How books, puzzles may help ward off Alzheimer’s
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Ethnic Disparities Persist in Depression Diagnosis and Treatment Among Older Americans
Older racial and ethnic minorities living in the community are less likely to be diagnosed with depression than their white counterparts, but are also less likely to get treated, according to a recent NIMH-funded analysis published online ahead of print December 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health. Background Depression is a significant [...]
Co-occurring Disorders May Explain Change in Autism Diagnosis
Additional mental health conditions and developmental disabilities might explain why children might grow out of their autism diagnosis as they age, according to a new study. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health studied more than 1,300 children who had been diagnosed with autism. The disorders varied for autistic children of different [...]
DSM-5 Proposed Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder Designed to Provide More Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment
ARLINGTON, Va. (Jan. 20, 2012)—The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has proposed new diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for autism. While final decisions are still months away, the recommendations reflect the work of dozens of the nation’s top scientific and research minds and are supported [...]
Adolescent Victims of Abuse, Neglect Have Fewer Brain Cells
Adolescents who experienced abuse or neglect as children have fewer brain cells than teens that did not experience such maltreatment, a new study finds. Published in the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, the study found that adolescents who were exposed to maltreatment as children showed a reduction in gray matter in areas of the brain [...]
Soldier Suicides Level Off, But Violence Increases
Although the number of soldier suicides has stopped rising, there has been an increase in domestic violence and cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Army reports. The number of active duty soldiers who took their own life declined by 9 percent from 2010. But violent sex crimes and domestic violence rose more than 20 [...]
Latest APA survey reveals deepening concerns about connection between chronic disease and stress
Washington—The American Psychological Association’s (APA) newly released report, Stress in America™: Our Health at Risk, paints a troubling picture of the impact stress has on the health of the country, especially caregivers and people living with a chronic illness such as obesity or depression. The Stress in America survey, which was conducted online by Harris [...]
Atypical antipsychotic more effective than older drugs in treating childhood mania, but side effects can be serious
The antipsychotic medication risperidone is more effective for initial treatment of mania in children diagnosed with bipolar disorder compared to other mood stabilizing medications, but it carries the potential for serious metabolic side effects, according to an NIMH-funded study published online ahead of print January 2, 2012, in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Background Childhood bipolar [...]
Turning on Dormant Gene May Hold Key for Correcting a Neurodevelopmental Defect
Scientists working in cell culture and in mice have been able to correct the loss of gene activity underlying a rare but severe developmental disorder by turning on a gene that is normally silenced in brain cells. Further testing of the identified compound that activates the gene will determine whether it has potential as a [...]
Pot Smoking Not Tied to Middle-Age Mental Decline
Middle-aged adults whose memories have grown hazy can’t blame occasional pot smoking or other light illicit drug use for their forgetfulness… read more…
Blogging May Help Teens Dealing with Social Distress
Teens blogging about social problems, engaging with online community showed significant improvement, according to new research WASHINGTON—Blogging may have psychological benefits for teens suffering from social anxiety, improving their self-esteem and helping them relate better to their friends, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. “Research has shown that writing a personal [...]