Grief and the brain

Everyone experiences grief at some point in their life. Most people move on and accept the loss but for a substantial minority - those suffering from complicated grief - it is impossible to let go, and, even years later any reminder of their loss (such as a picture or a memory) brings on a fresh wave of grief and yearning. Complicated grief can be debilitating involving recurrent pangs of painful emotions, intense yearning, longing and searching for the deceased and a preoccupation with thoughts of the loved one. A team of researchers at UCLA, U.S. examined what goes on in the brain when we experience grief by showing 23 participants - 11 of whom had complicated grief - photographs of dead loved ones while they underwent an MRI scan. All the groups showed increased activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, areas of the brain implicated in perceptions of pain. However, those women suffering from complicated grief also experienced increased activity in the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain most commonly associated with reward and one that has also been shown to play a role in social attachment such as sibling and maternal affiliation.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/23/new-insights-on-grief-recovery/2484.html

Anxiety and depression in children

A long-term study of 900 families in Norway followed children from 18 months through to adolescence looking into the causes of childhood anxiety and depression. 10-20% of all children and young people will, in the course of growing up, display enough symptoms of anxiety and depression to qualify for a diagnosis. Maternal distress symptoms, family stress and a lack of support in the child's pre-school environment all led to an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms at 12-13. Girls were more likely to develop emotional problems at 12-13 than boys. They were more likely to churn problems over and could be more vulnerable as they go through puberty earlier than boys. Timid and shy children were at a greater risk of developing depression and anxiety. Timid/shy children who were inactive were at three times the risk of developing depression and anxiety than timid/shy children who were active.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/23/family-stress-ups-childs-risk-of-distress/2485.html

Weight, perception and happiness in teenagers

A study of 7,000 German teenagers looked into their perceptions of their weight, their actual weight and their quality of life. Only about 18% of the sample were actually overweight, with 7-8% of them actually being underweight. However 55% of the girls and 36% of the boys thought that they were too fat. The children's quality of life was linked to their perception of their weight rather than their actual weight and this was particularly marked with the girls. Normal-weight girls who thought they were too fat had a reduced quality of life whereas overweight girls who were happy with their weight had the same quality of life as normal-weight ones.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/23/perception-of-being-fat-harm-teens/2486.html

Automated scans for Alzheimer's

In Alzheimer's disease nerve cell death and tissue loss cause all areas of the brain, especially the hippocampus to shrink. When Alzheimer's is diagnosed early drug treatment can help to improve or stabilize patient symptoms. MRI scans can be used to measure anatomical changes in the brain but evaluating brain shrinkage is a complex, lengthy process. Researchers in France have developed an automated system for doing this, which, they hope, will speed things up considerably. The researchers used the new system to scan 25 people with Alzheimer's disease, 24 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 25 healthy older adults and found the hippocampus had shrunk by 32% in those with Alzheimer's and 19% in those with MCI. These figures were consistent with those found by manual methods of MRI interpretation but were produced much more quickly.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/24/automated-mri-best-for-alzheimers/2490.html

Physical toll of anxiety

A review of the evidence by Harvard Women's Health Watch looked at the links between anxiety and physical illness. A recent New Zealand study found links between high levels of anxiety and the development of irritable bowel syndrome. Most studies have found a high rate of anxiety symptoms and panic attacks in people with chronic respiratory disorders such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with women at greater risk than men. In studies involving COPD patients anxiety has been associated with more frequent hospitalization and more severe distress. Anxiety disorders have also been linked to the development of heart disease and to heart attacks in people who already have heart disease. Two recent studies concluded that among people with heart disease those suffering from an anxiety disorder were twice as likely to have a heart attack.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/24/anxiety-can-undermine-health/2492.html

Tai chi and sleeping

More than half of older adults have difficulties sleeping although most don't seek treatment. Some take sedatives but these can lead to daytime confusion, drowsiness, falls and fractures while behaviour therapies can be costly and not always available closer to home. Physical exercise has been found to enhance sleep quality but older people sometimes have difficulties with this. Tai chi uses gentle, slower movements and is more suitable for older people. A study of 112 healthy adults between the ages of 59 and 86 divided them into two groups. The first group practiced 20 simple tai-chi moves while the other group attended health education classes that included advice on stress management, diet and sleep habits. Compared to the other group the tai-chi group showed improved sleep quality, less drowsiness, improved concentration, longer sleep and less sleep disturbance.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/24/ancient-practice-aids-sleep/2493.html

Men coping with women's drinking

The impact of having a close relative with a drinking problem can be considerable. The family directly experience the consequences of the drinking behaviour and attempts to cope can produce a variety of negative emotional, psychological, physical and social reactions. And, in turn, family members' coping strategies can have a role in the progression of people's drinking problems. Despite a significant amount of research looking at the families of problem drinkers, little is known about male partners of problem drinkers. Some studies have found that men use a withdrawal style of coping behaviour either physically (by going into a different room or going out) or emotionally (by avoiding confrontation or an active involvement in the problem). A study of 29 male partners of female problem drinkers found that, in fact, the men were more likely to use engaged coping behaviours, trying to change their partners' drinking behaviour, than withdrawal ones. However, the longer the women had had a drink problem the more likely the men were to use a passive or withdrawn coping style.

Philpott, H. and Christie, M.M. - Coping in male partners of female problem drinkers Journal of Substance Use June 2008, 13(3), 193-203

Methadone and buprenorphine

Methadone is the usual treatment for heroin addicts. It improves physical and mental health and social functioning and reduces criminal behaviour. However, people can die of an overdose of methadone and some people argue that it prolongs the period of dependence as it takes a long time to come off it. In 1999 buprenorphine was licensed for use in treating heroin addiction. It is less harmful in overdose and easier to withdraw from although methadone is slightly more effective and significantly cheaper. However, little is known about the views of heroin addicts themselves on methods of treatment. A study of 42 addicts in Norwich found that those taking buprenorphine viewed methadone more negatively and buprenorphine more positivelythan those taking methadone. Those taking methadone apperared to do do on the basis of familiarity whereas those taking buprenorphie appeared to be attracted by their beliefs that it would block heroin more effectively, reduce cravings, give less intoxication and be earlier to stop taking than methadone.

Pinto, H., Rumball, D. and Holland R. Attitudes and knowledge of substancd misusers regarding buprenorphine and methadone maintenance therapy Journal of Substacke Use Janray 2008, 13(3), 143-153

Resetting body clocks for people with dementia

Older people with dementia have disturbed body clocks which can contribute to cognitive decline and problems with mood, behaviour and the activities of everyday living. Bright light and melatonin are known to help with body-clock problems and a study of care-home residents in Holland found that bright light slowed cognitive decline by 5%, reduced symptoms of depression by 19% and helped to slow down loss of functional ability. Melatonin improved sleep patterns but worsened mood unless it was accompanied by bright light.

British Medical Journal 21 June, 2008, 1400-1401

St John's Wort for ADHD

St John's Wort is best known as a treatment for depression but is also one of the most popular complementary treatments for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A U.S. study of 54 children compared St John's Wort to a placebo in an 8-week trial. By the end of the trial the researchers found that more of the children (51.9% vs 44.4%) in the placebo group had shown an improvement and by a greater amount.

Journal of the American Medical Association 2008; 299:2633-2641

Parents' insomnia and children's health problems

A study of 798 teenagers with an average age of 14 by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh looked into not only their own sleeping patterns but also the sleeping patterns of their parents. The study found that children whose parents had sleep problems were more likely to have insomnia themselves, to be tired during the day and to use hypnotics (sedatives). Children of insomniac parents were also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts/attempts.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/12/parents-insomnia-up-mental-health-risk-for-offspring/2449.html

Alone and depressed of Hicksville

A study of women over 18 living in rural areas in the U.S. has found that unmarried women living in these areas are at a greater risk of depression. The study found that single or divorced women were more prone to poor self-rated health than those who were married.

You can read more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/13/depression-risk-for-rural-women/2455.html

Naltrexone for gambling problems

It is estimated that between 1 and 3% of the population has a gambling problem. The principal treatments for gambling problems are usually psychological but a new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota has found that a drug usually used to treat alcoholism can also help gamblers. The study, of people between the ages of 18 and 75 who gambled between six and thirty-two hours a week, compared the drug naltrexone to a placebo. By the end of the 18-week trial 40% of those taking naltrexone had quit gambling for at least a month, compared to only 10% of those taking the placebo. Naltrexone had few side effects and was equally effective in men and women.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/16/alcoholism-drug-helps-pathological-gamblers/2464.html

9/11 and PTSD - seven years on

Nearly seven years after the event a survey of 11,000 New Yorkers has shown that the attacks of September 11, 2001 have had lasting psychological consequences. The survey found that Lower Manhattan residents had developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at three times the usual rate. The rate among residents (12.6%) matched that (12.4%) previously reported among rescue and recovery workers. Apart from injured residents, 38% of whom developed PTSD symptoms, the most affected groups were those who witnessed violent deaths and those who were caught up in the dust cloud as the twin towers collapsed; roughly 17% suffered from PTSD in each of these groups. Divorced people, women, black and Hispanic people and those with lower levels of education and income were all at a higher risk of PTSD.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/16/ptsd-among-nyc-residents/2465.html

What makes wise old heads tick?

Previous research has shown a positivity bias in older people who seem to be able to control how much attention they give to negative situations and are less upset by them. A study by researchers at Duke University, in the U.S., asked groups of older and younger participants to rate the emotional content of standardized images as positive, neutral or negative while their brain was monitored with an MRI machine. The older participants rated the images as less negative than the younger ones and had increased interaction between the amygdala - a part of the brain which is involved with emotions - and the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region involved in emotional control. The researchers hope that an understanding of the positivity bias of older people can help with treatments for anxiety and depression.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/16/brain-imaging-of-emotional-control-with-aging/2466.html

Overtime and mental health

A Norwegian study of over 10,000 people has found that those who work more overtime are more at risk of anxiety and depression. The study compared those people who worked 40 hours per week or less with those who worked between 41 and 100 hours. Rates of depression increased from 9% in men who worked normal hours to 12.5% in those who worked longer while for women there was an increase from 7% to 11%. In both sexes rates of anxiety and depression were higher among workers who were less skilled and had lower incomes. The relationship was strongest among men who worked the most overtime (49-100 hours). People who worked such long hours were more likely to be engaged in heavy manual labour and shift work and to have lower levels of skills and education.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/16/overtime-work-linked-to-anxiety-and-depression/2467.html

Plaques and prediction in Pittsburgh

A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, U.S. have been looking into the beta-amyloid protein plaques found in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The team used a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a radioactive substance that bound to the plaques to follow 56 people, between the ages of 65 and 80, at yearly intervals over four years. About 60% of the participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) had plaque levels similar to people with Alzheimer's while the rest had no detectable plaque. By the end of the study only those with plaques had developed a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's. About 25% of the 'healthy' control group - who had neither MCI nor Alzheimer's - had significant deposits of amyloid plaque. The team hope their new techniques of detecting plaques within the brain will lead to earlier diagnosis of, and treatment for, Alzheimer's.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/06/17/imaging-illuminates-early-alzheimers/2471.html

Insight and OCD

Insight - in mental health terms - is being aware that one's behaviour and/or feelings are not healthy or usual. In relation to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) insight can be viewed as occuring on a continuum ranging from full awareness of the absurdity of obsessions and compulsions to a total lack of any such awareness. An Italian study of insight among 75 patients with OCD found that poor or absent insight was associated with higher perceived expressed emotion*, a higher severity of OCD symptoms, higher familial perceived criticism and more compulsions and depressive symptoms.

De Berardis, Domenico ... [et al] - Insight and perceived expressed emotion among adult outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder Journal of Psychiatric Practice May 2008, 14(3), 137-145

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressed_emotion for an explanation of expressed emotion

Adolescent OCD - intensive, inpatient treatment

Between 2-3% of people are thought to suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at some point in their lifetimes and one-third of adults who suffer from OCD started to suffer in their childhood. Cognitive behaviour therapy is the first choice of treatment for paediatric OCD with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) being recommended for more severe cases. However, one quarter of children do not recover after CBT. One alternative for these children is an intensive, inpatient programme with multidisciplinary support. A study of 23 patients being treated with such a programme in the U.S. found it led to a significant improvement and it is hoped that larger trials in the future will confirm these encouraging results.

Bjorgvinsson, Throstur ... [et al] - Treatment outcome for adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder in a specialized hospital setting Journal of Psychiatric Practice May 2008, 14(3), 137-145

Conduct disorder and schizophrenia

Conduct disorder prior to the age of fifteen has been found to be much more common among men and women with schizophrenia than among those without, with one study finding that 40% of people who had developed schizophrenia by the age of 26 had fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder by the age of 15. A UK study of 205 men and women with severe mental illness found that conduct disorder before 15 was associated with an increased risk of being assaulted, aggressive behaviour in the six months prior to the study and convictions for violent crimes.

Hodgins, S. ... [et al] - From conduct disorder to severe mental illness: associations with aggressive behaviour, crime and victimization Psychological Medicine July 2008, 38(7), 975-987