Publications on Mental Health Topics

Innate Neurological Risk for Drug Abuse?, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Apr 30 2012.

“A new study suggests the way in which the brain is wired in some people may make them more impulsive and more likely to experiment with drugs. ”

Post-Prozac Nation, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, New York Times , Apr 19 2012.

“In 1988, a year after the Food and Drug Administration approved Prozac, 2,469,000 prescriptions for it were dispensed in America. By 2002, that number had risen to 33,320,000. By 2008, antidepressants were the third-most-common prescription drug taken in America. Fast forward to 2012 and the same antidepressants that inspired such enthusiasm have become the new villains of modern psychopharmacology - overhyped, overprescribed chemicals, symptomatic of a pill-happy culture searching for quick fixes for complex mental problems. ”

Juvenile Justice, by Hess, K.; Orthmann, C.; Wright, J., Apr 16 2012.

Hazards: Mild Sleep Disorders Tied to Depression, by Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times , Apr 2 2012.

“Snorting and stopping breathing during sleep are associated with depression, even in people whose symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, a new study has found. ”

A Brief Therapy Heals Trauma in Children, by Jane Brody, New York Times , Apr 2 2012.

“A report describes a remarkably effective brief intervention developed at the Childhood Violent Trauma Center at Yale University greatly diminishes symptoms in traumatized children and those who care for them. ”

Teen Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use and Abuse Starts Earlier Than You Might Think, by ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily , Apr 2 2012.

“A survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. teenagers suggests that most cases of alcohol and drug abuse have their initial onset at this important period of development, according to a report published in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA Network publication. ”

Synthetic Marijuana Sending Some Teens to ER, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central , Mar 20 2012.

“Frequently sold in gas stations and convenience stores, synthetic versions of marijuana are placing some teens in the emergency room. ”

Mental health leaders call for new drug treatments for depression schizophrenia, by Traci Pedersen, Mar 17 2012.

“There is a serious lack of new drug treatments for mental health disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, say leading international academics, who are currently advocating for new approaches to drug development for mental health disorders. ”

Teen Health Linked to Teen Happiness, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Mar 5 2012.

“A new UK study suggests teenagers are not as invincible as they might think when it comes to health, and that an unhealthy lifestyle is linked to unhappiness. ”

Validation: How Parents Can Help Their Children Cope with Bullying, by Karyn Hall, Psychology Today, Mar 3 2012.

“The recent shootings in a school in Ohio may or may not have been about bullying or teens feeling alienated and left out socially. But the tragedy of young lives ended too soon is a reminder that parenting today has challenges that have not been faced before, at least not in the same ways that today's parents face them. ”

Self-harm in young people: information for parents, carers and anyone who works with young people, by Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Child and Family Public Education Editorial Board, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mar 2012.

“This is one in a series of factsheets for parents, teachers and young people entitledMental Health and Growing Up. This factsheet looks at the reasons behind why people self-harm, and offers advice about what to do to help. Self-harm is a term used when someone injures or harms themselves on purpose rather than by accident. Common examples include `overdosing' (self-poisoning), hitting, cutting or burning oneself, pulling hair or picking skin, or self-strangulation. Self -harm is always a sign of something being seriously wrong. ”

Study: Migraines May Raise the Risk of Depression in Women, by Alexandra Sifferlin, Time Magazine , Feb 23 2012.

“As if having migraine headaches weren't enough of a burden, a new study finds that women with migraines are also more likely to develop depression - about 40% more likely than women who have no history of the headaches. ”

Trying to Find a Cry of Desperation Amid the Facebook Drama, by Jan Hoffman, New York Times , Feb 23 2012.

“Specialists in adolescent medicine and mental health experts say that dark postings should not be hastily dismissed because they can serve as signs of depression and an early warning system for timely intervention. Whether therapists should engage with patients over Facebook, however, remains a matter of debate. ”

SWPBIS School Program Reduces Bullying, by John Grohol, Feb 7 2012.

“A behavioral school program designed by psychologists appears to reduce bullying in schools where it's been implemented, according to a new study. ”

Siblings Brain Study Sheds Light on the Roots of Addiction, by Maia Szalavitz, Time Magazine , Feb 3 2012.

“Why do some people get addicted while others remain immune to the lure of drugs? Neuroscientists have been studying this question for years, asking whether the difference arises from particular variations in brain structure. But until now the research has not been clear on whether the brain changes seen in addiction are a cause or the result of excessive drug use. ”