Research validates PLCgamma1 as a promising candidate gene for bipolar disorder, linking it to manic-like behavior and synaptic imbalance. The study reveals that loss of PLCgamma1 from forebrain leads to behavioral abnormalities and manic episodes.
A new study reveals that successful treatment of social anxiety disorder alters key brain structures involved in processing and regulating emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, a central therapy for social anxiety disorder, has been shown to restore balance between cortical and subcortical brain areas.
Researchers have discovered 30 genes as potential therapeutic targets for reversing Rett syndrome, a severe form of an autism spectrum disorder affecting approximately 15,000 girls and women globally. The study, led by Dr. Antonio Bedalov at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, aims to reactivate the silenced MeCP2 gene in affected individuals.
A complete clinical and genetic profile of steroid 11-hydroxylase deficiency has been identified, a rare inherited disorder causing genital masculinization in females. The study may lead to prenatal diagnosis and treatment to prevent genital ambiguity.
A new study led by TSRI researchers discovered early brain changes in patients with Fragile X syndrome, a disorder affecting brain development. The study found that the mutation on the X chromosome triggers genome-wide DNA methylation changes, which may help explain similarities with autism spectrum disorder.
A study published in Appetite found that children with more eating disorder symptoms at age nine also had a higher number of symptoms at age 12. The research identified three key areas to monitor for early intervention: body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, and earlier onset of symptoms.
Researchers found that observing trauma can change brain information flow, making individuals more vulnerable to mental disorders like PTSD. The study suggests witnessing fear can physically redistribute brain signals, potentially enabling new communications and shedding light on the disorder's causes.
Research reveals that genes affecting social communication in children overlap with those for autism and schizophrenia, but influence risk differently at various stages of development. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders and their relationship to social competence.
Patients taking antidepressants for depression are more likely to report gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects if they also have panic disorder, according to a new study. Co-occurring panic disorder is associated with an increased risk of worsening depressive symptoms.
A randomized controlled pilot trial found that N-acetylcysteine combined with group cognitive behavioral therapy reduced PTSD symptoms, cravings, and depression significantly more than CBT alone. The treatment showed promising results for a difficult-to-treat population of veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder.
A new NIH-funded study aims to test ways family members can maintain their health while caring for relatives with bipolar disorder. Researchers will match caregivers with tailored self-management techniques, including breathing exercises and training in self-help skills, to reduce stress and improve overall health.
A new UCLA study confirms and extends earlier findings that the brains of people with autism have a distinctive pattern of unusual gene activity. This abnormality suggests possible targets for future autism drugs, and provides insights into brain development during the first decade of life.
A recent study published in JAACAP found that obesity among adolescents with bipolar disorder is associated with increased illness severity, including more suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations. However, the study also found that overweight adolescents with bipolar disorder are not more common than their peers.
Researchers propose that mind-wandering is a spontaneous mode of thought, essential for creativity and daydreaming. Increased awareness of this thinking can lead to better diagnoses and treatments for depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
A study of 522 children found that those born to parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder scored higher on a behavior checklist and were at increased risk for anxiety, ADHD, and neurocognitive problems. The children also came from families with lower social status and more adverse life events.
Individuals with binge-eating disorder have a 2.5-times increased risk of an endocrine disorder and a 1.9-times increased risk of a circulatory system disorder. The study highlights the importance of accurate screening and detection to improve treatment outcomes for those affected.
A University of Manchester study found that people with bipolar disorder are 2.63 times more likely to have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as children compared to the general population. This strong link has implications for treatment and personalized therapy plans.
Girls with ADHD are at higher risk for multiple mental disorders, including anxiety (37.7%), depression (10.3%), and oppositional defiant disorder (42%). Effective treatments, such as therapy and positive reinforcement, can help manage symptoms and prevent severe adult impairments.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that yoga can reduce worry, the main symptom of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The findings suggest that yoga has promise in helping people with this condition reduce their symptoms and improve quality of life.
A research team has identified mutations responsible for midline craniosynostosis, a type of skull-fusion disorder that affects the top of the skull. The study found that rare genetic variants in one gene interact with common changes near another gene to cause the disorder.
A new special issue in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry presents updated research on borderline personality disorder (BPD), emphasizing improved diagnosis and management. The article highlights key findings, including neurobiological models, early intervention strategies, and evidence-based treatments for BPD.
A new study found a correlation between microscopic brain damage and impaired cognitive performance in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease. The researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to assess white matter tract skeleton mean diffusivity, which showed the closest correlation with cognitive impairment.
A follow-up study finds that bipolar adolescents are at higher risk for substance use disorder and smoking five years later. The presence of conduct disorder, particularly when combined with bipolar symptoms, significantly increases this risk.
A new study by Massachusetts General Hospital finds that college students who misuse prescription stimulant medications are more likely to exhibit clinically relevant psychiatric dysfunction. The report also highlights immediate-release stimulants as a particular risk factor for misuse.
Researchers have made patients' stem cells available for worldwide study to better understand bipolar disorder, a serious mental illness with extreme mood swings. The shared stem cells can be turned into brain cells in the lab, enabling scientists to study how the disease affects brain cells and potentially lead to new treatments.
A novel picornavirus has been found to be a key suspect in the development of Avian Keratin Disorder, a debilitating condition causing beak overgrowth and impairing feeding and preening behaviors. The discovery provides a critical lead in understanding the emergence of this disease in wild bird populations worldwide.
A study by University of New South Wales and Italian researchers found a significant delay in diagnosing bipolar disorder, with an average delay of almost six years. This delay can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention and reduced severity of episodes.
A study found that individuals with anorexia nervosa who struggle with insight have abnormal brain connectivity in regions involved in error detection and conflict monitoring. This can lead to poor decision-making and a reduced ability to recognize the danger of their behavior, making recovery more challenging.
A six-fold increase in diagnosed sleep disorders among US veterans has been reported, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experiencing the largest rate increases. The study found that veterans with cardiovascular disease or other chronic conditions also experienced higher rates of sleep disorder diagnoses.
Researchers from Scripps Florida have discovered a link between bipolar disorder and the striatum, a brain region involved in motor planning and reward perception. The study identified 14 genes differentially expressed in bipolar patients compared to non-bipolar controls, suggesting a causal role in the disorder.
A new study from King's College London examined Freud's theory on Hysteria, a disorder resulting in severe neurological symptoms. The research found that stressors around the time of onset might be relevant for some patients with Conversion Disorder (CD), challenging the sole cause of trauma assumption. However, the study also highligh...
Researchers have identified 84 potential inherited gene mutations that may contribute to severe forms of bipolar disorder. The study used advanced genome sequencing techniques to analyze DNA from 36 family members with the disease, finding rare genetic variations that were overrepresented in those with bipolar disorder.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington found a significant genetic link between low attention control in early adolescence and four distinct anxiety symptoms. Low attention control is also linked to increased risk of depression, drug dependence, suicidal behavior, and educational underachievement.
Researchers at McLean Hospital discovered that individuals with bipolar disorder have altered somatostatin expression in the brain's amygdala, which regulates anxiety and stress response. This altered circadian function is linked to severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, providing potential neural correlates for circadian rhythm ...
Researchers are exploring whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) can provide relief for patients with bipolar disorder who do not respond to medications. The study aims to identify structural targets in the brain that may be involved in the disorder and potentially treat it through DBS.
A new King's College London study challenges the fantasy model of multiple personality disorder, suggesting that traumatic experiences such as neglect or abuse in childhood are a major contributing factor. Researchers found a continuum of trauma-related symptom severity across groups, with patients with DID exhibiting the highest scores.
Scientists detect and quantify metastability induced by disorder in granular materials for the first time. The team uses a parameter from liquid crystal physics to measure force chain orientation, confirming the relationship between disorder and metastable energy states.
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that nearly 70% of young adults with ADHD did not meet criteria for the disorder in childhood, suggesting that adult-onset ADHD may have different causes. Adults with late-onset ADHD had high levels of symptoms and impairment, as well as other mental health disorders.
A new study suggests a genetic overlap between bipolar disorder and autism, adding to the growing understanding that many psychiatric diseases share common roots. The research identified 84 rare genetic variations linked to bipolar disorder that were also associated with schizophrenia and autism.
A national survey of over 34,000 adults found that individuals with bipolar disorder are equally likely to develop anxiety as depression after experiencing an episode of mania. This study may lead to a broader clinical definition of bipolar disorder that includes episodes of mania along with anxiety or depression.
Research from the University of Oxford found that schools with higher proportions of female students and university-educated parents have more eating disorders among their students. Eating disorders affect 5.7% of adolescent girls in Sweden, with serious consequences including early death.
A study found that mice with a genetic mutation exhibiting periodic changes in locomotor activity and mood-like behaviors, similar to humans with bipolar disorder. Gene expression patterns in the brain identified circadian genes as key players in regulating infradian oscillations.
A new study has linked a common parasite to repeated bouts of rage in individuals with intermittent explosive disorder (IED). Chronic latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with increased aggression and impulsivity in adults. The study found that IED patients are more than twice as likely to have been exposed to the para...
A new study has identified a significant link between intermittent explosive disorder and exposure to the common toxoplasma gondii parasite. Individuals with IED were found to be twice as likely to have been exposed to toxoplasmosis, which is typically carried by undercooked meat or cat feces.
A recent study found that 2.5% of adults experienced marijuana use disorder in the past year, with 6.3% having met the diagnostic criteria at some point in their lives. Only 7% of those with past-year disorder received any treatment.
A study of the Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey found that child abuse experiences accounted for 28.7% of the burden of illness, while Afghanistan-related deployments contributed 8.7%. Child abuse was linked to various mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder.
A new Scripps Research Institute study has identified specific genetic variations associated with increased susceptibility to bipolar disorder and other conditions. The research focuses on a gene called PDE10A, which produces proteins that regulate intracellular levels of cAMP, influencing biological processes like learning and memory.
Researchers will focus on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB to develop novel interventions for obesity. The study aims to understand the mechanisms governing energy balance in the body.
Studies have shown that medications used to treat bipolar disorder, particularly mood stabilizers, can increase grey matter volume and normalize white matter disorganization. These findings suggest a predominantly ameliorative effect of psychopharmacological treatment on brain anatomy.
A meta-analysis found that bipolar patients with childhood maltreatment developed BD more than four years earlier, had more severe symptoms, and higher risks of suicide and PTSD. This study suggests a history of childhood maltreatment could be an early indicator of high risk for poor outcomes among individuals with bipolar disorder.
A recent study published in the Journal of Intercollegiate Sport found that varsity athletes with high obsessive passion towards their sport are more likely to accept the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In contrast, athletes with high harmonious passion tend to have conservative attitudes towards PEDs.
A study published in The BMJ found that internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can effectively treat body dysmorphic disorder, reducing symptom severity and depression. Participants who received BDD-NET showed significant improvements compared to those receiving online supportive therapy.
A study found that around 10% of UK primary care patients prescribed antidepressants for depression or anxiety have undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The condition often presents with depression and can be difficult to diagnose, leading to inappropriate treatment.
Researchers have successfully used gene therapy to correct a rare bleeding disorder, factor VII deficiency, in dogs. The treatment showed long-term safety and efficacy, with treated dogs expressing therapeutic levels of clotting factor VII.
Naturally occurring brain wiring changes can help patients at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder avoid the illness. Researchers found that resilient siblings showed additional changes in brain wiring within networks involved in emotional processing, which may help them avoid the disease.
Research suggests that women with lower incomes than their male counterparts are more likely to experience major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Women who earn equal or higher wages have similar odds of depression and anxiety.
Researchers identified 13 inherited sleep and activity measures linked to bipolar disorder, including later waking times and shorter periods of activity. The study provides clues to the genetic nature of the disorder and potential new approaches for prevention and treatment.
Research found a heightened risk of subsequent mania and bipolar disorder in adults treated with certain antidepressants, including SSRIs and venlafaxine. The peak age for diagnosis was among patients aged 26 to 35, with an annual risk of 1.2%.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet identified a gene variant linked to psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment in people with bipolar disorder. The study found that the gene variant affects levels of specific proteins in the brain, which may lead to new targeted drug development.
A new Canadian guideline provides recommendations for diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. The guideline recommends counseling women and their partners about abstinence during pregnancy, screening pregnant women for alcohol use, and conducting complet...