Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog

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:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

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

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:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

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

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

1. Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Mar 2, 1995)
2. Answers to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Mar 1, 1996)
3. Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD by Jennifer Koretsky (Paperback - Sep 24, 2007)
4. Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD: Beyond Piles, Palms, & Post-its by Terry Matlen (Paperback - Jan 1, 2005)
5. ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life by Judith Kolberg and Kathleen Nadeau (Paperback - Aug 2002)
6. Organizing Solutions for People With Attention Deficit Disorder: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized by Susan C Pinsky (Paperback - Dec 1, 2006)
7. Making ADD Work: On-the-Job Strategies for Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder by Blythe Grossberg (Paperback - Sep 6, 2005)
8. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden, Edward T. Hallowell, and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Nov 29, 2005)
9. Scattered Minds: Hope and Help for Adults with ADHD by Lenard Adler and Mari Florence (Hardcover - May 4, 2006) - Bargain Price
10. 10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD: How to Overcome Chronic Distraction & Accomplish Your Goals (10 Simple Solutions) by Stephanie Sarkis (Paperback - Jan 2, 2006)
11. You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder by Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo, and Edward M., M.D. Hallowell (Paperback - April 25, 2006)
12. Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults, 4th Edition: A Different Way of Thinking by Lynn Weiss (Paperback - Nov 25, 2005)
13. The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents by Nancy A. Ratey (Hardcover - April 1, 2008)

Resource and Support Groups for ADHD

1. Attention Deficit Disorder Association
2. The Center
3. Adders.org 
4. Daily Strength  
5. ADHD news.com  
6. Additude  
7. About.com ADD ADHD
8. WebMD  
9. The Real Beauty of ADHD Support Groups
10. Wegohealth

Additional Resources:

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

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

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

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

1. Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Mar 2, 1995)
2. Answers to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Mar 1, 1996)
3. Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD by Jennifer Koretsky (Paperback - Sep 24, 2007)
4. Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD: Beyond Piles, Palms, & Post-its by Terry Matlen (Paperback - Jan 1, 2005)
5. ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life by Judith Kolberg and Kathleen Nadeau (Paperback - Aug 2002)
6. Organizing Solutions for People With Attention Deficit Disorder: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized by Susan C Pinsky (Paperback - Dec 1, 2006)
7. Making ADD Work: On-the-Job Strategies for Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder by Blythe Grossberg (Paperback - Sep 6, 2005)
8. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden, Edward T. Hallowell, and John J. Ratey (Paperback - Nov 29, 2005)
9. Scattered Minds: Hope and Help for Adults with ADHD by Lenard Adler and Mari Florence (Hardcover - May 4, 2006) - Bargain Price
10. 10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD: How to Overcome Chronic Distraction & Accomplish Your Goals (10 Simple Solutions) by Stephanie Sarkis (Paperback - Jan 2, 2006)
11. You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder by Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo, and Edward M., M.D. Hallowell (Paperback - April 25, 2006)
12. Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults, 4th Edition: A Different Way of Thinking by Lynn Weiss (Paperback - Nov 25, 2005)
13. The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents by Nancy A. Ratey (Hardcover - April 1, 2008)

Resource and Support Groups for ADHD

1. Attention Deficit Disorder Association
2. The Center
3. Adders.org 
4. Daily Strength  
5. ADHD news.com  
6. Additude  
7. About.com ADD ADHD
8. WebMD  
9. The Real Beauty of ADHD Support Groups
10. Wegohealth

Additional Resources:

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

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

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

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:

1. The Childhood Bipolar Disorder Answer Book: Practical Answers to the Top 275 Questions Parents Ask (Answers Book) by Tracy Anglada
2. Intense Minds: Through the Eyes of Young People with Bipolar Disorder by Tracy Anglada
3. The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood’s Most Misunderstood Disorder—Third Edition by Demitri Papolos and Janice Papolos
4. The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know by David J. Miklowitz

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

Latest News

• Common Genes Link Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia(01/16/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73927.html
• Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs Increases Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Adults(01/14/2009, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2009/antipsychpr.htm

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Bipolar Disorder across the Lifespan(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_bipolar_lifespan
• Dual Diagnosis and Recovery(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_dualdiag
  Also available in Spanish http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/ddspanish.pdf
• Signs and Symptoms of Mood Disorders(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Signs_symptoms

Treatment

• Anticonvulsants Drugs: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/anticonvulsants.htm
  Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Anticonvulsants-2pager-Spanish-FINAL.pdf
• Antipsychotic Drugs: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/antipsychotics.htm
  Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Antipsychs-SpanishFINAL.pdf
• Drug Approved for Two Psychiatric Conditions in Children and Adolescents(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/risperdal082207.html
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/electroconvulsive-therapy/MY00129/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
• Finding Peace of Mind: Treatment Strategies for Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_fpom
• Getting the Treatment You Need(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_depression_treatmentmain
• Medications(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml
• Psychotherapy: How It Works and How It Can Help(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_psychotherapy
• Understanding Hospitalization for Mental Health(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_hospital

Nutrition

• Food and Mood(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/foodmoode2.pdf

Coping

• Bipolar Personal Calendar(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=empower_personalcalendar
• Wellness at Work(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/work.pdf

Disease Management

• Healthy Lifestyles: Improving and Maintaining the Quality of Your Life(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_healthy
• Next Steps: Getting the Treatment You Need to Reach Real Recovery(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/NextSteps.pdf
• Recovery Steps(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recoverysteps
• Saying No to Negative Thinking(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/negthinkb.pdf
• Working toward Wellness(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_wellnesswkbk
• You've Just Been Diagnosed...(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_justdiag

Specific Conditions

• Bipolar Disorder: Rapid Cycling and Its Treatment(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/rapidcycling.pdf
• Cyclothymia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cyclothymia/DS00729/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
• Mania (Unipolar Disorder)(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec07/ch101/ch101c.html
• Types of Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_bipolar_types

Related Issues

• Bipolar Disorder and African Americans(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8995-1372-4D20-C85ABFB47A928F11
• Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism: Are They Related?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bipolar-disorder/AN00920/METHOD=print
• Finding a Mental Health Professional: A Personal Guide(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/finding.pdf
• Getting Better Sleep: What You Need to Know(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_sleepless
• Helping a Friend or Family Member with Depression or Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_helping
• Mental Health Providers: Find One to Suit Your Needs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00008/METHOD=print
• Mood Disorders and Other Illnesses(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_mooddisorders
• Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Guide for Families(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_familyhospital
• Understanding Suicidal Thinking(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/suicidefinalweb04.pdf
• What Is Bipolar Disorder? A Guide to Hope and Recovery for African Americans(Mental Health America) - Large PDF file - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/bipolar-disorder/-what-is-bipolar-disorder-a-guide-to-hope-and-recovery-for-african-americans

Health Check Tools

• Mental Health Screening Center(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_screening_screeningcenter

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Bipolar Disorder(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bipolar+Disorder%22
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mood Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Mood+Disorders%22
• Clinical Trials(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_ClinicalTrialsMain

Research

• Fear Circuit Flares as Bipolar Youth Misread Faces(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/fear-circuit-flares-as-bipolar-youth-misread-faces.shtml
• Largest Study to Date on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Describes Disease Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/largest-study-to-date-on-pediatric-bipolar-disorder-describes-disease-characteristics-and-short-term-outcomes.shtml
• Symptoms Persist As Bipolar Children Grow Up(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/symptoms-persist-as-bipolar-children-grow-up.shtml

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Common genetic determinants of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in Swedish... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19150704&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Diagnosis of functional psychoses: time to face the future. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19150691&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: The bipolar spectrum--a bridge too far? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19087470&tool=MedlinePlus
• Bipolar Disorder -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=bipolar+disorder[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

• Find a Mental Health Professional(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=empower_professional_referral
• Find a Support Group in Your Community(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_supportgroups
• Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

Organizations

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - http://www.dbsalliance.org/
• Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
• NAMI - http://www.nami.org/
  Also available in Spanish http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/NAMI_en_español/NAMI_en_español.htm
• National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Law and Policy

• Legal Issues of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder(Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) - http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_index_4

Statistics

• Bipolar Disorder Statistics(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_statistics_bipolar
• Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml

Children

• Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/bipolar_disorder.html
• Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-easy-to-read.shtml
• Education Issues of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder(Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) - http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_default
• Helping Children and Youth with Bipolar Disorder: Systems of Care(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4058/
• Storm in My Brain: Kids and Mood Disorders (Bipolar Disorder and Depression)(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/storm.pdf

Teenagers

• Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/bipolar.html
• Is It Just a Mood or Something Else?(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/mood.pdf

Women

• Managing Pregnancy and Bipolar Disorder(NAMI) - http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Research/Managing_Pregnancy_and_Bipolar_Disorder.htm

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

• Depression - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
• Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

Resources:

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

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

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, go to the Category LIst or type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keywords into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Sources: National Institute of Health, See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: Bipolar Disorder, Youtube

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com