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July 2003- August 2004
GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL PROVIDES GREATER STRESS FOR ANXIETY-STRICKEN TEENS
Well, a new school year has just begun. Parents may
be heaving sighs of relief, but for adolescents with generalized anxiety
disorder or GAD the occasion is a time of “fear and trembling.”
“Families who are seeing signs of excessive worry in their children
should not dismiss it, but should seek help” urges Dr. Anne Marie
Albano, a child psychologist and noted expert in anxiety disorders.
ARSENIC
EXPOSURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO POOR INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN, RESEARCHERS
SAY
A recent study of children exposed to arsenic-tainted
water in Araihazar, Bangladesh found that water arsenic was significantly
associated with reduced intellectual function. Naturally occurring
arsenic in tube well water has led to exposure of millions of people
in South Asia, and Bangladesh in particular The new study published
in the September issue of Environmental Health Perspectives is the
first systematic look at the effects of this toxic element on children’s
intellectual abilities.
OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
MAY POINT TO BINGE EATING DISORDER
The Eating Disorders Program at NYS Psychiatric Institute is Seeking
Volunteers for a Research Study
New York, NY (July 26, 2004) –Nowadays, being overweight
or obese gets you a lot of attention and not just because of the stigma
it carries. The federal government and the medical community are talking
about the health consequences. There are measures afoot to change
insurance coverage for treatment and celebrities, as well as average
people, are going under the knife.
NEW
STUDY INDICATES THAT EXPOSURE TO INFLUENZA DURING PREGNANCY MAY INCREASE
THE RISK OF SCHIZOPHRENIA IN OFFSPRING YEARS LATER
A new study published today in the JAMA publication,
Archives of General Psychiatry, indicates that prenatal exposure to
influenza may increase the risk for development of schizophrenia years
later. The study, which evaluated archived sera from pregnant women
who participated in a large birth cohort called the Child Health and
Development Study (CHDS) from 1959–1966, was conducted by researchers
at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Mailman School
of Public Health at Columbia University, in collaboration with the
Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan, Northern California Region and
the Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California.
PROGRAM
FOR OVERWEIGHT ADOLESCENTS ADDS PARENTS TO THE EQUATION
Overweight and obesity have become a major public health
problem for adolescents in the United States. Although overweight
is one of the easiest conditions to recognize, it has proven one of
the most challenging to treat.
NEW
STUDY LINKS EXTENSIVE TV VIEWING IN ADOLESCENCE TO SLEEP PROBLEMS
IN EARLY ADULTHOOD
EMBARGO: MONDAY,
JUNE 7, 2004, 3:00 PM CENTRAL TIME
In a paper published in this month’s issue of the Archives of Pediatric
& Adolescent Medicine, researchers present findings that point
to a link between extensive television viewing and the development
of sleep problems by early adulthood. This is the first longitudinal
study on the long-term association between sleep problems and television
viewing.
STUDY
OF ADULTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA POINT TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT
Interleukin-8 (IL-8), one of a number of molecules
called cytokines, which are critical for the body’s response to infection,
was present at high levels in the second trimester of women whose
children developed schizophrenia. The finding, published in the May
issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, is the latest implicating
prenatal infection—in effect, the prenatal environment—in the development
of schizophrenia.
NYC
NO WORSE FOR WEAR ONE YEAR AFTER SMOKING BAN
According to health officials, a year after the smoking
ban took effect in New York City, restaurants and bars have seen an
increase in jobs and patrons. This has led the Health Commissioner
to declare the city a healthier place to live. Dr. Covey, who continues
to see a steady flow of smokers seeking to quit, hopes this news will
quell some of people’s earlier fears and encourage would-be quitters
to put down that cigarette once and for all.
DEATH
OF SPALDING GRAY PUTS DEPRESSION IN MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Depression is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric
disorder affecting approximately 19million American adults, and accounts
for about 60% of the 30,000 suicides in the US each year. It is not
a disease that discriminates and as the apparent suicide of Spalding
Gray shows, even the famous and the wealthy are not immune to the
destructive power it wields.
SUICIDAL
BEHAVIOR MAY BE LINKED TO PROBLEMS IN CANNABINOID SYSTEM
For the first time, researchers have linked CB1 receptors
in the brain to depression and suicide. In the February issue of Molecular
Psychiatry, researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute
(NYSPI) and the Nathan Kline Institute (NKI) report that CB1 receptor
density in the brain and cannabinoid signaling (function) were significantly
higher in the prefrontal cortex of those who had committed suicide
versus those in a control group.
SUPER
BOWL ’04, A COMPULSIVE GAMBLER’S NIGHTMARE
For some people placing a bet on the outcome of this
annual hallmark of football tradition is a light-hearted distraction,
but for addicted gamblers it’s a different story all together. Dr.
Carlos Blanco, Director of the Problem Gambling Program, and colleagues
are currently conducting studies to test different treatment approaches
and to determine the mechanisms that make some individuals more vulnerable
to compulsive gambling.
COULD
AN IMPAIRED SENSE OF SMELL EXPLAIN LOW SOCIAL DRIVE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA?
New findings suggest that a faulty sense of smell
may provide the key to understanding the origins of social deficits.
Very little is known about the causes of the social problems in schizophrenia,
a disease that affects 1% of the population. Though most people are
familiar with the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusional
thinking and hallucinations, it is the social deficit aspect of schizophrenia
that is often the most debilitating problem. Poor social drive robs
patients of their motivation and is one of the factors that prevents
them from holding a job, studying or caring for themselves when the
more overt symptoms are under control.
GROUP INTERPERSONAL
PSYCOTHERAPY EFFECTIVE FOR DEPRESSION IN STUDY OF UGANDA POPULATION
A new study by researchers at the New York State
Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University found that a group interpersonal
therapy (IPT-G) model for depression was effective in reducing depression
and dysfunction in a group of individuals in HIV-prone Uganda. The
results are published in the June 18th issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
On Friday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m., Dr. Margaret Spinelli
will deliver the keynote speech titled The Promise of Saved Lives:
Recognition, Prevention and Rehabilitation. Dr. Spinelli is editor
of Infanticide: Psychosocial and Legal Perspectives on Mothers Who
Kill, an educational tool for professionals working in the legal,
social service, mental health or medical fields. She is also a noted
expert in postpartum depression and psychosis and has testified in
numerous court cases.
FEWER COGNITIVE
SIDE EFFECTS FOUND IN TRIAL OF MAGNETIC SEIZURE THERAPY (MST)
A study of the use of magnetic seizure therapy (MST)
to treat major depression found fewer cognitive side effects compared
to electroconvulsive therapy or ECT. This
is the first clinical trial of MST in depressed patients.
The results of the study are reported in the July 16th issue of
Neuropsychopharmacology. Should MST be found to improve symptoms
in patients with depression, that benefit, coupled with its superior
side effect profile, would make it a favorable alternative to ECT.
9/11
WEB SURVEY LAUNCHED AT PI
The New York State Psychiatric Institute is collaborating
with the National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder to carry
out a five-year, web-based, national study to understand how best
to respond to the needs of people who have lost a family member, close
friend or colleague as a result of traumatic events like the September
11 attacks.
Web-based research is still a new concept, but two robust studies
on reactions to September 11 published recently in JAMA are bringing
legitimacy to the internet as a medium for well-designed research.
NYS
PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE REMINDS YOU THAT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
IS OCT. 5-11
Good mental health is key to overall well-being, which
is why the New York State Psychiatric Institute would like to bring
your attention to some important research just in time for Mental
Health Awareness Week.
MEDIA ADVISORY:
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health:
Presentation and discussion on launching the New York City Mental
Health Assessment Partnership to help identify at-risk youth.
NEW STUDY
SUGGESTS INCREASED ANTIDEPRESSANT USE MAY REDUCE SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS
New findings suggest that there is a relationship between
antidepressant use and the rates of suicide in adolescents. In the
October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry Dr. Mark Olfson—a
psychiatric researcher at the New York State Psychiatric Institute—and
colleagues detail the results of an analysis of 10-19 year olds prescribed
antidepressants in nearly 600 geographic regions in the US between
1990 and 2000. They found that regions with increased antidepressant
use tended to have decreased suicides. This correlation was especially
evident among boys, adolescents age 15 to 19 years of age and in lower
income areas.
NEW TRIAL OF
EXTENDED-RELEASE MEDICATION FOR WINTER DEPRESSION BEGINS AT NEW YORK
STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE
New York, N.Y. (October 15, 2003) -- The short, dark
days of winter are fast approaching, which for nearly a million New
York area residents signals the reappearance of Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD).
SMOKE NO
MORE! THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT IS NOVEMBER 20
If you’re a smoker you now know that there are fewer
places to smoke now that New York’s anti-smoking laws are in effect.
Though television shows like Whoopi Goldberg’s have made the plight
of smokers a running gag, the consequences of smoking are no joking
matter. But, despite numerous attempts to quit, many smokers, particularly
minorities, are unable to beat their addiction.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS?
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR ANXIETY FOR TEENS WITH SOCIAL PHOBIA
With the holidays around the corner, many young people
are bracing themselves for an onslaught of anxiety-filled days amid
the usual seasonal festivities. But, wait, isn’t the holidays about
good cheer and good times? Not for those who suffer from social phobia
or social anxiety.
MAKE
IT YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO QUIT SMOKING IN 2004!
The past year has been a bad one for smokers. Not only
did the smoking ban go into effect in New York City, but those still
not inspired to quit may have learned of a new study suggesting that
long-term exposure to large quantities of nicotine, the well-known
addictive component of tobacco, may be the culprit in tobacco-related
cancers. (Nicotine replacement therapy is an established effective
treatment and only low doses of nicotine are given over a short period.)
It had been largely assumed that the tar and chemicals in tobacco
were the primary cancer-causing agents. These two developments
are great reasons to quit smoking in 2004.
January - June 2003
IS
THERE A MAJOR GENE FOR OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER? NIMH-FUNDED
STUDY UNDERWAY
New York State Psychiatric
Institute/Columbia Seeking Volunteers
New York, NY (May 12, 2003) – Jack Nicholson’s
1997 Oscar-winning performance was for his portrayal of an abrasive
neighbor with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in As Good As
it Gets. His comic delivery merely hinted at the often-debilitating
and serious consequences of a disease that affects roughly one to
three percent of the general population, making it more common than
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
RESEARCH
STUDY OF ADOLESCENT SCHIZOPHRENIA UNDERWAY AT THE NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC
INSTITUTE
Adolescents with Schizophrenia May
Be Eligible to Enroll
The New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) is one of the clinical
trial sites in a nationwide research study evaluating the safety and
effectiveness of an atypical antipsychotic medication in adolescents.
ANTI-SMOKING
LAW IS IN EFFECT: ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO QUIT
Smoking Cessation Clinic at NYSPI/Columbia
Recruiting Minority Smokers
New York, NY (March 31, 2003) – It’s official.
Smoking in most restaurants, bars and other workplaces in New York
City is now a thing of the past. With fewer places to smoke, now is
the time for would-be quitters to get treatment for their addiction.
EATING
DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK, FEB. 23 TO MARCH 2
Research & Treatment
Available at the NY State Psychiatric Institute
New York, NY (February 23, 2003)— The
media is chock-full of images and stories about eating disorders and
their impact on the general public. Karen Carpenter, arguably one
of the most famous people with anorexia, eventually sought treatment
for her illness, but her early death is believed to be a result of
the ravages of years of self-induced starvation.
PATHOLOGICAL
GAMBLING IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN DURING SUPERBOWL SEASON & BEYOND
Studies at NY State Psychiatric Institute Seeking Volunteers
New York, NY (January 16,
2003) — It’s Super Bowl season, which can mean big trouble for many
gamblers. Trying to avoid talk of the Super Bowl is close to impossible,
which makes people who gamble especially vulnerable.
August
- December 2002
THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE: SOCIAL PHOBIA EXPERT OFFERS GUIDE FOR THE
SOCIALLY PERPLEXED
New York, NY (December 11, 2002)— For most people the expected social
engagements the holidays offer produce a sense of excitement. However, for those
who suffer from social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder (SAD), the
idea of a holiday party is a great source of stress. While people diagnosed with
SAD may require medication and/or psychotherapy, the average person who shies
away from social situations can avail themselves of some techniques experts say
are useful for those who may just be “socially perplexed.” Here are some
guidelines prepared by Dr. Franklin Schneier, Associate Director of the Anxiety
Disorders Clinic at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
FOR THE
DEPRESSED, THE HOLIDAYS ARE NOT SO MERRY
New York, NY (November 20, 2002) –Clinical depression, when it strikes, hits
hard. Sufferers who are not getting treatment for their depression experience a
host of debilitating symptoms ranging from sleeplessness to social isolation.
Holidays can be especially hard.
NO PLACE TO SMOKE
ANYMORE?
THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT IS NOVEMBER 21
New York, NY (November 13, 2002) - New and pending laws are making it
increasingly difficult for smokers to find a place to smoke. Unfortunately,
despite numerous attempts to quit, many smokers are unable to beat their
addiction to cigarettes and tobacco.
NEW BOOK IS
FIRST ONE-STOP GUIDE TO LATEST SCHOLARSHIP IN INFANTICIDE
New York, NY (October 16, 2002) – Infanticide is not an easy subject to tackle,
but noted expert and researcher, Dr. Margaret Spinelli has edited a recent book
and has managed to gather a wide range of scholars who offer their informed
perspectives on this most difficult of subjects. Infanticide: Psychosocial and
Legal Perspectives on Mothers Who Kill is an educational tool for professionals
working in the legal, social service, mental health or medical fields.
RESEARCH SUGGESTS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
OF BIPOLAR DISORDER MAY BE INADEQUATE
As reported in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry,
researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute analyzed eight years of
data collected by the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey in order to
identify prescribing patterns for the medical treatment of bipolar patients in
an office setting. They found that psychiatrists treating in an office setting
often prescribed antidepressants (generally an SSRI or selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors) for bipolar patients without a mood stabilizer such as
lithium or valproic acid.
SCREENING BY PRIMARY
CARE PHYSICIANS MAY HELP DETECT MENTAL DISORDERS
“It is still difficult for some
people to approach a psychiatrist or psychologist about some as-yet-undiagnosed
mental health problem,” said Dr. Spitzer. “The only health professional they
come in contact with is usually their own general practitioner so our best
chance of interrupting the course of a mental disorder is by screening in the
practitioner’s office.”
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month;
Aided by the NIH, Researchers Focus on Cognitive & Other Issues
New York reports more cases of Lyme
Disease to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) than any other state, according
to Dr. Brian Fallon. In some counties, as many as one in four households have
had at least one member affected by Lyme Disease.
MORE
THAN ONE HOUR OF DAILY TV MAY LEAD TO VIOLENCE, SCIENCE STUDY SAYS
Jeffrey Johnson, of the New
York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, and his co-authors
tracked more than 700 children from adolescence to adulthood. They found that
adolescents who watched one hour or more of television per day were more likely
in their late teens and early twenties to engage in aggressive acts against
other people. This was especially true for boys.
NEW STUDY
FURTHER IMPLICATES DIMINISHED AWARENESS IN PREDICTING ALZHEIMER’S
New
York, NY—A new study conducted by researchers at the New York State Psychiatric
Institute and Columbia University found that in patients with mild cognitive
impairment, a lack of awareness of functional problems identified by an
informant (for example, spouse or close relative) significantly predicts
development of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published in the March 12th issue
of Neurology, comes two years after researchers found that unawareness of one's
own olfactory dysfunction may help predict the disease. It underscores the
significance of diminished awareness of loss of capacities in patients with mild
cognitive impairment at risk for Alzheimer’s.
EATING DISORDERS WEEK,
FEB.24 TO MARCH 3 RESEARCH & TREATMENT
AVAILABLE AT THE NY STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE
New York, NY (February 19, 2002)—
The media is chock-full of images and stories about eating disorders and their
impact on the general public. Karen Carpenter, arguably one of the most famous
people with anorexia, eventually sought treatment for her illness, but her early
death is believed to be a result of the ravages of years of self-induced
starvation.
RESEARCHERS
INVESTIGATE FAMILY-BASED TREATMENT FOR ANOREXIA
(New York, NY) – January 2, 2002 –
Anorexia can be a fatal disease. Approximately 10% of anorexics will die from
the disorder, five percent of them by suicide. Anorexia nervosa, the onset of
which is most often in adolescence, is characterized by a refusal to maintain
normal body weight, an intense fear of weight gain, denial of the seriousness of
a low body weight, and delayed menstrual period (in adolescents) or interrupted
menses.
AMERICAN STUDY CONFIRMS
FINDINGS POINTING TO PATERNAL AGE AS RISK FACTOR FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA IN OFFSPRING
Recent findings by
researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) have confirmed
the results of a study published last year on the increased likelihood of older
fathers having children with schizophrenia.
Dr. Alan
Brown, a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, is the lead
investigator of the latest study seen in the September 1 issue of the American
Journal of Psychiatry.
Latino Outreach
as First Anniversary of September 11th Approaches
The Trauma Studies Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (PI), has
been coordinating efforts in the New York Metropolitan area to train mental
health workers in effective trauma treatment. A special effort has been made to
reach the Latino community by training primary care physicians in the Washington
Heights area. These efforts were undertaken after September 11th to handle the
large numbers of people suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).
MEDIA ADVISORY:
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