News Related to Mental Health

1. Genetic Pattern for Schizophrenia Found
   

   July 1, 2009 -- A vast number of common gene variants come together in a perfect storm to increase risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, new studies reveal. Because schizophrenia tends to run in families, researchers have long sought a "schizophrenia gene." But scientists now realize that most

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2. Study: Alcohol Tied to Nearly 1 in 25 Deaths
   

   June 25, 2009 -- Approximately 4% of global deaths may be linked to alcohol, according to a new study. The study, published in The Lancet, estimates the percentage of alcohol-related deaths based on accidents, alcohol abuse, and various health conditions -- including certain cancers, high blood pres

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3. Schizophrenia Linked to Early Death
   

   June 22, 2009 -- The mortality rate among schizophrenics is four times higher than in the general population, with suicide being the No. 1 cause of death, followed by cancer, according to a new study. Deaths from cancer among women with schizophrenia were twice that of the general population, based

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4. Depression Gene? Maybe Not
   

   June 16, 2009 -- New research dismisses the widely held notion that a "depression gene" makes a person facing stressful life events more likely to develop depression. In 2003, mental health researchers announced that a genetic variation that affected the body's serotonin levels increased a person's

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5. ADHD Drugs: Sudden Death Risk Higher?
   

   June 15, 2009 -- A new study suggests that children and teens who take stimulants like Ritalin for ADHD have an increased risk for sudden cardiac death, but the FDA says the study has major limitations and should not change the way the drugs are used. There have long been concerns that the stimulant

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6. Parental Depression Affects 15 Million Kids
   

   June 10, 2009 -- Parental depression can take a serious toll on children, and the whole family should be involved in depression care, according to a new report. That report, issued today by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, estimates that in any given year, 7.5 million U.S

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7. Uprooting Children Raises Their Suicide Risk
   

   June 3, 2009 -- Job hopping may be financially necessary or rewarding for adults, but Danish researchers say changing residences can be emotionally stressful for children and may increase their suicide risk. It’s lonely being a stranger in the classroom or new neighborhood, and youngsters can suffer

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8. Coping Skills May Reduce Teen Depression
   

   June 2, 2009 -- Teaching at-risk teens skills to help them identify negative thinking and better deal with their problems can reduce the incidence of depression, new research confirms. The study compared outcomes among teens who were and were not enrolled in a cognitive behavioral therapy program. W

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9. Are Antidepressant Warnings Causing Harm?
   

   June 1, 2009 -- Federal warnings about potentially dangerous and even deadly risks of antidepressant drugs may be doing more harm than good, new research suggests. Since the FDA issued its first in a series of warnings in October 2003 about increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children

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10. Kava for Anxiety: Is Short-Term Use Safe?
    

    May 14, 2009 -- A water-soluble extract of the plant kava was found to be safe and highly effective for the short-term treatment of anxiety in a new study. But concerns about its long-term safety and the safety of other kava formulations remain. A decade ago, kava supplements were a popular alternat

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