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Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 25, 2009 at 07:19 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can You Improve Your Mood and Serious Mental Illness With Physical Activity?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the relationship between mood and physical activity. An article published in Medical News Today January 15, 2009, "Improving Mood And Serious Mental Illness With Physical Activity,"examines this issue.The article reports on a study published in the November 2008 issue of the International Journal of Social Psychiatry. The study involved “…11 people from the U.S.and 12 people from Serbia.”The results were interesting. “…even meager levels of physical activity can improve the mood of people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia.” The researchers found “ …a positive association between physical activity level and positive mood when low to moderate levels of physical activity are considered…Physical activity interventions that require lower levels of exertion might be more conducive to improving transitory mood, or the ups and downs people with SMI experience throughout the day." The study points to the conclusion that even modest physical activity show be part of the daily treatment plan for this patient population. Modest physical activity includes “…most forms of sustained movement, such as house cleaning, gardening, walking for transportation or formal exercise.”

The Bottom Line: Even modest physical activity has a beneficial effect on mood in individuals with serious mental illness.

Reference: Original Article

Resources:

Great Youtube Video on Exercise and Depression:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

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Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 17, 2009 at 12:30 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Caffeine Cause Hallucinations?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the effect of caffeine on mental functioning. A article published in MedPage Today January 13, 2009 examines this issue.The article reports on a study published online recently in Personality and Individual Differences. The researchers surveyed, …”219 university students regarding typical caffeine intake over the prior year (including coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, energy drinks, and caffeine tablets), stress level, and psychotic symptoms using a questionnaire scale…The students averaged 141 mg of caffeine per day, similar to student populations in previous studies, the researchers noted. By comparison, a cup of instant coffee contains 45 mg of caffeine, one Starbucks coffee has 188 mg of caffeine, and Red Bull energy drink contains 80 mg of caffeine.” The results were interesting. “Not surprisingly, the students reported higher caffeine intake when their stress level increased…Higher caffeine intake also increased the likelihood of hallucination-like experiences (P0.02), which included reports of seeing things that were not there, hearing voices, and sensing the presence of dead people….caffeine intake predicted hallucinations even after controlling for age, gender, and stress levels (P0.05)….Having the equivalent of eight or more cups of instant coffee a day tripled the chance of having heard a person's voice when no one was there compared with less than a cup a day.” The results of this study raises several important issues. First, individuals with a history of psychiatric disorders should be very cautious about their use of caffeine. Second, this study suggests that the less caffeine the better in terms of mental functioning.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that large quantities of caffeine can cause hallucinations even in individuals with no prior psychiatric history.

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Youtube Video on Tips on How To Maintain Your Mental Health

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
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Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do Psychostimulants Harm Brains?

Mental health professionals have long been concerned about the impact of psychostiumulants on brain development. article published in Medscape Medical News February 3, 2009 examines this issue. The article reports on a study published recently in the American Journal of Psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry. 2009; 166:58-63). The researchers “examined changes in cortical thickness based on 2 neuroanatomic scans in 43 subjects with ADHD. Their mean age was 12.5 years at the time of the first scan and 16.4 years at the time of the second….The scans of 19 subjects with ADHD not treated with psychostimulants were compared with an age-matched group of 24 individuals with ADHD who were treated with these medications. In addition, researchers further compared scans of the entire study cohort with 620 scans of 294 typically developing youths without ADHD.” The results were interesting. “There were some areas of the brain, including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and motor strip, where there was a significant difference between the 2 study groups…the study showed that children who were on medication tended to have a trajectory of brain development that more closely resembled that of the typically developing comparison group….In contrast, subjects who were not on stimulants tended to differ more in cortical development compared with their typically developing teenage peers.” Overall, the researchers found that “…there were few differences between ADHD subjects taking stimulants and their untreated counterparts. In addition, there were no differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups.” The results of this study are important for those parents with young ADHD children who are hesitate to put their children on psychostimulants due to fear that these medications may harm their children’s brain development.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that psychostimulants do not harm brain development in children.

Resources:

Thirteen Great Books on ADHD

Resource and Support Groups for ADHD

Additional Resources:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Additional Resources:

For related articles on ADHD on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to “Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General” or type in the keyword “ADHD and Children” into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keyword, “ADHD and Children” into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

How to Understand the Treatment of ADHD in Children. Watch this top rated video from Yourtube:

Sources: Orginal article, See also blogposts in: Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General and Children, Youtube

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 17, 2009 at 12:28 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Does Occasional Binge Drinking During Pregnancy Cause Mental Health Problems in Children?

Mental health professionals have long been concerned about the impact of binge drinking during pregnancy. An article published in Medscape Medical News February 2, 2009 examines this issue. The article reports on a study published recently in the February 2009 issue of Pediatrics. The researchers “…assessed the relationships between a binge pattern of alcohol use, defined as consumption of 4 or more drinks per day, in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and childhood mental health problems at ages 47 and 81 months (n = 6355 and n = 5599, respectively). A subgroup of 924 children was also evaluated with IQ testing at age 49 months.” The results were interesting. “Any episodes of consuming 4 or more drinks per day were independently associated with greater risks for mental health problems, particularly hyperactivity and inattention, in girls at 47 months and in both girls and boys at 81 months, after adjustment for a range of prenatal and postnatal factors….In the absence of regular daily drinking, consuming 4 or more drinks in a day was still associated with a greater risk for mental health problems, particularly hyperactivity and inattention.” There are a number of implications of this study. First, pregnant women who do not drink everyday but only binge drink occasionally at social events, put the fetus at risk. Second, the rise of hyperactivity and inattention problems in children nationwide may be related to the risk of binge drinking, particularly in women over the last decade. Third, medical professionals who have pregnant women as patients should be aware of and carefully monitor their pregnant patients’ alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that even occasional binge drinking during pregnancy put the fetus at risk for the later development of mental health problems.

Resources on Alcoholism

How to overcome alcoholism. View this top rated video from Youtube

Four Great Books on Recovery:

Resource and Support Groups for Alcoholics:

Great informational websites created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Reference: HealthDay News January 26, 2009

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
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Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 17, 2009 at 12:27 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Jury Duty Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the impact of jury duty on one’s mental health. An article published in Medical News Today, March 23, 2009, “Report Warns Of Jury Service 'Trauma' ” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published recently in the Howard Journal. The researchers studied jurors in British and the effect of jury duty on their mental health. The results of the study were concerning. “….jury service can be a significant stressor for a vulnerable minority…. The times during trials when jurors were required to make decisions were cited as the most stressful, but having to deal with evidence that might be horrific was also a source of concern, particularly for women, who were also more adversely affected by dissension and questioning in the jury room.” There are several important implications of this study. First, there should be more and better preparation of prospective jurors before they begin their jury duty. Second, prospective jurors should be screened for the presence of current mental distress that would disqualify them from jury duty. Third, after the experience, jurors should be offered debriefing counseling services if requested.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that for certain individuals jury duty may be hazardous to their mental health.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 16, 2009 at 12:33 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do Angry Men Develop More Heart Disease?

Mental health professionals have long debated the relationship between anger and health. An article published in Medical News Today, March 10, 2009, “Those Who Harbor Anger And Hostility At Greater Risk Of Heart Disease, Especially Men,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study in the March 17, 2009, issue of the Journal of the College of Cardiology.The researchers “…….extensively reviewed the literature on the longitudinal associations of anger and hostility with CHD events, and identified 25 studies of initially healthy populations and 18 studies of patients with CHD.” The results of the review were concerning. “…..Anger and hostility were found to predict a 19 percent and 24 percent increase in CHD events among initially healthy people and those with pre-existing CHD, respectively….The harmful association of anger and hostility with CHD events in healthy people was greater in men than women…..suggesting that the accumulation of stress responses in daily life might have a greater impact on future CHD in men." There are several important implications of this study. First, psychological states in men do indeed affect their physical and cardiac health. Second, parents of angry male adolescents and young adults should help their children learn better coping strategies to deal with the stresses of life. Third, mental health professionals who treat angry males should educate them about the impact of anger on the cardiac health and should try to help them learn better coping strategies. Fourth, public health professionals should continue their efforts at educating the male public about the relationship between anger and cardiac health. The researchers conclude, “……This review provides further evidence that psychological factors do matter in the development and progression of CHD….Clinicians should take symptoms of anger and hostility seriously, and may consider referring their patient for behavioral intervention. We need to closely monitor and study these personality traits in order to do a better job at identifying high-risk patients who are more liable to future fatal and non-fatal coronary events."

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggests that anger in males can negatively effect their cardiac health.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 16, 2009 at 12:32 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do Optimists Live Longer?

Mental health professionals have long debated the relationship personality and longevity. An article published in Medical News Today, March 9, 2009, “Optimists Live Longer Say Researchers,” examines this issue. The article reports on findings of a study that was recently presented at the American Psychosomatic Society's 67th annual meeting in Chicago. The researchers, “….analyzed data from the Women's Health Initiative, an ongoing study funded by the National Institutes of Health that has been following women aged 50 and over since 1994.” The results of the study were very interesting. The researchers found that “….optimistic women had a decreased rate of death and were 30 per cent less likely to die from coronary heart disease than their pessimistic counterparts…..Women who were identified as being more cynically hostile also fared worse, they had a higher rate of death and were 23 per cent more like to die from cancer-related causes said the researchers.....These results appeared to be more sharply pronounced among the black women in the study, who numbered nearly 8,000…Optimistic black women had a lower rate of death compared to pessimistic women,and they also showed a 44 per cent lower risk of dying from a cancer-related death…..The black women with the highest level of cynical hostility had a higher rate of death and a 142 per cent higher rate of cancer-related death….” There are several important implications of this study. First, what you believe does indeed affect how long you live. Second, mental health professionals who treat depressed and pessimistic women should help their patients embrace the tenets of positive psychology as a treatment strategy. Third, women who realize that they tend to be pessimistic and brooding about the future should seek professional help to help them develop a positive and optimistic outlook on life. Fourth, public health professionals should increase their efforts to educate the public and particularly women about the benefits of an optimistic view of life.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that embracing an optimistic point of view can lead to a longer life.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is Falling in Love All in Your Head?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the true nature of falling in love. An article authored by Judy Foreman published in Boston Globe June 15, 2009, “Romance + Attraction + Oxytocin = Love, Can science tell us why we fall, and stay, in love?” examines this issue. The article reports on a study by researchers at the University in Stony Brook.The researchers studied, “…..a handful of young people who had just fallen madly in love volunteered to have their brains scanned to see what areas were active when they looked at a picture of their sweetheart…. In the same lab, older volunteers who claimed to still be intensely in love after two decades of marriage participated in the same experiment.” The results of the experiments were very interesting. In the first experiment, “….The brain areas that "lit up" were precisely those known to be rich in a powerful "feel good" chemical, dopamine -- the substance that brain cells release in response to cocaine and nicotine. Dopamine is the key chemical in the brain's "reward system," a network of cells associated with pleasure -- and addiction.” In the second experiment, “…The same brain areas lit up, showing that, at least in some lucky couples, that honeymoon feeling can last. But in these folks, other areas lit up, too -- those rich in oxytocin, the "cuddling" chemical that helps new mothers make milk and bond with their babies, is secreted by both sexes during orgasm, and that, in animals, has been linked to monogamy and long-term attachment.” There are several important implications of these studies. First, the results of these studies confirm that falling in love is very of a powerful brain chemical reaction driven primarily by dopamine. Second, long-lasting love is driven by both dopamine and oxytocin. Third, intense falling in love can, from the brain’s point of view, be quite similar to developing an intense addiction to cocaine or nicotine. Fourth, falling out of love can be a very painful experience akin to going “cold turkey” from a powerful addiction. Fifth, mental health professionals who treat individuals recovering from an intense love affair may help clients understand the “withdrawal” will take awhile but they will eventually recover. Sixth, these research insights may help mental health professionals better understand the intense attachment stalkers have to their objects of interest. Seventh, these research insights may also lead one day to the development of better medicines to help those whose “love libido” as declined through age or the disease process. The author states, “…In fact, a study published this year in Biological Psychiatry…shows that oxytocin may help human couples get along better. Swiss researchers gave 47 couples a nasal spray containing either oxytocin or a placebo. The couples then participated in a videotaped "conflict" discussion. Those that got oxytocin exhibited more positive and less negative behavior than those given the placebo. Oxytocin was also linked to lower secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone.” The author concludes, “….Whether this love chemistry will pan out in the new research is still an open question. In the meantime, remember those prairie voles - they get what Fisher calls "life's greatest prize - an enduring mate and partner."

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggests that intense feelings of love are driven by the powerful brain chemicals.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Acupuncture Successfully Treat Migraines and Tension-Type Headaches?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the beneficial effects of acupuncture on migraines and tension-type headaches. An article published in Medscape Psychiatry January 26, 2009 examines this issue. The article reports on a study published online January 21 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The researchers “examined 22 randomized controlled trials with 4419 participants who had been diagnosed with migraine with or without aura…The studies were at least 8 weeks long and compared acupuncture prophylaxis with routine care (acute treatment), sham acupuncture, or another intervention.” The results were interesting. “….Six trials, including 2 large trials with 401 and 1715 patients, which compared acupuncture prophylaxis with acute care, found that after up to 4 months of acupuncture, patients had fewer headaches. Of these 6 trials, 1 showed the beneficial effects of treatment continued at 9-month follow-up…In 14 trials that compared true acupuncture vs sham acupuncture, patients in both groups had fewer migraines…In 4 trials that compared acupuncture with proven prophylactic drug treatments, patients reported greater improvements and fewer adverse effects with acupuncture.” There are several implications of this review of acupuncture and headaches. First, for patients who question whether acupuncture a bonafide medical treatment, this review supports the idea that acupuncture is indeed a legitimate medical treatment that can have positive outcomes on headache treatment. Second, this review supports the idea that acupuncture for migraine prevention as as least as effective as prophylactic drugs without the medication side effect.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that acupuncture can successfully treat migraines and tension-type headaches.

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Youtube Video on Tips on How To Maintain Your Mental Health

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:26 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are Migraines and Mood Disorders Related?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the relationship between mood disorders and migraines. An article published in Medical News Today January 22, 2009 examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the January-February 2009 issue of General Hospital Psychiatry. The researchers “…analyzed data on 4,181 participants in the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey. Migraines were diagnosed by a physician and trained interviewers evaluated participants for mental disorders.” The results were interesting. “…11 percent of participants had migraines. Participants had a variety of disorders: major depression, general anxiety disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, panic disorder, substance abuse disorders, agoraphobia and simple phobia.” There are several implications of this study. First, health care professionals need to be educated that migraines and mental disorders often occur together. Second, health care professionals who treat patients who present with either migraines or mental disorders need to screen for both. Third, life functioning is much more impaired when a patient struggles with both migraines and a mental disorder making imperative that both disorders by recognized and treated.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that migraines and mental disorders are often linked.

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Youtube Video on Tips on How To Maintain Your Mental Health

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:26 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Depressed Mothers Affect the Quality of Sleep of Their Newborn?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the relationship between maternal depressiona and newborn health. A article published in Medical News Today, May 3, 2009, “Association Between Maternal Depression And Significant Sleep Disturbance In Infants,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the May 1, 2009 issue of the journal SLEEP.The researchers studied ”…18 healthy full term infants, half of whom were male. Seven infants were born to women with no personal or family history of depression and 11 were born to women diagnosed with depression or with elevated levels of depression symptoms. Five women were experiencing a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) episode during the beginning of the study….Infants who were born to mothers who has past or present MDD according to the DSM-IV or who scored high for postnatal depression were placed in a high-risk group for depression; all other infants were considered to be low-risk. Both the mother and infants' sleep was measured with light and motion sensor actigraphy over the course of seven consecutive days at two-weeks postpartum and monthly thereafter for six months. Mothers were also asked to complete daily sleep/wake diaries. Mothers were recruited during the last trimester of pregnancy through perinatal mood disorders or obstetrics clinics at the University of Michigan.” The results of the study were interesting. “Results indicate that infants born to mothers with depression had significant sleep disturbances compared to low-risk infants; the high-risk group had an hour longer nocturnal sleep latency, shorter sleep episodes and lower sleep efficiency than infants who were born to mothers without depression. Although average sleep time in a 24 hours did not differ by risk group at eight two or four weeks, nocturnal total sleep time was 97 minutes longer in the low-risk group at both recording periods. High-risk infants also had significantly more daytime sleep episodes of a shorter average duration.” There are several important implications of this study. First, mental health professionals who are treating pregnant depressed mothers should assist the mother in monitoring her newborns and taking and appropriate interventions is the sleep pattern is disturbed. Second, the depressed, pregnant mother who not currently not in treatment should seek out the services of a qualified mental health professional to help them and their infant during the post natal period. Third, OBGYN health professionals should educate all their depressed, pregnant patients about the risks of sleep disturbance in their newborn.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that depressed mothers increase the risk of sleep disturbance in their newborn.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Youtube Video on Tips on How To Maintain Your Mental Health

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:24 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can One’s Emotional State Affects One’s Exercise Patterns?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the relationship between exercise and emotional health. A article published in Medical News Today, April 22, 2009, “Emotional Health Affects Exercise Patterns In Breast Cancer Patients,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the April 2009 issue of the journal Psycho Oncology. The researchers “….followed 227 women who had participated in a previous clinical trial in which they were randomized to receive either a year of psycho-educational counseling or standard breast cancer follow-up assessments and treatment…All of the women had been diagnosed with stage II or stage III breast cancer and surgically treated. They were assessed at the start of the study and 12 additional times over five years to evaluate health status, symptoms, fatigue, health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms, social support and physical activity….Self-rated physical activity was measured in standard energy expenditure values, or METs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 or more minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity for adults, which equals about 23 METs each week.” The results were interesting. “…At the start of the study, 20 percent of participants achieved or exceeded the goal of 23 METs per week of physical activity. At one year, 37 percent of participants had reached that point. By the study's end, just 18 percent were performing the recommended amount of physical activity each week…..patients with greater depressive symptoms and a lower emotional quality of life [were] less likely to exercise as part of their recovery than…patients reporting less distress.” There are several important implications of this study. First, the results of the study strongly suggest that there is indeed an important relationship between emotional health and exercise, i.e., greater emotional distress equals less physical exercise. Second, this relationship may apply to all individuals not just women with breast cancer which is consistent with our clinical experience. Third, mental health professionals who treat psychologically distressed individuals must be aggressive in stabilizing the patient’s symptoms first before recommending an robust exercise program. Fourth, individuals who are experiencing declining lack of motivation to exercise may be at risk for developing an emotional disturbance and should consult with their primary care provider for an evaluation. Fifth, public health professional need to do a better job of educating the public that one of the first signs of emotional distress may be declining interest and motivation in exercise.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that emotional distress can lead to declining interest in and motivation to exercise.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Youtube Video on Tips on How To Maintain Your Mental Health

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:23 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can ADHD Cause Sleep Problems in Children?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the relationship between ADHD and sleep difficulties. A article published in Medical News Today, May 4, 2009, “ADHD And Sleep Problems In Adolescents Linked By Study,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the May 1, 2009 issue of the journal SLEEP. The researchers collected data, “….from 281 consecutive patients (86.2 percent male) between the ages of 10 to 17 years who had been diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria at a mean age of 6.7 years, and 185 controls who did not have ADHD as a child or teen. Diagnosis of ADHD was made based on information obtained from parent and child interviews, observation of the child's behaviors, and rating scales reported by parents and teachers. The results were very interesting. “….the rates of nightmare and lifetime nightmare disorder were more prevalent in girls and snoring was more prevalent in boys. Snoring may be more prevalent in boys due to an increased rate of sleep-disordered breathing in boys. Mothers were found to be more aware of symptoms related to ADHD in the presence of primary insomnia, sleep terror disorder or sleepwalking disorder, whereas teachers may be more sensitive to ADHD symptoms in the presence of primary hypersomnia and nightmare disorder.” The researchers conclude that “...adolescents with a childhood diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have current and lifetime sleep problems and disorders, regardless of the severity of current ADHD symptoms.” There are several important implications of this study. First, mental health professionals who treat children who carry the diagnosis of ADHD should evaluate all these patients for the presence of sleep problems and sleep disorders. Second, parent of ADHD children should be alert to the possibility of sleep disorders in their children and should request a sleep disorder screening by the child’s health care provider. Third, teachers who suspect that a student’s poor functioning in school may be related to sleep difficulties should contact the child’s guidance counselor about alerting the parents to the possibility of a sleep disorder and ADHD. Fourth, public health professionals should be more aggressive in educating the public about the link between sleep problems and ADHD.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that ADHD can cause sleep problems in children.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Resources:

Thirteen Great Books on ADHD

Resource and Support Groups for ADHD

Additional Resources:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Additional Resources:

For related articles on ADHD on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to “Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General” or type in the keyword “ADHD and Children” into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keyword, “ADHD and Children” into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

How to Understand the Treatment of ADHD in Children. Watch this top rated video from Yourtube:

Sources: See also blogposts in: Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General and Children, Youtube

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:22 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Inadequate Sleep Cause Hyperactivity and Impulsivity in Children?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the relationship between ADHD and sleep difficulties. A article published in Medical News Today, April 28, 2009, “Inadequate Sleep Leads To Behavioral Problems.” The article reports on an unpublished study conducted in Finland. The researchers studied “….280 healthy children (146 girls and 134 boys)….The researchers tracked the children's sleep using parental reporting as well as actigraphs, or devices worn on the wrist to monitor sleep.” The results of the study were very interesting. “…..The children whose average sleep duration as measured by actigraphs was shorter than 7.7 hours had a higher hyperactivity and impulsivity score and a higher ADHD total score, but similar inattention score than those sleeping for a longer time. In multivariate statistical models, short sleep duration remained a statistically significant predictor of hyperactivity and impulsivity, and sleeping difficulties were associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. There were no significant interactions between short sleep and sleeping difficulties.” There are a number of important implications of this study. First, inadequate sleep, in the absence of a verifiable sleep disorder caused hyperactivity and impulsivity even in healthy children. Second, parents of children who are exhibiting problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity should be screened for both ADHD and inadequate sleep. Third, parents of all children should make a concerted effort to insure that there children get adequate every night. Third, mental health professionals who are evaluating children for problems with hyperactivity and impulsivity should screen the children for inadequate sleep. Fourth, teachers who note that a child is becoming hyperactive and impulsive within the school setting should consult that that child’s guidance counselor to determine if the parents should be alerted to the possibility of inadequate sleep. The researchers conclude that “…short sleep duration and sleeping difficulties are related to behavioral symptoms of ADHD, and …that short sleep, per se, increases behavioral symptoms, regardless of the presence of sleeping difficulties…..[suggesting] that maintaining adequate sleep schedules among children is likely to be important in preventing behavioral symptoms.”

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that hyperactivity and impulsivity in children can be caused by inadequate sleep.

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Resources:

Thirteen Great Books on ADHD

Resource and Support Groups for ADHD

Additional Resources:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Additional Resources:

For related articles on ADHD on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to “Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General” or type in the keyword “ADHD and Children” into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keyword, “ADHD and Children” into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

How to Understand the Treatment of ADHD in Children. Watch this top rated video from Yourtube:

Sources: See also blogposts in: Psychiatric Disorders: ADHD: General and Children, Youtube

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on June 04, 2009 at 11:22 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Does Brain Dysfunction Cause Bipolar Disorder?

Mental health professionals have long debated the cause of bipolar disorder. A article published in Medical News Today, April 24, 2009, “Brain Activity Determines Risk Or Resilience In Manic Depression,” examines this issue. The article reports on an unpublished study presented at a recent meeting of the Biochemical Society in London. The researchers “….examined how genetic risk factors translate into changes in the brain's networks using a series of brain imaging studies involving 227 relatives from 53 families where one member had bipolar illness. The participants were in the scanner for one hour and they also took part in cognitive tests designed to engage brain networks involved in emotional processing, decision-making, working memory and attention.” The results of the study were very interesting. “….[the] genetic risk to bipolar disorder was associated with over activity within brain regions that process emotion, such as the amygdale…the prefrontal cortex….seemed to differentiate those who became unwell compared to those who did not. In people who remained well, despite their genetic risk for bipolar disorder, the function of the prefrontal cortex also remained intact while this was compromised in those who developed the illness.” There are several important implications of this study. First, the results of this study strongly suggest that dysfunction in the amygdale and the prefrontal cortex is linked to bipolar illness. Second, it may be possible in the not to distant future too determine the individual risk of developing bipolar disorder of family members who carry the bipolar genes. The researchers conclude “….Being a risk of bipolar disorder does not mean that developing the illness is inescapable….We are closer now to identifying risk so that people can be better informed about life choices. Our research will help us personalize prevention and treatment strategies."

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that bipolar is caused by specific dysfunction in the brain.

Reference: The original article

Resources for Bipolar Disorder

How to Understand Bipolar Disorder. View this top rated video from Youtube

Suggested Reading:

More Resources on Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/625.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/625.printerview.html
Bipolar Disorder(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-easy-to-read.shtml
Also available in Spanish http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/spanish/una-historia-personal-sobre-el-trastorno-bipolar-enfermedad-manaco-depresiva.pdf
Bipolar Disorder(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml

Overviews

Bipolar Disorder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

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Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on May 08, 2009 at 09:23 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

What is an Effective Treatment for Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the best treatment for patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. An article published in HealthDay News January 13, 2009, “Antidepressants May Be Useful in Treating Fibromyalgia,”examines this issue.The article reports on a study published in the Jan. 14, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers reviewed “18 randomized controlled trials with 1,427 participants…The authors found strong evidence for reduced pain, fatigue and depressed mood, and improved sleep associated with antidepressants…amitriptyline showed large effect sizes on reducing pain and sleep disturbances, the report indicates, and duloxetine showed strong evidence for efficacy in reducing pain and sleep disturbances and improving depressed mood, though these effect sizes were small.” The researchers concluded that “Short-term usage of amitriptyline and duloxetine can be considered for the treatment of pain and sleep disturbances in fibromyalgia syndrome…Before treatment is initiated, concomitant diseases related to potential adverse effects of the drugs and patients' preferences should be considered. Goals of pharmacological therapy should be defined (no cure, but possible symptom reduction).” The researchers conclude “…Since evidence for a long-term effect of antidepressants in fibromyalgia syndrome is still lacking, their effects should be reevaluated at regular intervals to determine whether benefits outweigh adverse effects." Based on the results of this research, we offer several tips to patients who have fibromyalgia syndrome. First, you should seek an evaluation by a qualified medical professional to determine if you are a candidate for the use of amitriptyline or duloxetine in the treatment of your chronic pain and sleep disorder. Second, if you are prescribed one of these medications for your syndrome, be sure to have regular follow-up visits with your medical professional who will monitor your progress. Third, if you experience side effects due to your medications be sure to contact your medical provider immediately to request an appointment

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that patients who carry the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome may benefit from the use of antidepressants to treat their chronic pain and their sleep disturbance.

Resources:

Youtube on understanding Fibromyalgia Syndrome:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Reference: HealthDay News January 13, 2009, “Antidepressants May Be Useful in Treating Fibromyalgia.”

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on April 29, 2009 at 08:25 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who is at Risk for a Stroke?

Mental health professionals have long debated the stroke risk of men who experience significant stress at work. An article published in HealthDay News January 13, 2009,"Stroke Risk Associated with Job-Related Stress,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the Jan. 12, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.The researchers studied “….6,553 male and female workers in Japan using a questionnaire to elicit information about occupational stress. The cohort was followed-up for 11 years.” The results of the study were interesting. “There were 147 incident strokes during follow-up, and subjects who reported job strain -- defined as a demanding job and low job control combined -- were twice as likely as their counterparts with low job strain to have a stroke….The association remained even when confounding factors such as age, educational level, smoking status and alcohol consumption were taken into account, the investigators found…However, in women, different categories of job strain did not have an impact on the risk of stroke, the data revealed.” Based on the results of this study, we offer several tips on decreasing stroke risk due to work. First, break through your denial that high level of work stress may be affecting your health. Second, if you are experiencing significant job strain, seek an evaluation from a qualified medical professional to determine your stroke risk and overall health risk. Third, take positive steps to reduce your job strain at work including reducing work hours. Third, seek out the advice of a job coach who can determine if your current job and career are a good fit for you. And, fourth, seek out family and friends who can give you advice about how to reduce your job strain.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest men who experience significant work stress are at greater risk of experiencing a stroke.

Resources:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression

Reference: HealthDay News January 13, 2009,"Stroke Risk Associated with Job-Related Stress.”

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on April 29, 2009 at 08:24 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Mental health professionals have long debated about the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An article published in HealthDay News January 6, 2009, “Early-life stress may cause biological susceptibility to chronic fatigue syndrome,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the January 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.The researchers studied “…113 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and 124 healthy controls.” And the results? The researchers discovered that “that childhood trauma was associated with a sixfold increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome, and that sexual abuse, emotional abuse and emotional neglect most strongly differentiated cases from controls. They also found that only the chronic fatigue syndrome cases who had been exposed to childhood trauma showed decreased salivary cortisol concentrations after awakening compared to controls.” There were still unanswered questions that this study raises. More studies must be done exactly what is the causal relationship between “…between childhood trauma, hypocortisolism and chronic fatigue syndrome.” More studies need to be done to determine exactly what type is trauma is most harmful to the developing child. Also preventive strategies must be studied to try to determine how to prevent the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in individuals with a trauma history. The researchers believe that “Such studies have the potential to elucidate the pathophysiology, identify subtypes and devise strategies for preventing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome." Based or our expertise and experience treating adults with chronic fatigue syndrome, we offer several tips. First, if you suspect that you experienced childhood trauma, seek out a qualified mental health professional who can conduct a comprehensive trauma evaluation. Second, if you discover that you do indeed have a history of childhood trauma, then seek out the services of a qualified medical professional who can provide appropriate counseling, psychotherapy, and medication therapy. Third, seek out and join a survivors of childhood abuse support group. And, fourth, seek out the support of friends and family as you begin the childhood trauma recovery process.

The Bottom Line: This study strongly suggests that there is a link between childhood trauma and the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in adulthood.

Resources:

Great Youtube video on overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Reference: HealthDay News January 6, 2009, “Early-life stress may cause biological susceptibility to chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Additional Resources:

For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Posted by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya on April 29, 2009 at 08:22 AM in Psychiatric Disorders: General | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Psychiatric Disorders: General