The clinical picture of a woman who is depressed is different from that of a man who is experiencing depression. Men with depression may show symptoms of anger or aggression, signs of substance abuse or risky behavior. A recent study found that the tools used to screen for depression focus on symptoms typically reported by…
ReadIn the aftermath of disaster, emergency mental health responses should focus on identification of individuals in need, triage, and appropriate interventions, according to a systematic literature review published in the Aug. 7 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. The review examined 222 articles discussing mental health concerns after large-scale disasters such as the…
ReadResearchers may have a new way to diagnose autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as they have discovered children with ASD between the ages of 3 and 10 undergo chemical changes in their brain distinguishable from children with other developmental disorders. Specifically, MedPage Today reports concentrations of N-acetylaspartate, which plays important roles in several functions, rises over…
ReadNew research published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests doctors may have found a mutation in the gene for a serotonin receptor that plays a functional role in schizophrenia, including how patients respond to treatment. As reported by Michael Smith, correspondent for MedPage Today, the mutation in the gene for serotonin receptor 2a is a single nucleotide…
ReadKetamine, an anesthetic agent, has been the jumping off point for a number of studies in the past few months. Researchers have theorized that it can be helpful in a number of psychiatric disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and even some forms of autism. John Gever, of MedPage Today, reports that the drug is…
ReadSeveral studies have examined the fact that smokers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease and now researchers believe that it could be due to “a neuroprotective effect of nicotine.” Trading for cancer risks and lung disease isn’t a great way to avoid Parkinson’s, however, so experts recently examined the effect of consuming vegetables in…
ReadIntravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG, had performed admirably in research being performed by doctors searching for an effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In a phase II trial, IVIG appeared to show an ability to effectively stop the disease’s progression over a three year period. However, in the expanded phase III trial, patients showed no significant improvement…
ReadIt has been known for some time that poor cardiovascular health can contribute, or be a predictor, to diminishing cognitive function in middle aged to elderly adults. But recent research suggests that this holds true for all individuals, regardless of age. Crystal Phend, of MedPage Today, reports that “cognitive function dropped by 1.5 points on…
ReadIn 2008, a theory was proposed that individuals with autism spectrum disorder had about a 1 in 5 chance of also having Lyme disease. A recent study appearing in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association refutes that claim definitively finding no link between autism and Lyme disease. As Charlene Laino…
ReadThe FDA has issued a warning to consumers concerning the anti-seizure drug ezogabine (Potiga). As reported by MedPage Today, the drug can cause “blue skin discoloration” and “pigment changes in retinas”. A loss of vision and eye disease are possible if the drug is continued to be used after initial symptoms arise, but doctors urge patients…
Read
©2021 Brookhaven Hospital. All Rights Reserved.