with a high motor excitability have a better working memory than humans with a low excitability. This was shown in a study conducted by scientists from the Transfacultary Research Platform at the University of Basel. By measuring the motor excitability, conclusions can be drawn as to the general cortical excitability - as well as to cognitive performance.

23 Dec 2013

Further boost for copy number variant role in schizophrenia

A large study confirms that 11 previously identified copy number variants are likely associated with schizophrenia.

20 Dec 2013

Newly-discovered selective process may explain why brain function does not deteriorate

As we grow older, our brains undergo a major reorganisation reducing the connections in the brain. Studying people up to the age of 40, scientists led by Dr Marcus Kaiser and Ms Sol Lim at Newcastle University found that while overall connections in the brain get streamlined, long-distance connections that are crucial for integrating information are preserved.

20 Dec 2013

Head injuries increase risk for psychiatric disorders

A Danish study of a large cohort of individuals who presented at hospital with head injuries has found that they were at increased risk for later developing schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and organic mental disorders.

19 Dec 2013

Neurocognitive abnormalities ‘fundamental’ to schizophrenia

Rare copy-number variants that confer a high risk for schizophrenia or autism are associated with impaired cognition in carriers without psychiatric disorders, researchers report in Nature.

19 Dec 2013

Diet may not fully explain cardiometabolic problems in bipolar disorder

The diet of patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia seems to be no worse than that of mentally healthy people, a study suggests.

19 Dec 2013

Omeros' OMS721 receives FDA orphan drug designation for prevention of TMAs

Omeros Corporation today announced that OMS721, the company's lead human monoclonal antibody targeting mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2), the key regulator of the lectin pathway of the immune system, has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prevention of complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathies.

18 Dec 2013

Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

New ways to treat substance abuse, neurological diseases and mental illnesses

Portage acquires approximately 54% equity in Biohaven

People with severe mental illness may have higher risk for substance use

Negative symptoms and cognition ‘relatively independent’ in schizophrenia

Chinese herbal medicine effective at alleviating acute inflammatory and nerve pain

Resting-state connectivity and metabolism dissociated in schizophrenia

Study finds only small therapeutic effect of CBT on schizophrenic symptoms

Rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are higher among people with psychotic disorders

Researchers find inhibition of basic cellular process that contributes to schizophrenia

Schizophrenia brain marker matches genetic risk

Treating depression fails to reverse cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder

Viewpoints: Impact of 'meddling with' health law; antibiotics on farms; 'Let thirtysomethings' join Medicare

Variation in oxytocin receptor gene influences face recognition skills, study finds

Humans with high motor excitability have better working memory

Further boost for copy number variant role in schizophrenia

Newly-discovered selective process may explain why brain function does not deteriorate

Head injuries increase risk for psychiatric disorders

Neurocognitive abnormalities ‘fundamental’ to schizophrenia

Diet may not fully explain cardiometabolic problems in bipolar disorder

Omeros' OMS721 receives FDA orphan drug designation for prevention of TMAs

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

How innovation in dried blood spot testing is transforming neurological disease monitoring

Unlocking live single-cell functional insights

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

How innovation in dried blood spot testing is transforming neurological disease monitoring

Unlocking live single-cell functional insights

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

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