Psychiatry News - SciTechDaily

New Research Reveals That Your Friends’ Genes Could Impact Your Future

Rutgers University — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:30:58 +0000

A Rutgers study reveals that peer social genetic effects—the impact of a social partner’s genotype on another’s observable traits—can affect the risk of developing addiction and psychiatric disorders later in life. Mom always said, “Choose your friends wisely.” Now a study led by a Rutgers Health professor shows she was onto something: Their traits can [...]

Scientists Have Revealed a Unique Neural Signature for Depression

Texas Children's Hospital — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 23:28:21 +0000

New research has identified beta frequency activity in the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex as key to how rewards influence behavior, linking it to potential new treatments for anhedonia in depression. As parents, teachers, and pet owners can attest, rewards play a significant role in shaping behaviors in both humans and animals. Rewards, whether in the [...]

Beyond Serotonin: Scientists Are Finally Unlocking the True Mechanism of Antidepressants

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:09:10 +0000

The serotonin-boosting actions of antidepressants are essential and relieve depression by restoring normal communication and connections in the brain. New research highlights that SSRIs and other antidepressants treat depression not by correcting a serotonin imbalance, but by promoting neuroplasticity and enhancing brain region communication, reshaping clinical discussions about their effectiveness. New Research on Antidepressants Scientists [...]

Navigating the Neurochemical Maze of Antidepressant Withdrawal

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 08:16:32 +0000

Expectations contribute to symptoms following discontinuation of antidepressants. How difficult is it to stop taking antidepressants? If countless Internet posts and multiple scientific studies are to be believed, discontinuing these medications is highly problematic, and doctors often underestimate the difficulties involved. However, it is unclear how common discontinuation symptoms actually are. Researchers from Charité – [...]

Magic Mushrooms and the Mind: Psilocybin’s Hyperconnected Brain State Linked to Therapeutic Effects

Elsevier — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 23:51:03 +0000

Study shows psilocybin induces dynamic brain connectivity, linked to profound, ego-altering experiences, potentially beneficial in psychotherapy. Researchers have discovered that psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” creates a state of hyperconnectivity in the brain. The state is associated with ego-modifying effects and a sensation known as oceanic boundlessness, which encompasses feelings of unity, bliss, [...]

Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms Behind PTSD and Depression: Latest Findings

McLean Hospital — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 08:34:17 +0000

Study reveals molecular distinctions and similarities in PTSD and depression, highlighting potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. A comprehensive examination of multiple biological processes is essential for understanding the development of stress-related disorders. Recent research conducted by scientists at McLean Hospital, along with collaborators from The University of Texas at Austin and Lieber Institute for Brain [...]

Breaking Free From Antidepressants: Lancet Psychiatry Study Uncovers the Risks of Discontinuation Symptoms

The Lancet — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 21:57:52 +0000

About 15% of individuals stopping antidepressants face discontinuation symptoms, with severe cases in 3%. This data, from a review of 79 trials, highlights the potential impact of the nocebo effect and stresses the importance of monitored medication withdrawal. The first meta-analysis on the incidence of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms includes data from over 20,000 patients gathered [...]

Study: Remnants of Ancient Viruses in Human DNA Related to Schizophrenia and Depression

King's College London — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 04:12:46 +0000

Recent research has found that DNA remnants of ancient viruses in our genome are linked to increased susceptibility to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. This highlights a significant, previously underestimated impact of these viral sequences on brain health. New research led by King’s College London has discovered that thousands of DNA sequences originating [...]

Study: Treatment-Resistant Depression Linked to BMI

Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 04:19:02 +0000

Recent research highlights a genetic contribution to treatment-resistant depression, linking it with several health disorders and suggesting new treatment possibilities based on shared genetic factors. Genetic influences play a small yet important role in severe depression that is resistant to conventional treatments, say researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. The heritability [...]

The Mind After Midnight: Exploring the Dark Link Between Sleeplessness and Violence

University of Arizona Health Sciences — Wed, 29 May 2024 09:00:51 +0000

An analysis of 15 years of national data on suicides and homicides shows that nocturnal wakefulness is associated with death by both suicide and homicide, possibly driven by deficits in behavioral and emotional regulation. Risks for death by suicide and homicide peak at night, with nocturnal wakefulness, age, alcohol use, and relationship conflicts being especially [...]

Scientists Uncover Key Brain Development Differences in Autistic Boys and Girls

University of California - Davis Health — Mon, 27 May 2024 23:42:09 +0000

A study indicates that autistic females experience a more rapid rate of cortical thinning throughout childhood. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered significant variations in brain development between autistic boys and girls aged 2-13. The findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, reveal sex-specific differences in the thickness of the brain’s cortex. The findings [...]

New Research Reveals That Exercise Can Rewire Brains and Erase Traumatic Memories

Kyushu University — Mon, 27 May 2024 10:05:48 +0000

Enhanced neuron growth in the hippocampus, achieved through exercise or genetic methods, aids mice in forgetting strong, maladaptive memories, offering potential for new treatments for PTSD or drug addiction. Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada, and Kyushu University, Japan, discovered that enhancing neuron production and subsequently altering neural connections in the hippocampus—through exercise or [...]

Sleepless Childhood: New Pathway to Psychosis Uncovered

University of Birmingham — Tue, 21 May 2024 11:10:54 +0000

Recent research indicates that children who consistently experience inadequate sleep from infancy may have an increased risk of developing psychosis in early adulthood. Researchers at the University of Birmingham examined information on nighttime sleep duration from a large cohort study of children aged between 6 months and 7 years old. They found that children who [...]

High-Potency Cannabis Doubles Psychosis Risk in Young Adults

University of Bath — Fri, 17 May 2024 00:52:55 +0000

A new study indicates that high-potency cannabis use between the ages of 16 and 18 doubles the risk of psychotic experiences from 19-24, compared to lower-potency use in young adults. Young people consuming higher-potency cannabis, such as skunk, between the ages of 16 and 18, are twice as likely to have psychotic experiences from age [...]

Alarming Findings: New Study Reveals Childhood Abuse Drives 40% of Mental Health Conditions

University of Sydney — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:56:13 +0000

Scientists expose the lifelong impact of childhood abuse and neglect. A study focusing on childhood maltreatment in Australia has uncovered its alarming impact, estimating it causes up to 40 percent of common, life-long mental health conditions. The mental health conditions examined were anxiety, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, self-harm, and suicide attempts. Childhood maltreatment [...]

Unlocking Autism: New Insights Into Early Metabolic Changes

University of California - San Diego — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:00:55 +0000

Findings suggest new possibilities for early autism detection. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shed new light on the changes in metabolism that occur between birth and the presentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in childhood. The researchers discovered that a small number of biochemical pathways are responsible [...]

Scientists Finally Explain Puzzling Link Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease

Frontiers — Sun, 05 May 2024 03:58:12 +0000

Gene expression analysis of blood identifies a functional group of genes linked to both depression and cardiovascular disease. Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) pose significant challenges to global health. An estimated 280 million individuals globally suffer from depression, and around 620 million are affected by CVD. Research since the 1990s has highlighted a connection between [...]

Rewiring Reality: Stanford Unveils the Brain’s Fault Lines in Psychosis

Stanford Medicine — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 04:28:19 +0000

When the brain has trouble filtering incoming information and predicting what’s likely to happen, psychosis can result, Stanford Medicine-led research shows. Inside the brains of people with psychosis, two key systems are malfunctioning: a “filter” that directs attention toward important external events and internal thoughts, and a “predictor” composed of pathways that anticipate rewards. Dysfunction [...]

Groundbreaking Study Reveals Autism’s Genetic Triggers and Therapeutic Hope

Juntendo University Research Promotion Center — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 22:30:58 +0000

Japanese scientists uncover the genetic basis of autism through a study on KMT2C haploinsufficiency in mice, revealing the therapeutic promise of vafidemstat in treating ASD-related symptoms. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses neurodevelopmental conditions where patients display repetitive behavior and impaired sociality. Genetic factors have been shown to influence the development of ASD. Additionally, recent studies [...]

Brain Fuel: Stanford Shows Ketogenic Diet Improves Severe Mental Illness

Stanford Medicine — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:23:30 +0000

A small clinical trial led by Stanford Medicine found that the metabolic effects of a ketogenic diet may help stabilize the brain. For people living with serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, standard treatment with antipsychotic medications can be a double-edged sword. While these drugs help regulate brain chemistry, they often cause metabolic [...]

Neural Inhibition – Neuroscientists Unveil Potential PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

Scripps Research Institute — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 22:17:48 +0000

A team from Scripps Research has demonstrated that reducing the activity of specific stress neurons may lead to a decrease in alcohol consumption without affecting anxiety levels in individuals with co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. Neuroscientists at Scripps Research have discovered that targeting neurons linked to the body’s stress response could lower [...]

Cracking the Code: Link Discovered Between the Genome’s “Dark Matter” and the Mystery of Down Syndrome

Center for Genomic Regulation — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 21:07:01 +0000

The intellectual disability observed in individuals with three copies of chromosome 21 may be attributed to reduced activity of the Snhg11 gene in their brains. Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have discovered the significant role of the Snhg11 gene in the development and functionality of hippocampal neurons. Experiments involving mice and human [...]

Ketamine Is Showing Increasing Promise in Treating Depression, but Major Questions Remain

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:35:15 +0000

Recent findings indicate a significant positive reaction among numerous patients, however, ongoing research is focusing on identifying blood biomarkers to forecast effectiveness, and to assess the comparative outcomes of intravenous versus nasal administration methods. Using an old anesthesia drug to pull people out of the depths of severe depression has gone from fringe idea to [...]

Groundbreaking Study Reveals That Smells Aid in Depression Recovery

University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:35:05 +0000

A study published in JAMA Network Open by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC social workers found that familiar scents can aid individuals with depression in recalling specific autobiographical memories and potentially assist in their recovery. The study showed that scents are more effective than words at cueing up a [...]