Psychiatry

Mental disorders predispose patients to weight gain, regardless of age. Psychiatric patients are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and the poor health consequences that follow. For the most part, older patients develop metabolic syndrome, but adolescents with mental illness do, too.

The number of abuse, addiction, and opioid poisoning diagnoses has decreased since the introduction of reformulated OxyContin, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 31st Annual Meeting.

Study shows that the majority of people who report "hearing voices" actually hear multiple distinct voices, and that many patients also report physical effects from their condition.

The reporting of PCI results is not a common practice for many reasons, and while some states require it of their doctors, there could be both medical and political barriers standing in the way of it becoming a nationwide program.

With New York and Massachusetts leading the way laws requiring public reporting of PCI results were recently expanded to Washington State as well. A recent study looked at the risks and benefits of other states starting similar programs.

The risk for developing dementia can be predicted using a blood test, according to researchers from Denmark.

Effective, positive communication between patients and their doctors can prevent worsening symptoms, according to research from the University of Exeter.

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, a medication approved for ADHD treatment, was assessed for its efficacy in managing binge eating disorder. In some doses, this approach was effective in 4-week binge eating cessation.

Patient care continues to make dramatic changes including the way information is shared not only between doctors and patients, but also other doctors treating the same people. Technology making that happen continues to evolve as well.

Many male patients with low to moderate levels of testosterone are being diagnosed with depression more often these days. The question then for healthcare professionals becomes how best to treat them.

Researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School may have uncovered an explanation for why patients with diabetes are more likely to develop anxiety and depression than patients with other chronic conditions requiring similar levels of management.

A study looking at the link between benzodiazepine exposure and risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

The association between depression and low back pain may be explained, at least in part, by genetic factors affecting both conditions.

Medical marijuana is legal in Washington state. But the FDA has ordered a Seattle company to stop selling cannabis products for dogs and cats. The products are shipped nationally.

An estimated 40% of migraine sufferers also have signs of depression and more than 50% of migraine patients have some form of anxiety disorder. Treating these comorbidities is more art than science, says Mia Minen, MD, Director of Headache Services at NYU Langone Medical Center. In a recent interview she discussed the treatment options ranging from standard drugs like triptans, to Botox, to biofeedback.

Treating patients with migraines and psychiatric comorbidities can require a delicate balancing act of medications and other forms of therapy.

In many cases helping patients manage their migraine headaches can prove to be enough of a challenge. Adding psychiatric conditions to the diagnosis can further complicate the treatment process for doctors.

Music can have a positive impact on patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, according to ongoing research.

Burnout is a hallmark of depression and present in nearly all cases of atypical depression, according to a study published in the International Journal of Stress Management.

When participants had the chance to help other players in a simulation involving real money, they often chose to do so unconditionally instead of with strings attached, according to a PLOS One study.

The Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton released a video in support of the United Kingdom's first Children's Mental Health Week, in which open conversation between parents and their children about mental health is encouraged.

A team from MedUni Vienna has demonstrated that testosterone increases the number of proteins that transport serotonin into the brain.

Individual features, work place conditions, and psychosocial factors all contribute to long-term sickness absence due to mental disorders, according to findings.

Sleep disorders and other health problems are common among firefighters across the United States.

Youth football season is just around the corner and as a new group of young football players prepare to strap on a helmet questions continue to be raised about the neurological safety of children playing the sport.

As electronic health records become more prevalent in the healthcare community, the number of software options doctors can choose from seems to range as widely as the practices themselves.

This observational cohort study from New Zealand found that "gossipy" magazines are often subtly taken from your waiting room, while the "non-gossipy" magazines remain.

A systematic review recently reported that antidepressants were beneficial for GERD patients – curbing esophageal sensation and reducing functional chest pain.

Major depressive episodes (MDEs) have physical symptoms such as anhedonia, anorexia and weight loss-all of which can be triggered by activation of the immune system.In a report in JAMA Psychiatry Elaine Setiawan, PhD and colleagues said their research shows that translocator protein density intensifies during an MDE, and that shows brain inflammation.They measured translocator protein by distribution volume (TSPOVt) assessed through PET scans.

Everyone involved in the care of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) wants to know that child's long-term prognosis. In a study in JAMA Psychiatry Peter Szatmari, MD reports on his study of 421 newly diagnosed preschoolers in a Canadian multisite longitudinal study. Data were collected over 4 years, until each child was age 6.The author found that there are several trajectories ASD can take.