Publications on Mental Health Topics

New Data Shows Parents’ Age May Influence Risk of Autism, Not Schizophrenia, by Rick Nauert PhD, Psych Central, Oct 4 2016.

“The debate as to whether children of older parents have a higher risk for autism or schizophrenia has been going on for more than 30 years, and a new study from Denmark adds relevant and rigorous data to the question. Their analysis suggests parents who reproduce later in life are more likely to have children who develop autism disorders. Having children later in life was not, however, associated with increased risk for schizophrenia in offspring. ”

Doll Therapy May Help Calm People With Dementia, But It Has Critics, by Anna Gorman, NPR, Oct 3 2016.

“Doll therapy is catching on at nursing homes and other senior facilities across the country. It's used to help ease anxiety among residents with dementia, who can experience personality changes, agitation and aggression. But the therapy is controversial. Supporters say the dolls can lessen distress, improve communication and reduce the need for psychotropic medication. Critics say the dolls are demeaning and infantilize seniors. ”

Employers Across the Globe Must Take Pro-Active Approach to Manage Depression, by Rick Nauert PhD, Psych Central, Sep 28 2016.

“New data released from the London School of Economics shows that workplace depression is a major issue across different cultures and economies...Lead researcher Dr Sara Evans-Lacko says the enormous costs of depression due to absence and loss of productivity are set to increase unless governments and employers make it a priority. ”

Alzheimer’s Symptoms May Differ for Hispanics, by Rick Nauert PhD, Psych Central, Sep 27 2016.

“New research suggests the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may be different for Hispanics than other ethnic groups. Researchers explain that certain symptoms associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease affect Hispanics more frequently and severely than other ethnicities. The symptoms include agitation and depression, as well as other behavioral presentations.   ”

Racial disparity emerges in rare child suicide rates, by Jacqueline Howard, CNN, Sep 20 2016.

“There has been a disturbing increase in suicide rates among elementary school-age black children in recent years in the United States...When compared with early adolescents, younger children who die by suicide are more likely to be black boys who hang or suffocate to death, suggests a new paper published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday. ”

More Child Suicides Are Linked to A.D.D. Than Depression, Study Suggests, by Catherine Saint Louis, The New York Times, Sep 19 2016.

“Attention deficit disorder is the most common mental health diagnosis among children under 12 who die by suicide, a new study has found...Suicide prevention has focused on identifying children struggling with depression; the new study provides an early hint that this strategy may not help the youngest suicide victims. ”

Postpartum Psychosis Often Missed in Women With Bipolar Disorder, by Rick Nauert, PhD, PsychCentral, Sep 12 2016.

“New research identifies that postpartum psychosis, a serious disorder, often goes undiagnosed and untreated among women with bipolar disorder...Postpartum psychosis almost always stems from bipolar disorder but is often missed because of its rarity and lack of research on the subject... ”

Intense Pressure to Succeed, Social Connectedness Ups Risk of Suicide Clusters, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central, Sep 10 2016.

“Living in a community with intense pressure to succeed and a high degree of social connectedness can increase suicide risk, particularly among teenagers, according to a new study by sociologists at the University of Chicago and University of Memphis. ”

Bad Experiences on Social Media Ups Risk of Depression in Young Adults, by Rick Nauert, PhD, Psych Central, Sep 9 2016.

“Brown University researchers discovered negative Facebook interactions includes including bullying, meanness, misunderstandings or unwanted contacts significantly increase the risk of depression for young adults, even when investigators accounted for possible complicating factors... 'There is research that shows that people tend to feel more entitled to bully online than they do in person or engage in unwanted contact online than they would in person,' Rosenthal said. 'In some ways it’s higher risk. It’s worth people being aware of that risk.' ”

How Domestic Violence In One Home Affects Every Child In A Class, by Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, Sep 3 2016.

“While it's difficult to get an exact number, researchers estimate that between 10 and 20 percent of children are exposed to domestic violence each year. New data quantifies what many teachers and school counselors already know: While such violence often takes place outside of school, its repercussions resonate in the classroom. ”

6 Myths About Suicide That Every Educator And Parent Should Know, by Kavitha Cardoza , NPR, Sep 2 2016.

“Every day, thousands of teens attempt suicide in the U.S. — the most extreme outcome for the millions of children in this country who struggle with mental health issues...schools play a key role, along with parents and medical professionals, in identifying children who may be at risk of suicide. And one of the biggest challenges: myths that can cloud their judgment. ”

Friends Help Friends on Facebook Feel Better, by Byron Spice, Carnegie Mellon University, Sep 2016.

“Personal interactions on Facebook can have a major impact on a person’s feelings of well-being and satisfaction with life just as much as getting married or having a baby, a new study by Carnegie Mellon University and Facebook researchers shows. But not just any interaction has these positive effects. Passively reading posts or one-click feedback such as “likes” don’t move the needle. What really makes people feel good is when those they know and care about write personalized posts or comments. ”

Trans And Adopted: Exploring Teen Identity, by Martha Bebinger, Kaiser Health News, Sep 1 2016.

“Doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Gender Management Service clinic, where Nathan is a patient, began making the same connection a few years ago. They combed through patient records and found that 8.2 percent of the 184 young people seen in the clinic between 2007 and 2015 were raised in adoptive families. Overall, only 2.3 percent of children living in Massachusetts were adopted. “Before I started seeing transgender kids, it would not have occurred to me that we might see more adopted kids,” said Dr. Daniel Shumer, a pediatric endocrinologist who treated transgender kids at the GeMS clinic for three years before moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., to work in a similar clinic. ”

Bipolar Teens’ High Risk for Substance Abuse May Persist as Young Adults, by Rick Nauert, PhD, Psych Central, Aug 31 2016.

“...A new study finds that risk of substance abuse was even greater five years later, particularly among those with persistent bipolar symptoms...Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators also found evidence that the presence of conduct disorder, in combination with bipolar disorder, may be the strongest influence on the risk of smoking and substance use disorder. ”

Test Of Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Finds Progress Against Brain Plaques, by Jon Hamilton , NPR, Aug 31 2016.

“An experimental drug dramatically reduced the toxic plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, a team reports in the journal Nature.  Results from a small number of patients who received a high dose of the drug, called aducanumab, hint that it may also be able to slow the loss of memory and thinking. ”