Biological Psychiatry

Immune dysfunction possibly linked to schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex illness; among other characteristics, sufferers often find it difficult to tell the difference between what is real and not real and have trouble thinking clearly. Its symptoms ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Replicating risk genes in bipolar disorder

One of the biggest challenges in psychiatric genetics has been to replicate findings across large studies.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 15, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

A gene implicated in schizophrenia risk is also associated with risk for cannabis dependence

A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synapt ...

Genetics created Oct 11, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Does immune dysfunction contribute to schizophrenia?

A new study reinforces the finding that a region of the genome involved in immune system function, called the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), is involved in the genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Genetics created Oct 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study reveals multiple mechanisms may play role in Alzheimer's

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers investigating a known gene risk factor for Alzheimer's disease discovered it is associated with lower levels of beta amyloid—a brain protein involved in Alzheimer's—in cognitively healthy ...

Neuroscience created Oct 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Low ghrelin—reducing appetite at the cost of increased stress?

Ghrelin is a hormone released by the lining of the stomach that promotes feeding behavior. Decreasing ghrelin levels could potentially help combat obesity—in fact, a vaccine that lowers ghrelin levels in order to reduce ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Sep 13, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Stress hormones: Good or bad for posttraumatic stress disorder risk?

Glucocorticoids, a group of hormones that includes cortisol, are considered stress hormones because their levels increase following stress. When their relationship to stress was first identified, it was shown that the release ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Sep 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Male mice exposed to chronic social stress have anxious female offspring

A study in mice conducted by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) suggests that a woman's risk of anxiety and dysfunctional social behavior may depend on the experiences of her parents, particularly fathers, ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 22, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Making sense out of the biological matrix of bipolar disorder

The more that we understand the brain, the more complex it becomes. The same can be said about the genetics and neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. For "Mendelian" disorders, like Huntington disease, mutation of a single ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 20, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

More delays in brain growth seen with ADHD

(HealthDay) -- Researchers have uncovered more evidence that certain types of delays in brain development seem to be related to a heightened risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 15, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Tripping the switches on brain growth to treat depression

Depression takes a substantial toll on brain health. Brain imaging and post-mortem studies provide evidence that the wealth of connections in the brain are reduced in individuals with depression, with the result of impaired ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 15, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Speech a new marker for depression treatment response

(Medical Xpress) -- Speech can measure the severity of depression as well as a patient’s response to treatment, a new collaborative study between the University of Melbourne and the Center for Psychological Consultation ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 13, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Estrogen and female anxiety: Study suggests lower levels can lead to more mood disorders

Some women’s vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders may be explained by their estrogen levels, according to new research by Harvard and Emory University neuroscientists presented in this month’s ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Aug 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mental disorders impair economic success in developed countries

Mental disorders that emerge in childhood and adolescence, including attention-deficit disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse, constitute significant challenges to cognitive, emotional, and social development. ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jul 31, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Brain development is delayed in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to a delay in brain development or the result of complete deviation from typical development? In the current issue of Biological Psychiatry, Dr. Philip Shaw and collea ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jul 30, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0