Cigarettes and the blues

Over the years a number of studies have linked cigarette smoking with depression. It could be that a common factor lies behind both, that people smoke to cheer themselves up or that cigarettes themselves cause depression. Researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand looked into this topic using data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study which has been following 1,265 people since their birth in 1977. The participants were asked about their mood and their smoking habits at 18, 21 and 25. The researchers found significant links between being addicted to nicotine and depression with the 'best-fitting causal model' being one in which it was smoking that led to an increased risk of depression rather than vice versa.

Boden, Joseph M., Fergusson, David M. and Horwood, L. John - Cigarette smoking and depression: tests of causal linkages using a longitudinal birth cohort British Journal of Psychiatry June 2010, 196(6), 440-446

Newer antipsychotics no more effective

Atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotics have been used more and more over the last decade to treat schizophrenia in preference to older 'typical' drugs. But are they really any better? Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London reviewed 15 studies comparing the two kinds of drugs covering a total of 2,522 participants. They found no difference between the two types of drugs in terms of the number of people who stopped taking them and their effect on people's symptoms. People taking the newer drugs were more likely to put on weight while those on the older drugs were more likely to have side effects such as akinesia (inability to initiate movement) and akathisia (inability to sit still).

Crossley, Nicolas A. ... [et al] - Efficacy of atypical v typical antipsychotics in the treatment of early psychosis: meta-analysis British Journal of Psychiatry June 2010, 196(6), 434-439

Swedes play numbers game with ADHD

Researchers from Sweden have been looking into the risk factors for ADHD. Sweden could be described as the ultimate database state with the authorities keeping large amounts of information on its citizens. Despite the civil-liberties implications this is very useful for medical researchers. The scientists, from the Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, identified 7,960 Swedish children, aged between six and 19, who had been given a prescription for ADHD medication. The children's records were then tracked through other registers using the unique ten-digit reference number all Swedish residents are given at birth. The study found that boys were three times more likely than girls to be on medication with the highest rate being in boys between 10 and 15. Poorly-educated women were 130% more likely to have a child on ADHD medication than women with university degrees and children were 54% more likely to be on medication if they came from a single-parent family. Coming from a family on welfare benefits increased the risk of ending up on ADHD medication by 135%.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100601072634.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

SSRIs and cataracts

Certain types of antidepressants called SSRIs (serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors) can increase people's risk of cataracts. Researchers from the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute in Canada compared 19,000 people over the age of 65 who were taking antidepressants with 190,000 people in the same age group not taking them. Three SSRIs - fluvoxamine, venlafaxine and paroxetine - were all found to increase cataract risk by 39%, 33% and 23% respectively. However, the increase in risk was associated with current rather than prior use of SSRIs.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=128735&cn=5

NICE issues new alcohol guidelines

In the U.K. the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines aimed at dealing with the country's drink problem. The guidance recommends a minimum national price, per unit, of alcohol; a ban on all alcohol advertising in order to protect children; reducing the limites on duty-free alcohol and cutting licensing hours at pubs, clubs and off licences. The most controversial recommendation is that patients are quizzed about their alcohol consumption when they sign up with a GP, visit a pharmacy to get their medication reviewed or have to go to an accident and emergency department. It is estimated that one in four people in the U.K. - around about 10 million - are putting their health at risk by drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol.

You can download a copy of the full NICE guidelines at

http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PH24

Crowded wards increase nurses' risk of depression

Nurses who work in overcrowded wards may have a higher risk of depression. Researchers from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health looked at 16 hospitals in 2003 and 2004 to see what the monthly bed-occupancy rate was. They defined an 85% bed-occupancy rate as 'optimal' and anything above this as overcrowding. They then compared these rates to statistics on sick leave for 5,166 members of staff in 2004 and 2005. In the most crowded wards - with more than 95% occupancy - staff had double the risk of depression.

You can find out more about this research at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64U32I20100531?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

Light the blue touch paper, stand back and see what happens

Researchers from the University of Valencia have been making 30 Spanish men angry to see what happens. The researchers were looking to see what happens in people's brains and bodies rathe than how they behaved. They read the men 50 phrases designed to make them angry. They found that when the men got angry their heart rate, arterial tension and testosterone production increased and their levels of the stress hormone cortisol decreased. The left hemisphere of the men's brains became more stimulated, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100531082603.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Drink-driving college students

Drink-driving is a major public health problem and, in the U.S. at least, is particularly prevalent among college students. A study by researchers at the University of Maryland reveals the extent of the problem and shows that it gets worse when students reach the U.S. legal drinking age of 21. The researchers studied 1,253 students who were asked annually whether they had got into a car with a drunk driver, had driven after drinking and had driven while drunk. At 20 43% said that they had got into a car with a drunk driver, 8% had driven after having a drink and 20% had driven while drunk themselves. There were notable increases in all three figures when the students reached 21.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100531190857.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Home, nursery and school all need help to boost poor kids

Children do best when they are stimulated at home, school and nursery, suggesting that all three areas need to be targeted to improve the results of children from deprived backgrounds. Researchers in the U.S. followed 1,300 children from birth to Year 5 as part of the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The study evaluated children's environments at home and in the nursery when they were four and a half, looked at their school environment in Year 1 and tracked their progress in tests from Year 1 to Year 5. Those children who were stimulated in all three environments - home, nursery and Year 1 - did better than other children and this was particularly true of children from low-income families, suggesting that any government initiatives need to address all three environments.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100514074913.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

SSRIs and miscarriage - new evidence of a link

Researchers from the University of Montreal have confirmed previous studies linking the use of certain antidepressants to an increased risk of miscarriage. The researchers studied 5,124 women who had suffered miscarriages. They found that there was an increased risk associated with SSRIs (serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors), especially Seroxat and Effexor. Overall, the increased risk was 68%. It is estimated that more than 1 in 30 women take antidepressants when pregnant. Doctors warn, however, that coming off the drugs suddenly can lead to a relapse with the potential to put both mothers and babies at risk.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7790240/Common-antidepressants-increase-miscarriage-risk.html

Britain - the land that sleep forgot

Britain's sleep deprivation crisis is getting worse with serious effects for the economy and the workplace. Researchers surveyed the sleep patterns of 6,000 adults on behalf of the hotel chain Travelodge. They found that 28% of workers said they had taken a day off work following a bad night's sleep - equivalent to 8 million sick days a year and something estimated to cost employers £1bn. More than half of the sample (56%) said that they had felt like they had a bad hangover when they had not had enough sleep and 45% said it had taken a couple of days to recover. A third said they had found it difficult to concentrate driving to and from work after a bad night's sleep while 70% admitted that they were a horrible person to work with when they had not had enough sleep. A quarter of adults claimed to take a catnap at work with 16% dozing at their desk and 10% retreating to the toilet for forty winks. The top three causes of sleep deprivation were money worries (38%), work-related stress (25%) and noisy family members or neighbours (23%).

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7768447/Britons-have-lost-almost-an-hours-sleep-a-night-during-the-recession-claims-study.html

The happy bird catches the earworm

Most people have had the experience, at one time or another, of getting a piece of music stuck in their head. 'Ear worms,' as they are known, are a relatively under-researched phenomenon but Andrea McNally-Gagnon from the University of Montreal has been looking into them. She asked French-speaking Internet users to rank 100 songs in terms of their ability to get stuck in one's head and you can find the top 25 at
http://www.brams.org/participer-a-nos-etudes/resultats/resultats-musique-obsedante
She also asked 18 musicians and 18 non-musicians to hum and record their earworms and note their emotional state before and after. The study found that earworms lasted longer in musicians than non-musicians. They tended to occur when the participants were in a positive emotional state and keeping busy with non-intellectual activities such as walking. Not surprisingly musicians could recall songs better than non-musicians but both groups were able to 'replay' songs with a remarkable degree of accuracy.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526111334.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Top Gear or top trouble?

Macho men are a liability behind the wheel. Julie Langlois, a doctoral student at the University of Montreal, studied 22 men as they attempted to overtake another vehicle; the men were told that other people had caught up with it in seven minutes. Before taking the test the men also answered a questionnaire - the Auburn Differential Masculinity Inventory - to assess how 'macho' they were. The questionnaire included statements such as "men who cry are weak," and "generally speaking men are more intelligent than women," which they had to agree or disagree with on a scale of 1 to 5. The study found that the more 'macho' a man was the quicker he drove and the more rules he broke and risks he took doing so.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526111332.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Alcohol in the UK: prescriptions rise but dependency falls

The number of prescriptions for medication to deal with alcohol abuse in the U.K. has risen over the last few years but the number of people with symptoms of alcohol dependency has fallen. A total of 150,445 prescriptions for Acamprosate Calcium and Disulfiram were dispensed in 2009, up 12% from the year before. 95,000 prescriptions were written for Acamprosate Calcium which helps restore the brain's chemical balance to reduce people's withdrawal symptoms. 55,500 prescriptions were written for Disulfiram which causes a severe and unpleasant reaction in people when they drink alcohol. Together the prescriptions of the two drugs cost £2.38m. However, the number of people with symptoms of alcohol dependency fell from 11.5% of men in 2000 to 9.3% of men in 2007. The percentage of women with alcohol-dependency problems was steady over the same time at 4%.

You can find out more about this issue at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10161890.stm

SHANK2 gene linked to learning disabilities and autism

Variations in a gene called SHANK2 could be linked to both learning disabilities and autism. Researchers from Heidelberg University Hospital studied 396 people with autism and 184 with learning disabilities. They found more variations in the gene in people with learning disabilities and autism none of which were present in an unaffected control group. The gene is partially responsible for linking nerve cells together via synapses.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100525103933.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Young adults' attitudes to mental illness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the U.S. has been surveying people's attitude to mental illness as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. Overall the survey found that less than half (40%) of Americans believe someone with mental illness can be as successful at work as other people. The survey paid particular attention to the opinions of young adults (18-25) as this age group is the most likely to have a serious mental illness yet are the least likely to seek treatment. In this age group 72% thought that someone with mental illness would improve if given treatment and support, however, only a third (33%) thought that they would eventually recover. Nearly two thirds of young adults who knew someone with a mental illness thought treatment would help them but only 22% thought that people were generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189844.php

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: The Warning Signs - Guest post by Alexis Montgomery

For centuries, women (and some men) have primped, powdered, plucked, and generally fussed over their appearance, sometimes to the point of obsession. But only recently has a syndrome known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) come to light (although cases have been reported as far back as 100 years). It is most commonly recognized in persons who undergo extensive plastic surgery over and over to the point that they barely look human anymore (and certainly look nothing like their original selves), but this occurs in only the most severe cases that go unchecked. So how can you tell if someone you know is suffering from this disorder or merely indulging a bit of harmless vanity?
Most people obsess over small perceived flaws, like a big nose or a flabby belly, but are able to continue living their normal lives despite infrequent unhappiness. Some rely on fad diets and intense exercise to solve their body woes while others resort to heavy make-up, miracle creams, and even plastic surgery to give them an appearance they can feel good about. In a society that places such an emphasis on physical attractiveness, a little of this is to be expected. BDD, on the other hand, is marked by a severe obsession that focuses on an assumed defect in the face or body. This preoccupation can cause a person to become so fixated that they lose interest in their life (work, friends, etc.) to the point that they can no longer function. They suffer from a distorted body image, generally relating to one specific area. It is also very common for people with BDD to be diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders, so if you suspect someone of having BDD, a pre-existing condition like depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) could clue you in.
A few signs of this disorder, beyond an unhealthy focus on a specific facial feature or body part, include ritualistic behaviors like extensive make-up routines, camouflaging (make-up, clothing, even plastic surgery), a compulsive need to look in (or avoid) mirrors, a penchant for comparison with others, and a constant need for reassurance concerning their appearance. And again, withdrawing from outside interests is almost always a strong indicator that something is seriously wrong.
If you think a friend or relative is suffering from BDD, you should try to get them to see a professional. Chances are, they are unaware that they even have a problem, despite obsessive behavior and ongoing depression over their supposed defect. It’s possible that their disorder can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or more likely a combination of the two. If allowed to continue, this disorder can lead to isolation, self-destructive behaviors, and hospitalization.

Alexis Montgomery is a content writer for Online Schools, where you can browse through various online degree programs to find a college that suits your needs.

Parents of autistic children no likelier to split up

Parents of children with autism are no more likely to split up than other parents. A figure of 80% of parents of children with autism splitting up has become common currency in the autism 'community' over the last few years but no one really knows where it comes from, or if there is any truth behind it. Brian Freedman from the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger institute in Baltimore used data from a 2007 national survey to look into this issue. The survey included information on 77,911 American children aged between 3 and 17. The study found that 64% of autistic children lived with both parents compared to 65% of children unaffected by autism.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=128448&cn=20

Cautious thumbs up for Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a low-impact mind-body exercise that has been practised for centuries in the East and is currently gaining popularity in the West. It is believed to improve mood and enhance overall psychological wellbeing but convincing evidence has so far been lacking. Dr Chenchen Wang from Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts reviewed 40 studies into the use of Tai Chi for mental health. The review found that practising tai chi was associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and mood disturbance and increased self-esteem. However, the quality of the studies was generally modest and there is a need for more rigorous well-controlled randomised trials.

You can find out more about this at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/24/tai-chi-for-mental-health/14015.html

Occasional tipple might cut Alzheimer's risk

A Spanish study by researchers from the University of Valencia has found that a moderate consumption of alcohol could lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The study compared 176 people with Alzheimer's and 246 healthy people. The participants - or in the case of the people with Alzheimer's the participants' relatives - were asked about their lifestyle and the study found that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly in women who did not smoke was associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Contrary to previous research the risk of Alzheimer's was unaffected by the amount of cigarettes people smoked.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7760038/Occasional-drink-may-protect-against-Alzheimers-Disease.html