Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.
Study of twins suggests genetic component of autism spectrum disorders may be moderate — Environmental component may be substantial – Shared environmental factors ? experiences and exposures common to both twin individuals ? accounted for 55% of strict autism and 58% of more broadly defined autism spectrum disorders (ASD), revealed by researchers. Genetic heritability accounted for 37% of autism and 38% of ASD.
Study finds that wives’ sleep problems have negative impact on marital interactions — Wives’ inability to fall asleep at night has interpersonal consequences in marriage – The quality of interactions among married couples is affected by wives’ inability to fall asleep at night, but not by husbands’ sleep problems, suggests new research presented in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS). Results show that, among wives, taking longer to fall asleep at night predicted their reports of more negative and less positive marital interactions the next day.
Yale researchers discover many genetic keys needed to unlock autism – Investigating 1,000 families reveals hundreds of small genetic variations are associated with autism spectrum disorders, according to a multi-site collaborative study led by researchers at Yale University. These genetic findings can be used to begin unraveling the underlying biology of autism.
Autism changes molecular structure of the brain, UCLA study finds — Discovery points to a common cause for multifaceted disease – A new UCLA study is the first to reveal how the autism disorder makes its mark at the molecular level, resulting in an autistic brain that differs dramatically in structure from a healthy one.
Turning ‘bad’ fat into ‘good’: A future treatment for obesity? — Johns Hopkins researchers transform inert white fat into brown fat to burn off calories and weight – By knocking down the expression of a protein in rat brains known to stimulate eating, Johns Hopkins researchers say they not only reduced the animals’ calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat into a type that burns off more energy. The finding could lead to better obesity treatments for humans, the scientists report.
Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, UT Southwestern researchers find – Even people who show a clear treatment response with antidepressant medications continue to experience symptoms like insomnia, sadness and decreased concentration, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found after analyzing data from the largest study on the treatment of depression.
Use of Atypical Antipsychotics in Treatment of Dementia Declined After FDA Warning – A warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding the use of atypical antipsychotics for the treatment of dementia was associated with a significant decline in the use of these medications for treating dementia symptoms in elderly patients.
Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia Associated With Subtle Loss in Brain Volume – Patients with schizophrenia who take antipsychotic medications appear to lose a small but measurable amount of brain tissue over time, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Contact With the Criminal Justice System May Be Associated With Suicide Risk – Men and women who have had contact with the criminal justice system-even if they have never received a jail or prison sentence or a guilty verdict-appear to have a significantly higher rate of suicide than the general population.
Psychotic Illness Appears to Begin at Younger Age Among Those Who Use Cannabis – Cannabis use appears to be associated with an earlier onset of psychotic illness, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies published in Archives of General Psychiatry.
