Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Psychiatry for March 2012. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Room for Improvement in Ob-Gyn Communication About Sex
FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- About two-thirds of obstetrician/gynecologists (Ob-Gyns) ask patients about their sexual activities, but other aspects of sexuality, including satisfaction with sex and sexual identity, are not routinely discussed, according to a study published online March 22 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Similar Rates of Depression After Stroke and TIA
FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- The frequency of depression and newly identified depression rates are similar following a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to a study published online March 29 in Stroke.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
911 Operators May Experience Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- Emergency dispatchers experience high levels of peritraumatic distress, which is positively associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published online March 29 in the Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Increasing
THURSDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- The estimated prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in 2008 was 11.3 per 1,000 children, which shows a marked increase from earlier estimates, according to a report published March 30 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
More Information
Stigma Affects Depression Among Lung Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with lung cancer, perceived stigma is significantly associated with depressive symptomatology, according to a study published in the March issue of Psycho-Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Ratio of Amyloid Biomarkers Predicts Alzheimer's Risk
THURSDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- The ratio of two plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) biomarkers is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia, according to a review published online March 26 in the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Antipsychotic Medications Increase Risk of Heart Attack
WEDNESDAY, March 28 (HealthDay News) -- For older patients treated with cholinesterase inhibitors, taking antipsychotic agents (APs) for dementia is associated with a modest and time-limited increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online March 26 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Diagnosis of ADHD Has Risen 66 Percent Over Last Decade
TUESDAY, March 27 (HealthDay News) -- The diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents has increased 66 percent in the last decade, with approximately one-third of these young patients now being managed by psychiatrists, rather than pediatricians, according to research published in the March issue of Academic Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Child Coordination Disorder Ups Risk of Mental Health Issues
MONDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- Children with probable developmental coordination disorder (DCD) at age 7 have a significantly increased risk of depression and mental health difficulties at age 10, according to a study published online March 26 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Prenatal Exposure to Smog Tied to Child Behavior Problems
FRIDAY, March 23 (HealthDay News) -- Prenatal exposure to high levels of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is associated with adverse outcomes on child behavior, according to research published online March 22 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Genes Differ in Brains of Young and Old With Autism
FRIDAY, March 23 (HealthDay News) -- Young and old patients with autism differ in the expression of genes in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, an area of overgrowth and excess neurons in autism, according to a study published online March 22 in PLoS Genetics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Antidepressant Use Linked to Pregnancy-Induced HTN
THURSDAY, March 22 (HealthDay News) -- Antidepressant use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, according to a study published online March 21 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Alcohol Effects on Brain Activity Vary With Blackout History
WEDNESDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- A neurobiological mechanism may be associated with alcohol-induced fragmentary blackouts (FBs), with alcohol exerting different effects on neural activity for individuals with or without FBs, according to research published online March 15 in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Seeing a Human Infant Face Induces Brain Activation
WEDNESDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- Viewing an infant face, even an unfamiliar one, is associated with activation of brain regions associated with communication, attachment, and caregiving, according to a study published in the April issue of NeuroImage.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Antioxidants Don't Impact Most CSF Biomarkers in Alzheimer's
TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, antioxidant supplements do not affect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers related to amyloid or tau pathology, according to a study published online March 19 in the Archives of Neurology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Survey Describes Docs' Online Professionalism Violations
TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- Most medical licensing authorities receive and act upon reports of physicians' online professionalism violations, according to a research letter published in the March 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
'Mindfulness' Stress Reduction Helps Breast Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program provides significant and lasting improvements in mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality of life, and well-being, according to research published online March 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Trans Fat Intake Linked to Aggressive Behavior
TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- Consumption of trans fats is associated with greater aggression, according to a study published online March 5 in PLoS One.
Full Text
Functional Connectivity Reduced by ECT for Severe Depression
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with severe depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is associated with a reduction in functional connectivity, which is accompanied by improved depressive symptoms, according to a study published online March 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Abstract
Full Text
Synthetic Cannabinoid Toxicity Among Teenagers on the Rise
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking synthetic versions of marijuana is landing some teens in the emergency room complaining of restlessness, agitation, and diaphoresis, according to a case report published online March 19 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Prenatal Meth Exposure Linked to Behavioral Problems
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- Prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure is linked to emotional and anxiety problems in 3-year-olds and an increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 5-year-olds, according to a study published online March 19 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Jobs, Earnings Affected for Mothers of Children With Autism
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are more likely to be unemployed, work fewer hours per week, and earn significantly less than mothers of children with no health limitations, according to a study published online March 19 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Study Validates Perimenopausal Memory Complaints
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- For perimenopausal women, memory complaints are associated with working memory and complex attention performance, according to a study published online March 12 in Menopause.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Poorer Health Literacy Linked to Increased Mortality
FRIDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable proportion of older adults in England have medium or low health literacy, which is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published online March 15 in BMJ.
Full Text
Communication Can Ease Mental Health Burden of Deaf
FRIDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- There is a high prevalence of mental health problems among deaf individuals, with access to care compounded by communication difficulties, according to a review published in the March 17 issue of The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Comment (subscription or payment may be required)
Study Looks at Effect of Emotions on Pain and Itch Intensity
FRIDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- Emotions influence the experience of somatosensory sensations of both pain and itch, with negative emotions eliciting higher levels of itch and pain compared to positive emotions, according to research published online March 8 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Peer-Led Parenting Classes Benefit Parents and Children
WEDNESDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Families participating in peer-led parenting classes experience improvements in children's disruptive behavior problems and parenting practices, according to a study published online March 13 in BMJ.
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Vitamin D Stimulates Amyloid Clearance in Alzheimer's
WEDNESDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D stimulates macrophages from patients with Alzheimer's disease to allow phagocytosis of amyloid beta (Aβ42) through genomic and non-genomic signaling, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Personal Mobile Computers Improve Resident Efficiency
WEDNESDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- The use of personal mobile computers (Apple iPads) by internal medicine residents improves efficiency, according to a research letter published in the March 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Higher Spending by Hospitals Improves Outcomes
TUESDAY, March 13 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals that are part of the universal health care system in Canada that spend more on inpatient care have lower rates of deaths and hospital readmissions, according to a study published in the March 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
U.S. Mortality Rates Dropped 60 Percent From 1935 to 2010
TUESDAY, March 13 (HealthDay News) -- From 1935 to 2010, the death rate in the United States decreased considerably, although the single-year improvements in mortality were often small, according to a March data brief issued by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
More Information
Spanking, Genes Interact to Influence Antisocial Behavior
TUESDAY, March 13 (HealthDay News) -- Interactions between physical punishment and genetic risk during early childhood yield a significant influence on antisocial behavior, especially in males, according to a study published in Aggressive Behavior.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Parental Psych Well-Being Impacts VLBW Child Behavior
MONDAY, March 12 (HealthDay News) -- For very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, poor parental psychological well-being is associated with behavioral problems at age 3, according to a study published online March 12 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Flu Vaccine Up Among Medical Staff When They Believe It Works
FRIDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital health care workers (HCWs) are more likely to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination if they believe it works and are committed to preventing this highly contagious virus, according to research published in the April issue of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Suicide Rates for U.S. Army Soldiers Increasing
FRIDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- The number of U.S. army soldiers committing suicide has increased as the number of clinically treated mental disorders has increased, making these soldiers good targets for suicide prevention interventions, according to study published online March 7 in Injury Prevention.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Surrogates Tend to Misinterpret Poor Prognosis Information
FRIDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Surrogate decision makers for critically ill patients interpret prognostic statements expressing a low risk of death accurately, but interpret statements conveying poor prognosis optimistically, according to a study published in the March 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Increased Cognitive Decline One Year After Mild TBI in Children
THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Children with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) continue to experience postconcussive symptoms that are associated with functional impairment, according to research published online March 5 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Four or More PMDD Symptoms Linked With Impairment
THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Women with four or more symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are likely to experience impairment, according to research published in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Prenatal SSRI Use Impacts Fetal Head Growth, Preterm Birth
THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Untreated maternal depression is linked to reduced fetal head and body growth, while use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy improves symptoms of depression but results in reduced head growth and an increased risk of preterm birth, according to research published online March 5 in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy Not Recommended
THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Opioid substitution therapy with buprenorphine is not recommended for opioid-addicted health care professionals (HCPs), according to research published in the March issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial
Cognitive Benefits With Continued Donepezil in Alzheimer's
WEDNESDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, continuation of treatment with donepezil is linked to significant cognitive benefits, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Financial Burden of Medical Care Affects One in Three
WEDNESDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- In the first half of 2011, one in three individuals was in a family that experienced the financial burden of medical care in the United States, according to the results of the National Health Interview Survey published March 7 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
More Information
Economic Stagnation May Have Increased Mortality Rate
WEDNESDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- From the late 1990s through 2005, mortality rates for Japanese men who worked as professionals or managers began to increase, coinciding with the country's period of economic stagnation, according to research published online March 6 in BMJ.
Full Text
Veterans With Mental Health Issues Receive More Opioids
TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with mental health diagnoses, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are more likely to receive prescription opioid medications for pain-related conditions, have higher-risk opioid use patterns, and have increased adverse clinical outcomes associated with opioid use, compared to veterans with no mental health diagnoses, according to a study published in the March 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Depression, Cognitive Decline Linked in Elderly With CAD
TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Older patients with coronary artery disease who have persistent depression have a significantly increased risk of cognitive decline, according to a study published in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Electronic Test Result Access Does Not Reduce Test Ordering
TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- For office-based physicians, electronic access to patient imaging and laboratory test results does not decrease -- and may actually increase -- the number of diagnostic tests ordered, according to research published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Genetic, Environmental Factors Affect Drug Abuse in Adopted
TUESDAY, March 6 (HealthDay News) -- Drug abuse in an adoptive home environment is a complex syndrome influenced by a range of genetic and environmental risk factors, according to the results of a large-scale Swedish study published online March 5 in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Viewing Alcohol Use in Movies Tied to Teen Binge Drinking
MONDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescent exposure to movies that depict alcohol consumption is significantly associated with binge drinking, according to a multi-national study published online March 5 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Children's Snoring May Predict Behavioral Problems
MONDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children during the first years of life appears to be strongly associated with future behavioral problems, according to a study published online March 5 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Parent Training, Meds Combo Improves Behavior in PDD
FRIDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) -- Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and serious behavioral problems respond better to medication combined with parent training than just medication, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Sleep Quality Found to Actually Improve With Age
THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to popular belief, sleep quality, as measured by sleep disturbances and daytime fatigue, actually improves with age, according to a study published in the March issue of SLEEP.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Internet-Based Program Treats Chronic Fatigue in Teens
THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Use of an Internet-based therapeutic program, Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET (FITNET), improves outcomes for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study published online March 1 in The Lancet.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Phobias Can Magnify Perception of the Feared Object
THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Fear affects how perceptual information is processed and magnifies phobic stimuli, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
