Heard the one about the schizophrenic ...

Humour is an important part of daily life. Not only does it bring pleasure and enjoyment in itself it is also considered a positive social trait that facilitates social interaction and bonding. There is substantial evidence that people with schizophrenia have deficits in social cognition, which includes recognizing other's mental states (theory of mind), social perception and attributional style. These skills are likely to play an important role in humour appreciation yet there have been relatively few studies examining this subject. A study of 60 people (30 with schizophrenia and a 30-strong control group) by researchers at the University of Sheffield asked participants to identify humorous moments in four slapstick-comedy films. The participants were asked to press a buzzer for every funny moment and asked about their reactions to the films afterwards. Compared to the control group the people with schizophrenia were less able to detect humour, although when they did detect it they appreciated it as much.

Tsoi, D. T.-Y. ... [et al] - Humour experience in schizophrenia: relationship with executive dysfunction and psychosocial impairment Psychological Medicine June 2008, 38(6), 801-810

Theory of mind and bipolar disorder

Theory of mind is the ability to infer what another individual is thinking or feeling based on their verbal and/or non-verbal behaviour. It is central to successful social interaction and develops throughout childhood and adolescence. Children with bipolar disorder often have significant impairments in their social and interpersonal functioning but there has been little research into Theory of Mind in this age group. A U.S. study of 46 children compared those with bipolar disorder to those without. In one task the participants were read stories with positive, negative and neutral emotional content and were assessed on their ability to recognize that a misleading series of events could lead one character to develop a false belief about another. In another task the participants were required to infer the real intentions behind subtle hints. The children with bipolar disorder performed significantly more poorly than the controls at picking up hints and on the positive- and negative-story tests. Among the children with bipolar disorder younger age, earlier illnes onset and manic symptoms were all associated with poorer theory-of-mind performance.

Schenkel, L.S. ... [et al] - Theory of mind and social inference in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder Psychological Medicine June 2008, 38(6), 791-800

Depression, abuse and hospital use

A small proportion of patients account for the majority of healthcare usage with 5-15% of patients responsible for 45-70% of costs. Heavy users often suffer from mental and physical illness, particularly an increased level of depression. Physical and sexual abuse, in either childhood or adulthood, is known to be linked to increased levels of depression and a U.S. study of 96 frequent users of health services examined the links between abuse, depression and frequent usage of health services. The researchers found that compared to people who had not been abused people who had suffered abuse over the past year were significantly more likely to be re-admitted to hospital. However, re-admissions were related to chronic disease management and were not the result of the physical effects of abuse. Major depression and abuse interacted with each other to increase rates of re-admission.

Levine, Jeffrey M. ... [et al] - Major depression and recent physical or sexual abuse increase readmissions among high-utilising primary care patients Mental Health in Family Medicine 2008, 5(1), 23-28

Debt and depression

At any one time between 2-5% of the population are suffering from depression and between 10-20% of people will suffer from it during the course of their life. Depression is more common among those with a poorer standard of living, independent of occupational social class, and unemployment is also a strong risk factor. Some researchers have suggested that perceived financial strain - the ability to meet one's commitments and one's level of indebtedness - is more important than unemployment and poverty per se. A study of 5,237 young women in Southampton, over two years, found that among those developing depression there was a higher proportion receiving benefits and a higher level of perceived financial strain. There were also modest rises in perceived stress and poorer levels of educational attainment. Women who were not depressed at the start of the study but who were receiving benefits had a 1.61x higher risk of developing depression. The risk associated with perceived financial strain did not remain statistically significant after adjustments were made for receipt of benefits, educational qualifications and perceived stress. In other words it was unemployment and/or poverty that was the most crucial factor in whether people developed depression not their perception of financial strain.

Dunn, Nick ... [et al] - Does perceived financial strain predict depression among young women? Longitudinal findings from the Southampton Women's Survey Mental Health in Family Medicine 2008, 5(1), 15-21

Maternal depression and childhood injuries

A study of 1,364 mothers in the U.S. examined the links between maternal depression and children's injuries. The mothers were periodically asked to list all their children's injuries that had required professional medical treatment, and, on four separate occasions during the study, asked to rate how often they experienced symptoms of depression. 2.5% of the mothers reported severe, clinical depression with 15.5% reporting being moderately depressed. The children between 0-3 whose mothers suffered from severe, chronic depression were three times more likely to suffer accidental injuries than infants and toddlers whose mothers were only moderately depressed. The link between severe, chronic depression and injuries remained consistent even when taking into account socio-economic status, parenting styles and the children's sex, temperament and behaviour. However, between three and starting school the levels of injuries were the same in the severely and moderately-depressed women. The researchers hypothesized that the severely depressed women were less able to provide a safe environment for their children but that this became less important as the children grew old and were more able to make their own decisions about safety and danger.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/15/depressed-moms-place-kids-at-risk-for-injury/2293.html

Female sex offenders

Between 1988 and 2000 93 women were convicted of sexual offences in Sweden. Researchers at Karolinska University compared the incidence of mental illness and substance abuse in this group with 20,000 randomly selected women in the normal population and 13,000 women convicted of non-sexual crimes in the same period. 37% of the female sex offenders had undergone treatment in a psychiatric clinic and 8% had been diagnosed with psychosis but there was no difference in the incidences of mental illness and drug abuse between these women and women who had committed other kinds of violent crime. However, the figures differed widely from the control group of normal women with the rates of psychosis being 16 times higher and that of drug abuse being 23 times higher.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/15/female-sexual-offenders-similar-to-violent-criminals/2298.html

Separation and child development

A study of 1,619 children between the ages of 4 and 6 in Rochester, U.S. looked into the effects of separation from parents on children's development. 18% of the children had been separated from their parents at some point during their childhood with 7% of them being separated two or more times. Children who had been separated at any point scored significantly worse on their ability to learn new tasks and on their 'pre-literacy' skills.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/16/separation-from-parents-can-hinder-childs-learning/2300.html

Antipsychotics for dementia : adverse effects

Antipsychotic drugs are commonly used to treat the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, often being prescribed for short periods to treat agitation. About 17% of individuals admitted to nursing homes are started on antipsychotic medication within 100 days. A study of 41,241 older adults in the U.S. covered people with dementia living in nursing homes and in the community comparing those prescribed newer, atypical antipsychotics ; those prescribed older, typical antipsychotics and those not prescribed any antipsychotics at all. Among older adults living in the community those taking older drugs were four times more likely to experience an adverse event within 30 days of starting the drugs, while those taking the newer drugs were at three times the risk. Among the older adults living in nursing homes those taking older drugs had 2.4x the risk while those taking newer drugs had a 1.9x greater risk.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/27/antipsychotic-meds-for-older-adults-could-be-dangerous/2354.html

Social victimization at school

A study of more than 2,300 students between the ages of 12-18 carried out by researchers at the University of Alberta looked into the issue of social victimization - which can include receiving hurtful anonymous notes, being socially excluded or having rumours spread about oneself - in an attempt to see who was most at risk of it. The study found that girls who viewed themselves as attractive had a 35% increased chance of social victimization, whereas boys who thought they were good looking had a 25% reduction. Older teenagers who were sexually active had a 35% increased risk of being victimized.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/27/risk-of-high-school-victimization/2355.html

ADHD in the workplace

Increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) but the condition can also be present in adults. Adults with ADHD may have difficulty in concentrating because they may be hyperactive, easily distracted, forgetful or impulsive. A survey by the World Health Organization looked into lost productivity due to ADHD surveying more than 7,000 employed or self-employed people between the ages of 18 and 44. On average 3.5% of workers had ADHD which was more prevalent in men and workers in developed, rather than developing, countries. People with ADHD were found to spend 22.1 more days not doing work than other workers, per year. This was made up of 8.4 days when they were unable to work or carry out their normal activities, plus 21.7 days of reduced work quantity and 13.6 days of reduced work quality.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/27/adhd-influences-work-productivity/2356.html

Vitamin D and depression

Depression is very common in older people and can affect up to 13% of this population. Some scientists have suggested that low levels of vitamin D can cause depression. Low levels of vitamin D can also cause an increase in parathyroid hormone levels which are in turn frequently accompanied by an increase in depressive symptoms. In fact people's mood usually returns to normal after treatment of hyperparathyroidism. A Dutch study of 1,282 elderly people between the ages of 65-95 found that levels of vitamin D were 14% lower in 169 people with minor depression and 14% lower in 26 people with major depression. Levels of parathyroid hormone were 5% and 33% higher respectively. Depression severity was significantly associated with decreased vitamin D and increased parathyroid hormone levels.

Hoogendijk, Witte J.G. ... [et al] - Depression is associated with decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin D and increased parathyroid hormone levels in older adults Archives of General Psychiatry May 2008, 65(5), 508-512

Rheumatic diseases and mental-health problems

Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis are caused by the body's immune system going wrong and causing inflammation in the joints and spine. Rheumatoid arthritis affects between 1-2% of the population, and ankylosing spondylitis between 0.5-4%. Lupus has a strong imbalance between the sexes affecting 4 per 100,000 men but over ten times (45 per 100,000) as many women. These diseases are also associated with an increased risk of mental-health problems either because of their biological effects or through the stress and anxiety they cause people. A Swedish study looked at the entire population in 1973 and again in 2004. It found that individuals with rheumatic diseases had a higher risk of psychiatric disorders than the general population with those with lupus and ankylosing spondylitis having the highest risk. Lupus carried an increased risk of dementia and delirium. Women with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus had an increased risk of psychotic disorders and severe depression.

Sundquist, Kristina ... [et al] - Subsequent risk of hospitalization for neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with rheumatic diseases Archives of General Psychiatry May 2008, 65(5), 501-507

CBT for very young children with OCD

As many as 1 in 200 children and adolescents suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is characterized by recurrent and intense obsessions and/or compulsions - such as hand-washing, counting, checking and cleaning - that cause severe discomfort and interfere with daily functioning. Children as young as 5 can be diagnosed with the condition but few research programmes have looked into treatments for children this young despite the fact that if left untreated early childhood OCD can severely disrupt and impair a child's development and functioning and can extend into adulthood. A U.S. study of 42 young children looked into the effectiveness of family based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which draws on successful approaches used with older children but also contains innovative elements that have been specifically tailored to children between the ages of 5 and 8. The study compared family CBT with relaxation techniques. The CBT programme was found to be significantly more effective in decreasing OCD symptoms and helping children achieve clinical remission. 69% of the children who completed all 14 weeks of the CBT programme achieved remission compared to only 20% of the relaxation group. Even among those children who started, but did not finish, the CBT programme 50% achieved clinical remission.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/16/kids-with-ocd-benefit-from-family-therapy/2302.html

Teenage troubles and school performance

A study of 589 high-school students in Los Angeles looked into the links between family and home stress and school performance. The teenagers reported their daily family and school experiences in a diary every day for a fortnight recording conflict with parents, family demands, learning difficulties, school attendance and other experiences. The study found that when the teenagers experienced stress at home they had problems with their school work over the next two days and when they had problems with their school work they had more problems at home over the next forty-eight hours. But there were also more long-term effects and adolescents who had higher levels of family stress and schoool problems at the start of high school saw declining achievement four years later.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/16/stress-has-long-term-consequences-for-teens/2304.html

Domestic violence against men

A new U.S. report on domestic violence against men has lifted the lid on the scale and nature of the phenomenon. In-depth interviews with over 400 men found that 5% had experienced domestic violence - including non-physical abuse - in the past year, 10% in the past five years and 29% over their lifetimes. Depressive symptoms were nearly three times as common in older men who had experienced abuse, with much more severe depression in the men who had been abused physically. Most men stayed in abusive relationships for years and domestic violence affected men from all walks of life.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/19/domestic-violence-affects-men/2309.html

Maternal stress and babies' immune systems

Mothers' levels of stress during pregnancy may effect the immune system of their babies according to a study carried out by researchers at Harvard Medical School. The study of 387 mothers and their babies in Boston looked at levels of maternal stress, exposure to dust-mite allergens and levels of a substance called IgE in umbilical-cord blood. The researchers found increased levels of IgE expression - indicating immune-system problems - among infants whose mothers had experienced higher levels of stress. This link held true even when the women had been exposed to relatively low levels of dust-mite allergens during their pregnancy and regardless of the mother's race, class, education or smoking history.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/19/stress-during-pregnancy-can-predispose-infant-to-allergies/2310.html

Who's in and out at school - the power of positive thinking

A study of 164 adolescents in the U.S. has found that how children perceive their social standing can be just as important as their actual levels of popularity. The researchers interviewed the children at 13 and 14 and also talked to their friends. Regardless of their actual levels of popularity teenagers who felt good about their social standing did well over time becoming increasingly less hostile and more frequently sought out by their peers. Conversely those children who were popular also did well, regardless of their own perceptions of their social standing. Adolescents who lacked both a strong sense of their own social acceptance and who were rated by their peers as unpopular fared the worst becoming more hostile, less sought after and more withdrawn over time.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/19/teens-perception-of-popularity-is-important/2312.html

Young people in PICUs and ethnicity

A U.S. study of 2,991 patients under the age of 22 admitted to an emergency paediatric psychiatry department has found strikingly different patterns of diagnosis among different ethnic groups. 4.5% of African-Americans and 4.9% of Hispanics received diagnoses of psychotic disorder compared to only 2.5% of white children. Diagnoses of behavioural problems were also more common in African-American and Hispanic children (50.3% and 46.4% respectively) compared to white children (34.9%). However, white children (37.8%) were more likely to receive diagnoses of depression than African American (28.5%) or Hispanic (30.1%) children. White children were also more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and alcohol and substance abuse.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/20/childs-mental-health-diagnosis-influenced-by-ethnicity/2317.html

Aging into happiness

A study of 1,450 people over the age of 60 in the U.S. has painted a rosy picture of older people's mental health. Previous research on emotions associated with aging has focused on negative emotions such as depression but this study found that older people felt more positive than negative emotions and more passive (contentment, calm, ease) than active ones. Women had more negative and passive emotions than men and participants with higher income and educational levels had significantly more positive emotions than less-well-educated and poorer ones.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/20/aging-is-tonic-for-lifes-stressful-emotions/2318.html

Birthday bingeing in the U.S.

A U.S. study of 2,518 current and former college students has revealed dangerously-high levels of drinking by people as they celebrate their 21st birthdays. (21 is the legal age for drinking in the U.S.). Over 80% of the participants reported that they had consumed some alcohol on their 21st. 34% of men and 24% of women had consumed 21 drinks or more. The maximum for men was about 50 drinks, the maximum for women about 30. The researchers estimated that 49% of men and 35% of women had blood alcohol contents of 0.26 or higher, a level that indicates severe alcohol intoxication which could lead to dangerous health problems such as disorientation, coma and even death.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/20/binge-drinking-on-21st-birthday-is-a-problem/2320.html