Monthly Archives: September 2014

Bipolar disorder (BD) is among the 10 most burdensome medical conditions, according to the World Health Organization. The disorder is known for its dramatic highs of extreme euphoria, racing thoughts and decreased need for sleep, as well as its profound … Continue reading →

Researchers from Tufts have gained new insight into a protein associated with bipolar disorder. The study, published in Science Signaling, reveals that calcium channels in resting neurons activate the breakdown of Sp4, which belongs to a class of proteins called … Continue reading →

Depression is almost twice as common, and poor quality of life almost five times as common, in people with bipolar disorder who have elevated or low levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, … Continue reading →

In an experiment that had people with bipolar disorder playing roulette, brain scans revealed that the ‘reward centers’ of their brains were activated more than those of people without the psychiatric disorder formerly known as manic depression. The research, published … Continue reading →

A neuroscientist at Rutgers University-Newark says the human brain operates much the same whether active or at rest – a finding that could provide a better understanding of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other serious mental health conditions that afflict an … Continue reading →

A new study carried out by scientists from University College London in the UK has reported on the discovery of a rare gene variant found in about 1 in every 200 people that could increase the risk of developing alcohol … Continue reading →

Brain stimulation treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are often effective for the treatment of depression. Like antidepressant medications, however, they typically have a delayed onset. For example, a patient may receive several weeks of regular … Continue reading →

The first effective web-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder based on the latest research evidence has been developed by psychologists. People with Bipolar Disorder have problems getting access to psychological therapy and this online intervention, published in the Journal of Affective … Continue reading →

Depression can hit young fathers hard — with symptoms increasing dramatically during some of the most important years of their children’s lives, a new Northwestern MedicineR study has found. Depressive symptoms increased on average by 68 percent over the first … Continue reading →

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1 in 10 American adults report having some form of depression. Now, researchers have revealed an unlikely strategy for treating the condition; activating neurons in the brain associated with stress-induced … Continue reading →