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Research published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (August 2011), found that low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the major omega-3 fatty acid concentrated in the brain,…

Significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic risk factors underlying psychiatric disease. Recent studies have identified common genetic mutations conferring modest risk and rare variants comprising…

Being impulsive can lead us to say things we regret, buy things we really don’t need, engage in behaviors that are risky and even develop troublesome…

According to a new study, people with schizophrenia have elevated levels of an enzyme called striatal-enriched tyrosine phosphatase (STEP). The study found antipsychotic medications commonly prescribed for schizophrenia reduce STEP…

New research identifies the brain chemicals and circuits involved in mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, giving potential new directions to their treatment. In addition, research…

Children with bipolar disorder (BD) or severe mood dysregulation (SMD) may look at faces in a way that impairs their ability to determine emotional expressions, according to new…

A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The…

A novel study in twins found that exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) - a hazardous organic contaminant found in soil, groundwater, and air - is significantly associated with increased…

Current thinking about Parkinson’s disease is that it’s a disorder of mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles inside cells, causing neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra to die or become impaired. A…

oung adults between the ages of 18 and 25 report the highest rates of substance use and dependence, according to the National Survey on Drug…

To diagnose autism spectrum disorders, clinicians typically administer a variety of tests or scales and use information from observations and parent interviews to classify individuals into subcategories listed…

Children whose fathers are depressed are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems than those whose fathers aren’t, according to a U.S. study of more than 20,000 families.

A new study of teens undergoing substance abuse treatment finds helping others helps the adolescent helper by reducing cravings for alcohol and drugs, a major precipitator…

Individuals addicted to prescription painkillers are more likely to succeed in treatment with the aid of the medication buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone), report McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School researchers in…

In the first worldwide study of its kind, scientists from Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence that heavy methamphetamine users might have…

Computer analysis of brain scans could help predict how serious or long term a psychotic patient’s illness may become and help doctors make more accurate decisions about how best to…

People who struggle to get a good night’s sleep are twice as likely, on average, to suffer from depression down the road as those who sleep soundly, Japanese researchers report.

Research led by University of Southern California (USC) professor Mary Ann Pentz, Ph.D., shows that black middle school students whose close friends drink…

A study using a procedure called the rubber hand illusion has found striking new evidence that people experiencing schizophrenia have a weakened sense of body ownership and has…

Doctors should be asking adolescents about their drug and alcohol use at every visit and screening for any signs of dependence or addiction, the American Academy of Pediatrics said…

A new report in Biological Psychiatry suggests that deficits in endocannabinoid function may contribute to anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Endocannabinoids are substances made by the brain that affect…

New research shows high rates of sleep disorders among veterans of America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or head injuries.

The study…

Teenage survivors of a major earthquake experienced high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with girls and older students being the most severely affected,…

Binge eating is a disorder which affects both men and women, yet men remain underrepresented in research. A new study published in the International Journal…

Researchers at Tenon Hospital, Paris, France, found that patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease whose vision improved after cataract surgery also showed improvement in cognitive ability,…