Heart attack patients with depression less likely to receive priority care in emergency rooms

February 28th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Other

Heart attack patients with a history of depression presenting at emergency departments were less likely to receive priority care than people with other conditions, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Several studies indicate that people with heart attacks an...

People with low self-esteem show more signs of prejudice

February 23rd, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

When people are feeling badly about themselves, they're more likely to show bias against people who are different. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, examines how that works.

"This is one of the oldest accounts of why people stereotype and ...

For people with depression, support groups have built-in benefits

February 18th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

People who get together for support with depression may find their symptoms decrease, a new systematic review suggests.

“We’re not saying that peer support can do things for people with depression that other forms of therapy can’t, but we found that peer groups are better than no p...

Therapy for depression can be delivered effectively by non-specialists

February 16th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

Depression can be treated effectively with psychotherapy by mental health nurses with minimal training, according to new preliminary research findings.

The study, led by Durham University's Mental Health Research Centre, shows that patients with severe depression can be treated successfully wit...

Treatment for manic-depressive illness restores brain volume deficits

February 16th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

Lithium, introduced in the late 1940's, was the first "wonder drug" in psychiatry. It was the first medication treatment for the manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and it remains among one of the most effective treatments for this disorder.

In the past 15 years, as molecular mecha...

Personality disorders are 'widespread', say experts

9 February 2011 Last updated at 04:12 GMT

Personality disorders are widespread, experts say

We need to be more aware of personality disorders - which are more prevalent than people realise, say experts.

Prof Eddie Kane, of the Institute of Mental Health, said 4% of people have such a condition, with some studies showing rates as high as 13%.

Failed families linked to mental illness rise as psychiatric health bill hits £105bn

By Gerri Peev

Last updated at 7:58 AM on 7th February 2011

Family breakdown: Children from broken homes are more likely to suffer depression, commit crime and die younger, finds new research.

Family breakdown is leading to an increase in mental illness, leading experts have warned.

They found that children from broke...

Do Gut Bugs Practice Mind Control?

by Elizabeth Pennisi on 31 January 2011, 3:00 PM

Are you a worrier? Low on energy? You might be able to blame your state of mind on the bugs in your gut. Researchers studying behavior and gene activity in mice have found that these microbes appear to help shape brain development. If the findings translate to humans, they could lead to new ways to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.

Living with schizophrenia

Amanda Mitchison

The Guardian, Saturday 5 February 2011

To Patrick Cockburn, it's an illness that has eaten away at his oldest child. To Henry, it has been a revelation. Father and son tell Amanda Mitchison how schizophrenia has changed them both

From the very beginning, Henry insisted there was nothing wrong with him. He believed in his visions and voices – just as he still, partially, does today. P...

Scientific research reveals brain alterations linking omega 3 deficit with depression

February 4th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

The link between deficits of omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (AGPO-3) and the onset of depressive disorders is not new in the medical field. However, what has not been known until now is the brain mechanism by which diet can condition mental health to a certain extent. Resea...

These Types of Children Have an Increased Risk of Suicidal Thoughts

02/03/2011 14:02:00

Posted By Dr. Mercola | February 03 2011

By Dr. Mercola

If you have watched or read any news lately, it is likely you have heard some of the tragic stories about young people committing suicide.

Brain development may be influenced by bacteria in the gut

February 1, 2011

A team of scientists from across the globe have found that gut bacteria may influence mammalian brain development and adult behavior. The study is published in the scientific journal PNAS, and is the result of an ongoing collaboration between scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Genome Institute of Singapore.

Mental-health patients dying young Published On Mon Jan 31 2011

Linda Chamberlain says she knows many people in their 40s with mental heath issues who died from heart attacks caused by diabetes and poor nutrition.

Nicole BauteStaff Reporter

Affordable housing advocate Linda Chamberlain knows eight people with mental illness who have died recently. But she's convinced it wasn't mental-health issu...

... Should we STILL be using electric shock therapy for depression?

By Pat Hagan

Last updated at 1:53 AM on 1st February 2011

When Gabrielle Blackman-Sheppard told family and friends she was to have electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) for her severe depression, they were horrified.

‘The image they all had was of someone being forcibly strapped into an electric chair,’ recalls Gabrielle, who has suffered from bipolar disorde...

A deficiency of dietary omega-3 may explain depressive behaviors

January 30th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

How maternal essential fatty acid deficiency impact on its progeny is poorly understood. Dietary insufficiency in omega-3 fatty acid has been implicated in many disorders. Researchers from Inserm and INRA and their collaborators in Spain collaboration, have studied mice fed on a diet low in omega-3 fatty acid. They discovered that reduced levels of omega-3 h...

Marriage is good for physical and mental health

January 27th, 2011 in Medicine & Health / Health

The 'smug marrieds' may have good reason to feel pleased with themselves as experts today confirm that long-term committed relationships are good for mental and physical health and this benefit increases over time.

In an editorial published by student BMJ, David and John Gallacher from Cardiff U...

Driving change in diagnosis of personality disorders

January 26, 2011 By Kate Cohorst

University of Notre Dame psychologist Lee Anna Clark recently began work on a five-year study that will contribute to revolutionizing the way personality disorders are diagnosed and further cement Clark’s standing as one of the world’s preeminent research psychologists.

The study, funded through a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, will expand on Clar...

25 January 2011

Debt is being blamed for the growing number of people suffering from mental illness in the South West.

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) said redundancy, mortgage or rent arrears, credit card debt and other money worries were making people desperate.

One in six calls being received by the mental health charity Mind in Plymouth is now related to financial stress.

Pioneering treatment could help people with severe depression

January 24, 2011

Pioneering neurosurgical treatment, a world first in Bristol, which very accurately targets brain networks involved in depression, could help people who suffer with severe and intractable depression.

The research led by Dr Andrea Malizia, Consultant Senior Lecturer in the School of Social and Community Medicine at th...

Light therapy promising for treating major depression

January 7, 2011 by Lin Edwards

(PhysOrg.com) -- A small clinical trial in The Netherlands suggests bright light therapy may be a useful treatment for the symptoms of major depression in older adults.

The trial was run by a team led by Dr. Ritsaert Lieverse of GGZ inGeest and the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, and studied 89 adult...