Circadian rhythm disruption is a psychopathological factor shared by a broad range of mental illnesses.
Researchers find no evidence to support the theory that strep throat may lead to the development of tics in children with a parent or sibling with a chronic tic disorder.
A new study identifies a neural network that appears to be responsible for the development of tics and tic disorders. Researchers say deep brain stimulation applied to this network helps alleviate symptoms of tics.
The largest genetic map of mental health disorders to date reveals there are three groups of highly genetically related disorders among eight psychiatric disorders. A gene related to nervous system development is a risk factor for all eight disorders studied. The RBFOX1 gene is implicated in seven of the eight disorders. ADHD and depression share 44% of genetic risk factors common in the general population. 109 pleiotropic loci affect more than one disorder. These pleiotropic loci are within genes that show heightened expression in the brain through the lifespan, beginning during the second trimester of pregnancy.
New findings about dopaminergic neurons in the striatum could have implications for treating Parkinson's disease and Tourette syndrome.
Real-time fMRI neurofeedback could be a potential new treatment for Tourette syndrome.
Almost 20% of children develop facial or vocal tics by the time they are elementary school age. For many children, knowing others are watching them helps to reduce tic behaviors. A histor of anxiety disorder has been associated with tics in young children. Understanding more about tic behaviors in children may help to develop new strategies to help those with Tourette suppress tics.
Children of younger parents are at increased risk of ADHD and Tourette syndrome, while children of older parents are at more risk of being diagnosed with OCD and autism.
Researchers discuss the potential of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, OCD, Tourette syndrome and other disorders.
Researchers report EEG technology has the ability to study activity of areas deep inside the brain, such as the thalamus and nucleus accumbens. The findings will help shed new light on disorders that affect these brain regions, such as Parkinson's disease and OCD.
Researchers have identified genetic overlaps between different types of psychiatric disorders including ADHD, bipolar disorder, MDD and schizophrenia. They also identified an overlap between anorexia and OCD, as well as between Tourettes and OCD.
Zebra finches may hold the key to understanding how babies learn to talk, researchers say.
