December 2009 - Mental Health Update

Why joining in is good for teenagers

Joining in is good for teenagers. Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire found that almost one in three English teenagers belonged to some kind of club such as sports teams, church groups, youth clubs and political organisations. Those that did...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 8:18 AM by Mental Health Update

Interpersonal psychotherapy for teenage obesity

Teenage obesity is a growing problem. Weight gain can be caused by binge eating so if this can be reduced or prevented weight gain could be halted or even reversed. Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the National...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 7:45 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Obesity, Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Leptin and Alzheimer's disease

Leptin is produced by fat cells and sends a signal to the brain telling us to stop eating when we have had enough food. As well as stopping us eating too much there is increasing evidence that leptin also helps with brain development and function and...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:06 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Alzheimer's Disease, Leptin

Culture vultures are happier and healthier

People who participate in or even just attend cultural activities such as painting, dancing or playing a musical instrument tend to feel healthier and less depressed than people who don't. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology have been...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:05 AM by Mental Health Update

Twins in the classroom

It makes no difference to twins' education whether they are educated separately or together. A Dutch study of 839 identical and 1,164 non-identical twins who were followed between the ages of 3 and 12 found that there was no effect on children's...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:04 AM by Mental Health Update

Antidepressants and stroke risk

Middle-aged women who take antidepressants may be at an increased risk of stroke. Researchers from Harvard Medical School compared six years' worth of data on 5,500 postmenopausal women who took the drugs with 130,000 people who did not take them...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:00 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Antidepressants, Stroke

Drug use soars in Scotland

The number of drugs being prescribed for depression and dementia has soared in Scotland over the last few years as the country grapples with an ageing population and the global recession. Official figures estimate that 9.7% of people aged 15 and over...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 4:57 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Antidepressants

Atomoxetine and social anxiety

It is thought that 12% of people will suffer from social phobia at some point during their lives. Social anxiety disorder can be remarkably debilitating and result in serious functional impairment. The usual method of treating it is with selective serotonin...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 7:23 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Social Anxiety, Atomoxetine

Amisulpride and weight gain

Second-generation antipsychotics are usually seen as an important step forward in the treatment of schizophrenia but can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. One solution for patients at risk of these conditions...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 6:47 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Obesity, Amisulpride

Politicians and their stalkers

Because of their high profile celebrities are more vulnerable to stalking than other people and politicans are no exception. A team of researchers from Canada surveyed 424 politicians from both the Federal (national) and Provincial (local) assemblies...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 6:24 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Forensic Psychology

Stopping sex offenders reoffending - how successful are treatments?

There is growing confidence in the ability of health professionals to predict reoffending by sex offenders but less optimism about the effectiveness of treatment. Researchers from Oxleas NHS Trust in south-east London studied 273 sex offenders who had...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 5:07 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Forensic Psychology

Depression and cognitive deficits

People with depression often have problems thinking - something psychologists call cognitive deficit. However, it is unclear whether these cognitive deficits are due to depression itself or other mental-health problems that can go alongside depression...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 4:36 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Depression

CBT may not be a miracle cure for major mental illness

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is now the dominant form of psychotherapy and is being used in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder that have traditionally been treated primarily with drugs. A team of...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 4:14 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

U.K. top of the league - for teenage drug use

A report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction has found that the U.K. has the biggest problem of illegal drug use among teenagers. 5% of 15-16 year-olds had taken cocaine with 3% trying crack. 4% of youngsters had taken ecstasy...

Published Mon, Dec 14 2009 7:26 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Substance Abuse

CBT for depression in older people

Older people's depression problems are sometimes put down to loneliness and old age but new research suggests that they can benefit from cognitive behaviour therapy in the same way as younger people. Researchers from University College London studied...

Published Mon, Dec 14 2009 7:04 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Depression, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy