Articles tagged with Psychiatry
Research found an association between genetic variations in the serotonin-2A receptor and response to clozapine, a drug targeting serotonin receptors. Further studies support this hypothesis, suggesting that serotonin receptors play a key role in the therapeutic action of antipsychotic drugs.
A survey of consultation-liaison psychiatrists found that they strongly opposed participating in or endorsing physician-assisted death. However, there was more acceptance of referrals to other physicians and their involvement. The study suggests that requests for assisted death are often linked to depression, a treatable illness.
A recent study published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that men are equally affected by body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) as women, with differences mainly in the body part of concern and coping mechanisms.
Research led by Dr. Graham Emslie found Prozac to be more effective than a placebo in young people aged 7-17, with 56% showing improvement after two months of treatment. The study also showed that 74% of patients completed eight weeks of Prozac improved.
A husband-and-wife team of psychiatrists are conducting a major population-based study to find the gene(s) linked to schizophrenia. The five-year study will be carried out in the Azores and on the Portuguese mainland, using genetic markers and genome-wide scans.
A study of Finnish subjects failed to find an association between the Dopamine D4 Receptor (DRD4) gene and novelty-seeking personality traits. The researchers found that individuals with higher novelty-seeking scores had a lower frequency of the DRD4 gene, contradicting previous findings.