This flu season was the worst in four years, U.S. health officials say. One major reason, they say, is that the flu vaccine did not protect well against the two most common strains causing illness this year. Overall, the vaccine was about 44% effective. Usually, it is 70% to 90% effective. The Associated Press reported April 17 on the new statistics. The study was conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was published in the centers’ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Researchers studying adolescents with major depression found that cognitive behavioral therapy, either on its own or in conjunction with antidepressant medication, was an effective treatment, with a low incidence of suicidal ideation.
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A Canadian study suggests that certain types of mental functioning are affected by type 2 diabetes at an earlier stage in the disease than was previously believed.
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Researchers in China found that Chinese citizens were more likely to express symptoms of depression as having a physical component as well as an emotional one, due to the way their culture interprets such feelings.
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Veterans returning from deployment often have mental health issues, but many do not seek treatment for fear it will affect their chances for advancement. Family menbers should watch for unusual behavior that could be a symptom of a problem.
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Researchers are investigating the possibility that the neurotransmitter glutamate may play a role in the development of schizophrenia.
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I have emphysema. How often should I have a complete breathing test?
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Seriously depressed young adults who were exposed to a painful stimulus showed brain activity that suggests depression may heighten the emotional response to pain while also decreasing the brain’s ability to adjust to it.
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Women who learned that they needed to undergo further testing for breast cancer experienced as much stress as women who learned they had breast cancer.
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A study of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder, who were assessed periodically over several years, found that manic episodes persisted into adulthood for 44% of the participants, and that about one third had developed substance abuse problems.
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