Author Archives: JmaC

Mood Disorders Predict Later Substance Abuse Problems

Mania symptoms and bipolar disorder II more likely to lead to substance abuse than depression January 9, 2008 • Science Update People with manic symptoms and bipolar disorder type II are at significant risk of later developing an alcohol abuse … Continue reading

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Continued Use of Stimulants for ADHD Likely Does Not Increase Risk for Hypertension, but May Affect Heart Rate

September 7, 2011 • Science Update Source: NIMH Chronic use of stimulant medication to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children does not appear to increase risk for high blood pressure over the long term, but it may have … Continue reading

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Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily

September 28, 2011 • Press Release NIH and AHRQ study finds pace of the rise has slowed in recent years Source: NIMH The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from … Continue reading

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Five Major Mental Disorders Share Genetic Roots

March 1, 2013 • Science Update Five major mental disorders share some of the same genetic risk factors, the largest genome-wide study of its kind has found. Evidence for such genetic overlap had previously been limited to pairs of disorders. … Continue reading

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Rapid Antidepressant Works by Boosting Brain’s Connections

An experimental drug that lifts depression in hours likely works by rapidly stimulating connections between brain cells, a study in rats has revealed. The drug, called ketamine, quickly generated such synapses in a brain circuit implicated in human depression by … Continue reading

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Affirmations for Personal Growth

Present Tense Affirmations I encourage myself I am fully confident in myself I see only the good things in myself I destroy negative self talk I am immune to negative thinking I utilize positive self talk to my advantage I … Continue reading

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Intensive Psychotherapy More Effective Than Brief Therapy for Treating Bipolar Depression

Patients taking medications to treat bipolar disorder are more likely to get well faster and stay well if they receive intensive psychotherapy, according to results from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD), funded by the National Institutes … Continue reading

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Depression poem

Your annoyed when I’m too happy Your bothered when I’m too sad As much as I want to tell you I know you don’t understand When I’m this way you can never know Because of the views you hold All … Continue reading

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Bipolar Spectrum Disorder May Be Underrecognized and Improperly Treated

A new study supports earlier estimates of the prevalence of bipolar disorder in the U.S. population, and suggests the illness may be more accurately characterized as a spectrum disorder. It also finds that many people with the illness are not … Continue reading

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Light Switches Brain Pathway On-and-Off to Dissect How Anxiety Works

Scientists, for the first time, have switched anxiety on-and-off in active animals by shining light at a brain pathway. Instinctively reclusive mice suddenly began exploring normally forbidding open spaces when a blue laser activated the pathway – and retreated into … Continue reading

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