April, 2010
Some Anti-Seizure Drugs Associated with Higher Risk of Suicide
Some anti-seizure drugs used to treat epilepsy as well as depression, chronic pain, migraine, bipolar disorder, and other conditions are associated with a higher risk of suicide and violent death than other drugs in the same class, according to a new study.
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Study Examines Connection of Stress, Anxiety and Depression in the Brain
Is there a biological link between stress, anxiety and depression? Researchers at the Robarts Research Institute and the University of Western Ontario think so, as presented in this recent Science Daily post. They believe that by identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, the research demonstrates exactly how stress and anxiety can lead to depression.
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Molecule Could Lead to New Treatments for Depression
There has been little progress in the way we treat depression and anxiety for over thirty years, but a recent study at EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) may open the door to new strategies. In an article published online in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers from two laboratories at the Brain Mind Institute at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) explain how understanding the functioning of a molecule called MIF, or macrophage migration inhibitory factor, may change the way we treat depression.
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Sleep Problems in Children May Lead to Substance Abuse Issues Later On
A significant percentage of children have problems with sleep. In fact, many children and teens struggle with chronic insomnia, very similar to adult insomnia. New research lead by Maria M. Wong of Idaho State University is showing a connection between sleep difficulties in childhood and problems with drug and alcohol use in early adulthood.
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Doctor Warns Against Using “Natural” Anxiety Treatments
In a broad-based review of studies focused on drugs that treat anxiety, a Saint Louis University doctor found no evidence supporting the use of so-called “natural” treatments in combating the effects of anxiety.
St. John’s wort, kava extract, and valerian, herbal remedies touted on the Internet, have not been proven to be effective in treating anxiety, wrote Kimberly Zoberi, M.D., associate professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She also raised concerns about the safety of valerian, saying that there is a lack of any long-term studies of the herb.
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Study Examines Role Chromosome 11 Plays in Alcohol Dependency
Alcohol dependency is an element of life worth researching to empower professionals to identify risk factors and proper prevention tools. Recent research by the Indiana University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that chromosome 11 could be partially responsible for alcohol dependency.
This genome-wide association study was part of a long-range research on alcohol dependence. Researchers found that a cluster of genes on chromosome 11 may incrementally add to a person’s risk for developing alcohol dependency, according to a post on Genome Web.
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Mental Health Providers Should Promote Exercise for Those with Depression and Anxiety
Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies.
“Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health,” says Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “The more therapists who are trained in exercise therapy, the better off patients will be.”
The Benefits of Addiction Intervention
If you have a loved one who has been spiraling out of control with their addiction you have probably tried many times to get them to stop. Often this means a continuous cycle of threats, promises, reprieves, relapses, then new threats and promises. The cycle usually goes something like this:
Stroke Patients Experience Better Depression Recovery When Given Psychosocial Therapy
Recovering from a stroke can be a tumultuous time for anyone, especially if recovery includes extensive therapy or even permanent damage. Now, a new study demonstrates the value delivered in psychological therapy combined with medication.
According to a Science Daily report, adding psychosocial therapy improved depression scores short term. In addition, these improvements were sustained long term. At the one year stage, depression scores dropped 47 percent in patients receiving eight weeks of psychological/behavioral therapy and antidepressants. At the same time, scores dropped 32 percent for those receiving the usual care, such as taking antidepressants.
Celebrity Deaths Highlight Power of Addiction
Addiction is hard to get over, no matter the drug of choice. The recent overdose and death of actor Corey Haim demonstrates the impact addition and drug use can have on a life, no matter what path the individual has taken.
ABC News posted a recent piece, highlighting the impact addiction can have even on an individual who claimed to be clean. Haim had struggled with a cocaine and Valium addiction and was reportedly admitted to rehab centers more than 15 times. In recent years, he had claimed he was clean.
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