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UrduRobert Anthenelli, MD, professor and director, Pacific Treatment and Research Center, UC San Diego School of Medicine, is available to talk about a new study that is investigating the potential use of a novel medication for cocaine addiction. UC San…
Tag: Psychiatry
Schizophrenia Study Suggests Advanced Genetic Scorecard Cannot Predict a Patient’s Fate
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that a tool commonly used in research for evaluating a person’s genetic risk for a disease, called a polygenic risk score, was no better at predicting the outcome of a schizophrenia patient’s disease over time than written reports. The results raise important questions about the use of polygenic risk scores in real-world, clinical situations, and also suggest that a doctor’s written report may be an untapped source of predictive information.
Gene Messengers, Rather Than Genes, May Provide Best Disease Clues
Genes can be expressed in different ways depending on how cells process their messengers, aka splicing isoforms. Genetic mutations can damage some splicing isoforms but not others. UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers found that splicing isoforms hit by…
Massive Study Links Nearly 600 Genomic Regions to Self-Regulating Behaviors
Researchers identified 579 locations in the human genome associated with a predisposition to self-regulation-related behaviors, such as addiction. With data from 1.5 million people of European descent, the effort is one of the largest genome-wide association studies to date.
Despite concerns, pandemic did not increase suicidal thoughts in veterans
Many public health experts feared the COVID-19 pandemic would cause an increase in suicidal behavior among U.S. military veterans, a group that already has high rates of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder and which experienced a 30% surge in suicides between 2010 and 2018.
News, images from Afghanistan can trigger PTSD in military veterans
The troubling news and images emerging from Afghanistan as American troops withdraw from the region after 20 years is causing a spike in post-traumatic stress among veterans at home, says UCLA Health psychiatrist Bruce Kagan, MD, PhD.
Brain Organoids Mimic Head Size Changes Associated with Type of Autism
Stem cell models derived from people with specific genomic variation recapitulate aspects of their autism spectrum disorder, providing a valuable model to study the condition and look for therapeutic interventions.
From mathematics to medicine: Wayne State medical school and mathematics faculty team up to apply complex mathematics to analyze fMRI data
Research led by a Wayne State University Department of Mathematics professor is aiding researchers in Wayne State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences in analyzing fMRI data. fMRI is the preeminent class of signals collected from the brain in vivo and is irreplaceable in the study of brain dysfunction in many medical fields, including psychiatry, neurology and pediatrics.
Sports Psychiatrist Available to Discuss Performance Stress During Olympic Competition
David McDuff, MD, Director of the Sports Psychiatry Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine is available for media interviews today to discuss the stress Olympic athletes are under during the most important competitions of their lives.
Virginia Tech scientists tie improved learning processes to reduced symptoms of depression
In a Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry study led by Pearl Chiu and Brooks King-Casas of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, brain imaging and mathematical modeling reveal previously unreported mechanistic features of symptoms associated with major depressive disorder.
Cooked Crustaceans, Cannabis and a Budder Way
Researchers expose live lobsters to vaporized cannabis and confirm the crustaceans absorb THC. Whether the psychoactive compound affects behavior remains open question.
Does cannabis affect brain development in young people with ADHD? Too soon to tell, reports Harvard Review of Psychiatry
At least so far, the currently limited research base does not establish that cannabis has additional adverse effects on brain development or functioning in adolescents or young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), concludes a review in the July/August issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Olfactory virtual realities show promise for mental health practices and integrative care
Study shows that scent-enhanced virtual reality technologies, or OVR, can be a safe and effective integrative approach to target anxiety, stress, and pain when combined with standard inpatient psychiatric care.
Laughing gas relieves symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Chicago have found that a single, one-hour treatment that involves breathing in a mixture of oxygen and the anesthetic drug nitrous oxide — otherwise known as laughing gas — can significantly improve symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression.
How Your Phone Can Predict Depression and Lead to Personalized Treatment
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine used a combination of modalities, such as measuring brain function, cognition and lifestyle factors, to generate individualized predictions of depression.
Social Justice as Part of the Remedy for What Ails Us
The T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion has opened its newest center, focused on addressing issues of social justice in health care.
World Eating Disorders Action Day: One Person’s Experience
In high school, Sydney McLamb was a dancer and soccer player who was unconcerned about body image. When she left home for college, McLamb began to experience severe loneliness despite being surrounded by friends in a sorority. She started questioning…
Commonly Used Drugs for Schizophrenia Linked to Greater Cognitive Impairment
UC San Diego researchers report that medications commonly prescribed to reduce the severity of physical and mental health symptoms associated with schizophrenia may have a cumulative effect of worsening cognitive function in patients.
Overlapping Genetic Influences on Alcohol Consumption and Dependence
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers found that a common measure of alcohol consumption — asking “how often do you have an alcoholic drink?” — is susceptible to bias, and has led to incorrect conclusions about biological influences on…
ASU health economist studies effects of mental illness disclosure in the workplace
A person with a serious mental illness must confront the difficult decision of whether to reveal their disorder in their workplace. Disclosing their diagnosis might create stigma, but it could also mean additional support. Adding to the delicate balancing act…
Blanks for the Memory
UC San Diego researchers report that one kind of perceptual learning can occur in memory-impaired persons who do not actually remember what they learned.
‘Breaking the links’ in the chain of violence: Journal of Psychiatric Practice continues series on therapeutic risk management approach
With mass shootings and other seemingly meaningless acts of violence in the headlines all too frequently, strategies to assess the risk and reduce the potential for violent acts are sorely needed. The fourth in a series of five columns devoted to therapeutic risk management of violence – focusing on a method called chain analysis to identify and target pathways leading to violent thoughts and behaviors – appears in the May issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Practice. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Rutgers Champion of Student Health and Wellness is Retiring
When Melodee Lasky joined Rutgers University 19 years ago, behavioral and mental health services were scattered across the individual colleges with little coordination. Psychiatry and the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program were part of student health, but counseling services were separated and college-affiliated. Lasky, a physician who recognized the connection between physical and emotional wellness, recommended that mental and behavioral health be integrated within the framework of student health. That led to the creation of CAPS – Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services – a program that helps about 4,500 students each year.
Two Novel Biobanks Offer Investigatory Targets for Cocaine and Oxycodone Addiction
Researchers have created to novel biobanks of diverse tissues from animals to further explore the biological bases and consequences of addiction to cocaine and oxycodone.
No increase in brain health problems in middle age for men who played football in high school
Decades after their days on the gridiron, middle-aged men who played football in high school are not experiencing greater problems with concentration, memory, or depression compared to men who did not play football, reports a study in Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Autism Center at UC San Diego Receives $1.5 Million Gift
The UC San Diego Autism Center for Excellence has received a $1.5 million gift from Kristin Farmer, founder and chief executive officer of ACES, a company that provides services to children with autism and their families, to support the work of Karen Pierce, co-director of the Autism Center.
Blood test for depression, bipolar disorder offers promise of personalized treatment
Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will suffer from a depressive episode in their lifetime.
While current diagnosis and treatment approaches are largely trial and error, a breakthrough study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on the biological basis of mood disorders and offers a promising blood test aimed at a precision-medicine approach to treatment.
Childhood Car Crash Inspires UC San Diego Alumni to Donate to Pediatric Research
UC San Diego alumni make a gift of $1 million towards first-of-its-kind pediatric research. The Cathy and Richard Tryon Pediatric Facial/Psychological Trauma Research Fund will support research at UC San Diego to benefit pediatric patients who have suffered from traumatic facial deformities.
Party Drug MDMA Doesn’t Mix Well With Many Other Meds
Midomafetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy or molly, is a psychoactive drug primarily used for recreational purposes, but it’s now also being evaluated as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s database…
Wayne State developing statewide mental health program to address stress among first responders and their families
The Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences has teamed with the State of Michigan to develop a comprehensive behavioral and mental health training and support program for the state’s first responders and their families to address the stress they face in their duties protecting residents.
How Does Your Brain Process Emotions? Answer Could Help Address Loneliness Epidemic
In a study published in the March 5, 2021 online edition of Cerebral Cortex, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that specific regions of the brain respond to emotional stimuli related to loneliness and wisdom in opposing ways.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week: A Crisis in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa
At some point in their lives, nearly 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, the most lethal of psychiatric disorders after opioid overdose. Anorexia nervosa frequently requires prolonged hospitalization for weight restoration and medical stabilization.…
Dr. Dror Ben-Zeev heads center for accessible mental health using technology
Dror Ben-Zeev, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, is an expert on mental health apps. He is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in technology-based approaches in the study, assessment, and…
Mental health app equally effective, half the cost
Digital mental health apps and internet-based treatments could overcome both access problems and provider shortages. But these apps have yet to be adopted in the U.S. healthcare system. One reason is that these apps need payment and reimbursement models that would enable broad adoption.
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine recently published results to help propel policymakers to create these payment models. They proved that an app to help people with serious mental illness was just as effective as a clinic-based group intervention for half the cost.
Mystery of Metabolic Dysfunction in Psychiatric Patients Solved. The Key? Dopamine in the Pancreas.
Antipsychotic drugs not only block dopamine signaling in the brain but also in the pancreas, leading to uncontrolled production of blood glucose-regulating hormones and, eventually, obesity and diabetes.
Dr. Jill RachBeisel, Appointed Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the UM School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Jill RachBeisel, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, has been appointed to serve as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, effective immediately. Dr. RachBeisel has served as the Department’s Interim Chair for the past two years and was previously Acting Chair and Vice Chair of the Department.
Poorer Mental Health Smolders After Deadly, Devastating Wildfire
UC San Diego researchers report that climate change is a chronic mental health stressor, and promotes a variety of mental health problems. The 2018 Camp Fire is a case study.
Genomic Studies Implicate Specific Genes in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
After analyzing the genomes of more 250,000 military veterans, researchers have identified 18 specific, fixed positions on chromosomes that appear associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings may point to new therapeutic drug targets.
The Medical Minute: Understanding seasonal affective disorder
Clinical depression that sets in at a season’s start and goes into remission at the end is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. With a proper diagnosis, effective treatment is available.
Kenneth Altshuler, M.D., Who Led UT Southwestern Department of Psychiatry For 23 Years, Dies At 91
DALLAS – Jan. 15, 2021 – Kenneth Altshuler, M.D., a professor emeritus and longtime
chair of psychiatry at UT Southwestern who helped to advance mental health causes in Dallas, died Jan. 6. He was 91.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
Typically, the winter months bring the peak of flu season. As cases of COVID-19 have soared in the U.S. over the past few weeks, however, cases of the flu have remained extremely low.
Metabolism May Play Role in Recurrent Major Depression
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine, in collaboration with Dutch scientists, have found that certain metabolites — small molecules produced by the process of metabolism — may be predictive indicators for persons at risk for recurrent major depressive disorder.
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Receives $8 Million Bequest from Philanthropist and Mental Health Advocate Stephen Lieber
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation today announced that is has received a bequest of $8 million from the noted philanthropist and mental health advocate Stephen Lieber. The Foundation is the world’s largest private funder of mental health research grants, and this gift will be used to expand its support for research that is transforming the lives of people living with mental illness.
Increase in pleasurable effects of alcohol over time can predict alcohol use disorder
A new study out of the University of Chicago Medicine following young adult drinkers for 10 years has found that individuals who reported the highest sensitivity to alcohol’s pleasurable and rewarding effects at the start of the trial were more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD) over the course of the study.
Five UC San Diego Experts Elected AAAS Fellows in 2020
American Association for the Advancement of Science honors the contributions of UC San Diego leaders in astrophysics, research advocacy, organic chemistry, psychiatry and geophysics.
New paper proposes framework for eliminating defects in psychiatric care
A new paper from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center proposes a framework for eliminating defects in behavioral health treatment.
The authors cite that a large majority of defects are the result of system failures rather than due to the individual psychiatrist, and they propose that psychiatrists need to function as “systems engineers” to help eliminate these defects in healthcare organizations.
Student Medical Records at UC San Diego Make Epic Change and a California First
UC San Diego was the first university in California to connect 40,000 student health records to the electronic health record platform of its top-ranked academic medical center, UC San Diego Health. The experience has created a model for other colleges.
Study: Loneliness Highest in the 20s and Lowest in the 60s
Seeking to develop effective interventions, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine examined the psychological and environmental factors that lead to patterns of loneliness in different age groups.
Mindfulness interventions can change health behaviors – Integrated model helps to explain how they work
A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of mindfulness approaches to promote positive changes in health behaviors. New neurobiologically based models of “mindful self-regulation” help to explain the how mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) work to help people make healthy behavior changes, according to a review in the November/December issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin Relieves Major Depression, Study Shows
In a small study of adults with major depression, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, produced rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement and half of study participants achieving remission through the four-week follow-up.