November, 2009
New Study Suggests Elderly Fight Depression by Staying Current on Family Matters
Such events as a small promotion at work, a backyard landscaping project, or a new milestone met by a great-grandchild may warrant a phone call to an elderly family member. Though these occasions may not call for a party or even a greeting card, new research shows that keeping current on family events may help an elderly family member keep depression from encroaching on their retirement.
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Kyungpook National University studied the effects of stress and depression on participants over the age of 85. Changes in positive life events, such as the ones described above, were associated with changes in levels of depression.
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Social Perceptions: Biological vs. Behavioral Diseases
Decades after behavioral disorders such as alcohol and drug addictions have been recognized by the medical community as diseases instead of simply a series of bad choices, social stigmas still play a role with these health issues.
Negative associations cause people to fear, reject, and discriminate against a person with a behavior-related disease, according to research by Shaffer done in 1987. In a recent edition of Addiction and Humanities, the author examined the work of Shaffer alongside a more recent study by Room in 2005. Room reviewed the literature on stigma and rejection involved with psychoactive substance abuse.
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Are Rats Risk-Averse?
Rats are often studied to determine how humans might behave in a similar situation or react to a medication. Though rats have been known to understand simple reward and punishment responses, it has not been explored whether rats could understand the concept of “playing the odds.” A recent study by Zeeb, Robbins, & Winstanley in 2009 examined whether rats are capable of such behavior and whether altering their brain chemistry to imitate the brain chemistry of human gamblers would change the rats’ decisions.
Culture Can Play an Effective Role in Treatment for Depression
Research and doctors tell us there are a number of things that can lead to depression. One of the most obvious links is genetics as where we come from can play a large part in where we are going. According to a new Northwestern University study, this genetic tendency is much less likely to be realized in a culture centered on collectivistic rather than individualistic values.
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Intervention Method May Help Curb Drunk Driving
Driving while intoxicated is not only illegal, it also puts the life of the driver and everyone else on the road at risk. The biggest problem on the road today is DWI recidivists, or those who re-offend. Many of these individuals fail to participate in mandated alcohol-evaluation and intervention programs or continue to drink problematically after their license has been re-issued.
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Component of Common Plastics Linked to ADHD
A new report by Korean scientists has found that phthalates—important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items—are associated with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects.
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Cocaine Proving to be a Hard Drug to Crack
There are a number of individuals throughout the world that deal with addictions. For those with a cocaine addiction, this one has proven to be one of the most difficult to beat. Individuals who complete treatment for a cocaine addiction may or may not experience a full recovery as it can depend on other factors.
A recent Science Daily post examined study findings indicating that a high score on the so-called ‘scale of craving,’ an antisocial personality type and previous heroin abuse are all factors that are most commonly involved in situations where people fall back into the cocaine habit.
Gambling Addiction Rapidly Growing Problem for Youth in Iowa
Gambling has become practically a national pastime. Recent reports suggest that more money is spent on gambling than other entertainment venues combined. Along with this love affair for risk has come a growing addiction.
In a recent Sioux City Journal article, gambling therapist Matt Cihak believes it is only a matter of time before his clientele takes on a younger average age. “Our gambling patients still tend to be in the late 40s or early 50s,” he said in the Journal. “But with an increase of poker on TV and a host of Internet sites available, kids have never been exposed to gambling more than they are now.”
Gambling is considered a form of risk-taking rebellion, according to Cihak. Family history can play a role in increasing the risk, much like it does in alcoholism and drug abuse. Warning signs can include a teen preoccupied with gambling. He or she will also be excited by the results and become irritable when asked to stop.
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Ketamine Use Increasing Faster Than Any Other Drug in UK
It appears the drug ketamine – known as “K” or “Special K” – is increasing in use faster than any other drug in the UK. This finding is from the British Crime Survey, 2008 and featured in a recent Science Daily release.
The British Crime Survey is the first ever, large-scale, longitudinal study of ketamine users which shows the consequences of repeated ketamine use. To conduct their study, researchers from the University College London followed 150 people over the course of a year to see if changes in their ketamine use could predict changes in their psychological well-being, memory and concentration.
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Exposure to Lead and Tobacco Smoke Raises Risk of ADHD
Children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally or exposed to lead during childhood are at a particularly high risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
The study estimates that up to 35 percent of ADHD cases in children between the ages of 8 and 15 could be reduced by eliminating both of these environmental exposures. This could translate to 800,000 children.
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