A study found that 80% of children with severe explosive temper and mood variations responded positively to divalproex, an anti-convulsant medication. The treatment improved behavior and responses in these children, who are often isolated from peers due to their disorders.
Researchers found that individuals with severe mental illnesses can achieve long-term residential stability when given access to safe, affordable housing linked to outpatient services. Substance abuse was a major factor in disrupting residential stability, highlighting the need for new strategies to improve housing alternatives.
Studies found that individuals with major depressive episodes and borderline personality disorder are at greater risk of suicide, while those with high serum cholesterol experience a doubled risk of violent suicide. Comprehensive mental health care is essential to address these co-existing illnesses.
Research finds a familial link between eating disorders and an increased risk of developing anorexia nervosa, with a shared genetic predisposition also contributing to co-occurrence with major depression. The studies suggest a common inherited risk factor for the disorders.
Research finds that fetal and birth complications, such as hypoxic-ischemia-related complications, significantly increase the risk of developing psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Additionally, trauma at labor and delivery may lead to brain structure anomalies associated with schizophrenia.
A study by Michigan State University found that one-quarter of respondents were unsure if their health plan included mental health services, while 43% equated mental health benefits to general medical services. The authors recommend increasing attention to mental health issues in primary care education.
The American Psychiatric Association's 1999 Fall Components Meeting tackled significant psychiatric topics such as Psychiatric Aspects on Violence, Psychiatric Dimensions of Disasters, and Addiction Psychiatry. The meeting brought together over 1,000 leading psychiatric experts to discuss these critical issues.
The American Psychiatric Association is hosting a symposium on school violence, examining its causes and possible solutions. The event features presentations by experts in the field, including discussions on inner-city violence, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and violence prevention in Chicago Public Schools.
Four studies reveal how childhood characteristics and memory complaints can forecast adult schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and treatment response. Researchers warn caution when using past data to predict the future.
The new book Psychiatry and the Cinema explores how movie portrayals of psychiatrists have shaped public perceptions of mental health. By analyzing film representations of psychiatric treatment, the authors shed light on the intersection of entertainment and medicine.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) hosts a consensus conference to address controversial psychiatric issues in the media, including the misuse of psychiatric diagnoses and advertising of psychopharmaceuticals. The conference aims to establish a shared understanding between psychiatrists and journalists on these topics.