Life Events Related to Psychiatric Illness

In a recent study, 35% of patients who suffered their first psychiatric disorder experienced some sort of “severe event” at least on year prior to being diagnosed. I thought this percentage would be a bit higher…

Although life events have been consistently reported as precipitating factors for most psychiatric disorders, there is no comprehensive investigation of the relationship between severe life events and psychiatric disorders in the general population.

Technorati Tags: Psychology, Psychiatry

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Large study on antidepressant use among children and adolescents

Duke University is launching a a large study to learn about the role of antidepressants in the treatment of children and adolescents.

The first study to be conducted under the CAPTN
umbrella is ASK, a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2,420
children and adolescents with a depressive disorder, anxiety disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder or eating disorder. The study
participants will be prescribed either a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
While these two classes of medications are widely used among adults and
prescribed to approximately two to three percent of American children,
questions have arisen about potential adverse events, especially
suicidal events, associated with use of these medications. Through ASK,
information will be collected about the safety, tolerability,
effectiveness and potential benefits of these medications.

NIMH schizophrenia research

NIMH has published research news that describes antipsychotic use and schizophrenia treatment. Apparently, no one second generation antipsychotic out-performs first generation antipsychotics. The study is published in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Follow the link below to read the full article.

The results run contrary to previous studies, and the widely held belief, that the newer, second-generation antipsychotics are better than the older medications in improving schizophrenia patients’ cognitive skills.

The rational of anger

Anger is often associated with poor decision making and being irrational.  But, a new study by Wesley G. Moons and Diane M. Mackie of the University of California, Santa Barbara, finds that anger can actually prompt more careful and rational analysis of another person’s reasoning.

Follow this link to the abstract.

Follow this link to the full pdf article.  Be warned the document is 16 pages in length.

Blood brain barrier

Researchers at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute announced today that they have patented a new way of transporting medicine that may be able to safely cross the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier is a group of cells that line the brain’s blood vessels, protecting vital brain structures from foreign substances. The barrier has posed enormous difficulties for researchers who want to deliver therapeutic drugs to the brain to treat tumors, infections and degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Employee testing

I don’t know about you. But at my current place of employment I am subject to random urine drug screens. I am fine with it. It doesn’t bother me. But as each year passes, I find my civil liberties slowly being infringed upon. Smokers can no longer smoke on company property, even if they are in their car. My car is subject to search without notice. I am fully aware of this and I continue to remain employed. But when will it end. I don’t think it ever will. My mind wonders to scenes in Gataca when DNA is sampled at birth, which determines our future.

A new test developed at the University of London will identify job applicants who find it hard to remain focused on the job. Researchers point to the benefits of such a screening process, citing safety in screening pilots and drivers. Unfortunately, I can see employers screening out possible employees or giving the test to current employees to determine usefulness.

Follow this link to the BBC to read further.

“Distraction at work can have serious implications – it is known to be associated with a higher risk of being involved in various types of accidents.

Types of anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in the United States. And not surprisingly anti-anxiety medications lead the pack as most prescribed. According to new research from the University of Illinois there are two types of anxiety. The first is anxious apprehension, which includes worry and verbal rambling. The second is anxious arousal, which is intense fear and panic.

“This study looks at two facets of anxiety that often are not distinguished,” said U. of I. psychology professor Gregory A. Miller, co-principal investigator on the study with psychology professor Wendy Heller. “We had reason to think there were different brain mechanisms, different parts of the brain active at different times, depending on what type of anxiety one is facing.”

No satisfaction equals no motivation

New research at Florida State University suggests that satisfaction and motivation are directly linked. The research hypothesizes that when a person wants something and gets it, the subsequent feeling of satisfaction reinforces and increases the strength of that desire when it returns. Conversely, chronically unsatisfied desires may diminish the intensity of motivation.

“Obviously, we want much that we cannot get, but gradually we want these things a little less,” Baumeister said. “It’s the ‘getting’ that begets wanting.”

Discovery of new brain rhythm

The following is a press release from Florida Atlantic University. Researchers were able to identify brain rhythms during social interactions. The press release gets technical in language. From what I can make of it, researchers are hoping to understand brain rhythms of “normal” brains during socialization. Hopin g that further study of autistic or schizophrenic brains will shed light on those conditions.

“The ground-breaking research by Dr. Scott Kelso and colleagues leading to the discovery of this new brain rhythm related to human social interactions opens up the potential to now understand how and why we as humans relate to each other the way we do,” said Dr. Larry F. Lemanski, vice president for research at FAU.
“Moreover, this exciting new finding may lead to a better understanding of and better diagnostic protocols for various neuropsychiatric disorders.”