Chronic Alcohol Consumption Impairs Formation of New Brain Cells

A new study found that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the number of new brain cells that form in the hippocampus of adolescent rhesus monkeys. This finding suggests that these cells are vulnerable to alcohol and their presence may be essential for preventing alcohol dependence.

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Research Suggests Doctors Have Less Respect for Obese Patients

A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that doctors have less respect for their obese patients than they do for patients of normal weight. The findings raise questions about whether negative physician attitudes about obesity could be affecting the long-term health of their heavier patients.

As patients had higher body mass indexes (BMI), physicians reported lower respect for them, according to the study, which will appear in the November issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

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Too Much Light at Night Can Lead to Symptoms of Depression in Mice

Too much light at night can lead to symptoms of depression, according to a new study. Researchers found that mice housed in a lighted room 24 hours a day exhibited more depressive symptoms than did similar mice that had a normal light-dark cycle.

However, mice that lived in constant light but could escape into a dark, opaque tube when they wanted showed less evidence of depressive symptoms than did mice that had 24-hour light but only a clear tube in their housing.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Death After Surgery

A new study suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with death after surgery. Researchers found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to die within a year after surgery than those without the disease, regardless of how many years had passed since their service.

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Stages of Compulsive Gambling

Compulsive or pathological gambling is a progressive illness, a psychological disorder which is just as difficult to overcome as addiction to alcohol or drugs. The compulsive gambler experiences a series of stages, each with its own warning signs. While the number of stages varies from 3 to 5, depending on the source, all are similar in the first three. This article discusses the 5 stages, since that is the most complete. Note that not all compulsive gamblers will experience all of the phases, as they may give up before the final one. In addition, here we will refer to the action compulsive gambler, primarily male, as opposed to an escape problem gambler, primarily female.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Better for Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of severe depression that occurs annually in the fall and winter seasons. University of Vermont psychologist Kelly Rohan presented the first published research study of the long-term effects of different treatments for SAD in the September issue of the journal Behavior Therapy.

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Dr. Shari Corbitt Joins Promises Treatment Centers as Senior Executive Director

Dr. Corbitt is a licensed psychologist with rich clinical experience in the treatment of addiction, eating disorders, and trauma as well as a strong background in treatment center operations.

Promises Treatment Centers announced this week the appointment of Dr. Shari Corbitt, a licensed psychologist with a background in the treatment of addiction,Trauma, Pain management and eating disorders, as Senior Executive Director of Promises. The newly created position will allow Promises to continue to grow their already strong reputation as a clinically rigorous addiction treatment program.

“Dr. Corbitt has a wealth of clinical experience related to recovery, pain management, trauma, and eating disorders. She is an extraordinary manager and I look forward to her providing leadership and innovation at Promises,” said Dr. David Sack, CEO of Promises.

“Promises is doing a phenomenal job,” Dr. Corbitt said. “It has all the ingredients that make a wonderful program – licensed clinicians, psychiatry, and executive management that is open to growth and learning. Everything I saw when looking at Promises showed me they care for clients with integrity. That’s the kind of team I wanted to join.”

Dr. Corbitt began college at the young age of 16. That was the same year she began her own journey of recovery from an eating disorder. She went on to earn her doctorate degree in psychology from Yeshiva University in New York. She has over two decades of personal experience in recovery as well as a rich background in both treatment and operations.

“My first introduction to working with addictions was at a treatment center on the Rincon reservation in northern San Diego County. I was clinical director on the reservation where seven tribes had banded together to get all their health care needs met at one clinic. It was a wonderful clinic. That was probably where I received my most intensive training relative to the true realities of substance abuse and the long-term effects – physical, emotional, and spiritual – of addiction.”

Dr. Corbitt then briefly worked with a large private practice group before becoming the program director at Casa Palmera, a boutique-style treatment center for eating disorders and trauma. She became well-versed in the treatment of trauma using EMDR, somatic experiencing, and art therapy.

“Trauma was the primary focus, and how the dysregulation of emotion as a result of traumatic experience had driven those young women, and occasionally men, to having disordered eating,” Dr. Corbitt said. “Making that connection was very powerful for them.”

Dr. Corbitt later became the Clinical Director at Sierra Tucson where her experience shifted from strictly clinical experience to more clinical operations experience. She worked with Promises’ Keith Arnold, who was Executive Director at Sierra Tucson at that time.

“I am very excited to have Dr. Corbitt join our team,” said Arnold, who joined Promises in 2008 as Vice President of Operations for Elements Behavioral Health and Promises. “We have worked closely in the past and I respect her ability to enhance clinical programming, increase patient care and satisfaction, and work collaboratively with staff and the referring community. She has incredible energy, and integrity, and has a wonderful ability to make great things happen. I am looking forward to working with her again and enhancing the great care we give at Promises.”

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Anti-Depressant Associated with Increase in Suicidal Thoughts in Men

The popular anti-depressant Nortriptyline has been found to cause a ten-fold increase in suicidal thoughts in men when compared to its competitor escitalopram. Nortriptyline is marketed under the brand names Sensoval, Aventyl, Pamelor, Norpress, Allegron, and Nortrilen. Escitalopram is marketed as Lexapro and Cipralex.

Science Daily reports that the research was carried out by Dr. Nader Perroud from the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, who headed up GENDEP, an international team.

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Mental Health Issues Affect Job Performance

Mental health issues can impact the effectiveness of an individual at his or her job. When a person is wrapped up in their own thoughts—especially unhealthy thoughts—they can easily ignore the task at hand and focus only on what is going on mentally.

According to a study announced by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, workers who did not have symptoms of mental health problems were the more productive on the job. The good news is that treatment can help those who do suffer from mental health issues.

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Study Examines Preventing Anxiety in Children of Anxious Parents

In a new pilot study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center attempted to prevent or mitigate anxiety disorders among children of anxious parents.

In the investigation, researchers used a family-based program of cognitive behavioral therapy with generally positive results.

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