Buckeye Psychiatry, LLC

Minfulness Can Change the Brain.

abrandemihl — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:37:50 +0000

HealthDay (1/25, Preidt, http://tinyurl.com/minful-change) reported that a mindfulness meditation training program can trigger measurable changes in brain areas associated with awareness, empathy and sense of self within eight weeks according to a new study . Mindfulness focuses on nonjudgmental awareness of one’s feelings, sensations and state of mind, which often results in greater peacefulness and relaxation, the researchers explained. They used MRI to assess the brain structure of 16 volunteers two weeks before and after they took the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. The program included weekly meetings to practice mindfulness meditation and audio recordings for guided meditation practice. The researchers also analyzed MRI scans of a control group of people who did not meditate for comparison. The meditation group participants spent an average of 27 minutes a day doing mindfulness meditation exercises. The MRI scans taken after the eight-week program revealed increased gray matter density in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory) and in structures associated with compassion and self-awareness. The investigators also found that participant-reported reductions in stress were associated with decreased gray matter density in the amygdala, which plays a role in anxiety and stress. None of these brain structure changes were seen in the control group. The study will be published in the Jan. 30 issue of the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

Could Low Testosterone Lead to Alzheimer’s?

abrandemihl — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:39:13 +0000

WebMD (10/8, Boyles, http://tinyurl.com/lowt-alzheimers) reported that low testosterone levels in older men with memory problems may signal progression to Alzheimer’s disease or increase the risk for developing age-related dementia. In a newly published study, older Chinese men with early memory declines who did not yet have Alzheimer’s were far more likely to develop Alzheimer’s over a year of follow-up if they had low testosterone. The study was small, but the findings suggest low testosterone may be an independent risk factor for rapid cognitive decline in older men with early memory loss, according to Saint Louis University Medical Center professor of gerontology John Morley, MD . All the men underwent testing to assess memory function at enrollment, and 47 were determined to have evidence of mild cognitive impairment. Over the course of the next year, 10 men received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. All were in the previously identified group with early memory declines and all had low levels of free testosterone in blood samples. While the research suggests a role for testosterone in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, study researcher Scott Moffat, PhD, says it is too soon to recommend testosterone treatment for men at risk for cognitive decline. “It is not really clear if testosterone is protecting the men in these studies or if levels are reflective of some other factor, such as overall better health,” he tells WebMD.

No Fear

abrandemihl — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:22:37 +0000

The New York Times (12/17, Bhanoo, http://tinyurl.com/fearamygdala) reportsIn the 1930s, researchers discovered that when a certain part of monkeys’ brains was removed, the animals became fearless. Now, scientists have confirmed that a missing amygdala results in similar behavior in humans, according to a study in the journal Current Biology. Patient SM, because of a rare condition called lipoid proteinosis, has holes where her amygdala would normally reside. Researchers found that she, like the monkeys, has no fear of creatures like snakes and spiders, which ordinarily alarm most people. SM put her life at risk several times. In one instance, she walked through a park alone at night and was attacked by a man with a knife. The following day, she walked through the same park again. Shw was exposed to snakes and spiders at a pet store, shown clips of horror movies like The Shining and The Blair Witch Project, and taken through a haunted house in a former sanatorium. SM’s fear response was nonexistent. What’s more, she “relished cuddling snakes and had to be stopped from reaching for a tarantula.” Understanding how the mind of a patient like SM works could help researchers develop therapies for individuals who express excessive amounts of fear, like war veterans.

FDA Approves New Schizophrenia Medication From Sunovion.

abrandemihl — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:16:28 +0000

The AP(10/29, http://tinyurl.com/latuda1) reports The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals to treat adults with schizophrenia. Schizohrenia affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population, causing hallucinations, paranoia and delusions. The FDA approved Sunovion’s drug Latuda based on four studies that showed patients taking the drug had fewer schizophrenia symptoms than patients taking a placebo pill. Latuda is part of the atypical antipsychotics drug class, which also includes Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zyprexa, Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal and AstraZeneca’s Seroquel. Those drugs were the top-selling group of prescription drugs in the U.S. last year, with combined sales of $14.6 billion. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is based in Fort Lee, N.J. and is the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese drugmaker Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co.

“Latuda is an oral, once-daily atypical antipsychotic, offering a first-line treatment option for patients with schizophrenia and is expected to be available in the US during the first quarter of 2011,” Marlborough-based Sunovion said. Sunovion recently changed its name from Sepracor, a company known for its Lunesta sleep aid. A year ago, Sepracor was acquired by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., a Japanese drug maker.

Army Claims It Has Simple Blood Test To Identify Mild Brain Trauma.

abrandemihl — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:18:44 +0000

USA Today (10/15, Zoroya, TBI) reports the Army says it has discovered a simple blood test that can diagnose mild traumatic brain damage or concussion. “This is huge,” said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army vice chief of staff.Army Col. Dallas Hack, who has oversight of the research, says recent data show the blood test, which looks for unique proteins that spill into the blood stream from damaged brain cells, accurately diagnosing mild traumatic brain injury in 34 patients. Doctors can miss these injuries because the damage does not show up on imaging scans, and symptoms such as headaches or dizziness are ignored or downplayed by the victims. If the brain is not allowed time to recover and a second concussion occurs, permanent damage may result. Brain injuries afflict 1.4 million Americans each year, says the National Brain Injury Association. Seventy percent are mild cases. About 300,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered concussions, mostly from roadside bombs, according to a RAND Corp. study. Hack says the new findings could rival the discovery of unique proteins in the 1970s that now help doctors identify heart disease.

Inclusion Of Sensory Processing Disorder In DSM-V.

abrandemihl — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:39:02 +0000

The Chicago Tribune (10/18, Chan, http://tinyurl.com/SPD-DSM5) reported that the rate of Sensory Processing Disorder is on the rise. To have sensory processing disorder, experts say there must be a significant effect on daily routine. The disorder is usually found in children, though adults can have it, too. “Everything’s coming in and getting messed up for them,” said Heidi Tringali, a Charlotte, N.C., occupational therapist who sees a lot of children with sensory issues. “It tastes too strong, smells too strong. They’re just disrupted – and their existence is so much more difficult than just a typical developing child.”

There have been few published studies on the prevalence of SPD. But one study done in association with the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation estimates that one in six children is affected by sensory issues, which can range from mild to severe. However, SPD has not yet been officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. It’s important to note the differences between a child with sensory processing disorder and a child who’s just picky or problematic, experts say. For example, a typical child who steps from an air-conditioned room outside into the heat may whine and complain for a bit. But for a child with sensory problems, it can be almost unbearable. Kids can be clumsy, but children with sensory problems may struggle in vain to write with a pencil because the motor skills are just so off. Academic and social problems often ensue. Sensory processing problems occur when the brain’s neurons can’t correctly interpret incoming signals, said Lucy Jane Miller, executive director of the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation in Colorado. When the signals are mixed up, that affects the senses of touch, movement and balance, and space, she said. In the sensory processing world, these are known as the tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive systems. But there’s no cure for sensory processing disorder. Rather, occupational therapists help patients learn to cope.

The SPD Foundation is trying to get the disorder recognized in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” the official catalog of mental disorders. The next edition, known as the DSM-5, comes out in 2013. Sensory processing disorder is divided into three categories. The first comprises sensory over- and under-responders and sensory seekers _ people who may over react or under react to pain or noise, and people who may seek out bear hugs and crave lots of motion. The second includes people with sensory motor disorders, who may seem clumsy and uncoordinated. The third encompasses people who have trouble discriminating between the different senses. Recommended therapy includes weekly (if not more frequent) sessions and daily sensory “diets” that involve brushing the limbs with a surgical brush, putting tension on joints, doing exercises and doing heavy work to stimulate muscles and joints.

Infants At Higher Risk For Autism May Not Gaze At Faces.

abrandemihl — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:13:28 +0000

The Los Angeles Times (9/2, Roan, http://tinyurl.com/face-gaze) reported that with autism rates soaring over the last decade, researchers are seeking the earliest clues of the disorder. The quicker a child is diagnosed, the better the long-term outcome. In the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, leading autism researchers say they think infant gaze is among the first clues of social functioning. Infants who don’t exhibit this fondness for human faces, may be exhibiting one of the first signs of autism, the inability to socialize . The researchers, from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore and the University of Delaware, observed 25 6-month-old infants who were siblings of children with autism. They were compared with 25 infants from families with no history of autism. They found that the infants in the low-risk group were more likely to have normal social gazing. The high-risk siblings, however, spent less time looking at their caregivers and more time focused on the toy. The study provides more evidence for early diagnosis, the lead author of the study, Rebecca Landa, said in a news release. The lack of interest in people’s faces is “a subtle difference that could be easily overlooked by both parents and some professionals.”

Omega-3 Supplements May Reduce Depressive Symptoms.

abrandemihl — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:48:29 +0000

Medscape (6/24, Brauser, http://tinyurl.com/omega3-depression) reported Omega-3 fatty acid supplements significantly reduce symptoms of major depressive episodes (MDEs) for patients without comorbid anxiety disorders (ADs) compared with those taking placebo, according to a new study of more than 400 patients from 8 Canadian clinics. Despite the availability of several newer antidepressants over the last 20 years, a substantial proportion of patients experiencing a depressive episode do not respond sufficiently to antidepressant treatment, are unable to tolerate antidepressants in order to obtain or maintain a clinical response, or refuse to take antidepressants despite substantial psychological suffering and disability notes the study author Dr. Lespérance. Almost 54% of people with depression in the United States use some form of complementary treatment. In addition, the omega-3 supplements “seemed to be more efficacious for patients as a stand-alone treatment in comparison to adjuvant treatment,” reported Dr. Lespérance.

Teva says FDA approved its Generic Effexor XR.

abrandemihl — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:29:04 +0000

HealthDay (6/29, http://tinyurl.com/generic-eff-xr) reported the first generic version of Effexor extended release (XR) capsules (venlafaxine hydrochloride) to treat major depressive disorder has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Teva said it will start shipping its version of Effexor, or venlafaxine, on July 1st, 2020. The Israeli company originally sought approval for its generic in 2006, but as part of a patent settlement with Wyeth it agreed not to sell its version until July 1, 2010. Pfizer acquired Wyeth last year. As the first company to file an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) containing a paragraph IV certification for this product, Teva has been awarded a 180-day period of marketing exclusivity. Teva said annual U.S. sales of Effexor XR are around $2.75 billion.

ADD/ADHD In Women on the Rise.

abrandemihl — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:39:33 +0000

The Houston Chronicle (5/20, Morgan, http://tinyurl.com/ADD-Women) reported that Deborah A. Pearson, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston said there are least 4 million American women with ADD/ADHD, but research focuses heavily on children, so it’s hard to pinpoint how many women are affected. But at least one-third of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD will continue to have significant symptoms into adulthood, Pearson said. On top of that, little girls aren’t always diagnosed at as early an age as boys, since they display different symptoms. “That little whirling dervish of a boy is being diagnosed in kindergarten or first grade,” Pearson said. “But a little girl, she’s daydreaming. She’s not causing trouble for the teacher, she’s not causing trouble at home. She carries on, until her academic achievement is affected.” In adulthood, men with ADD/ADHD tend to have more problems related to hyperactivity, whereas women tend to have more problems related to attention deficit — which is why Pearson often diagnoses women of college age. “Families structure teenagers all the way through high school,” Pearson said. “Then they get to college, they lose the structure their parents provided, and they’re at loose ends.” “They’re in for an evaluation of their child, and they’re sitting there saying ‘that sounds just like me,’” Pearson said. “There’s a very strong genetic component in ADHD. It does run in families. Dianne W. Appolito, LCSW and director of Stone Creek Psychotherapy and Wellness Center in Katy, said women can be successfully treated for ADD/ADHD with medication and counseling. Accepting the diagnosis and “reframing the awareness of how their brain works” is the first step, Appolito said.