RxPG News : Psychiatry

Depression increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:38:07 PST

Washington, April 8 - Depressed people are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with a more positive outlook to life, says a new study.

Brain DNA 'remodeled' in alcoholism

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Reshaping of the DNA scaffolding that supports and controls the expression of genes in the brain may play a major role in the alcohol withdrawal symptoms, particularly anxiety, that make it so difficult for alcoholics to stop using alcohol.

Adolescent girls with ADHD are at increased risk for eating disorders, study shows

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stand a substantially greater risk of developing eating disorders in adolescence than girls without ADHD, a new study has found.

Brain recruiting pattern incorrect in Schizophrenic patients

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:38:25 PST

The enduring memory problems that people with schizophrenia experience may be related to differences in how their brains process information, new research has found. The Public Library of Science published the report by Vanderbilt University researchers Junghee Lee, Bradley S. Folley, John Gore and Sohee Park in the online journal PLOS One March 12.

Brain chemistry ties anxiety and alcoholism

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

Doctors may one day be able to control alcohol addiction by manipulating the molecular events in the brain that underlie anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center report in the March 5 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Study shows how context dictates what we believe we see

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:21:30 PST

Scientists at UCL (University College London) have found the link between what we expect to see, and what our brain tells us we actually saw. The study reveals that the context surrounding what we see is all important – sometimes overriding the evidence gathered by our eyes and even causing us to imagine things which aren’t really there.

Cocaine's effects on brain metabolism may contribute to abuse

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - Many studies on cocaine addiction - and attempts to block its addictiveness - have focused on dopamine transporters, proteins that reabsorb the brain's reward chemical once its signal is sent. Since cocaine blocks dopamine transporters from doing their recycling job, it leaves the feel-good chemical around to keep sending the pleasure signal. Now a new study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that cocaine's effects go beyond the dopamine system. In the study, cocaine had significant effects on brain metabolism, even in mice that lack the gene for dopamine transporters.

UTMB wins $3.4 million federal grant to study addiction-recovery drugs

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

GALVESTON, Texas -- The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers a four-year, $3.4 million grant to develop what may become the first effective drugs to help people conquer cocaine addiction.

Antidepressants that are more efficient and faster

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

In the PhD defended by the pharmacologist and biochemist Jorge Emilio Ortega Calvo at the University of the Basque Country, a new anti-depressant treatment strategy is proposed that is capable of improving on the current one with its drawbacks.

Video games activate reward regions of brain in men more than women, Stanford study finds

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - Allan Reiss, MD, and his colleagues have a pretty good idea why your husband or boyfriend can't put down the Halo 3. In a first-of-its-kind imaging study, the Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have shown that the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more activated in men than women during video-game play.

Congenital heart defects increasing among IVF twins

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:30:00 PST

The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) among in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies was similar to that of the general population, but there is an increasing risk of CHD among twins resulting from IVF, according to research by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

Chronic anxiety may cause heart attack

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:50:30 PST

New York, Jan 10 - Chronic anxiety may trigger heart attack, says a new study, suggesting highly anxious individuals to stay careful.

Daily alcohol use causes changes in sexual behavior, new study reveals

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

A team of researchers at Penn Sate has used an animal model to reveal, for the first time, a physiological basis for the effect of alcohol on male sexual behavior, including increased sexual arousal and decreased sexual inhibition. The research, which will be published on 2 January 2008 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, resulted in four novel findings with broad importance for further addiction research. It is the first study to characterize the effects of chronic alcohol exposure in fruit flies. Physiological evidence supporting various theories about the effect of alcoholic drinks has been lacking, so our now having a suitable animal model makes it possible to conduct much-needed laboratory research on this issue, explains research-team-leader Kyung-An Han, associate professor of biology and a neuroscientist at Penn State. Information from this research can serve as a baseline for similar studies in other animals, including humans.

Cognitive, genetic clues identified in imaging study of alcohol addiction

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

People with clinical addictions know first-hand the ravages the disease can take on almost every aspect of their lives. So why do they continue addictive behaviors, even after a period of peaceable abstinence

Innovative Brain Imaging Identify Brain Abnormalities In Borderline Personality Disorder

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:45:04 PST

Innovative Brain Imaging Brings Into View Centers Linking Poor Impulse Control with Negative Emotion. Borderline personality disorder is a devastating mental illness that affects between 1 to 2 percent of Americans, causing untold disruption of patients' lives and relationships. Nevertheless, its underlying biology is not very well understood. Hallmarks of the illness include impulsivity, emotional instability, interpersonal difficulties, and a preponderance of negative emotions such as anger—all of which may encourage or be associated with substance abuse, self-destructive behaviors and even suicide.

Research reveals secrets of alcohol's effect on brain cells

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 7, 2007) -- Alcohol triggers the activation of a variety of genes that can influence the health and activity of brain cells, and new research from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City sheds light on how that process occurs.

New research review shows that your family doctor may be the key to quitting smoking

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are defining the most effective ways to treat tobacco dependence, and in an article released in the November issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) they highlight the surprisingly significant role that the health practitioner can play in helping people quit smoking. Many people's attempts to quit are unsuccessful, so effective interventions are critical for the 4.5 million smokers in Canada alone.

NSF grant funds research on risky decision-making in pre-teens

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Iowa have secured a $396,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study risky decision-making among pre-teens.

Cocaine abuse blunts sensitivity to monetary reward

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

SAN DIEGO, CA - New measurements of brain activity in individuals addicted to cocaine confirm that addicted individuals have compromised sensitivity to monetary rewards.

D-cycloserine reduces cocaine-seeking behavior in 'addicted' mice

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

SAN DIEGO, CA - Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory provide further evidence that a drug known as D-cycloserine could play a role in helping to extinguish the craving behaviors associated with drug addiction. Their study found that mice treated with D-cycloserine were less likely to spend time in an environment where they had previously been trained to expect cocaine than mice treated with a placebo.

Hold your horses

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

For those who suffer with the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease, Deep Brain Stimulation offers relief from the tremors and rigidity that can't be controlled by medicine. A particularly troublesome downside, though, is that these patients often exhibit compulsive behaviors that healthy people, and even those taking medication for Parkinson's, can easily manage.

Decision-makers seek internal balance, not balanced alternatives

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine suggests that psychiatrists may need to approach the treatment of psychiatric patients from a new direction � by understanding that such individuals� behavior and decision-making are based on an attempt to reach an inner equilibrium.

Gauging parent knowledge about teens' substance use

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New research results from the University at Buffalo�s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) suggest that most parents are aware of and accurately evaluate the extent of their teenager�s cigarette smoking, marijuana use, drinking and overall substance use.

Sleep deprivation linked to psychiatric disorders

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:38:09 PST

It has long been assumed that sleep deprivation can play havoc with our emotions.

Age affects motivation for quitting smoking

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Chicago, IL, October 22, 2007) � A new study shows that obstacles to smoking cessation and motives for quitting smoking vary with age. The study presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that smokers over age 65 reported quitting smoking due to physician pressure and stress due to a major health problem, while smokers under age 65 reported cigarette cost and tobacco odor as reasons for quitting.

Carbon monoxide test helps doctors determine patients' smoking status

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Chicago, IL, October 22, 2007) � Pulse cooximeters have long been used to identify and measure the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the blood of patients or firefighters. But new research, presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), indicates that the device has another use� it can quickly, inexpensively, and noninvasively identify a person who smokes. The study argues that if smokers know their blood CO levels, they may be more prone to quit or more likely to never start in the first place.

Insulin's brain impact links drugs and diabetes

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Insulin, long known as an important regulator of blood glucose levels, now has a newly appreciated role in the brain.

Why it is impossible for some to 'just say no'

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Drug abuse, crime and obesity are but a few of the problems our nation faces, but they all have one thing in common�people�s failure to control their behavior in the face of temptation. While the ability to control and restrain our impulses is one of the defining features of the human animal, its failure is one of the central problems of human society. So, why do we so often lack this crucial ability

The 'arms' race: Adult steroid users seek muscles, not medals

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The majority of non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are not cheating athletes or risk-taking teenagers. According to a recent survey, containing the largest sample to date and published in the online open access publication, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the typical male user is about 30 years old, well-educated, and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. The majority did not use steroids during adolescence and were not motivated by athletic competition or sports performance.

Depressed older people risk losing their minds

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:30:35 PST

New York, Oct 9 - Older people who suffer from depression face higher risk of losing intellectual ability, the results of a study conducted in the US show.

Vanderbilt nets brain gene research center

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Neuroscientists at Vanderbilt University are stepping into the national limelight with the establishment of a Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience Research.

On-screen smoking in movies linked to young adult smoking behavior

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

New study findings show that exposure to on-screen smoking in movies has a strong correlation with beginning to smoke or becoming established smokers among young adults 18-25, a critical age group for lifelong smoking behavior.

Scripps research study reveals mechanism behind nicotine dependency

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The research is being published the week of October 1, 2007, in an advance, online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Mixing large doses of both acetaminophen painkiller and caffeine may increase risk of liver damage

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 2007 -- Consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking acetaminophen, one of the most widely used painkillers in the United States, could potentially cause liver damage, according to a preliminary laboratory study reported in the Oct. 15 print issue of ACS� Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal. The toxic interaction could occur not only from drinking caffeinated beverages while taking the painkiller but also from using large amounts of medications that intentionally combine caffeine and acetaminophen for the treatment of migraine headaches, menstrual discomfort and other conditions, the researchers say.

Study reveals possible genetic risk for fetal alcohol disorders

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

MADISON - New research in primates suggests that infants and children who carry a certain gene variant may be more vulnerable to the ill effects of fetal alcohol exposure.

Family history of alcoholism affects response to drug used to treat heavy drinking

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Philadelphia, PA, September 19, 2007 � Naltrexone is one of four oral medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of alcoholism. A recent large multicenter research study of alcohol dependence supported by the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), the COMBINE Study, suggested that naltrexone produced a modest but significant benefit but another FDA-approved medication, acamprosate, was ineffective. Perhaps consistent with its modest effects in COMBINE, naltrexone is not widely prescribed in the treatment of alcoholism. Yet, clinicians report that naltrexone may have significant benefits for individual patients. To make naltrexone a more useful medication, it would be important to begin to identify groups of patients who might be more or less likely to show a significant clinical benefit from naltrexone prescription and to understand the causes of differential naltrexone efficacy. A new study that will appear in the September 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry suggests that alcohol dependent individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence may be more likely than alcohol dependent individuals without a family history of alcohol dependence to reduce their drinking in the laboratory when prescribed naltrexone.

Schizophrenia Risk Gene DISC1 Plays a Broader Role in the Development of Nervous System

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:19:08 PST

How the gene that has been pegged as a major risk factor for schizophrenia and other mood disorders that affect millions of Americans contributes to these diseases remains unclear. However, the results of a new study by Hopkins researchers and their colleagues, appearing in Cell this week, provide a big clue by showing what this gene does in normal adult brains.

AAAS to develop science-based teaching tools on underage alcohol use

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Efforts to halt underage drinking often focus on peer pressure and the prevention of risky behaviors, but the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is undertaking a new federally funded project to give middle-school children a science-based understanding of what can happen to them if they use alcohol.

Involving parents in therapy doubles success rates for bulimia treatment

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

In the first randomized controlled trial for adolescent bulimia nervosa to be completed in the US, researchers show that mobilizing parents to help an adolescent overcome the disorder can double the percentage of teens who were able to abstain from binge eating and purging after six months.

Passive smoking increases sleep disturbance among pregnant women

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WESTCHESTER, Ill. � Pregnant women exposed to passive smoking are more likely to have sleep disturbances such as subjective insufficient sleep, difficulty in initiating sleep, short sleep duration, and snoring loudly or breathing uncomfortably, according to a study published in the September 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

Secondhand smoke is a health threat to pets

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

It has been in the news for years about how secondhand smoke is a health threat to nonsmokers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that secondhand smoke is attributed with killing thousands of adult nonsmokers annually.

Girls who begin dieting twice as likely to start smoking

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. � Starting to diet seems to double the odds a teenage girl will begin smoking, a University of Florida study has found.

Methamphetamine study suggests increased risk for HIV transmission

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � New findings that one in 20 North Carolina men who have sex with men (MSM) reported using crystal methamphetamine during the previous month suggests increased risk for spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD), according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

New report on smoking shows who's quitting, who's not

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Quitting smoking is not easy, but thousands of New Yorkers succeed at it every year. Who�s trying to kick the habit, and who�s succeeding In a new report titled Who�s Still Smoking, the Health Department sheds light on both questions. The report, based on a large survey of New York City adults, shows that two thirds of the city�s smokers � almost 800,000 adults � tried to quit in the past year, but only 17% of those succeeded. Data from the survey identify emotional distress and binge drinking as possible obstacles to quitting, and finds that less than a fifth of New York City smokers are using nicotine replacement therapy � even though it doubles the chances of success. The report is available online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/survey/survey-2007smoking.pdf.

Mailman School of Public Health study examines link between racial discrimination and substance use

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

In one of the first studies to focus on the relationship between racial discrimination and health risk behaviors, researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with colleagues from the Universities of Minnesota, Alabama (Birmingham), and California (San Francisco), and Harvard University found African Americans experiencing racial discrimination were more likely to report current tobacco use or recent alcohol consumption and lifetime use of marijuana and cocaine.

Pitt study finds inequality in tobacco advertising

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 20 � Compared with Caucasians, African-Americans are exposed to more pro-tobacco advertising, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published in this month�s Public Health Reports.

Loneliness could be bad for health

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:38:28 PST

New York, Aug 19 - Loneliness could be bad for your health, psychologists in the US have warned.

Tel Aviv University redefines 'Internet addiction' and sets new standards for treatment

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Is your first craving in the morning for your computer mouse? Do you obsessively check email in the middle of the night?

Support groups don't extend survival of metastatic breast cancer patients, Stanford study finds

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study from a team of Stanford University School of Medicine researchers led by David Spiegel, MD, shows that participating in support groups doesn't extend the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. The results differ from oft-cited previous findings by Spiegel that showed group psychotherapy extended survival time.

Do I know you? QBI researchers identify woman's struggle to recognize new faces

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The woman's condition, known as prosopamnesia, is extremely rare and has only been found in a handful of people around the world, according to University of Queensland cognitive neuroscientist Professor Jason Mattingley.

Exposure to smoking-cessation product ads helps smokers quit

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

July 23, 2007 -- The more magazine ads smokers see for the nicotine patch and other quit-smoking aids, the more likely they are to try to quit smoking and be successful -- even without buying the products, finds a new Cornell study.

Double trouble: Hopelessness key component of mood disorder

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

According to Thomas Joiner, Florida State University Distinguished Research Professor and the Bright-Burton Professor of Psychology, who has identified hopelessness as a distinguishing feature of double depression in a new paper published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The finding could help therapists diagnose and treat the mood disorder.

Improvement following ADHD treatment sustained in most children

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Most children treated in a variety of ways for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed sustained improvement after three years in a major follow-up study funded by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Yet increased risk for behavioral problems, including delinquency and substance use, remained higher than normal.

Want to quit smoking? Therapy and willpower can help

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:15:12 PST

Kiel -, July 18 - Smoking bans in public places have recently come into effect in several European countries, and Germany is set to join their ranks next month.

The end of barroom brawls

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The link between alcohol and aggression is well known. Whats not so clear is just why drunks get belligerent. What is it about the brain-on-alcohol that makes fighting seem like a good idea And do all intoxicated people get more aggressive Or does it depend on the circumstances

The end of barroom brawls -- Study shows alcohol can reduce aggression

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Interventions during hospital stays can help motivate smokers to quit

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Hospitalized patients make a great captive audience for smoking cessation efforts, according to a new systematic review.

Tobacco industry efforts to derail effective anti-smoking campaigns

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Anti-smoking ads that reveal the tobacco industrys deceptive practices have been aggressively quashed through various methods found Temple University Assistant Professor Jennifer K. Ibrahim, co-author of an analysis in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Smokers lose more muscle in old age: study

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:39:28 PST

London, July 10 - Latest research by scientists in Britain indicates that besides causing cancer, heart attacks and strokes, smoking also affects muscles.

More muscle for the argument to give up smoking

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have got more bad news for smokers. Not only does it cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes but smokers will also lose more muscle mass in old age than a non-smoker. The effect of this predisposes smokers to an accelerated decline in physical function and loss of independence.

Smoking associated with lower Parkinson's disease risk

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A pooled analysis of data from previous studies suggests that cigarette smoking appears to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Parkinsons disease, with long-term and current smokers at the lowest risk, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

New heart disease risk score will help minimize health inequalities

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new score for predicting the risk of heart disease gives a more accurate measure of how many UK adults are at risk of developing the disease and which adults are most likely to benefit from treatment.

SNAP -- patches and stop

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

1050 pregnant women are being recruited for the most extensive trial of its kind to establish the effect of using nicotine patches during pregnancy. The £1.3m clinical trial Smoking, Nicotine and Pregnancy (SNAP) trial will investigate whether nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is safe, effective and cost-effective for mums-to-be who want to give up smoking. It will also study the effect on the behaviour and development of the child.

Gene variations directly link inflammation to an increased risk for lung cancer

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Variations in two genes related to inflammation may be a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, according to a team of scientists from the National Cancer Institute and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The effect of these genes is especially strong among heavy smokers, suggesting that the inflammatory response is important in modulating the damage caused by tobacco smoke.

Inhaling from just 1 cigarette can lead to nicotine addiction

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A new study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine shows that 10 percent of youth who become hooked on cigarettes are addicted within two days of first inhaling from a cigarette, and 25 percent are addicted within a month. The study found that adolescents who smoke even just a few cigarettes per month suffer withdrawal symptoms when deprived of nicotine, a startling finding that is contrary to long-held beliefs that only people with established smoking habits of at least five cigarettes per day experience such symptoms.

Almost one-third of adults report having some form of alcohol use problem during their lifetime

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

About 30 percent of Americans report having some form of alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes, including 17.8 percent with alcohol abuse and 12.5 percent with alcohol dependence, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Alcohol survey reveals 'lost decade' between ages of disorder onset and treatment

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

At some time during their lives, more than 30 percent of U.S. adults surveyed in 2001-2002 had met current diagnostic criteria[i] for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to an article in the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Many of those persons never received treatment, and many others did not receive treatment until well after AUD onset.

Workers in no-smoking restaurants show lower carcinogen levels

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Recent research on the dangers of secondhand smoke could help clear the air about the value of no-smoking laws governing bars and eateries.

Researchers identify alcoholism subtypes

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Analyses of a national sample of individuals with alcohol dependence (alcoholism) reveal five distinct subtypes of the disease, according to a new study by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Young smokers want to quit, but don't seek proven treatment

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Despite tried and true methods to quit smoking, young adults do not take advantage of these proven smoking cessation treatments that can double their chances of quitting, University of Illinois at Chicago public health researchers report.

Mothers' second-hand smoke exposure linked to psychological problems for kids

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children whose mothers were exposed to second-hand smoke while they were pregnant have more symptoms of serious psychological problems compared to the offspring of women who had no prenatal exposure to smoke, according to a new University of Washington study.

Outdoor alcohol ads boost kids' urge to drink

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the world depicted in an alcohol billboard, bikini-clad babes clutch icy bottles, frothy beer flows over frosty mugs and the slogan reads, Life is good. Ads like these may target adults, but children are getting the message too, a University of Florida and University of Minnesota study shows.

SSRI antidepressants do not pose major birth defect risk

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MA -- Researchers from Boston Universitys Slone Epidemiology Center have found that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants do not appear to increase the risk for most kinds of birth defects. The findings, to be published in the June 28, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that individual SSRIs may increase the risk for some specific defects, but these are rare and the absolute risks are small.

Scripps research study links chronic methamphetamine abuse and cardiovascular disease

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The study is being published the week of June 25 in an advanced online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

FDA approves Novartis Consumer Health Inc.'s over-the-counter THRIVE gum for cessation of smoking

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Parsippany, New Jersey, June 22, 2007 -- Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval of ThriveTM (Nicotine Polacrilex Gum USP) 2mg and ThriveTM (Nicotine Polacrilex Gum USP) 4mg to help smokers quit smoking in 12 weeks. The unexpectedly bold, mint-flavored nicotine replacement gum will be available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product nationwide beginning in late 2007 to help smokers double their chances of kicking the habit.

Study: Discriminating fact from fiction in recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

A decade or so ago, a spate of high profile legal cases arose in which people were accused, and often convicted, on the basis of "recovered memories." These memories, usually recollections of childhood abuse, arose years after the incident occurred and often during intensive psychotherapy.

STAMP system can help medical professionals to predict violence

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:00:00 PST

A researcher who spent nearly 300 hours observing patients in an accident and emergency department has developed a method for identifying possible flashpoints, according to the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Children of smokers have more than 5 times higher levels of a nicotine toxin

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Children who have at least one parent who smokes have 5.5 times higher levels of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, in their urine, according to a study by researchers from Warwick Medical School at the the University of Warwick, and the University of Leicester, published online ahead of print in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Drug warning prompts treatment changes for those infected with hepatitis B and HIV

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Cross-resistance alarms raised earlier this year by Johns Hopkins researchers about a widely used antiviral therapy for hepatitis B liver infections have prompted swift treatment revisions by the drugs maker and governmental agencies.

New Insights Into the Nature of Pride as a Social Function

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Pride has perplexed philosophers and theologians for centuries, and it is an especially paradoxical emotion in American culture. We applaud rugged individualism, self-reliance and personal excellence, but too much pride can easily tip the balance toward vanity, haughtiness and self-love. Scientists have also been perplexed by this complex emotion, because it is so unlike primary emotions like fear and disgust.

Does stimulant treatment for ADHD increase risk of drug abuse?

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY -- Parents, doctors, and others have wondered whether common treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inadvertently predispose adolescents to future drug abuse. The answer may depend on the age at which treatment is started and how long it lasts, say the authors of a new brain-imaging and behavioral study conducted in animals at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. The results appear in the June 5, 2007 online issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

Sleep disturbances among the elderly linked to suicide

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Self-reported sleep complaints among the elderly serve as a risk factor for completed suicide. The study, conducted by Rebecca Bernert of Florida State University, focused on data that were collected among 14,456 community elders over a 10-year period.

Slow wave activity during sleep is lower in African-Americans

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:00:00 PST

Slow wave activity (SWA), a stable trait dependent marker of the intensity of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, is lower in young healthy African-Americans compared to Caucasians who were matched for age, gender and body weight, according to a research abstract that will be presented Tuesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Girls Select Partners Who Resemble Their Dads - Research

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:00:00 PST

Women who enjoy good childhood relationships with their fathers are more likely to select partners who resemble their dads research suggests. In contrast, the team of psychologists from Durham University and two Polish institutions revealed that women who have negative or less positive relationships were not attracted to men who looked like their male parents.

Extended Shifts for Medical Interns Negatively Impact Patient Safety

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Working an extended duration shift can pose a risk to not only the safety and well-being of medical interns, but also to that of their patients, according to a research abstract that was presented on Wednesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Imagery rehearsal therapy improves sleep

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

In a study that insomniacs may find welcoming, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) has been shown to subjectively improve their ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a research abstract that will be presented Wednesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Reduced sleep quality can aggravate psychological conditions

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Disturbed sleep is a commonly reported symptom among individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders. However, the direct cause of disrupted sleep is poorly understood. Proper sleep is critical for cognitive and daily functioning, and reduced quality of sleep has the potential to exacerbate pre-existing psychological conditions, according to a research abstract that was presented on Wednesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

CBT Workshop Effective for Insomnia in Males

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Despite the positive results that it brings in the treatment of insomnia, access to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been difficult given the limited awareness of CBT services amongst referrers such as primary care providers. In addition to the low capacity among services to provide CBT, there is a gender imbalance, and men tend to seek help less frequently for their insomnia than women. The development and implementation of a CBT workshop is an effective means for getting men to seek help for the sleep disorder, according to a research abstract that will be presented Wednesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

When it comes to delinquency boys are exposed to more risk, less protection

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers trying to understand why high school-age boys are involved in serious delinquency more often than girls have found that males are exposed to higher levels of risk factors and lower amounts of protective factors.

Synthetic amylin curbs tendency to binge eat

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

The synthetic form of a hormone previously found to produce a feeling of fullness when eating and reduce body weight, also may help curb binge eating and the desire to eat high-fat foods and sweets. The findings on fast food consumption and binge eating tendencies are based on a 6-week research study of 88 obese individuals.

Antidepressant Augmentation Can Be Useful in Treatment Resistant Elderly Patients

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Adding a medication to a standard treatment regimen for major depressive disorder in the elderly improves chances of recovery in those who do not adequately respond to the first-course therapy or who relapse from it, finds a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association.

Genetic variations may predispose some men to suicidal thoughts during treatment for depression

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Genetic variations may help explain why some men with depression develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors after they begin taking antidepressant medications, while most do not, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Borderline personality disorder shows improvements with transference-focused psychotherapy

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

An intensive form of talk therapy, known as transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP), can help individuals affected with borderline personality disorder (BPD) by reducing symptoms and improving their social functioning, according to an article in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, a premier psychiatry journal.

New insights into the neural basis of anxiety

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

People who suffer from anxiety tend to interpret ambiguous situations, situations that could potentially be dangerous but not necessarily so, as threatening. Researchers from the Mouse Biology Unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Italy have now uncovered the neural basis for such anxiety behaviour in mice. In the current issue of Nature Neuroscience they report that a receptor for the messenger serotonin and a neural circuit involving a brain region called the hippocampus play crucial roles in mediating fear responses in ambiguous situations.

Antidepressant does not improve symptoms in advanced cancer patients without major depression

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The established antidepressant sertraline does not improve symptoms, wellbeing or survival in patients with advanced cancer who do not have major depression. The findings are reported early Online - timed to coincide with presentation of the paper at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago ? and in the July edition of The Lancet Oncology.

Smokers given more help to quit since GP performance pay introduced

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Smokers have been getting more support for quitting, and the numbers ofsmokers have reduced, since the introduction of performance-relatedincentives for UK general practitioners, according to new researchpublished today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In utero exposure to smoking increases ADHD risk

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Women smokers who become pregnant have long been encouraged to reduce or eliminate their nicotine intake. A new study being published in the June 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry provides further reason to do so, as it presents new evidence that in utero exposure to smoking is associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems in genetically susceptible children.

Low doses of ecstasy associated with decline in verbal memory

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Even low doses of Ecstasy may be associated with a decline in language-related memory, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Researchers call for investigation into links between khat use and psychiatric disorders

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers investigating the evidence for a potential causal link between khat use and mental illness - in the first ever systematic review of the topic - have called for improved research on the stimulant plant, and its possible association with psychiatric disorders.

Drug company funding of drug trials greatly influences outcome

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

In head-to-head trials of two drugs, the one deemed better appears to depend largely on who is funding the study, according to an analysis of nearly 200 statin-drug comparisons carried out between 1999 and 2005.