I keep a folder for interesting articles and tidbits that my readers might find fun to read and instructive. It has been growing fat!
Usually, I post a selection of these every couple of weeks or so, but have neglected to do so for quite some time. Though today’s post will not even begin to clear out the folder, at least it’s a good start!
Today’s topics cover a broad range of topics, as shown by the subject list:
- Therapy by Telephone
- Battle of the genes determine mental illnesses?
- Seven habits that could transform your life
- Is there a way to get rid of unwanted memories?
- Why we overeat when we’re stressed
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Genetics,
Memory,
Overeating,
Research,
Stress,
Therapy
Social Phobia is an Anxiety Disorder that affects up to 40 million Americans.
Also called Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Social Phobia, is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with Social Phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions.
So far, there have been no medications approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of Social Phobia. The only medications proven to be effective have been antidepressants such as Effexor and Nardil, and Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin and Xanax.
In two different studies scientists have shown that the hormone oxytocin can inhibit the feelings of Anxiety in people with Social Phobia. These people were able to socially interact much more effectively and showed greatly reduced fears, as well. These discovery may lead to a better understanding and treatment of psychiatric conditions such as Social Phobia, in which people feel distressed when meeting and interacting with others.
Predrag Petrovic, one of the authors of a Swedish study, said that,
[O]xytocin can reduce anxiety and increase the chances of social contact for people with certain types of psychiatric disorder. There are also previous studies to show that oxytocin can inhibit [fear] activity, which tells us that we should see this as an opportunity for new forms of treatment.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Medications,
Research,
SAD - Social Phobia
by Mike Nichols on September 2, 2008 · 1 comment
The evidence keeps building for physical causes for Anxiety Disorders.
The Met158 gene variation has been found to cause an exaggerated “startle” response among people prone to develop Anxiety Disorders.
Inborn differences may help explain why trauma gives some people bad memories and others the nightmare of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Scientists in Germany and the United States report evidence in a new study linking genes to Anxious behavior. The findings appear in the August issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, published by the American Psychological Association.
Although a great deal more research is needed, Christian Montag, co-author of the research, says that if this line of research bears fruit, one day
it might be possible to prescribe the right dose of the right drug, relative to genetic makeup, to treat anxiety disorders.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety Disorder,
Genetics,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Research
by Mike Nichols on August 29, 2008 · 1 comment
What if there were a medication that could simply switch off bad memories?
University of California, Irvine (UCI) researchers have identified the brain mechanism that turns off traumatic feelings associated with bad memories. This finding could lead to the development of drugs to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, and other Anxiety Disorders.
Rainer Reinscheid, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences associate professor at UCI, said,
The exciting part of this study is that we have discovered a completely new process that regulates the adverse responses to bad memories.
These findings can help the development of new drugs to treat conditions in which people are haunted by persistent fears, such as posttraumatic stress disorder or other panic disorders.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Amygdala,
Anxiety Disorder,
Medications,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Research
Anxiety Disorder sufferers have long known that they are more susceptible to physical diseases.
But now a study headed by Jitender Sareen of the University of Manitoba has detailed just what Anxiety Disorders can do to you physically.
It was proven several years ago that those with Anxiety Disorders are more prone to heart problems. This new study shows that people with Anxiety Disorders also have an increased risk of developing physical ailments, particularly thyroid diseases, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, allergies, and migraine diseases.
Early treatment of Anxiety Disorders is essential to warding off physical diseases caused by it. Sareen said,
Right now there is a long delay between someone developing an anxiety problem and seeking appropriate treatment — usually 10- 15 years. The hope is to get people with anxiety problems to go get help earlier. The treatments are quite effective if you get at it early before you get secondary [health conditions].
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Research,
SAD - Social Phobia
A simple blood test for Panic Disorder is being commercially developed by the University of Iowa. The test is based on research by Robert Philibert and others at the University’s Carver College of Medicine. The study was funded in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Philibert states that:
The ability to test for panic disorder is a quantum leap in psychiatry… Panic disorder will no longer be a purely descriptive diagnosis, but, as with cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome and other conditions, a diagnosis based on genetic information… In addition, the finding could help us better understand the pathways that initiate, promote and maintain panic disorder.
The study, published in the online version of the American Journal of Medical Genetics, were based on the analysis of genetic information in immature white blood cells. Although Panic Disorder is a disease of the brain cells, they are not accessible or easily tested. The study used lymphoblasts (immature cells) as “stand-ins” for brain cells.
Philibert and his associates are hopeful that this Panic Disorder blood test will lead to simple tests for other mental conditions.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Panic Attacks,
Research
