Researchers aim to enroll patients aged 6-17 with moderate to severe PANS and evaluate the effectiveness of PANZYGA versus placebo in reducing symptoms. The study will also assess sustainability and functional impairment associated with PANS treatment.
A study of 495 Portuguese adults aged 18-24 found a strong link between smartphone use and feelings of panic, anxiety, and obsession. Researchers discovered that those who experienced nomophobia (fear of being without their phone) scored higher on obsession-compulsion tests.
Researchers found that exposure-based therapy was more effective in reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while stress-reduction therapy showed better results for those with lower brain activation in certain areas. The study aims to develop a personalized treatment approach for OCD, which may help improve therapy ou...
A study from the Danish psychiatry project iPSYCH identified genetic risk factors for developing bipolar disorder and psychoses among people with depression. The results may contribute to ensuring correct diagnosis is made earlier, leading to better treatment outcomes.
Researchers investigate how excessive exercise affects emotional states in people with eating disorders, aiming to develop personalized interventions. The study also seeks to understand individual differences in triggering excessive exercise and its impact on recovery duration.
A study by Boston Medical Center found that 29% of private post-acute care facilities in Massachusetts explicitly discriminated against hospitalized individuals with opioid use disorder, rejecting their referral for admission. The rejections were often due to a substance use disorder diagnosis or treatment with buprenorphine or methadone.
Researchers identified shared brain structural elements across major psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The study also revealed distinct regional abnormalities for individual conditions, suggesting potential mechanisms underlying these disorders.
Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have identified a specific nerve bundle as the optimal target for deep brain stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder. The study's findings may improve treatment outcomes for patients with severe OCD, which affects over 2% of people worldwide.
Researchers propose PANDAS, a type of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder, as a possible cause of sudden childhood OCD cases. The study identifies antibodies binding to interneurons in the brain as a key factor contributing to the disorder.
Patients with multiple family members suffering from severe mental disorders require more intensive treatment, but respond equally well as those without a family history. The study found that family mental health affects patients' lives beyond the disorder itself.
Researchers used noninvasive pulses of ultrasound waves to control macaque monkeys' choices in an experiment widely used to investigate choice behaviors. The technique successfully influenced which target the monkeys looked at, regardless of reward, suggesting its potential for studying addiction and compulsive behaviors.
A new study reveals that medical personnel working with COVID-19 patients in China have higher rates of anxiety, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms compared to the general population. The study collected data from over 30,000 healthcare providers during the pandemic's peak.
A survey of U.S. primary care physicians found that nearly one-third do not view medication treatment for opioid use disorder as effective, despite strong research evidence and clinical guidelines emphasizing its life-saving benefits. The study also revealed low support for policies to remove prescription barriers and increase insuranc...
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a link between a specific immune system protein and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Treating mice with an antibody that neutralised the protein reduced anxiety levels, suggesting a potential new treatment for human patients.
Researchers often overlook comorbidities in Tourette syndrome, but it is an intersection of multiple medical conditions. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for effective treatment and patient evaluation.
Researchers argue that psychedelic drugs can have therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions. Brain imaging has shown that psychedelics activate specific receptors in the brain, leading to long-term changes in brain functioning and anatomy.
A new study reveals that children and teenagers worry about political issues, with concerns spanning environmental issues, gun violence, and racial/ethnic minorities. While the worry may not be harmful in moderation, caregivers of youth with anxiety disorders should be aware of its potential impact.
A new genetic map of psychiatric disorders has been completed by an international study involving 230,000 patients worldwide. The research identified 109 genetic variants associated with eight psychiatric disorders, including autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia.
Research by University of Helsinki finds unwanted behavior in 73% of dogs, with significant breed-specific differences. Traits like noise sensitivity and fearfulness are common, while compulsive behaviour and separation anxiety also occur.
Researchers have uncovered neural mechanisms that govern complex motor sequences in fruit flies, revealing the importance of spatial comparisons in decision-making. The findings could lend insight into pathologies such as Parkinson's Disease and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
A study published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that stepwise treatment for pediatric OCD results in excellent long-term stability of treatment gains. Most participants responded well to treatment, with significant improvements in symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and depressive symptoms.
People with higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms tend to distrust their past experience, leading to increased uncertainty and exploratory behaviors. This study found that individuals with OCD have difficulty trusting acquired knowledge, resulting in an excessive need for updated evidence.
A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that treating opioid use disorder with medications within 30 days of discharge from the hospital due to injection drug use-related endocarditis improves health outcomes. Those who received medication had a reduced risk of overdose and rehospitalization within a year.
A literature review by Loyola Medicine neurologist Antonio H. Iglesias highlights TMS efficacy in treating depression, OCD, and other neurological conditions, including stroke, acute migraines, and dementia. The treatment is well-tolerated with few side effects.
A new study by Salk researchers finds that altered potassium levels in neurons may contribute to mood swings in bipolar disorder. The study reveals two distinct types of neurons in people with bipolar disorder who respond to lithium and those who don't, highlighting the need for personalized treatment approaches.
A study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics found that individuals with eating disorders use exercise as a coping mechanism for depressive mood and negative thoughts. Exercise can temporarily improve their mood, but this effect is short-lived, leading to a vicious cycle of increased exercise.
A new study led by Anglia Ruskin University found exercise addiction is nearly four times more common amongst people with an eating disorder. The research highlights the importance of monitoring exercise levels in individuals with eating disorders, as excessive exercise can lead to serious medical conditions.
A new study published in Science Advances identifies several common genetic pathways linked to compulsive behavior and addiction, including those related to heavy alcohol consumption. The research used genome-wide association studies and model organisms to pinpoint the genes responsible for high levels of alcohol intake.
Researchers tested whether contaminating a fake rubber hand could help people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) overcome their contamination fears. The 'rubber hand illusion' technique showed promise in reducing disgust and anxiety levels, paving the way for new treatment options.
Researchers at Santa Clara University identified a specific brain pathway that helps regulate drinking behavior, which may be disrupted in individuals with alcohol use disorder. The study suggests that this pathway's dysfunction could contribute to the development of compulsive drinking habits.
Researchers found that two identical triplets who shared the same DNA developed Alzheimer's at different ages, suggesting other factors contribute to its development. The study also discovered that environmental and lifestyle factors can affect an individual's biological age and potentially delay or accelerate dementia onset.
Researchers created individualized maps of functional networks in the thalamus and basal ganglia, revealing variation in symptom response to deep-brain stimulation. The study suggests that successful treatment depends on tapping into the correct network for each patient.
A study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that certain antidepressant medications cause more side effects in children and adolescents with OCD and anxiety disorders. SSRIs were associated with increased rates of agitation, while SNRIs showed no significant link to suicidality.
Researchers created manganite nanowires with controlled quenched disorder, revealing enhanced magnetoresistance. Quenched disorder plays a significant role in complex oxide systems.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that neural activity patterns can predict which individuals will develop compulsive drinking behaviors after a single binge drinking experience. The study identifies a specific cortical-brainstem circuit as a biomarker for the development of compulsive drinking behavior.
A neural circuit in the brains of mice controls the development of compulsive drinking disorders, identified by a biomarker that could become a target for alcohol use disorder therapies. Effective treatments are needed, and this finding offers an extremely promising step forward.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a brain circuit controlling alcohol drinking behavior in mice, which can predict compulsive drinking. The study found that neural communication patterns between two brain regions are related to the development of compulsive drinking.
A Danish study found that teenagers with cleanliness rituals and poor insights into their condition are more likely to struggle with OCD despite standard cognitive behavioural therapy. Almost 60% of the patients experienced a worrying relapse after three years.
Researchers tested a two-step task to train people to rely on goal-oriented behaviors, but found no substantial change in behavior or brain activity. The study suggests that the task's methodological drawbacks make it unsuitable for training purposes.
A new study has found that taking fluoxetine for 16 weeks did not significantly lower the frequency and severity of obsessive compulsive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders. The research suggests that up to one-third of children with ASD are prescribed antidepressants despite inconclusive evidence of their effectiveness.
Researchers found a correlation between dysfunctional microglia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors in mice. Female sex hormones exacerbated symptoms, indicating a potential genetic link to anxiety disorders.
A randomized clinical trial in Australia compared the effectiveness of SSRIs like fluoxetine with placebos for reducing obsessive-compulsive behaviors in children and adolescents with ASD. The study found lower scores for fluoxetine, but interpretation is limited by high dropout rates and baseline differences between groups.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that chronic cyclic pattern of overeating can reduce the brain's ability to feel reward, leading to compulsive eating behaviors. The study suggests that future treatments should focus on rebalancing the mesolimbic dopamine system.
A University of Houston study found that hope increases during cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, leading to greater recovery rates. Moderate-to-large increases in hope were consistent across different CBT protocols and anxiety disorders.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry highlights the need for individualised approaches to defining mental illness. The researchers found that compulsive behaviour maps onto cognitive flexibility better than expert-assigned diagnoses.
A recent study found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate area provides a robust and sustained antidepressant effect in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Most participants experienced an antidepressant response and maintained it over eight years, with significant improvements in quality of life.
The study found that the supply of queens and packaged bees is sufficiently elastic to absorb demand increases due to colony collapse disorder, leading to no significant price hikes. Beekeeper methods of offsetting winter losses, such as splitting hives, remained relatively inexpensive and effective in meeting pollination contracts.
A study of 69 individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) reveals that conflict-related brain activity in 36 regions predicts successful exposure-based psychotherapy. The findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying OCD and support a tailored treatment strategy.
A new study has revealed a possible role of oxytocin in hypersexual disorder, which affects 3-6% of the population. The researchers found that microRNA-4456 targets genes involved in regulating oxytocin, suggesting its potential as a treatment target.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have identified brain cells that suppress drug cravings, which could lead to improved addiction treatments. The discovery sheds new light on how the brain responds to environmental cues that prevent relapse, providing hope for more effective medicines in the future.
Researchers have found that deep transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by targeting specific brain areas. After six weeks of daily treatment, 38% of patients showed a significant reduction in symptom severity, with 45.2% responding after a month.
Researchers propose mesh electronics as a foundation for brain-machine interfaces, enabling precise targeting of neural communication networks to treat neurological disorders. This technology could lead to improved therapeutic options, such as enhanced prosthetic control and cognitive enhancement.
Research found that users switch between activities on social media platforms to cope with stress, leading to increased technology addiction. Users often use the same features to divert themselves from stress, blurring the line between stress caused and compulsive use.
A new study reveals that circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA viruses have acquired their genetic components through complex evolutionary processes. The findings show that these viruses are 'obsessive borrowers', appropriating genetic material from various sources, including bacterial and eukaryotic cells.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that people with loneliness and social anxiety are more likely to experience negative outcomes from using dating apps. They tend to compulsively use the apps, even in social situations, leading to missed classes, work trouble, or social anxiety.
A new study found that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be successful for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), regardless of whether they have hoarding symptoms. The presence of hoarding symptoms did not negatively impact treatment response to CBT in children and adolescents.
A large-scale genome-wide association study identifies eight genetic variants associated with anorexia nervosa, suggesting a combination of metabolic and psychiatric components. The findings encourage considering metabolism in understanding the disorder's causes and improving treatment approaches.
A global genome-wide association study identified eight genetic variants linked to anorexia nervosa, revealing a complex interplay between metabolic and psychiatric factors. The research suggests that integrating metabolic information may help clinicians develop better treatment approaches for this potentially lethal illness.
A study by Universitat Rovira i Virgili found that 16-18% of preadolescents have suicidal ideas, with a higher risk in boys. Factors such as depressive symptoms and anxiety in girls contributed to this risk. The research aims to help control and prevent suicidal ideation in preadolescents.
Conduct disorder is a highly impairing psychiatric disorder that requires improved diagnosis and treatment. The condition is associated with a seven times greater health burden than ADHD and is linked to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in children. Correct diagnosis and management can improve patient well-being and life chances.