ADHD is Persistent and Undertreated

Topics: ADHD | Research Updates

Early Intervention for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Research Updates

Belief in God Improves Treatment Outcomes

Topics: Research Updates

  Subject: Spirituality Short Description: Belief in God Improves Treatment Outcomes Background: A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation usually includes questions about a patient’s spirituality and religious beliefs, but there is little research to show whether or how spiritual or religious factors may contribute to mental health. A

CBT Doesn’t Improve Effectiveness of Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment

Topics: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Research Updates

Physical Activity Improves Mental Health in Obese Adults

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Research Updates

Subject: Exercise Short Description: Physical Activity Improves Mental Health in Obese Adults Background: Much research over the past decade has demonstrated the benefits of physical exercise in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. What’s not clear, however, is whether exercise provides a benefit specifically in obese adults, or wheth

Study Suggests Some Children Can Lose Autism Diagnosis, Function Normally

Topics: Learning & Developmental Disabilities | Research Updates

The DSM-5 Field Trials: What They Mean for Child Psychiatry

Topics: DSM | Research Updates

Increased Risk of Alcohol Abuse After Bariatric Surgery

Topics: Research Updates | Substance Abuse

A Look at Suicide Risk Factors in Borderline Personality Disorder

Topics: Personality Disorders | Research Updates

Family and School Interventions Help Children with ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Research Updates

Marijuana May Hurt Cognitive Function, Worse with Heavier Use

Topics: Research Updates | Substance Abuse

Subject: Substance Abuse Short Description: Marijuana May Hurt Cognitive Function, Worse with Heavier Use Background: Does marijuana affect cognitive function? There seems to be no shortage of opinions on this question, but no prospective, longitudinal study has ever been published. Until now, that is. Researchers in New Zealand followed more

Study of Cortisol Looks at Youths at Risk for Psychosis

Topics: Research Updates

Anti-Inflammatory Drug an Antidepressant?

Topics: Antidepressants | Research Updates

Subject: Depression Short Description: Anti-Inflammatory Drug an Antidepressant? Background: It seems that not a week goes by without another research paper drawing attention to the interface between immunology and psychiatry, or about biomarkers to predict response to psychotropic medications. A recent report from researchers at Emory Univer

Study Looks at Use of TMS to Treat Depression

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Research Updates

Subject: Depression Short Description: Study Looks at Use of TMS to Treat Depression Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, was approved by the FDA for treatment of major depression in October 2008. A newly published observational study evaluating the effectiveness of TMS treatment in more than 300 patients at 42 clinical sett

Parasite Infection Possible Precursor to Suicidal Behavior

Topics: Research Updates

Subject: Suicide Short Description: Parasite Infection Possible Precursor to Suicidal Behavior Background: A major thrust of much psychiatric research is to identify predictors of suicidality, in hopes of intervening earlier to prevent this devastating outcome. In a recent study, a Danish group made a surprising contribution to this endeavor

Study Suggests DCS Not Effective in PTSD Treatment

Topics: PTSD | Research Updates

Subject: PTSD Short Description: Study Suggests DCS Not Effective in PTSD Treatment Background: Exposure therapy is a cognitive behavioral strategy that serves as a core treatment for anxiety disorders. Animal and human studies alike have supported the use of D-cycloserine (DCS) as an agent to augment the effectiveness of exposure therapy in

Low Dose Abilify Ineffective as Adjunct for MDD

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Research Updates

Subject: Depression Short Description: Low Dose Abilify Ineffective as Adjunct for MDD Background: Augmentation of antidepressants with antipsychotics has become a common practice, and aripiprazole (Abilify) has been FDA-approved at doses from 2 mg/day to 15 mg/day for this purpose. In a recent report, 225 patients with major depressive disor

Mid-Teens Is Peak Age for Prescription Drug Abuse

Topics: Child Psychiatry | Research Updates | Substance Abuse

Patient Preference Not a Good Predictor of Treatment Response

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Research Updates

Subject: Patient Preference Short Description: Patient Preference Not a Good Predictor of Treatment Response Background: Do patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) respond better when psychiatrists offer the type of treatment—medication or psychotherapy—that the patient prefers? And do patients’ beliefs about what causes their d

Text Messaging Effective for Appointment Reminders

Topics: Computers in Psychiatric Practice | Research Updates

Subject: Technology Short Description: Text Messaging Effective for Appointment Reminders Background: No one seems to be without a cell phone these days, so it only makes sense that we should start using these devices to carry out tasks that we used to do in a more “old-fashioned” way. One obvious application is to use text messages to re