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Articles from February 2011

• Researchers find link between early childhood diet and IQ

  According to a recent study, kids who consume diets that are high in fats, sugars and processed foods in early childhood may have a lower IQ, compared to those who eat diets that are rich in vitamins and nutrients. The findings, which are published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, utilize data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. more...

• Video game addiction affecting children and teens worldwide

  New research from Iowa State University suggests that video game addiction is becoming a growing problem globally, and risk factors include longer time spent playing, lower social competence and greater impulsivity. more...

• Study shows genetic variation in depressed individuals

  New research from the University of Michigan reveals that individuals with major depressive disorder may produce lower levels of the brain molecule neuropeptide Y (NPY), which has been shown to restore calm after stressful events. As a result, these people are less resilient to the effects of stress. more...

• Research suggests recession has impact on mental health of lower socio-economic groups

  As a result of the recent recession, many teens and adults in underserved socio-economic groups have experienced heightened levels of financial stress. In an effort to uncover the effects that an economic crisis has on the mental health of populations, researchers examined how inequalities in socio-economic status affect overall well-being. more...

• Antipsychotic medications may cause loss of brain matter in schizophrenic patients

  People with schizophrenia are often prescribed antipsychotic medications as part of their treatment. However, new research suggests that these drugs may cause the loss of a measurable amount of brain tissue over time. more...

• Many Super Bowl ads contained content not suitable for young viewers

  Over the past weekend, many families watched the Super Bowl together. However, many of the commercials that were aired during the game were violent or contained advertisements for alcohol and erectile dysfunction medications. more...

• Research suggests exposure to criminal justice system may increase risk of suicide

  Past research has suggested that prisoners in the criminal justice system have an increased risk of attempting or committing suicide. However, scientists from the University of Manchester in England have studied the effects of being in the criminal justice system - regardless of verdict or prison sentence - on mental health. more...

• Study shows many autistic young adults stop receiving care after teen years

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that an average of one in 110 children in the U.S. have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, many of these children stop receiving care once they enter adulthood. In an effort to uncover the extent to which this occurs, researchers from Washington University collected data via phone surveys from the guardians of young adults between the ages of 19 and 23 who have an ASD. more...

• Blogging site releases report on teens, money and stress

  According to a study called Confronting Teen Stress, Meeting the Challenge in Baltimore City, schoolwork, parents, friends' problems, romantic relationships and drugs in the neighborhood cause adolescents the greatest amount of anxiety. However, finances are also a source of stress for many teens. more...

• Kids raised in difficult home environments may overcome challenges with high-quality nonmaternal child care

  Past research suggests that children who grow up in homes with limited family resources are at a greater risk of developmental problems than their peers who are raised in houses with high-quality child care. According to a new study from the University of Denver, Georgetown University, Harvard University and Auburn University, improved child care may help make up for low-quality home environments. more...

• Teens who work more than 20 hours may be risking their academic future and mental health

  High school students frequently participate in part-time work in order to provide themselves with spending money or save funds for college. However, adolescents who work too much may be jeopardizing their academic future and their mental health. more...

• Violent Super Bowl ads may influence children to be aggressive

  Each year, the Super Bowl brings families together around the television. However, the content of many Super Bowl commercials may not be suitable for young viewers. Research from Iowa State University suggests that violent content in television commercials may influence aggressive thoughts in children. more...

• New study reveals Facebook's impact on teenage girls' self-esteem

  According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as many as 10 million women are fighting a life-or-death battle with some type of eating disorder. In an effort to uncover the environmental and social factors that cause these negative behaviors, researchers from the University of Haifa in Israel studied Facebook's influence on young women. more...

• Homosexual teens may have an increased risk for depression and suicidal ideation

  Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) teens can have a set of developmental challenges that are unique to this group. For example, research from Concordia University suggest that LGB adolescents have an increased risk for severe mental problems as a result of being victimized, rejected and abused. more...

• Research suggests genetics play a role in school effectiveness

  According to the Twins Early Development Study at King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, the academic success of students may be determined by genetic factors. The study, which is published in the journal PLoS ONE, used data on school performance from 4,000 pairs of twins. more...

• Foster kids can benefit from receiving support through age 21

  Children in foster care who are not adopted by their 18th birthday are often released from care with little to no support. In an effort to give these children an opportunity to become independent before going into the adult world, an expert in the field and professor from the University of Missouri is campaigning for an extension of foster care benefits to 21 years old. more...

• Research suggests HIV-positive teens are more likely to get pregnant than their healthy peers

  According to new research in the Journal of the American Medical Association, teenage and young adult women with HIV have higher incidents of pregnancy than their healthy peers. In addition, HIV-positive women have a greater risk for complications during pregnancy. more...

• New law requires companies to cover autism treatment for children of employees

  Many parents of autistic children struggle financially to properly care for their children. However, this week, the Virginia House passed legislation that requires some employer health care plans to cover treatment for autistic children, The Associated Press reports. more...

• Researchers find genetic variation in genomes of individuals with schizophrenia

  New research from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has identified gene mutations that are linked to schizophrenia. For the study, which is published in the journal Nature, scientists scanned copy number variants (CNVs) - a type of genetic variation in which the number of copies of a gene differs between individuals - in the genomes of 8,290 individuals with schizophrenia and 7,431 healthy controls. more...

• Study shows how Ritalin can help rats with iron-deficiency-related attention problems

  Ritalin has traditionally been used in the treatment of adults and children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, researchers from Penn State have recently conducted studies in which rats with iron deficiency-induced attention problems were treated with Ritalin. more...

• Study may help in development of sleep apnea treatments

  Teens and young adults who experience problems sleeping are at a higher risk for developing mental health issues, such as depression. However, new research from the University of Toronto may provide relief for sleep apnea sufferers. more...

• Study suggests girls can benefit from playing video games with their parents

  New research from Brigham Young University's School of Family Life suggests that girls may benefit from playing video games with their parents. For the study, which is published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, authors surveyed 287 families with an adolescent child between 11 and 16 years old. more...

• White House Drug Czar warns U.S. about "bath salts" craze

  A new drug craze called "bath salts" are slowly making their way into mainstream culture. This week, White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske warned people about taking the drug, which is often sold on the Internet and in paraphernalia shops, the Associated Press reports. more...

• Drug Free AZ releases list of potential drug use warning signs for parents

  In recent weeks Drug Free Arizona has released a list of signs that could help parents determine if their child is abusing drugs. The organization also suggests that parents ask their children outright if they have been using drugs or alcohol. Additionally, it suggests that parents consider getting a professional assessment of their child. more...

• Study suggests mice that are missing a stress molecule can help in developing treatments for depression

  New research presented at the annual Neuroscience 2010 meeting suggests that mice who lack a molecule involved in regulating nerve cell signaling are better equipped to handle stressful situations. more...

• National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression awards grants for mental health studies

  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, just over 20 percent children have had a seriously debilitating mental disorder either currently or at some point during their life. In response to these figures, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)'s Brain and Behavior Research Fund is awarding $12.6 million in new research grants. more...

• Research suggests diet may trigger mental illness

  A new study by Purdue University suggests that changes in diet can reduce abnormal behavior in people or animals who suffer from mental illness. In fact, researchers found that diet may be also be a trigger for mental illness. more...

• Researchers find potential new treatments for depression

  In recent months, researchers have found a new neurosurgical treatment that could help people who are affected by depression. A team of experts from the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol and the Department of Neurosurgery at North Bristol NHS Trust are currently developing new antidepressants, deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatments and stereotactic neurosurgery. more...