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mental health

·May 1, 2023·4 min read

New Study Identifies 4 Key Profiles to Assess Self-Harm Risk in Children

A new study aimed to determine which children are at elevated risk for self-harm events. The study identified four distinct profiles of psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with varying levels of risk for a serious self-harm event. The four profiles can be used to better inform clinical decision-making by providing a better assessment of the overall risk of self-harm, according to the study. Further investigation is needed to validate these risk profiles in larger populations and develop prognostic and clinical decision support applications that provide real-time risk assessments for providers.

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·April 29, 2023·4 min read

Schizophrenia Identified in 60 Seconds via Visual Fixation

Researchers have identified spatial and temporal abnormalities in spontaneous fixational saccades as a potential biomarker for cognitive and positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Researchers combined patient data of fixational eye movement recorded over 60 seconds with machine learning technology, which was able to determine schizophrenia with 85% accuracy. This discovery suggests that fixational saccades could serve as an easily obtainable complementary diagnostic tool for the condition.

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·April 29, 2023·5 min read

Cognitive Flexibility: How the Brain Learns New Rules to Navigate the Changing World

In everyday life, our brains adapt to new situations using the prefrontal cortex. A team of neuroscientists discovered a special class of neurons in the prefrontal cortex that enable flexible behavior, and when malfunctioning, may contribute to conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These long-range inhibitory connections synchronize gamma oscillations across the left and right prefrontal cortex, allowing the brain to change its behavior at the right moment. This research could lead to new treatments for psychiatric conditions by targeting these long-range inhibitory connections.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2023·5 min read

Sobering Findings: Anxiety and Mood Disorders Linked to More Severe Alcohol Symptoms, Even at Same Levels of Drinking

People with anxiety and major depressive disorders experience more alcohol-related symptoms than those without, even at the same levels of drinking. This finding may explain why those with anxiety or mood disorders are at greater risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. The study highlights internalizing disorders as a previously unidentified marker of a specific alcohol-related harm paradox, indicating the need for modifying "safe" drinking recommendations for people with anxiety or mood disorders. The co-occurrence of these conditions may reflect shared neurobiological mechanisms, which raises the risk of developing the other in the future.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2023·5 min read

Insomnia Drug Belsomra May Help Treat Opioid Addiction

A preclinical study found that suvorexant (Belsomra), an insomnia drug, could be a potential treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rats. If the results are replicated in humans, the drug could offer a promising treatment for the millions of people with OUD and reduce drug intake and block relapse.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 27, 2023·6 min read

Is Your Emotional Wellbeing Related to Your Gut Health? New Study Reveals Possible Link in Women

Gut bacteria have been linked to positive emotions, such as happiness and hopefulness, and good emotion management skills. Researchers have discovered that people who suppress their emotions have a less diverse gut microbiome, while people who report happier emotions have lower levels of certain bacterium.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 27, 2023·5 min read

Experts Call for Creative Regulations and Collaboration for Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment

Experts in bioethics, law and policy from top universities in the US call for creative and collaborative policies to regulate the use and oversight of psychedelics for treating conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. In a paper published in the journal Science, the authors propose solutions to regulatory challenges in anticipation of FDA approval of psychedelics for medical use, while stressing the need for a strong evidence base for efficacy and safety.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·April 27, 2023·5 min read

Identification of DNA Methylation Markers in Newborns for Increased Schizophrenia Risk

Researchers identified DNA methylation markers that may indicate the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life in newborns. This breakthrough discovery could allow for early detection and intervention to reduce the impact of the disease. By studying blood samples collected at birth, the team was able to identify unique methylation differences in cell types that could become potential clinical biomarkers for future early detection of schizophrenia.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 26, 2023·5 min read

Pandemic Pet Pals: Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Pet Ownership, Stress, and Loneliness During Lockdown

During the COVID-19 pandemic, US dog and cat owners became closer to their pets, though pet ownership did not consistently alleviate stress and loneliness. The relationship between mental health and pet ownership was complex, with dog owners experiencing a greater reduction in stress and loneliness compared to cat owners and non-pet owners.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 26, 2023·6 min read

Correlation Between Social Vulnerability and Elevated Suicide Risks Discovered

Social determinants of health are linked to suicide risk, with the suicide rate nearly doubling between the least and most socially vulnerable counties. The study proposes several public health and economic policies that could reduce suicide rates by targeting social vulnerability in communities, such as improving access to mental health services and quality healthcare, and building stronger social networks.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2023·4 min read

Genetic Driver of Anxiety Discovered

An international team of scientists has identified a gene in the brain responsible for anxiety symptoms and found that modifying the gene can reduce anxiety levels, offering a novel drug target for anxiety disorders. The discovery highlights a new amygdala miR483-5p/Pgap2 pathway that regulates the brain's response to stress and provides a potential therapeutic approach for anxiety disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2023·5 min read

Depression and Anxiety Linked to Accelerated Biological Aging in Adults

Adults with advanced biological age are at a higher risk of depression and anxiety, according to a study that found participants with older biological age were 6% more likely to develop these mental health conditions at the 8.7-year follow-up compared to those who tested younger biologically.

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mental health

New Study Identifies 4 Key Profiles to Assess Self-Harm Risk in Children

Schizophrenia Identified in 60 Seconds via Visual Fixation

Cognitive Flexibility: How the Brain Learns New Rules to Navigate the Changing World

Sobering Findings: Anxiety and Mood Disorders Linked to More Severe Alcohol Symptoms, Even at Same Levels of Drinking

Insomnia Drug Belsomra May Help Treat Opioid Addiction

Is Your Emotional Wellbeing Related to Your Gut Health? New Study Reveals Possible Link in Women

Experts Call for Creative Regulations and Collaboration for Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment

Identification of DNA Methylation Markers in Newborns for Increased Schizophrenia Risk

Genetic Driver of Anxiety Discovered

Depression and Anxiety Linked to Accelerated Biological Aging in Adults

Jiving into Joy: Dance Sessions Elevate Health and Well-being in 85+ Age Group

New Insights Into Synaptic Pruning During Brain Development

Childhood IQ and Wealth: Uncovering Diverse Financial Paths in Adulthood

Stressed Brains Amplify Comfort Food Cravings

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