Into the Light…Science Solutions

For the first time, researchers have found that following a night's sleep, emotional components of scenes are remembered at the expense of neutral components. In contrast, memories of both emotional and neutral components decayed equally following 12 hours of wakefulness. Sleep also promoted memory for generality over detail, says NIMH grantee Robert Stickgold, Ph.D., of Harvard University, who co-authored the recent study of memory consolidation.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/a-nights-sleep-gives-emotional-memories-their-staying-power.shtml

NIMH: Borderline Personality Disorder: Brain Differences Related to Disruptions in Cooperation in Relationships

Different patterns of brain activity in people with borderline personality disorder were associated with disruptions in the ability to recognize social norms or modify behaviors that likely result in distrust and broken relationships, according to an NIMH-funded study published online in the August 8, 2008 issue of Science.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/borderline-personality-disorder-brain-differences-related-to-disruptions-in-cooperation-in-relationships.shtml

NIMH: Depression Patients’ Brain Circuitry Makes Them Vulnerable to Relapse

Using brain imaging, NIMH researchers have produced direct evidence that people prone to depression — even when they're feeling well — have abnormal mood-regulating brain circuitry. This makes them vulnerable to relapse when levels of certain key brain chemical messengers plummet. NIMH researchers and colleagues reported on their positron emission tomography (PET) scan study in the May 2008 Archives of General Psychiatry.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/depression-patients-brain-circuitry-makes-them-vulnerable-to-relapse.shtml

NIMH: “Signatures” of Errant Gene Expression in Autism Eyed for Diagnostic Test

Researchers have launched an effort to detect profiles of gene expression associated with autism that could some day form the basis of a diagnostic test for the disorder. The study, supported by a new grant from NIMH's Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science, is searching for "signatures" in patterns of such expression in autism that could be clues to underlying abnormalities in the machinery that turns genes on and off in response to experience, as the brain is wired up during the first years of life.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/signatures-of-errant-gene-expression-in-autism-eyed-for-diagnostictest.shtml

NIDA: Anti-HIV "Drug Cocktails" Equally Effective in Patients with or without History of Injection Drug Use

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been extremely effective at slowing the progression of HIV infection to AIDS as well as extending the lives and improving the quality of life for those with HIV. However, some doctors have been reluctant to prescribe HAART to HIV-infected injection drug users because of concern that they may not fully benefit from the therapy. A new study by investigators funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and led by the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Canada, suggests that this is not the case: in their large, community-based study of HIV-infected people, injection drug users and people who did not inject drugs had equivalent survival rates seven years after initiating HAART. These results will be published August 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Press release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR8-06.html

Science and Service News Updates

August 1, 2008

NIMH: Increased Burden of Rare Genetic Variations Found in Schizophrenia —Two New Sites of Deletions Implicated in Largest Study of its Kind

People with schizophrenia bear an “increased burden” of rare deletions and duplications of genetic material, genome-wide, say researchers supported in part by the NIMH. “Although many of us have these changes in our genetic material, they are about 15 percent more frequent in people with schizophrenia,” explained Pamela Sklar, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard University and the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. “We also discovered two large areas of chromosomal deletions that confer a great deal of risk for schizophrenia and confirm involvement of a third previously reported area.” Sklar and colleagues in the International Schizophrenia Consortium team, representing 11 research institutes worldwide, report on the largest study of its kind to date, online July 30, 2008, in the journal Nature.

Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/increased-burden-of-rare-genetic-variations-found-in-schizophrenia.shtml

NIMH: Mechanism for Postpartum Depression Found in Mice—Discovery May Lead to Better Treatments

Researchers have pinpointed a mechanism in the brains of mice that could explain why some human mothers become depressed following childbirth. The discovery could lead to improved treatment for postpartum depression. Supported in part by the NIMH, the study used genetically engineered mice lacking a protein critical for adapting to the sex hormone fluctuations of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Researchers report on their findings in the July 31, 2008 issue of Neuron.

Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/mechanism-for-postpartum-depression-found-in-mice.shtml

NIMH: Health Risks Associated with Certain Antipsychotics Warrant Extra Monitoring

Some atypical antipsychotics may be more likely than others to cause metabolic and cardiovascular side effects, according to recent analyses using data from the NIMH-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE). The two studies were published recently in Schizophrenia Research. Metabolic changes that lead to weight gain or signs of insulin resistance (e.g., elevated blood glucose or increased serum triglycerides) are known side effects of several antipsychotics. In addition, people with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) like schizophrenia are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease compared to people without SMI. Such risk may be associated with antipsychotic treatment or inadequate treatment of common conditions like high blood pressure. They may also result from lifestyle factors, such as smoking or limited exercise.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/health-risks-associated-with-certain-antipsychotics-warrant-extra-monitoring.shtml

NIMH: Errant Stress/Immune Indicators Detected in Depression-Prone Women’s Sweat—Skin Patch Test Could Predict Risk for Inflammatory Illnesses

An experimental skin patch test detected abnormal levels of markers for immune function and stress in the sweat of women with histories of depression, NIMH researchers say. If confirmed, the non-invasive technique could become an easier alternative to a blood test for predicting risk for inflammatory disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes, which often occur with depression. Researchers published their findings online July 29, 2008 in Biological Psychiatry.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/errant-stress-immune-indicators-detected-in-depression-prone-womens-sweat.shtml

NIMH: Age-related Decline of ADHD Symptoms Disrupted by Middle School

Although symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) can last into adulthood, typically they decline as a child gets older. But a new study indicates that the stressful transition from elementary school to middle school complicates this pattern and may even disrupt it. The study, which analyzed data from the NIMH-funded Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA), was published July 2008, in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/age-related-decline-of-adhd-symptoms-disrupted-by-middle-school.shtml

NIMH: Newer Antipsychotics No Better Than Older Medications in Reducing Schizophrenia-related Violence

Antipsychotic medications can reduce the risk of violence among people with schizophrenia, but the newer atypical antipsychotics are no more effective in doing so than older medications, according to a recent analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE). The study was published July 1, 2008, in the British Journal of Psychiatry. CATIE compared the newer atypical medications quetiapine (Seroquel), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal) and ziprasidone (Geodon) with the older antipsychotic perphenazine. Previously reported results showed that perphenazine was no less effective in treating schizophrenia symptoms than the newer atypicals. This new analysis examined whether any of the medications specifically reduced the frequency of violence, a rare symptom associated with the disorder.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/newer-antipsychotics-no-better-than-older-medications-in-reducing-schizophrenia-related-violence.shtml

NIMH: Common Mechanisms May Underlie Autism’s Seemingly Diverse Mutations—Study Implicates Disruption of Genes Regulated by Early Experience

Many of the seemingly disparate mutations recently discovered in autism may share common underlying mechanisms, say researchers supported in part by the NIMH. The mutations may disrupt specific genes that are vital to the developing brain, and which are turned on and off by experience-triggered neuronal activity. Researchers found two large sections missing on chromosomes in people with autism and traced them to likely inherited mutations in such genes regulated by neuronal activity. They report their findings in the July 11, 2008 issue of Science. The study was also supported in part by the NIH's National Center for Research Resources, National Human Genome Research Institute, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development, and the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/common-mechanisms-may-underlie-autisms-seemingly-diverse-mutations.shtml

NIMH: Abnormal Surge in Brain Development Occurs in Teens and Young Adults with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia may occur, in part, because brain development goes awry during adolescence and young adulthood, when the brain is eliminating some connections between cells as a normal part of maturation, results of a study suggest. The new report appears online July 8, 2008 in Molecular Psychiatry. Comparing a group of adolescents and young adults who had recently had their first bout of schizophrenia with a group of healthy peers, researchers found that this loss of tissue began around the same time and in the same brain areas in both groups. But the rate of loss was more pronounced and covered a greater area of the brain's surface in the youth with schizophrenia. The new finding adds to evidence that changes in brain development which lead to schizophrenia aren't limited to the prenatal stage and early childhood, but also occur during the late-teen and young-adult years - the ages when symptoms usually begin to appear.

Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/abnormal-surge-in-brain-development-occurs-in-teens-and-young-adults-with-schizophrenia.shtml

SAMHSA: Mental Health Services Should Be More Accessible in Primary Care Settings

A new report released by three agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposes strategies to overcome barriers associated with the reimbursement of mental health services provided in primary care settings. Key actions recommended focus on a variety of stakeholders, including primary care providers, state Medicaid officials, and others billing for mental health services in the public sector, working together to promote a greater understanding of mental health reimbursement policy. The report was jointly funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration, with the technical expertise of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0807233954.aspx

SAMHSA: Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline Provides Vital Help to More Than 55,000 Callers in Its First Year

First-of-a-kind hotline launched by two government agencies proves successful in providing specialized help to thousands of veterans in crisis. The Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline,

1-800-273-TALK (8255), has provided immediate, often life-saving, help to tens of thousands of veterans and their loved ones during the year since its inception. Over 22,000 calls have come directly from veterans, with the remainder coming from others seeking help for veterans who are family members or friends. The hotline was launched last summer as a collaborative effort by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and SAMHSA to meet the special needs of veterans who are in personal crisis.

Press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0807254324.aspx

FDA Approves First Generic Divalproex Sodium to Treat Seizures, Migraine Headaches and Bipolar Disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Depakote delayed-release tablets (divalproex sodium). Depakote is approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures, bipolar disorder and migraine headaches

Press release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01867.html

Science and Service News Updates

July 7, 2008

NIMH: Schizophrenia Initiative Featured in Biological Psychiatry

An NIMH initiative to fill the gap between advances in basic cognitive neuroscience and practical clinical applications for patients with schizophrenia is the topic of the July 1, 2008 issue of Biological Psychiatry. It contains eight articles on the Cognitive Neuroscience Approaches to the Treatment of Impaired Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS) initiative, including a commentary, and descriptions of meetings related to the effort.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/nimh-schizophrenia-initiative-featured-in-biological-psychiatry.shtml

HIV-associated Neurological Disease Prevalent in Asia-Pacific Region

A new study finds a significant rate of HIV-related neurological disease among HIV-positive populations living in the Asian-Pacific region. The study, funded by NIMH and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, was published July 1, 2008, in the journal Neurology.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/hiv-associated-neurological-disease-prevalent-in-asia-pacific-region.shtml

NIMH: Couples-based Intervention May Limit HIV Transmission in African Countries

A shift to a couples-based intervention for married and cohabiting couples in urban Zambia and Rwanda could prevent up to 60 percent of new HIV infections that would otherwise occur, according to an NIMH-funded study published June 27, 2008, in The Lancet. The survey found that 45 to 75 percent of HIV-positive married individuals in Africa have HIV-negative spouses. Researchers estimate that 55 to 93 percent of new heterosexual HIV infections occur within marriages or cohabiting relationships.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/couples-based-intervention-may-limit-hiv-transmission-in-african-countries.shtml

NIMH: Mice Expressing Human Genes Bred to Help Unravel Mental Disorders

New mouse strains engineered to express human genes related to mental disorders are being developed under a recently-launched grant program from NIMH’s Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science. The new models are designed to help scientists understand the molecular workings of variations in genes that may predispose for – or even help protect against – illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. They will also explore how duplications or the differences in the amount of genetic material affect brain function, and how genes influence response to treatments.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/mice-expressing-human-genes-bred-to-help-unravel-mental-disorders.shtml

NIMH: New Grant Supports Stem Cell-Derived Model of Autism-Related Illness

For the first time, researchers are developing a test tube model of Rett syndrome, a debilitating autism-like illness, in neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. The study, recently funded by a grant from NIMH’s Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science, addresses a crucial gap in understanding the workings of the rare autism spectrum disorder.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-grant-supports-stem-cell-derived-model-of-autism-related-illness.shtml

NIMH: Antipsychotic Medications May Ease Some Alzheimer’s Symptoms, Not Others

Antipsychotic medications may lessen symptoms like hostility and aggression in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, but do not appear to lessen other symptoms or improve quality of life, according to a recent analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness Alzheimer’s Disease (CATIE-AD) study. The analysis was published online ahead of print June 2, 2008, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/antipsychotic-medications-may-ease-some-alzheimers-symptoms-not-others.shtml

NIMH: New Grant Aims to Overcome Obesity in People with Serious Mental Illness

A new grant funded by NIMH will test the effectiveness of a promising intervention designed to help people with serious mental illness who are overweight or obese lose weight and keep it off.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-grant-aims-to-overcome-obesity-in-people-with-serious-mental-illness.shtml

NIMH: Anxious Youth Have Disturbed Brain Responses When Looking at Angry Faces

When looking at angry faces so quickly that they are hardly aware of seeing them, youth with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have unchecked activity in the brain’s fear center, say NIMH researchers. This disturbance is greater in those who are more severely anxious.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/anxious-youth-have-disturbed-brain-responses-when-looking-at-angry-faces.shtml

NIDA: Broad Differences in Alcohol, Tobacco and Illegal Drug Use Across Countries

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) research consortium found that the United States had among the highest lifetime rates of tobacco and alcohol use and led in the proportion of participants reporting cannabis (marijuana) or cocaine use at least once during their lifetime. The study, funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is published in the July 1, 2008 issue of the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

News Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR6-30.html

New Subcommittee of HHS’ National Biodefense Science Board to Look at Mental Health Consequences of Disasters

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is convening a group of national experts to develop recommendations on protecting, preserving and restoring individual and community mental health in catastrophic events.

News Release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/06/20080626a.html

FDA Approves First Generic Risperidone to Treat Psychiatric Conditions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Risperdal (risperidone) tablets. Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions.

News Release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01855.html

FDA Issues an Information Sheet for Healthcare Professionals Sheet for Antipsychotics

The FDA is notifying healthcare professionals that conventional and atypical antipsychotics are associated with increased risk of mortality in elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis.

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/antipsychotics_conventional.htm

Science and Service News Updates

June 15, 2008

NIMH: The Maturing Brain Parallels its Evolution—Newer, Later-Maturing Areas Show More Genetic Effects with Age

Evolutionarily older areas of the human brain that mature earliest follow a simple, straight-line growth pattern. In contrast, newer areas that support our uniquely human capacities, such as thinking and language, mature latest and show the most complex growth pattern, NIMH researchers say. In keeping with their relatively recent evolution, newer areas are composed of more complex layers of cells and show stronger genetic influence later in development compared with evolutionarily older areas. Researchers reported their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in the April 2, 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience and online November 27, 2007 in Human Brain Mapping.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/the-maturing-brain-parallels-its-evolution.shtml

NIMH: New NIMH Research to Test Innovative Treatments for Children with ADHD

Two new grants funded by NIMH will focus on novel and innovative approaches to treating children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the first study, researchers will lead a study on the use of neurofeedback, also called EEG biofeedback, an alternative therapy sometimes used to treat ADHD and other disorders. The researchers will use a new technology in which the brain waves govern the controls of a videogame that the child plays unaware of the brain wave training that is going on in the background. Another study, researchers will focus on children with ADHD who have symptoms that resemble those seen in children with bipolar disorder. In their study, the researchers plan to test a new psychosocial treatment that uses aspects of ADHD behavioral programs in combination with cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational therapies for pediatric mood disorders.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-nimh-research-to-test-innovative-treatments-for-children-with-adhd.shtml

NIMH Funds Research to Find Best Treatments for Children with Autism and ADHD Symptoms

A new NIMH-funded study will help guide the treatment of ADHD symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ADHD symptoms are common in children with ASD, but children with ASD often do not respond well to stimulant medications, the conventional treatment for ADHD. In this 10-week clinical trial, researchers will assess the safety and effectiveness of two treatments: (1) atomoxetine (also called Strattera), a nonstimulant medication for treating ADHD, and (2) parent management training (PMT), in which parents learn how to use behavioral interventions (another conventional ADHD treatment).

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/nimh-funds-research-to-find-best-treatments-for-children-with-autism-and-adhd-symptoms.shtml

NIH Director Announces Enhancements to Peer Review—NIH Will Commit $1 Billion over Next Five Years to Investigator-Initiated High Risk, High Impact Transformative Research

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., announced at the 96th Meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director critical changes to enhance and improve the NIH peer review system. This marks the end of a year-long effort to determine ways to further enrich the process. An important component of the new plan is an increased commitment to investigator-initiated high-risk, high-impact research to prevent a slowdown of transformative research, despite difficult budgetary times.

Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2008/od-06.htm

NIDA: Clusters of Genetic Variants Linked to Distinct Treatment Responses for Smoking Cessation—Findings May Help to Match Smokers with Treatments Most Likely to Help Them Quit

Scientists have identified distinct clusters of genetic markers associated with the likelihood of success or failure of two smoking cessation treatments, nicotine replacement therapy and the medication bupropion (Zyban). This study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was published in the June issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2008/nida-02a.htm

Science and Service News Updates

June 1, 2008

NIMH: Spontaneous Mutations Rife in Non-Familial Schizophrenia—Non-Hereditary Genetic Variations May Help Explain Illness’s Evolutionary Staying Power

People with schizophrenia from families with no history of the illness were found to harbor eight times more spontaneous mutations — most in pathways affecting brain development — than healthy controls, in a study supported in part NIMH. By contrast, no spontaneous mutations were found in people with schizophrenia who had family histories of the illness. Researchers report on their whole genome study online in Nature Genetics, May 30, 2008. Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/spontaneous-mutations-rife-in-non-familial-schizophrenia.shtml

NIMH: Preventive Treatment May Help Head Off Depression Following a Stroke

For the first time, researchers show that preventive treatment with an antidepressant medication or talk therapy can significantly reduce the risk or delay the start of depression following an acute stroke, according to a study funded by NIMH. These findings differ from past studies attempting to prevent post stroke depression. The study appears in the May 28, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/preventive-treatment-may-help-head-off-depression-following-a-stroke.shtml

NIMH: HIV-positive Survivors of Sexual Abuse Who Receive Coping Intervention Less Likely to Engage in Unprotected Sex

HIV-positive people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior if they receive a group intervention designed to help them cope with their traumatic history, according to an NIMH-funded study published April 1, 2008, in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Previous research has found that people living with HIV are more likely than the general population to have experienced sexual abuse during childhood. Those with a history of sexual abuse are also more likely to engage in unprotected sexual behavior that can contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS. In addition, the psychological consequences of childhood sexual abuse, such as low self-esteem, avoidance, and self-destructiveness, are associated with risky sexual behavior.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/hiv-positive-survivors-of-sexual-abuse-who-receive-coping-intervention-less-likely-to-engage-in-unprotected-sex.shtml

NIDA: Scientists Identify a Brain Mechanism Underlying Persistent Cocaine Craving—Finding May Lead to New Treatments to Decrease Risk of Relapse

Scientists have identified a mechanism in the brain that helps to explain why craving for cocaine, and the risk of relapse, seems to increase in the weeks and months after drug use is stopped. The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and published in the May 25 issue of the journal Nature. Press Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR5-25.html

NIH Expands National Consortium Dedicated to Transforming Clinical and Translational Research—Fourteen Institutions Will Receive $533 Million Over 5 Years to Help Researchers Turn Laboratory Discoveries into Treatments for Patients

Fourteen academic health centers in 11 states are the latest members of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium. Creating a unique network of medical research institutions across the nation, the consortium is working to reduce the time it takes for laboratory discoveries to become treatments for patients and to engage communities in clinical research efforts. It also is fulfilling the critical need to train the next generation of clinical and translational researchers. The consortium is led by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a part of the NIH. Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/may2008/ncrr-29.htm

VA Secretary Appoints Panel of National Suicide Experts—Goal Is Reducing Veterans’ Suicides

Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced the names of members appointed to two special panels that will make recommendations on ways the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can improve its programs in suicide prevention, suicide research and suicide education. Those experts will come from agencies including the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the NIH, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The five-member work group is expected to meet from June 11-13, and will develop a report with recommendations for the Secretary within 15 days of meeting. The second group is a nine-member expert panel, made up of nationally renowned experts in public health suicide programs, suicide research and clinical treatment programs, that will provide professional opinion, interpretation, and conclusions on information and data to the work group. It will also make recommendations to the work group on opportunities for improvement in VA’s programs. Press Release: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1506

ONDCP: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, National Congress of American Indians, Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Department of the Interior Launch First National Campaign Targeting Methamphetamine Abuse in Indian Country

The Office of National Drug Control Policy has partnered with two other Federal agencies, Health and Human Services and the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs - along with the Partnership for Drug-Free America and the National Congress of American Indians - to launch the first ever anti-meth public service campaign targeted towards the American Indian and Native Alaskan populations. The campaign includes radio and print public service messages for the first national meth prevention initiative developed specifically for Indian Country.

http://www.methresources.gov/nativeamerican/default.aspx

SAMHSA Honors "The Sopranos," "Monk,” “DIRT” at Star-Studded Voice Awards in Los Angeles

Writers and producers from “The Sopranos,” “Monk,” “Dirt,” Reign Over Me, and others were honored at the 2008 Voice Awards by SAMHSA. Winners were recognized for incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate depictions of people living with mental health problems into their programs and films. Awards were also given to outstanding community leaders with mental illnesses who have had a positive impact on the acceptance of people with mental health problems in society.

Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0805285209.aspx

Science and Service News Updates

May 15, 2008

NIMH: Mental Disorders Cost Society Billions in Unearned Income

Major mental disorders cost the nation at least $193 billion annually in lost earnings alone, according to a new NIMH-funded study. The study was published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Direct costs associated with mental disorders like medication, clinic visits, and hospitalization are relatively easy to quantify, but they reveal only a small portion of the economic burden these illnesses place on society. Indirect costs like lost earnings likely account for enormous expenses, but they are very difficult to define and estimate.

Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/mental-disorders-cost-society-billions-in-unearned-income.shtml

NIMH: Medication-only Therapy and Combination Therapy Both Cost Effective for Treating Teens with Depression

Treating depressed teenagers with either the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) or a combination of fluoxetine and psychotherapy can be cost effective, according to a recent economic analysis of the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The study was published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/medication-only-therapy-and-combination-therapy-both-cost-effective-for-treating-teens-with-depression.shtml

NIMH: Study Launched to Test Possible Preventive Treatment for Schizophrenia in High Risk Youth

NIMH has recently awarded a grant to study whether an intensive computerized training program can help prevent those at high risk of developing schizophrenia from having a first psychotic episode and improve adaptive functioning. The program is based on principles of brain development and resilience and an understanding of the processes that go awry in schizophrenia. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/study-launched-to-test-possible-preventive-treatment-for-schizophrenia-in-high-risk-youth.shtml

NIMH Science Updates from American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting

NIMH sponsored 18 symposia and 4 major lectures, as well as five press conferences with leading experts, at this year’s American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting held earlier this month in Washington, DC. The following Science Updates feature findings announced/released by researchers convened by NIMH at the meeting.

Clues to Role of Brain Development as Risk for Mental Disorders May Also Lead to Better Treatments

Increasing evidence points to links between the timing and growth rates of specific brain areas in the young brain and the likelihood of developing a wide range of mental disorders later in life, say researchers convened by NIMH at the APA Annual Meeting. A twenty-year ongoing longitudinal neuroimaging project of healthy children and adolescents being conducted at NIMH's child psychiatry branch shows the relationship between dynamic brain changes and the emergence of several classes of psychiatric disorders during adolescence. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/clues-to-role-of-brain-development-as-risk-for-mental-disorders-may-also-lead-to-better-treatments.shtml

New Therapies Show Promise for Vascular Depression; Heart, Metabolic, Risks of Some Antipsychotic Medications Flagged

Researchers see new treatments on the horizon for a type of depression related to blood vessels that affects the elderly, and have discovered why some elderly people fail to respond to current medications. In other studies, scientists urge caution regarding use of antipsychotics (usually for schizophrenia or other psychosis) in this and other populations to minimize metabolic, heart, and stroke risks. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-therapies-show-promise-for-vascular-depression-heart-metabolic-risks-of-some-antipsychotic-medications-flagged.shtml

Virtual Reality, Psychotherapy, Show Promise in Treating PTSD Symptoms; Civilian Access to Care Remains a Concern

Early data from an NIMH-sponsored double-blind study of 24 war veterans shows a marked reduction in acoustic startle — the reflex response to sudden loud sounds — in those treated with virtual reality exposure therapy combined with either d-cycloserine, an antibiotic that has been shown to facilitate the extinction of fear memories; pill placebo; or the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam (Xanax). http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/virtual-reality-psychotherapy-show-promise-in-treating-ptsd-symptoms-civilian-access-to-care-remains-a-concern.shtml

Imaging Identifies Brain Regions and Chemicals Underlying Mood Disorders; May Lead to Better Treatments

Recently developed imaging techniques allow the mapping of the brain circuits and chemical systems believed responsible for a range of mood abnormalities including depression and bipolar disorder, and hold promise for improved treatments, scientists say. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/imaging-identifies-brain-regions-and-chemicals-underlying-mood-disorders-may-lead-to-better-treatments.shtml

Studies Identify Subtle Genetic Changes’ Risk for Mental Disorders; May Lead to Targets for New, Better, Therapies

Epigenetics — the examination of how environmental factors like diet, stress, and post-natal maternal behavior can change gene function without altering DNA sequence — plays a major role in depression and in the actions of antidepressant medications. New studies in the field are revealing new molecular targets for better therapies for depression, scientists say. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/studies-identify-subtle-genetic-changes-risk-for-mental-disorders-may-lead-to-targets-for-new-better-therapies.shtml

SAMHSA: New Nationwide Report Estimates One in Every 12 Adolescents Experienced Major Depression in the Past Year—Survey Reveals Adolescent Females are Twice as Likely as Adolescent Males to Suffer a Major Depressive Episode

About 2.1 million teens aged 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, according to a new nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For almost half of the teens, depression drastically reduced their abilities to deal with aspects of their daily lives, the report said. Overall, 8.5 percent of adolescents, the equivalent of one in every 12, experienced a major depressive episode, but there were striking differences by gender, with 12.7 percent of females and 4.6 percent of males reporting the conditions. Press Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0805120433.aspx

Full Report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/youthdepress/youthdepress.cfm

NIDA: First Addiction Science Award to be Given to Students at International Science Fair NIDA Teams with Scholastic to Create Award at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

This year, for the first time, three students will receive awards for exemplary projects in Addiction Science at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest science competition for high school students. The Addiction Science award is co-sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.

Press Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR5-08.html

Science and Service News Updates

May 1, 2008

NIMH: Medication-Enhanced Learning in Therapy Hailed as “Paradigm Shift” for Anxiety

A medication that enhances learning, taken just before an exposure therapy session, may aid cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, say NIMH-funded researchers, who adapted the technique from studies in rats. D-cycloserine, is used to “specifically enhance the efficacy of the emotional learning process that takes place in psychotherapy and hopefully make these new emotional memories more robust and long-lasting,” explained psychologist Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., an NIMH grantee at Emory University, in an editorial in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP). She heralded the new approach as “a paradigm shift.” Science news: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/medication-enhanced-learning-in-therapy-hailed-as-paradigm-shift-for-anxiety.shtml

NIMH: Human Brain Appears “Hard-Wired” for Hierarchy—Scans Hint at Why It Can Be Unhealthy Even at the Top

Human imaging studies have for the first time identified brain circuitry associated with social status, according to researchers at the NIMH. They found that different brain areas are activated when a person moves up or down in a pecking order – or simply views perceived social superiors or inferiors. Circuitry activated by important events responded to a potential change in hierarchical status as much as it did to winning money. The researchers report on their functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in the April 24, 2008, issue of the journal Neuron.

Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/human-brain-appears-hard-wired-for-hierarchy.shtml

NIEHS: Brain Study May Lead to Improved Epilepsy Treatments

Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body’s own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain. Researchers say this may explain why approximately 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic medications. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Medical School, in collaboration with Heidrun Potschka’s laboratory at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, is available online and will appear in the May 2008, issue of Molecular Pharmacology. Press release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2008/niehs-14.htm

FDA: Review of Therapeutic Equivalence Generic Bupropion XL 300 mg and Wellbutrin XL 300 mg

Between January 1 and June 30, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 85 post-marketing reports in which patients who switched from Wellbutrin XL 300 mg to Teva’s bupropion formulation (Budeprion XL 300 mg) experienced an undesirable effect. Specifically, in 78 of these cases, there was a reported loss of antidepressant effect following a switch from the branded to generic product. In addition to the loss of effect, a number of cases also reported the new onset or worsening of side effects. The reported side effects were consistent with the adverse effects in labeling for bupropion products. More than half of the patients who switched back to Wellbutrin XL 300 mg reported improvement of depression and/or abatement of side effects. In order to evaluate this series of post-marketing reports, the FDA has re-examined both the data on the bioequivalence of the two products (Wellbutrin XL and Teva's bupropion XL) and what is known about the natural history of treated depression.

Press release: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/bupropion/TE_review.htm

Science and Service News Updates

April 15, 2008

NIMH: Journal Highlights Effectiveness of Research Based Psychotherapies for Youth

Reviews of the current research on psychosocial and behavioral therapies, or psychotherapies, for children and adolescents found a number of "well established" and "probably efficacious" treatments for many mental disorders. For example, six were "probably efficacious" for anxiety disorders, and two were "well established" for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to scientists funded by NIMH and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The results were published in a special issue of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and cover the current state of research psychotherapies for children and adolescents with mental disorders. This special issue provides a 10-year update on the original special issue on psychosocial treatments, published in 1998.
Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/journal-highlights-effectiveness-of-research-based-psychotherapies-for-youth.shtml

NIMH: Maintenance Treatment Crucial for Teens’ Recovery from Depression

Long-term maintenance treatment is likely to sustain improvement and prevent recurrence among adolescents with major depression, according to an NIMH-funded study published in the April 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. The study analyzed data from the Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study, a large, NIMH-funded trial in which depressed teens were randomized to one of three treatments for 36 weeks—fluoxetine (Prozac), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or a combination of both. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/maintenance-treatment-crucial-for-teens-recovery-from-depression.shtml

NIMH: OCD Risk Higher When Several Variations in Gene Occur Together

Several variations within the same gene act together to raise the risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), new NIMH research suggests. The gene produces a protein that helps make the brain chemical serotonin available to brain cells. Previously, the gene variations had been implicated in OCD individually, in separate studies – but other studies sometimes found that the variations had no impact on risk of OCD. The reason for the inconsistent results appears to be that the variations have an impact on OCD risk when they occur together, not individually, NIMH researchers reported in the March 1 issue of Human Molecular Genetics.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/ocd-risk-higher-when-several-variations-in-gene-occur-together.shtml

NIMH: New Research to Help People with Mental Disorders Quit Smoking

A new grant funded by NIMH will develop an intervention designed to help people with serious mental illness (SMI) quit smoking. The addiction is very common among people with SMI, and contributes significantly to deteriorating health and higher costs for care. But it is difficult to treat among people with SMI because they require a tailored approach that is incorporated into their existing mental health treatment. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-research-to-help-people-with-mental-disorders-quit-smoking.shtml

NIMH: Paying More for Prescriptions May Limit Seniors’ Access to Antidepressants

New cost-sharing policies may prevent some older adults diagnosed with depression from filling new antidepressant prescriptions, according to an analysis published in the April 2008 issue of Psychiatric Services. The NIMH-funded study examined eight years of data from a British Columbia, Canada, program that evolved from comprehensive prescription coverage to cost-sharing in which seniors were responsible for a part of the costs of their prescriptions.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/paying-more-for-prescriptions-may-limit-seniors-access-to-antidepressants.shtml

NIMH: Rates of Rare Mutations Soar Three to Four Times Higher in Schizophrenia—Multiple Genetic Glitches Disrupt Pathways Critical for Brain Development

People with schizophrenia have high rates of rare genetic deletions and duplications that likely disrupt the developing brain, according to studies funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These tiny anomalies were found in 15 percent of adult onset schizophrenia patients and 20 percent of child and adolescent onset patients, compared with only 5 percent of healthy participants. Collectively, the mutations carried by patients were significantly more likely than those in healthy participants to disrupt genes involved in brain development — potentially implicating hundreds of genes in the illness, which affects about 1 percent of adults. Two independent teams of researchers report on their combined findings in an article published online in Science Express, March 27, 2008. Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/rates-of-rare-mutations-soar-three-to-four-times-higher-in-schizophrenia.shtml

NIMH: Newly Awarded Autism Centers of Excellence to Further Autism Research

The National Institutes of Health have announced the latest recipients of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program. These grants will support studies covering a broad range of autism research areas, including early brain development and functioning, social interactions in infants, rare genetic variants and mutations, associations between autism-related genes and physical traits, possible environmental risk factors and biomarkers, and a potential new medication treatment. Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/newly-awarded-autism-centers-of-excellence-to-further-autism-research.shtml

NIMH: Autism Gene Scans Converge on Two Suspect Sites, Two Types of Genetic Risk

Four teams of scientists, using resources supported in part by NIMH, have pinpointed two different sites in the genome, each conferring a different type of genetic risk for autism. At one site, risk genes appear to be inherited. At the other, risk stems from spontaneous mutations, not seen in the genetics of the parents. In both examples, evidence suggests the suspect genes are critical for development of brain circuits impaired in autism.
Science update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/autism-gene-scans-converge-on-two-suspect-sites-two-types-of-genetic-risk.shtml

Past Child Abuse plus Variations in Gene Result in Potent PTSD Risk for Adults—Combined Factors May Change Biology of Stress-response System as it Develops

A traumatic event is much more likely to result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults who experienced trauma in childhood – but certain gene variations raise the risk considerably if the childhood trauma involved physical or sexual abuse, scientists have found. The research was conducted with NIMH funding and others. Results of the study were reported on March 19 in a special issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association devoted to the influence of genes on health and disease. Press release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/past-child-abuse-plus-variations-in-gene-result-in-potent-ptsd-risk-for-adults.shtml

NIH Research Suggests Stimulant Treatment for ADHD Does Not Contribute to Substance Abuse Later In Life--Early Evaluation for Substance Abuse Still Important for This High-Risk Group

Treating children as early as age six or seven with stimulants for Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not likely to increase risk of substance abuse as adults, according to two studies funded by the NIH. However, the studies also showed treatment with stimulants did not prevent substance abuse later in adulthood. The studies are being published in April 2008 issue of American Journal of Psychiatry. Press Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR4-01.html

NIDA Researchers Identify Genetic Variant Linked to Nicotine Addiction and Lung Cancer: Variant also Increases Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Scientists have identified a genetic variant that not only makes smokers more susceptible to nicotine addiction but also increases their risk of developing two smoking-related diseases, lung cancer and peripheral arterial disease. The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The study was published in the April 3 issue of the journal Nature. Press Release: http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/08/NR4-02a.html

NIAAA: Scientists Find Genetic Factor in Stress Response Variability

Inherited variations in the amount of an innate anxiety-reducing molecule help explain why some people can withstand stress better than others, according to a new study led by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded researchers. Scientists identified gene variants that affect the expression of a signaling molecule called neuropeptide Y (NPY). Found in brain and many other tissues, NPY regulates diverse functions, including appetite, weight, and emotional responses. Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2008/niaaa-02a.htm

NIAAA: Scientists Link Chromatin Changes with Alcohol Withdrawal Anxiety

Changes to genetic material in the brain may help induce the anxiety that is characteristic of alcohol withdrawal, according to a new study conducted in rats and supported by the NIAAA. The finding points to possible therapies to prevent withdrawal-related anxiety, a driving force behind alcohol use among dependent individuals. Previous studies have implicated a brain structure known as the amygdala in anxiety and alcohol-drinking behaviors. Other studies have shown that chemical modifications to chromatin, the complex of DNA and proteins within every cell nucleus, can influence the expression of genes and thus may affect disease processes. Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2008/niaaa-02.htm

Science and Service News Updates

March 15, 2008

NIMH: State Survey Finds FDA “Black Box” Warning Correlates with Curtailed Antidepressant Prescriptions

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “black box” warning on antidepressant medications, Nebraskan doctors began prescribing fewer antidepressant medications to children and teens and referring more patients to specialists, according to a state survey. The study, which involved NIMH-funded researchers, was published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/state-survey-finds-fda-black-box-warning-correlates-with-curtailed-antidepressant-prescriptions.shtml

NIMH: One Gene Overrides Another to Prevent Brain Changes that Foster Depression

For what appears to be the first time in humans, scientists have detected an interaction between genes that may help prevent brain changes that increase vulnerability to depression. A variation on one gene affects how much of the brain chemical serotonin is available to brain cells. This variation is thought to raise the risk of depression in people who carry it. But NIMH scientists found that a variation in another gene, which produces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – a substance that enables growth and health of brain cells – appears to prevent or offset the changes generated by the depression-fostering variant. For now, the finding can help scientists track the biological roots of depression in the brain as they search for better treatments. In the future, it could help clinicians identify patients who are at risk and need monitoring or treatment. Results of the study were published online on March 12, in Molecular Psychiatry. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/one-gene-overrides-another-to-prevent-brain-changes-that-foster-depression.shtml

NIMH: Bipolar Youths’ Misreading of Faces May be Risk Marker for Illness—Linked to Genetics, Altered Brain Circuitry

Youngsters with pediatric bipolar disorder and healthy peers who have first-degree relatives with bipolar disorder share the same difficulty labeling facial emotions, NIMH researchers have discovered. Reporting in the February 2008 online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry, the scientists suggest that the facial emotion recognition impairment might be part of an inherited predisposition to the illness. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/bipolar-youths-misreading-of-faces-may-be-risk-marker-for-illness.shtml

NIAAA: Quantity and Frequency of Drinking Influence Mortality Risk

How much and how often people drink — not just the average amount of alcohol they consume over time — independently influence the risk of death from several causes, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). A report of their findings appears in the March, 2008 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2008/niaaa-04.htm

SAMHSA: New Report Provides Substance Use and Mental Health Information for Each State—Finds Variation in Problems among the States, But That all Face Challenges

A new report providing analyses of substance use and mental health patterns occurring in each state reveals that there are wide variations among the states in problems like illicit drug use and underage drinking, but that no state was immune from these problems. For example, past month use of alcohol among persons aged 12 to 20 ranged from a low of 21.5 percent in Utah to a high of 38.3 percent in Vermont. Yet Utah had the highest level of people age 18 or older reporting serious psychological distress in the past year, while Hawaii had the lowest level. The report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that although there are some differences in the patterns of substance use and mental health problems experienced among states and regions, all parts of the country are seriously affected by these problems.

Press release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0803061256.aspx

Report: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k6state/toc.cfm

Science and Service News Updates

March 1, 2008

NIMH: Genetic Tags Reveal Secrets of Memories’ Staying Power in Mice

A better understanding of how memory works is emerging from a newfound ability to link a learning experience in a mouse to consequent changes in the inner workings of its neurons. Researchers, supported in part by the NIMH, have developed a way to pinpoint the specific cellular components that sustain a specific memory in genetically-engineered mice. The findings of their study were reported in the February 22, 2008 issue of the journal Science.

Press Release: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/genetic-tags-reveal-secrets-of-memories-staying-power-in-mice.shtml

NIMH: Genetic Variation May Influence Response to Depression Treatment

Variations in a gene known as TREK1 may explain some forms of treatment-resistant major depression, according to a new study analyzing genetic data from the NIMH-funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial. The study was published online February 20, 2008, in Neuropsychopharmacology.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/genetic-variation-may-influence-response-to-depression-treatment.shtml

NIMH: Group Therapy Program Offers Meaningful Gains for People with Borderline Personality Disorder

A 20-week group therapy program focusing on cognitive behavioral and skills training, when used in conjunction with usual care, helped reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder and improve overall functioning, reported NIMH-funded researchers. Their findings were published online February 15, 2008 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/group-therapy-program-offers-meaningful-gains-for-people-with-borderline-personality-disorder.shtml

NIMH: Cold, Unfeeling Traits Linked to Distinctive Brain Patterns in Kids with Severe Conduct Problems—Brain’s Amygdala Region Less Responsive to Other People’s Distress Signals

The callous, unemotional characteristics of some children and adolescents who bully or steal or have other severely disruptive behavior problems may have partial roots in a brain area called the amygdala. The amygdala responds to distress cues from other people; cues that normally would elicit empathy from observers. But it is less responsive to such cues in youth who have both callous, unemotional characteristics and disruptive behavior problems, report NIMH investigators. Results of their research appeared online February 15 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/cold-unfeeling-traits-linked-to-distinctive-brain-patterns-in-kids-with-severe-conduct-problems.shtml

NIMH: Co-occurring Anxiety Complicates Treatment Response for Those with Major Depression

People with major depression accompanied by high levels of anxiety are significantly less likely to benefit from antidepressant medication than those without anxiety, according to a study based on data from the NIMH-funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. The study was published online ahead of print in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/co-occurring-anxiety-complicates-treatment-response-for-those-with-major-depression.shtml

NIMH: Scans Reveal Faulty Brain Wiring Caused by Missing Genes—Grant Funds New Tools to Detect Subtler Wiring Errors in Schizophrenia

An NIMH study using an emerging imaging technology has discovered faulty wiring in the brains of people with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects some aspects of thinking. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans revealed abnormal tracts of neuronal fibers that conduct long-distance communications between brain regions. Researchers reported their findings in the September 18, 2007, early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Compared to the gross fiber tract abnormalities of Williams Syndrome, discovering schizophrenia’s more elusive wiring errors tests the limits of existing DTI technology. In a separate NIMH study, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are developing an improved, automated system for analyzing DTI data from patients with schizophrenia, family members, and healthy controls. Their new method can detect several ways in which long-distance neural connectivity can be disrupted by disease. The goal is to gain a more complete picture of nerve fiber networks altered in schizophrenia than is possible with existing techniques. Obtaining these patterns of changes in the patients will help to characterize changes in their family members that may be related to the genetic roots of the disorder. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/scans-reveal-faulty-brain-wiring-caused-by-missing-genes.shtml

NIMH: Primary Care Doctors May Overlook Elderly Patients’ Mental Health

Doctors spend little time discussing mental health issues with their older patients and rarely refer them to a mental health specialist even if they show symptoms of severe depression, according to an NIMH-funded study published December 2007 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Science Update: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/primary-care-doctors-may-overlook-elderly-patients-mental-health.shtml

NIAAA: Brain Stress System Presents Possible Treatment Target for Alcohol Dependence

A brain circuit that underlies feelings of stress and anxiety shows promise as a new therapeutic target for alcoholism, according to new studies by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In preclinical and clinical studies reported February 14 online in Science Express, researchers found that a brain molecule known as the neurokinin 1 receptor, or NK1R, appears to be a central actor in stress-related drinking.

Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2008/niaaa-26.htm

NIA: Study Finds Improved Cognitive Health among Older Americans

Rates of cognitive impairment among older Americans are on the decline, according to a new study supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and NIMH comparing the cognitive health of older people in 1993 and 2002. Higher levels of education were associated with better cognitive health. Researchers said the findings will need to be explored further to see if they can be observed in other studies and to pinpoint factors influencing cognition, or the ability to think, learn, and remember. The report appears in February 20, 2008 issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia. Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2008/nia-25.htm

NIA: Stress Hormone Impacts Memory, Learning in Diabetic Rodents

Diabetes is known to impair the cognitive health of people, but now scientists have identified one potential mechanism underlying these learning and memory problems. A new NIA study in diabetic rodents finds that increased levels of a stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland disrupt the healthy functioning of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning and short-term memory. Moreover, when levels of the adrenal glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (also known as cortisol in humans) are returned to normal, the hippocampus recovers its ability to build new cells and regains the "plasticity" needed to compensate for injury and disease and adjust to change. The study appears in the February 17, 2008 issue of Nature Neuroscience.

Press Release: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2008/nia-17.htm

SAMHSA: New Report Reveals Treatment Admissions for Methamphetamine, Prescription Drug and Marijuana Abuse are on the Rise

Problems with alcohol as a primary substance of abuse accounted for 40 percent of the 1.8 million admissions in 2006 for substance abuse treatment in the United States according to a report based on the latest nationwide survey of treatment facilities. Yet this percentage of admissions for alcohol abuse treatment is markedly lower than the 51 percent share it represented in 1996. The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2006 Highlights report, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also reveals that over the same 10 year period the percentages of admissions for methamphetamine, prescription drug and marijuana abuse rose.

News Release: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0802143132.aspx

Full Report: http://oas.samhsa.gov/teds2k6highlights/TOC.cfm

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Last Updated: August 18, 2008