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

Great News! Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya Now Offer Their Blogposts in a Podcast Format. Subscribe Today!

2009-06-25T07:19:06-07:00

Great News for the Readers of Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blogposts!

To get the blogposts as podcasts simply go to our Odiogo Page and click Subscribe so that you can listen to our blog post content on the go on your iPod or MP3 player. Or click here to go directly to our audio-enriched RSS feed. Or if you prefer listen to our blogposts in audio while you are logged onto our blog, simply go to Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog and and click on the Listen Now button at the top of each blogpost. There is absolutely no charge for this new service. We are sure that you will love this new option!

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

The Facts About Generalized Anxiety Disorder

2009-06-19T09:07:45-07:00

Check out The Facts about Generalized Anxiety Disorder authored by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya and now available in a great informational website hosted by Squidoo.com. Below is a sneak preview of the website's Table of Contents:

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

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Anxiety

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

Do Antidepressants Help Anxious Older Adults?

2009-06-17T12:31:23-07:00

Mental health professionals have long debated the usefulness of prescribing antidepressants in older anxious adults. A article published in Medical News Today January 21, 2009, “Anxious Older Adults May Benefit From Antidepressants,” examines this issue.The article reports on a study published in the Jan. 21, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers studied “…177 people over the age of 60. Average age was about 73. Half received the SSRI drug escitalopram, and the rest took an inactive placebo. Participants took one pill per day. If their symptoms didn't improve after four weeks, a second pill was added. In patients receiving the drug, taking two pills increased the dosage from 10 mg. to 20 mg. The higher dose more effectively reduced anxiety.” The results were interesting. “After 12 weeks of treatment, 68 percent of patients taking escitalopram had improved. About 51 percent of those taking the placebo showed improvement.” All the patients met the criteria for the diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), “a condition of chronic, difficult-to-control worry. Associated symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, muscle tension and irritability….A person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder spends, on average, about 40 hours a week worrying..They worry about very real things, but the inability to put those worries out of their minds makes the condition disabling." The researchers note that many of these older patients are prescribed by their Primary Care Physician a strong sedative like Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, or Ativan for their symptoms. Unfortunately, many of these medications have significant side effects in the elderly including confusion and imbalance making them at risk for falls and other mishaps. Clinical experience shows that long term use of these agents can cause significant cognitive impairment in the long run. The researchers also noted another interesting finding from the study. “…that escitalopram helped some patients lower blood pressure…if their blood pressure was normal, it stayed the same. If they had high blood pressure, it got better." An initial side effect of antidepressants in this population was fatigue and sleepiness but that resolved within a few weeks on the medication. One question that was not addressed by this study was the positive impact of targeted cognitive behavioral therapy for these symptoms either alone or in combination with medication. The answer to that question will have to await further study.

The Bottom Line: The results of these studies suggests that antidepressants may be helpful in the treatment of anxiety in the elderly.

Reference: Original Article

Resources:

Great Youtube Video on Depression in Older Adults:

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

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Aging

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

2009-06-17T12:30:42-07:00

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

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

How Can Parents Best Help Their Depressed Adolescents?

2009-06-17T12:29:58-07:00

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the best parenting approach for depressed adolescents. A article published in Medical News Today January 11, 2009,"Preventing Teenage Depression By Recognizing Children's Successes In All Areas,"examines this issue. The article reports on a study titled, “"Low Academic Competence in First Grade as a Risk Factor for Depressive Cognitions and Symptoms in Middle School," recently published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. The researchers studied “…the behaviors of 474 boys and girls in the first grade and re-examined the students when they entered middle school.” The results were interesting. “…students who struggled academically with core subjects, such as reading and math, in the first grade later showed risk factors for negative self-beliefs and depressive symptoms as they entered sixth and seventh grade.” The researchers noted that "One of the main ways children can get others to like them in school is by being good students. Children with poor academic skills may believe that they have one less method for influencing important social outcomes, which could lead to negative consequences later in life. Children's individual differences will always exist in basic academic skills, so it is necessary to explore and emphasize other assets in students, especially those with lower academic skill relative to their peers." The researchers suggest that parents celebrate their adolescent’s skills in other areas including, “…interpersonal skills, non-core academic areas, athletics and music."

The Bottom Line: Parents of depressed adolescents who struggle in school can best support their children by celebrating their child’s skills in other areas including, interpersonal skills, non-core academic areas, athletics and music.

Reference: Original Article

Great Youtube Video on Adolescent Depression:

Resources:

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

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: Adolescent and Young Adult

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 Caffeine Cause Hallucinations?

2009-06-17T12:29:20-07:00

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.
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

Do Psychostimulants Harm Brains?

2009-06-17T12:28:37-07:00

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

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

2009-06-17T12:27:57-07:00

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.
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 Changing One's Thinking Reduce the Risk of Depression in Adolescents?

2009-06-17T06:58:27-07:00

Cognitive Prevention Program Trumps Usual Care in “Real World” Trial

At-risk teens exposed to a program that teaches them to counteract their unrealistic and overly negative thoughts experienced significantly less depression than their peers who received usual care, NIMH-funded researchers have found. However, the cognitive behavioral prevention program failed to similarly help adolescents prone to the mood disorder if their parents were currently depressed.

NIMH grantee Judy Garber, Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University, and colleagues, report on the findings of their multi-site clinical trial in the June 3, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Background

Only a fourth of depressed youth receive any treatment and at least 20 percent develop a chronic, difficult-to-treat form of the illness. Having a history of the illness substantially increases risk for depression, which soars two to three times among children of depressed parents. An initial study had supported the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral prevention program in reducing risk in such depression-prone teens, but it was unknown whether this would hold up across diverse "real world" settings.

To find out, Garber and Drs. David Brent, the University of Pittsburgh, William Beardslee, Boston Children's Hospital and Judge Baker Children's Center, and Gregory Clarke, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR, randomly assigned 316 at-risk adolescents (aged 13-17) to either the cognitive behavioral program or usual care.

Teens in the cognitive behavioral program received eight weekly 90-minute group cognitive behavioral sessions. Masters or doctoral-level therapists helped them learn to restructure dysfunctional thinking patterns and practice problem solving skills. This was followed by six monthly continuation sessions in which they reviewed the cognitive and problem-solving skills and also learned relaxation, assertiveness and behavioral activation techniques.

Teens in the usual care condition as well as those in the cognitive behavior program were allowed to begin or continue with any mental health or other healthcare services available in their communities.

Results of This Study

Over a 9-month follow-up period, the rate of depression in the cognitive behavioral program group was 11 percent lower than for those in the usual care condition — 21.4 percent vs. 32.7 percent. Adolescents in the prevention program also self-reported lower levels of depression symptoms than those in usual care. Among teens whose parents were not depressed at the beginning of the study, the program was more effective in preventing onset of depression than usual care — 11.7 percent vs. 40.5 percent. However, this advantage did not hold for youth in the cognitive behavioral program if they had a parent who was depressed at the start of the study. Such teens had significantly higher rates of depression than those without a currently depressed parent.

Significance

The results demonstrate that the prevention program can be effectively delivered in a variety of "real world" settings, say the researchers.

"For every 9 adolescents who received the cognitive intervention, we would expect to prevent one from developing a depressive episode," explained Garber. "This is comparable to what is seen with treatment response to medication."

Moreover, preventing recurrence of a depressive episode may arguably bring even greater benefits than treating an episode after it has already produced other negative consequences. This suggests that the program may be useful for maintaining recovery, once achieved, she noted.

What's Next?

"Our results also underscore the link between changes in parent and youth depression. Future investigations might explore combining or sequencing parental depression and prevention programs for at-risk teens."

Reference

Prevention of depression in at-risk adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Garber J, Clarke GN, Weersing VR, Beardslee WR, Brent DA, Gladstone TR, DeBar LL, Lynch FL, D'Angelo E, Hollon SD, Shamseddeen W, Iyengar S. JAMA. 2009 Jun 3;301(21):2215-24.PMID: 19491183

Additional Sources of Information:

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

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also 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

Unsure About the Importance of Treatment for Depression: Watch This Video

2009-06-17T06:57:50-07:00

A new 4-minute video from the National Institute of Mental Health provides an overview for the general public on the symptoms, impact, and treatment of depression. The video is available for viewing by individuals or can be used by community groups or in health care offices to inform viewers about depression and its consequences, and the critical importance of seeking treatment.

Depression is a serious medical illness; it's more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Depressive disorders are common: they affect an estimated 9.5 percent of adult Americans in a given year, or about 20.9 million people. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who have depression.

The NIMH video features first-person narrative describing an individual's experience with depression, and depictions of others dealing with symptoms of the illness. It illustrates research underway and gives examples of treatments available for depression. Importantly, the video urges viewers with symptoms to confide in friends or family members and to seek treatment.

Included with the video is a "How to Use" fact sheet that outlines key points in the video, audiences it can be used for, and suggestions for how to use it in a public setting.

View the Depression video

Additional information on depression and disorders that affect the brain is also from the following sources:

Visit NIMH for more information on depression
The National Institute on Aging
The National Cancer Institute
The National Institutes of Health
The National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus

Additional Sources of Information:

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

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

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

Does Citalopram Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders?

2009-06-17T06:57:17-07:00

Citalopram, a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other NIH institutes. The study was published in the June 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

"Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders face an enormous number of treatment options, not all of which are research-based," said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. "Studies like this help us to better understand which treatments are likely to be beneficial and safe."

The researchers say their findings do not support using citalopram to treat repetitive behaviors in children with ASD. Also, the greater frequency of side effects from this particular medication compared to placebo illustrates the importance of placebo-controlled trials in evaluating medications currently prescribed to this population.

Citalopram is in a class of antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that is sometimes prescribed for children with ASD to reduce repetitive behaviors. These behaviors, a hallmark of ASD, include stereotypical hand flapping, repetitive complex whole body movements (such as spinning, swaying, or rocking over and over, with no clear purpose), repetitive play, and inflexible daily routines.

Past research suggested that some children with ASD have abnormalities in the brain system that makes serotonin, a brain chemical that, among many other functions, plays an important role in early brain development. Children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may also have serotonin abnormalities and have repetitive or inflexible behaviors. OCD is effectively treated with SSRIs, leading some researchers to wonder whether similar treatment may reduce repetitive behaviors in children with ASD. So far, studies have produced mixed results, but SSRIs remain among the most frequently prescribed medications for children with ASD.

Researchers in the Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) network, funded by five NIH institutes, conducted a six-site, randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and safety of using the SSRI citalopram (Celexa) versus placebo to treat repetitive behaviors in children with ASD. The study included 149 participants, ages 5–17, who had autism, Asperger disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

After 12 weeks of treatment, roughly 1 out of 3 children in both groups—32.9 percent of those treated with citalopram and 34.2 percent those treated with placebo—showed fewer or less severe repetitive symptoms.

"Adverse symptoms were common in both groups, probably reflecting common childhood ailments as well as the changing nature of symptoms associated with ASD," according to Bryan King, M.D., director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Seattle Children's Hospital and lead author on the study. "However, reports of increased energy, impulsiveness, decreased concentration, hyperactivity, diarrhea, insomnia, and dry skin were more common in the citalopram group."

According to the researchers, the study results may challenge the underlying premise that repetitive behaviors in children with ASD are similar to repetitive and inflexible behaviors in OCD.

The authors on the paper include Bryan H. King, M.D., Seattle Children's Hospital; Eric Hollander, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Linmarie Sikich, M.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; James T. McCracken, M.D., University of California Los Angeles; Lawrence Scahill, M.S.N., Ph.D., Yale University; Joel D. Bregman, M.D., North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System; Craig L. Donnelly, M.D., Dartmouth Medical School; Evdokia Anagnostou, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine (currently at the University of Toronto); Kimberly Dukes, Ph.D., DM-STAT; Lisa Sullivan, Ph.D., Boston University; Deborah Hirtz, M.D., National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); Ann Wagner, Ph.D., NIMH; Louise Ritz, M.B.A., NIMH (currently at NINDS); and the STAART Psychopharmacology Network.

Additional Sources of Information:

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

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

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

Does Thinning Brain Tissue Increase the Risk of Depression?

2009-06-17T06:56:44-07:00

In cases of familial depression, changes in tissue thickness in key brain structures in the right half of the brain may increase a person's risk for developing depression, according to NIMH-funded researchers. Similar changes in the left half of the brain were linked to the severity of a person's existing depression or anxiety symptoms. Based on their findings, the researchers proposed a possible mechanism for how these brain changes affect depression risk in the April 14, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Background

Some types of depression run in families, and certain changes in brain structure and function have been observed in people with the disorder. However, until recently, scientists have been unclear on the exact relationship between these brain changes and depression.

Building on previous research with a three-generation study population, Myrna Weissman, Ph.D., and Bradley Peterson, M.D., both of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute, and colleagues used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess brain changes in 131 people, ages 6-54. Roughly half of these participants were considered at high risk for major depressive disorder (MDD), due to having at least one parent or grandparent in the study diagnosed with the illness. The other half, considered at low risk, had no family history of the illness.

Results of the Study

From pre-scanning interviews, the researchers found that people in the high-risk group were more likely than those in the low-risk group to report having MDD or an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. MRI scans showed that, on average, those in the high-risk group had 28 percent thinner brain tissue across a broad range of brain structures in the right half of the brain. These changes were observed in young children in the high-risk group and in older high-risk individuals who had never suffered from MDD or an anxiety disorder themselves.

The brain areas most affected by this thinning govern attention and the ability to process emotional or social cues (such as faces or family pictures). In tests involving these right-brain tasks, the researchers found that thinner tissue in these areas was linked to greater inattention and poorer performance in immediate and delayed visual memory.

Similar patterns of tissue thinning in the left half of the brain appeared to be related to the severity of a person's existing MDD or anxiety disorder symptoms in both the high- and low-risk groups. This thinning was not as pronounced as the thinning in the right half of the brain, and the difference in tissue thickness between the high- and low-risk groups was not statistically significant.

Significance

The findings strongly suggest that changes in tissue thickness in the right half of the brain directly affect a person's inherited risk for developing MDD. The pattern of tissue thinning appears to be related to problems with attention and processing of emotional or social signals. Such problems may increase a person's vulnerability to developing mood or anxiety disorders, according to the researchers.

That the thinning was present in people at high risk, but who had never had MDD or an anxiety disorder, as well as in high-risk children who had not been diagnosed with depression, shows that these brain changes likely come before illness onset and that they occur very early in life, possibly before birth, say the researchers. Furthermore, while thinning in the right half of the brain contributes to risk, thinning in the left half of the brain appears to be required in order for a person to show symptoms of these illnesses.

What's Next

More research is needed to determine if the inherited risk for MDD is purely genetic, if there are specific environmental factors necessary for triggering genetic risk, or whether there is a combination of factors involved. Increased understanding of how risk translates into developing MDD or other mental disorders may lead to new methods of diagnosing, treating, or preventing these illnesses.

Top: Color coded MRI brain maps of differences in tissue thickness between study participants at high- vs. low-risk for familial depression. Left half of brain is shown on the left and right half on the right. Cool colors (blue and purple) denote thinner areas in the high-risk group; warm colors (yellow, orange, and red) are significantly thicker areas; green areas show little to no difference in tissue thickness.

Bottom: Flowchart represents a proposed model for how some MDD or anxiety disorders develop. Double-headed arrows indicate factors that may influence each other and jointly contribute to disease risk. Block arrows show the hypothetical progression from inherited risk to development of symptoms.

Source: Bradley Peterson, M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute

Reference

Peterson BS, Warner V, Bansal R, Zhu H, Hao X, Liu J, Durkin K, Adams PB, Wickramaratne P, Weissman MM. Cortical thinning in persons at increased familial risk for major depression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Apr 14;106(15):6273-8. PMID: 19329490

Additional Sources of Information:

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

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Aging

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 Medication Treatment Improve Academic Performance in Children?

2009-06-17T06:56:06-07:00

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take medication to treat the condition tend to do better in math and reading compared to their peers who also have ADHD but do not take medication, according to data from a national survey. The NIMH-funded study was published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics.

Background

ADHD, which is characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsivity and other symptoms, can adversely affect a child's academic performance. Compared to their peers without the disorder, children with ADHD tend to have lower grades, lower math and reading scores, and are more likely to repeat a year or drop out of school.

Richard Scheffler, Ph.D., of the University of California Berkeley, and colleagues analyzed a sample of 594 children diagnosed with ADHD who were part of the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, a U.S. Department of Education survey. The children were surveyed for various issues five times between kindergarten and fifth grade. The researchers focused on the children's math and reading scores to determine if medication use for ADHD was associated with academic achievement during elementary school.

Results of the Study

The study found that students with ADHD who took medication had math scores that were on average 2.9 points higher and reading scores on average 5.4 points higher than their unmedicated peers with ADHD. This equated to gains that were equivalent to the progress typically made in one-fifth of a school year in math, and one-third of a school year in reading. Improvements in reading, however, were seen only in students who had been taking medication for at least two rounds of the survey. The authors suggest that the different findings between math and reading scores may point to underlying differences in the process of learning.

Significance

The findings echo previous studies that have found that use of ADHD medication can improve children's attention and memory skills, which can help them do better in school. In addition, the improvement is notable because early academic success often predicts later school progress, said the researchers. However, they caution that the gains are not enough to eliminate the achievement gap typically seen between children with ADHD and those without the disorder.

What's Next

The findings support the need for long-term studies designed to better understand the relationship between medication use and academic achievement in children with ADHD. The authors also conclude by noting that more research is needed on combining medication with behavioral interventions to improve the school performance of children with ADHD.

Reference

Scheffler RM, Brown TT, Fulton BD, Hinshaw SP, Levine P, Stone S. Positive association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication use and academic achievement during elementary school. Pediatrics. 2009 May. 123(5): 1273-1279.

Additional Sources of Information:

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

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and ADHD Children

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

Are Black Female Adolescents at High Risk for Suicide Attempts?

2009-06-17T06:54:35-07:00

Black American teens, especially females, may be at high risk for attempting suicide even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to researchers funded in part by NIMH. Their findings, based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), provide the first national estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (ideation) and suicide attempts in 13- to 17-year-old black youth in the United States. The study was published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Background

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in all teens in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Historically, black teens and young adults have lower suicide rates than white teens, but in recent decades, the suicide rate for black youth has increased dramatically.

The NSAL is a nationally representative, household survey of African Americans and blacks of Caribbean descent. From the NSAL households, 810 African American and 360 Caribbean black teens, ages 13-17, were randomly selected to complete the NSAL-Adolescent (NSAL-A) survey.

Findings from this Study

Sean Joe, Ph.D., LMSW, University of Michigan, and colleagues evaluated NSAL-A teens' responses to questions about suicidal ideation and nonfatal suicide attempts. According to the researchers, such attempts may occur up to 10-40 times more often than completed suicides and are important risk factors for future suicide.

According to the study, in a given year, African American teen girls are most likely to attempt suicide, followed by Caribbean teen girls, African American teen boys, and Caribbean teen boys.

However, Caribbean females in the study reported the highest rates for suicidal ideation, while Caribbean teen males reported the lowest rates for ideation and suicide attempts. This is in contrast to a previous NSAL report, which found that Caribbean adult males had the highest rates of suicide attempts among black Americans.

Also in contrast to previous studies, the researchers noted that youth from lower income households ($18,000-$31,999 annually) were least likely to report attempting suicide, while youth living in homes of modest means ($32,000-$54,999) were most likely.

Having a mental disorder was closely linked to attempted suicide among study participants. Teens with anxiety disorders were a highest risk. Despite this relationship, roughly half of teens who attempted suicide did not have or were never diagnosed with a mental disorder.

As in previous studies, teens living in the U.S. South and West appeared to be less at risk for attempted suicide than those living in the Northeast.

Overall, the researchers estimated that at some point before they reach 17 years of age, 4 percent of black teens, and more than 7 percent of black teen females, will attempt suicide.

Significance

Suicide prevention efforts require a better understanding of population-specific risk factors. This study provides the first national estimates for rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among black youth in the United States, including important information on ethnic differences.

What's Next

According to the researchers, their findings show the need for further studies on risk factors for suicide in this population, especially on ethnicity-specific risks and non-psychiatric risks. Because only half of suicide attempters had ever been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, Joe and colleagues suggest that suicide prevention efforts should include screening for suicidal behaviors in clinical and non-clinical settings (schools, community centers, etc.) when working with black teens, especially females.

Reference

Joe S, Baser RS, Neighbors HW, Caldwell CH, S Jackson J. 12-Month and Lifetime Prevalence of Suicide Attempts Among Black Adolescents in the National Survey of American Life. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;48(3):271-82.PMID: 19182692.

Additional Sources of Information:

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

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General, Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

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 Bullying Cause Psychotic Symptoms In Children?

2009-06-16T12:34:42-07:00

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of bullying on children. An article published in Medical News Today, May 7, 2009, “Children Who Suffered Bullying Are More Likely To Develop Psychotic Symptoms In Early Adolescence,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the May 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. The Researchers studied “…..6,437 early adolescents with an average age of 12.9….The children participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Questionnaires were regularly sent by mail to parents concerning their child's physical condition and progress since birth. Beginning at the age of seven, the children were submitted to physical and psychological evaluations on a yearly basis….During the yearly visits, they were rated by skilled interviewers on whether during the preceding six months they had experienced hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders or any other psychotic symptoms. Peer victimization is defined as harmful actions and unfair treatment by one or several other students with purpose to harm. Children, parents and teachers were required to account on whether the child had suffered such oppression.” The results were interesting. “The study concluded that a total of 46.2 percent of the participants were considered as victims, and 53.8 percent of the children as not mistreated at either ages of eight or ten. After monitoring the follow-up results, they indicated the following: 13.7 percent had broad psychosis-like symptoms, meaning one or more symptoms suspected or positively present…11.5 percent had intermediate symptoms, meaning one or more of the symptoms was suspected or present from time to time, other than when going to sleep, waking from sleep, having fever or after using substance….5.6 percent had narrow symptoms, meaning one or more symptoms definitely present…Independent of other psychiatric illness, family hardship, or the child's IQ, the risk of psychotic symptoms was multiplied by two for children who suffered bullying at age eight or ten. The correlation was more notable in cases where victimization was persistent or more traumatic.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents who suspect that their children are victims of bullying must take immediate action to stop the bullying. The long term consequences of inaction are simply too severe. Second, mental health professionals who treat children with psychotic-like symptoms must assess the children for a history of bullying. Third, school professionals must intervene immediately when they witness bullying of any child within the school setting. And fourth, public health professionals must be more aggressive in educating the public about the danger of bullying and the steps that parents must take to stop the bullying of their children. The authors conclude, “…A major implication is that chronic or severe peer victimization has non-trivial, adverse, long-term consequences. Reduction of peer victimization and of the resulting stress caused to victims could be a worthwhile target for prevention and early intervention efforts for common mental health problems and psychosis."

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that bullying can cause psychotic-like symptoms in children.

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

Can Children Get Addicted to Video Games?

2009-06-16T12:34:13-07:00

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of video games on children. An article published in Medical News Today, April 20, “Nearly 10 Per Cent Young American Video Gamers Addicted,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published online on April 1, 2009 in the journal Psychological Science. The researchers surveyed “……1,178 randomly selected American youths aged from 8 to 18. The survey collected enough data to enable [the researchers] to assess the extent to which the youngsters were showing pathological behavior in respect of video game playing…The criteria include the extent to which the behavior causes family, social, school or psychological damage, among other things.” The results of the study were concerning. “…8.5 per cent of the survey respondents were showing symptoms that would be classified by the manual as pathological if they had been gambling instead of playing video games….The results showed that pathological gamers: …..Spent 24 hours a week playing video games: about twice as much time as non-pathological gamers…Were more likely to have video game systems in their bedrooms…..Were more likely to report having problems paying attention at school….Were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)….Received poorer school grades…Had poorer health…Were more likely to say they felt "addicted" to their habit…..Stole to support their habit.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents of children who appear to be addicted to videos must take immediate action and have their child evaluated and treated for their addiction. Second, mental who treat ADHD youth must assess all these children for the presence of a video game addiction. Third, school professionals who suspect a student of being addicted to video games should immediately confer with that child’s guidance counselor to craft an action plan. Fourth, public health professionals must do a better job of educating the public about the dangers of video games and children.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that video games and addicting and dangerous in children.

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

Do Mental Health Problems In Childhood Increase the Risk of Suicide?

2009-06-16T12:33:40-07:00

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of mental health problems in children on their later mental health. An article published in Medical News Today, April 7, “Mental Health Problems In Childhood May Predict Later Suicide Attempts In Males,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published April 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. The researchers studied, “…..5,302 Finnish individuals born in 1981. Eight years later, information about psychiatric conditions, school performance and family demographics was gathered from children, parents and teachers. Participants were then tracked through national registers through 2005.” The results of the research were interesting. “Between ages 8 and 24, 40 participants died, including 24 males and 16 females. Of those, 13 males and two females died from suicide. A total of 54 males and females (1 percent) either completed suicide or made a suicide attempt serious enough to result in hospitalization….Of the 27 males who either seriously attempted or completed suicide, 78 percent screened positive for psychiatric conditions at age 8, compared with 11 percent of 27 females who had serious or completed suicide attempts. In addition, males who would go on to make life-threatening or completed suicide attempts were more likely at age 8 to live in a family that did not consist of two biological parents, have psychological problems as reported by a teacher or have conduct, hyperactive or emotional problems. However, none of these factors at age 8 predicted later suicidal behavior in females, and depression at age 8 was not associated with suicide attempts for either sex.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents of young children who are experiencing mental health problems as early at the age of eight must get their children evaluated and treated. In addition, these parents should be look for symptoms of a mental disorder throughout the child’s adolescence and young adulthood. Second, mental health professionals who are treating adolescents and young adults should screen for an early childhood history of mental disorders. Third, school professionals should be attentive to any signs of mental distress in students, particularly those who have been known to have had childhood mental disorders. Fourth, public health professionals should increase their efforts to educate parents about suicide prevention techniques. The authors conclude that “…The development of measures to effectively screen, detect and treat childhood disorders is a key issue in the effort to prevent suicide among males. This focus is particularly important among males with severe conduct problems because, during adolescence, they usually do not seek mental health services.”

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that mental disorders in young males increases the risk of suicide when these children become young adults.

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

Can Jury Duty Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health?

2009-06-16T12:33:16-07:00

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

Can Spirituality Help a Child’s Health?

2009-06-16T12:32:47-07:00

Mental health professionals have long debated the relationship between spirituality and health. An article published in Medical News Today, March 12, 2009, “Spiritual Kids Are Healthier,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study recently presented at the American Psychological Association's Division of Rehabilitation Psychology national conference on February 27, 2009. The researchers studied, “…..16 children (ages six to 20) who were undergoing hemodialysis due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The patients were questioned on a scale of spirituality behaviors and attitudes, and responses were correlated to dialysis-related blood levels, including: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lymphocytes, albumin, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and urea reduction ratio.” The results of the study were very interesting. “…There was a significant negative correlation between spiritual attitudes and BUN levels…..As children reported more agreement with statements like, 'I am sure that God cares about me,' and 'God has a plan for me," their average BUN levels over the past year were lower.” The researchers also studied, “….HIV positive pediatric patients (ages seven to 17), comparing religious development, church attendance and prayer to health measures such as symptoms, T-cell counts and number of hospitalizations….One significant finding was that children who attended church were more likely to have higher T-cell counts than non churchgoing children..”

The Bottom Line: The results of this study suggest that spiritual beliefs in children can have a positive effect on their health status.

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

Do Angry Men Develop More Heart Disease?

2009-06-16T12:32:06-07:00

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