Mental Health Weekly Digest articles from February 2003

Mental Health Weekly Digest archives from February 2003

Left hemisphere damage impairs identification of contorted, non-rigid objects.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from Norway, "we compared the performance in a picture-name matching task of 10 patients suffering from left cerebral hemisphere (LH) damage and 10 from right hemisphere (RH)...

Researchers discover anxiety and aggression gene in mice.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers report finding a gene that is essential for normal levels of anxiety and aggression. Calling it the Pet-1 gene, researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine...

Donepezil, rivastigmine reduce acetylcholinesterase most in the frontal cortex.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from Finland, "donepezil and rivastigmine are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors used to improve cholinergic neurotransmission and cognitive function in Alzheimer...

Memory tests predict dementia.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- If they have to remember words, elderly people in an early stage of dementia do not benefit from the relationship in meaning between these words. This was revealed in doctoral research by the...

Moderate dose of amisulpride controls five dimensions of psychopathology.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from Germany, "the present analysis investigated symptom specific dose-response relationships of the atypical antipsychotic amisulpride (AMI) in schizophrenic patients....

Morphine-induced conditioned place preference can be reinstated by drug.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Canada report, "morphine induces a conditioned place preference (CPP) for a chamber associated with the drug. In the present set of experiments, we explored the persistence, extinction,...

Tryptophan and serotonin depletion appears to regulate impulsive behavior.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "This study investigated the effects of acute serotonin depletion on two measures of impulsive behavior in healthy men with a family history of alcoholism. Serotonin has been implicated in several...

Quetiapine, iloperidone, melperone selectively increase dopamine/acetylcholine.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from the United States, "preferential increases in both cortical dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) release have been proposed to distinguish the atypical antipsychotic...

Diagnosis of ADHD highly controversial, but growing.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, Inc., finds that even though diagnosing adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is still highly controversial in the world's seven major pharmaceutical markets...

Simulation of unilateral neglect using prisms shows sensorimotor involvement.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from France, "rightward deviation on line bisection is considered one of the most classic clinical signs of unilateral visual neglect, a cognitive disorder of spatial...

Retrieval processing during recognition and exclusion tasks is similar.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Event related fMRI was employed to contrast the neural activity elicited in prefrontal cortex during recognition memory and exclusion tests. The study phases preceding each memory test were...

Expression of catecholamine-regulated protein 40 increases in some brain regions.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from Canada, "previous reports from our laboratory have described brain specific catecholamine-regulated proteins, which bind dopamine and related catecholamines. Evidence...

Neural systems for lexical retrieval are the same for ASL and spoken English.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to investigate whether signed languages exhibit the same neural organization for lexical retrieval within classical and nonclassical language areas as has...

Corticotropin-releasing factor produces context-dependent behavior in primates.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from Canada, "corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a neuropeptide involved in integrating the behavioral, autonomic, and hormonal responses to stress within the central nervous...

Mail reminders help patients stick to antidepressant meds.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mailed reminders to physicians and their patients who take antidepressant drugs can help patients stick with their medication routine, according to a new study. The reminders significantly increased...

Statistically significant results reported in 1-year VNS therapy study.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cyberonics, Inc., (CYBX) announced that the 1-year data from its D-02 depression pivotal study, analyzed pursuant to the D-02 analysis plan submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in...

Norepinephrine appears to be another neuronal differentiating agent.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Recent research into depression has focused on the involvement of long-term intracellular processes, leading to abnormal neuronal plasticity in brains of depressed patients, and reversed by...

Sociotropy found to be predictor of bulimia.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "The authors tested the generalizability of A. Sugarman, D. Quinlan, and L. Devenis' (1982) psychodynamic account of eating disturbances, which posits that overt autonomy strivings associated with...

Mild impairment should be considered an early treatable symptom in the aging.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "As public awareness of Alzheimer disease increases, more people are asking for help and advice about memory problems. Memory complaints may be secondary to psychiatric, psychological, and physical...

Basal forebrain has dramatic loss of calcium binding protein with ageing.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from the United States, "cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain (BFCN) are selectively vulnerable in neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly, particularly in...

Cytoplasmic aggregates of protein kinases found, also alter cell function.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "a better understanding of cellular mechanisms that occur in Parkinson disease and related Lewy body diseases is essential for development of new therapies....

Prostaglandin A(1) inhibits rotenone induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "The degeneration of nigral dopamine neurons in Parkinson disease (PD) reportedly involves a defect in brain mitochondrial complex I in association with the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB...

Lower cognitive performance proven and linked to lower regional brain volumes.
February 10, 2003... 2003 FEB 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "In an all male sample of schizophrenic patients stabilized by medication (n=62) and normal controls (n=27), we obtained neuropsychological test data and high resolution whole brain magnetic resonance...

Researchers discover anxiety and aggression gene in mice.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers report finding a gene that is essential for normal levels of anxiety and aggression. Calling it the Pet-1 gene, researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine's...

Behavior linked to cAMP response element-binding protein expression.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists at Yale University have identified a link between cAMP response element-binding protein expression and behavior. "The cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is a critical...

ApoE secretion by glia requires protein prenylation, is suppressed by statins.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from the United States, "apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype modulates the risk of Alzheimer disease. ApoE has been shown essential for amyloid P-peptide fibrillogenesis and...

Study looks at nocturnal cortisol and melatonin production in primary insomnia.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers believe nocturnal melatonin selection may play a role in insomnia, according to a study conducted in Germany. "The present study investigated evening and nocturnal serum cortisol and...

Fund awards $500,000 grant to researchers to look for manic depression cure.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Waltraud "Wally" Prechter, founder and president of the Heinz C. Prechter Fund for Manic Depression, announced a $500,000 grant to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to help find cures...

Cell phone use could make the head an antenna and brain a radio receiver.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Headache and other neuropsychological symptoms occur in users of cellular telephones, and controversy exists concerning risks for brain cancer. We hypothesize these effects result from the head...

Interferon-ribavirin combination okay for those with psychiatric diagnoses.
February 17, 2003... 2003 FEB 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Research performed in Germany suggests interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy is okay for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who...

Education/support program for cancer patients, family, and friends excels.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from Australia, "A diagnosis of cancer can have major adverse physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences for both the individual diagnosed with cancer and their...

Brain images reveal effects of antidepressants.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The experiences of millions of people have proved that antidepressants work, but only with the advent of sophisticated imaging technology have scientists begun to learn exactly how the medications...

Survey: Stereotypes and misconceptions surround bipolar disorder.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- To address the alarmingly high rates of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) has launched the "Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It?" national...

Sustained high blood sugar levels may damage brain's key memory center.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An inability to quickly bring down high levels of sugar in the blood is associated with poor memory and may help explain some of the memory loss that occurs as we age, according to a new study by New...

Abuse and other mental health factors identified in patients with bowel disease.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "This study tested a preliminary model of the role of dissociation and somatization in linking abuse to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Outpatients with IBS (N = 64) or bowel symptoms explained by...

FDA accepts memantine NDA.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forest Laboratories (FRX) announced that its New Drug Application (NDA) for memantine, the first of a new class of Alzheimer agents, was accepted for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

Stigma, lack of information, pose barriers to treatment for minorities.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Worry that their child will be "labeled," not having enough information about the disorder, or knowing where to go for help are major barriers that may prevent many parents or caregivers in the...

Caregivers must understand how cancer changes women's life perspective.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The stated aim of recent research from Sweden "is to obtain a deeper and more profound understanding of the life world of women living with breast cancer, focusing particularly on changes in life...

Depression increases risk of death.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Women with early-stage breast cancer have a slightly higher risk of dying from their cancer if they suffer from depression after their cancer diagnosis, according to new research. However,...

Companies team to identify and advance neurological compounds for GU, GI disorders.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Evotec OAI AG (EVT) and Dynogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they have entered into a 3-year drug discovery and development services agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Dynogen...

CT is a useful technique to identify most tumors in the frail and disabled.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from England, "Frail and physically or mentally disabled patients frequently have difficulty in tolerating formal colonic investigations. The aims of this study were to evaluate...

Depression related to poor health postsurgery.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Men who are depressed before their coronary artery bypass graft surgery are more likely to be rehospitalized or suffer pain and reduced quality of life 6 months after their bypass operation, compared...

Endocrine disruptor BPA alters development of estrogen target organs.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Recent findings in the field of environmental endocrine disruption have revealed that developmental exposure to estrogenic chemicals induces morphological, functional, and behavioral anomalies...

Survey of women heart patients reveals widespread dissatisfaction.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The first-ever national survey of women heart patients found more than half (52%) were dissatisfied with some aspect of their healthcare, particularly physician communications styles. Most...

Touch-screen technology works well in cancer-related evaluation of elderly.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The objective of a recent study from Australia "was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of computer touchscreen technology as a method for patients to report psychosocial functioning in an...

Minorities' treatment access up due to use of residential treatment centers.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study by social welfare researchers indicates that black and Hispanic children in the U.S. child welfare system actually receive more mental health care under capitated managed care, and this is...

Primary care business unit acquired from Elan.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (KG) announced that they and Elan Corporation, plc (ELN) have signed a definitive agreement for King to acquire Elan's primary care business unit in the United States and...

Humor and laughter may not benefit physical health significantly.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "This article examines research evidence for the popular idea that humor and laughter have beneficial effects on physical health. Potential theoretical mechanisms for such effects are discussed first....

Psychotherapy for HIV-related pain may have limited appeal.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nearly half of 61 HIV-positive patients enrolled in psychotherapy sessions to relieve limb pain dropped out of the sessions before the end of therapy, suggesting that such an approach may have limited...

Survey: Americans need to get more creative under the covers.
February 24, 2003... 2003 FEB 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- drugstore.com, inc. has released survey results revealing the "naked" truth about sexuality and intimacy in America. The "Sexual Well Being" survey, which questioned Americans about their sexual...