Category: Mental Health

A pair of studies found that increased, prolonged strain in people’s close relationships or jobs correlated with an increased risk for a cardiac event.

From a public health perspective, the presence of a firearm in the home dramatically increases the risk of an occupant being killed or committing suicide.

Data from a longitudinal study in New Zealand suggest that people with an alcohol dependency may be more likely to develop major depression.

People who seek treatment for alcohol dependence sometimes attempt to drink in moderation rather than abstain altogether. The success of this approach largely depends on whether the patient has already established a high degree of dependence.

A study of patients taking an injectable, long-acting form of an antipsychotic medication found that within six months of starting treatment, most patients had switched back to the oral form of the drug.

An analysis of hospital-based programs to assist smokers in quitting found that only those that followed inpatient treatment with continued counseling and support after discharge were successful.

A long-term study of children with ADHD concluded that the most beneficial treatment involved medication, either alone or with behavioral therapy, but the effectiveness of medication begins to fade after about two years.

Some people metabolize certain psychiatric medications too quickly, while others do so too slowly. Factors that can affect this include ethnicity, medical history, other medications being taken, diet, and lifestyle.

People suffering from anorexia nervosa fight the body’s instinctive urge to eat. Challenges to treatment include permanent changes in the brain due to prolonged starvation, and providing treatment in a manner that is sympathetic rather than punitive.

A review of studies on chronic fatigue syndrome found that cognitive behavioral therapy may be an effective treatment for the disorder.