Publications on Mental Health Topics

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. ”

Depression Treatment Often Doesn't Go To Those Most In Need, by Zhai Yun Tan, NPR, Aug 29 2016.

“Most Americans who screen positive for depression don't receive treatment, a study finds, while most who did receive treatment don't appear to have the disorder. "Over the last several years there has been an increase in prescription of antidepressants," says Mark Olfson, professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center and lead author of the study, which was published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. "In that context, many people assumed that undertreatment of depression is no longer a common problem." But Olfson found the opposite to be true after analyzing data from Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys in 2012 and 2013 that asked people if they had been screened for depression. Of the 46,417 adults surveyed, 8.4 percent answered in ways that suggested they had depression, but only 28.7 percent of the people who appeared depressed received any treatment for it. ”

Illegally Made Fentanyl Seems To Be Fueling A Spike In Overdoses, by Katherine Hobson, NPR, Aug 25 2016.

“Federal data suggest illegally manufactured fentanyl, a drug that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, is behind an increase in synthetic opioid deaths.  A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there was a 426 percent increase in seized drug products that tested positive for fentanyl from 2013 to 2014. And separate data show the number of deaths involving synthetic opioids, a class that includes fentanyl and tramadol but not hydrocodone, rose 79 percent during that same period. ”

Depression Linked to Heart Disease in Blacks, by Rick Nauert, PhD, Psych Central, Aug 15 2016.

“New research suggests that symptoms of depression lead to a greater risk of heart disease in older black adults, but not in white adults...'These findings suggest that efforts to improve detection and treatment of depression in African-Americans may have the added of value of reducing their risk of heart disease,' said co-author Dr. Amanda Sonnega. ”

Normal Anxiety vs. Anxiety Disorder: Signs, Symptoms To Tell The Difference, by Kelsey Drain, Medical Daily, Aug 15 2016.

“Are you getting jitters just from thinking about the prospect of having an anxiety? There are differences between experiencing “casual” anxiety, which most people feel on occasion, and symptoms that could lead to an official diagnosis. ”

Exercise Can Ease Symptoms of Schizophrenia, by Janice Wood, Psych Central, Aug 13 2016.

“A new study says that aerobic exercise can “significantly” help people cope with schizophrenia...'These findings present the first large-scale evidence supporting the use of physical exercise to treat the neurocognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia,' Firth said. ”

Physical Functioning Tied To Alzheimer’s Risk, by Janice Wood, Psych Central, Aug 13 2016.

“A new study suggests a simple test of physical functioning may be able to help identify individuals who are at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other common age-related neurological diseases. ”

What happens to developmentally disabled as parents age, die?, by Jen Fifield, www.pbs.org, Aug 10 2016.

“"About 860,000 people over 60 nationwide are in Beth’s place, caring for someone with intellectual or developmental disabilities in their home. And many are waiting, sometimes for years, for state-provided Medicaid help for their disabled child, sister or brother, such as placement in a group home, day services, or transportation or employment programs. If they can’t afford to pay for these services on their own, under the federal-state Medicaid system, their relative could end up in an institution." ”

Mindfulness Can Aid Recovery from Stimulant Addiction, by Rick Nauert, PhD, Psych Central, Aug 8 2016.

“Learning to focus full attention to the present moment appears to be an effective strategy to reduce the likelihood of relapse for certain people struggling to break their addiction to stimulants including cocaine and methamphetamine.   University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers discovered mindfulness training is particularly beneficial for adults dependent on stimulants who have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety — common co-occurring disorders among people with substance addiction. ”

4 Expert Tips on Emotionally Preparing for Divorce, by Jill P. Weber, Ph.D, Psychology Today , Aug 4 2016.

“Many people I talk to want to know how to best manage the psychology of divorce. This article talks about some ways to do just that. ”

Hearing Test May Predict Autism Risk Sooner: Study, by Robert Preidt, WebMD, Aug 1 2016.

“"A simple hearing test may help identify young children at risk for autism before they're old enough to speak, a new study suggests..." "This technique may provide clinicians a new window into the disorder and enable us to intervene earlier and help achieve optimal outcomes, " said study co-author Anne Luebke, an associate professor in the departments of biomedical engineering and neuroscience. ”

Two Homes: One Childhood, by Robert E. Emery, PhD, Aug 2016.

Something Very Bad Happened: A Toddler's Guide to Understanding Death, by Bonnie Zucker, PsyD, Aug 2016.

Many More People Seek Medical Help For Opioid Abuse, by Julie Appleby, NPR, Aug 1 2016.

“Health care claims for people with opioid dependence diagnoses rose more than 3,000 percent between 2007 and 2014, according to an analysis of insurance records. The findings illustrate that the opioid problem is 'in the general mainstream,' says Robin Gelburd, president of Fair Health, a nonprofit that analyzes health care costs and conducted the study...Such a sharp rise over a short period of time is a classic definition of an epidemic... ”

7 Things You Should Know About the Person in Your Life With Anxiety, by Alexis Schuster, The Mighty, Aug 1 2016.

“Sometimes it feels rude to talk to someone about their mental health. Even if they bring it up, you might be unsure of what to say. Here are some things you should know about the people in your life who deal with anxiety. ”