Children Carry Emotional Burden of AIDS Epidemic in China
Most studies on HIV/AIDS have focused on conditions in U.S. inner cities and sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this lack of research attention, the AIDS epidemic in China and other Asian countries is rapidly growing.
Behavioral Training Improves Connectivity and Function in the Brain
Children with poor reading skills who underwent an intensive, six-month training program to improve their reading ability showed increased connectivity in a particular brain region, in addition to making significant gains in reading.
Largest Study to Date on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
A newly-released study is helping to shape the understanding of three major subtypes of bipolar disorder that affect children and adolescents and how this diagnosis may affect them as adults.
Obesity Epidemic for U.S. Students
The majority of of high school students who are obese, engage in unhealthy dietary behaviors, or are physically inactive.
National Survey Tracks Rates of Common Mental Disorders Among American Youth
Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health. The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders.
Significant Weight Gain, Metabolic Changes Associated with Antipsychotic Use in Children
Children and adolescents with mental disorders such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorder are often treated with antipsychotic medications, especially the newer, second-generation antipsychotics. However, research has shown that these medications have worrisome cardiovascular and metabolic effects on young people, and their long-term effects on growing bodies are unknown.
Clinical Tests Begin on Medication to Correct Fragile X Defect
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability, affecting an estimated 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 6,000 females. The syndrome causes a range of developmental problems, including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment. People with Fragile X syndrome may have anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Autism Skews Developing Brain with Synchronous Motion and Sound
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to stare at people’s mouths rather than their eyes. Now, newly-released study in 2-year-olds with the social deficit disorder suggests why they might find mouths so attractive: lip-syncing.
Grants Focus on Innovative Autism Research
The underlying causes of autism spectrum disorders (autism, Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder) are unclear. Currently, there is no cure for the disorders and treatments are limited. National Institute of Mental Health is committed to reducing the burden of autism and related disorders through research that can lead to methods of prevention, recovery, and cure. To accomplish this goal, the Institute recently funded nine research projects.
Cold, Unfeeling Traits Linked to Distinctive Brain Patterns in Kids with Severe Conduct Problems
Not all youth who have disruptive behavior problems have callous, unemotional characteristics. But in those who do, behavior problems tend to be more severe and persistent, previous studies have shown.
Genetic Variants May Alter Developmental Effects of Extreme Childhood Distress
Study's results suggest that genetic differences in CRH-mediated neurotransmission may change the developmental effects that childhood abuse can have on the stress hormone system – developmental effects that can later raise the risk of adult depression.
Behavioral Therapy Effectively Treats Children with Social Phobia
Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is characterized by an extremely distressing fear of social situations, of being watched or judged by others, and of being embarrassed. Children with the disorder avoid everyday activities and situations such as playing with other kids, reading in class, and speaking to adults.
Behavioral Program May Stabilize Stress Hormone Patterns in Foster Children
An newly-released study's results provide evidence of a distinct biological response to a behavioral intervention. “If improved caregiving follows early childhood neglect, disruptions in a child’s HPA axis functioning may be reversed or even prevented, giving the child a better chance at overcoming early-life challenges.”
Rates of Bipolar Diagnosis in Youth Rapidly Climbing
The number of diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents has increased by 40 times over the last decade. Over the same time period, the number of adults receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis almost doubled. The cause of these pronounced increases is unclear.
Half of Children With Autism May be Diagnosable Soon After Their First Birthday
About half of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be diagnosed soon after their first birthday; others with the disorder may appear to develop normally until that age and then falter or regress during their second year.
Intensive Psychotherapy More Effective Than Brief Therapy for Treating Bipolar Depression
Bipolar disorder is a debilitating illness marked by severe mood swings between depression and mania that affects 2.6 percent of Americans in any given year. Results from a study published in the April 2007 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry show that patients taking medications to treat bipolar disorder are more likely to get well faster and stay well if they receive intensive psychotherapy.
Risk of Depression Higher For Teen Girls Who Had Low Birth Weight
Findings of a recent nationwide study suggest that pediatricians and parents of girls who were of low birth weight should pay close attention to the young child's mental health as she enters puberty.
Children's Suicide Rates Lower in Areas of the Nation with High SSRI Use
According to a recently study published study (November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry) suicide rates for children ages 5 to 14 are lower in areas of the country with higher rates of antidepressant prescriptions.
Parents Report Estimated 2.7 Million Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems
An estimated 2.7 million children are reported by their parents to suffer from definite or severe emotional or behavioral difficulties, problems that may interfere with their family life, their ability to learn, and their formation of friendships.
Antidepressant Medications for Kids: Information for Parents and Caregivers
Depression in children is a serious disorder that causes significant problems at home, in school, and with peers. It increases their vulnerability to substance abuse, and puts them at risk for suicidal behaviors. To help address growing concerns about the safety of using antidepressant medications for children, the following information is based on the best currently available information.
Warning Signs of Teen Mental Health Problems
The teen years can be tough for both parent and child. Adolescents are under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with their family, and make important life decisions. Most of these pressures are unavoidable, and worrying about them is natural. But if your teen is feeling extremely sad, hopeless, or worthless, these could be warning signs of a problem that will only get worse until you make sure they get the kind of help they need.
What Should You Do for a Child With Depression?
Major depression in children and adolescents is a serious condition that should be adequately treated, which includes careful follow-up and monitoring.
Parent Training Complements Medication for Treating Behavioral Problems in Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
According to a recent study, treatment that includes medication plus a structured training program for parents reduces serious behavioral problems in children with autism and related conditions.
Study Identifies Three Effective Treatments for Childhood Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders affecting children and adolescents. Untreated anxiety can undermine a child’s success in school, jeopardize his or her relationships with family, and inhibit social functioning.
Symptoms Persist as Bipolar Children Grow Up
Bipolar disorder (BD) identified in childhood often persisted into adulthood in the first large follow-up study of its kind. Forty-four percent of children diagnosed with BD continued to have manic episodes as adults.
Psychotic Illness is Predictable in up to 80 Percent of High-Risk Kids, Teens and Young Adults
“The message here is that once we identify people as being high risk, we have a very good chance of knowing whether or not they’re likely to develop a serious mental disorder like schizophrenia and that, if they do, it will happen fairly quickly. That’s such a critical window of opportunity for getting them the help they need.”
Behavioral Intervention Normalizes Stress-Related Hormone in High-Risk Kids
Family intervention that improves behavior and social skills can also help normalize cortisol patterns. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates response to stress. Imbalances in stress regulation are thought to contribute to the development of some mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders and depression.
Violence in Schizophrenia Patients More Likely Among Those with Childhood Conduct Problems
A study was published online on June 30, 2007, in the journal Law and Human Behavior suggests doctors should take into account their patients' histories before deciding on a treatment approach. They should consider specific interventions aimed at preventing further violence, especially among their schizophrenia patients who have a history of childhood conduct problems.
Different Kinds of Bipolar Disorder In Response to Certain Familial Characteristics?
Breaking up the broad diagnosis of BPD into subtypes by including familial characteristics can help researchers untangle the mix of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this complex disorder.
Targeted Preventive Interventions for the Most Aggressive Children
Targeted preventive interventions may help reduce conduct problems in children displaying the most aggressive or disruptive behaviors.
Sharp Rise Seen In Antipsychotic Prescriptions for Children and Adolescents
The number of antipsychotic medication prescriptions for children and adolescents increased six-fold from 1993 to 2002, according to a study of visits made by people 20 years old and younger to doctors' offices.
Mental Illness Exacts Heavy Toll, Beginning in Youth
Unlike most disabling physical diseases, mental illness can begin very early in life. Half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14; three quarters have begun by age 24. For example, anxiety disorders often begin in late childhood, mood disorders in late adolescence, and substance abuse in the early 20's.
Psychiatric Disorders Common Among Detained Youth
Among teens in juvenile detention, nearly two thirds of boys and nearly three quarters of girls have at least one psychiatric disorder, a federally funded study has found. These rates dwarf the estimated 15 percent of youth in the general population thought to have psychiatric illness, placing detained teens on a par with those at highest risk, such as maltreated and runaway youth.
New Report Finds More Than 13% of America’s Teens Think Suicide
According to a just-released government survey--the first of its kind ever done--three million American teenagers have thought seriously about or even attempted suicide. Depression--a treatable condition--is considered the main cause of suicidal thoughts. Only 36% of the teens who considered suicide in 2000 received mental health treatment or counseling…
Child Abuse Can Cause Permanent Damage to the Brain, Body, and Emotional Well-Being
Many cases of child abuse aren’t intentional acts of violence committed by violent, uncaring parents--rather, child abuse often occurs in an instant of unthinking frustration and anger. An instant of uncontrolled anger is all it takes to shake a young child and inflict permanent brain damage, to yank a small arm out of its socket, or to inflict alarming and longlasting physical pain and emotional injury.
Childhood Maltreatment Undermines Physical Health in Adulthood
A recently published study's findings emphasize the importance of having supportive and functional family relationships during childhood. Negative experiences early in life can have long-lasting effects on physical health, in addition to the known mental health consequences.
New Research Improves Understanding of Kids' Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be hard to identify in children and adolescents for several reasons, including a lack of age-appropriate diagnostic guidelines and symptoms different than those commonly seen in adults with the disorder.
New Clues for How Bacterial Infections Can Trigger OCD
New research demonstrates how a bacterial infection, such as strep, triggers obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children.
New Study Finds Anti-Psychotic Medication Useful in Treating Serious Behavioral Problems Among Children With Autism
Autism is a chronic condition that appears in early childhood and is characterized by core symptoms of impaired social relatedness, delayed language, and restricted patterns of behavior. It affects as many as 20 children per 10,000. According to a study's just-released findings, a newer class of anti-psychotic medications can be successful and well tolerated for the treatment of serious behavioral disturbances associated with autistic disorder.
Charting the Prevalence of ADHD
Current estimates suggest 3% to 5% of school-age children have ADHD at any given time--figures based on a variety of sources of information. But many ADHD experts now conclude that 3% to 5% is on the low side and that it's reasonable to say a significantly larger number is affected during childhood.
Link Between Teen Smoking and Anxiety Disorders
Can smoking directly affect emotional health? A recent study offers evidence of an association between cigarette smoking during the teen years and developing anxiety disorders during adolescence and early adulthood.
| 
