By Elizabeth Streich
Bone growth is controlled in the gut through serotonin, the same naturally present chemical used by the brain to influence mood, appetite and sleep, according to a new discovery from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center. Until now, the skeleton was thought to control bone growth, and serotonin was primarily known as a neurotransmitter acting in the brain. This new insight could transform how osteoporosis is treated in the future by giving doctors a way to increase bone mass, not just slow its loss. Findings are reported in the Nov. 26, 2008 issue of Cell.
See Anxiety Insights for more.....
About Us
- Kathlene B. LaCour and Craig S. Judd
- Passages Behavioral Health Services was founded out of need to service mentally ill, co-occurring, correctional clients seeking a second chance. Our 40 years of clinical experience has prepared us to do this work which includes providing case management, Community Living Suppports (CLS), clinical assessment, treatment planning and more. Passages Behavioral Health also manages re-entry housing for this population know as the Passages House. We provide a service that not only bridges folks to another chance but helps maintain their progress in the community.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Complex Relationship Between Menstrual Cyclicity and Anxiety Disorders
Miki Peer, Claudio N. Soares, MD, PhD, and Meir Steiner, MD, PhD
Ms Peer reports that she has no conflicts of interest concerning the subject matter of this article. Dr Soares reports that he has received grant/research support from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline; he is a consultant for Sepracor, GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth-Ayerst, and Neurocrine; and he is on the Promotional Speakers' Bureau of GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth-Ayerst, Forest Laboratories, and Pfizer. Dr Steiner reports that he has received grant/ research support from Wyeth, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca; he is a consultant for Eli Lilly, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Novartis, Wyeth, OrthoMcNeil, AstraZeneca, and Azevan Pharmaceuticals; he is on the advisory board of Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Lundbeck, OrthoMcNeil, Wyeth, Schering, Ferring, and Azevan Pharmaceuticals; and he is on the Speakers' Bureau of AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, and Wyeth.
The ocurrence and severity of anxiety disorders have been correlated with fluctuations in female sex steroid levels in both epidemiological and experimental studies.1-5 Female reproductive hormones play a role not only in the development and course of anxiety disorders but also in treatment response.1,2,6-12 This article focuses on the premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety disorders and briefly reviews the biological pathways and physiological mechanisms thought to contribute to the expression of different anxiety disorder subtypes. Female steroid hormone influences on pharmacological properties of psychoactive drugs used to treat anxiety disorders are also addressed, because these may contribute to treatment response in women who experience premenstrual exacerbation of these disorders.
Recommendations for Clinical Practice:
A better clinical practice to manage anxiety disorders would include:
• A careful assessment of sex-specific triggers of anxiety.
• A clinical interview performed on 2 consecutive occasions (1 in the luteal phase and 1 in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle).
• The use of a diary for at least 1 menstrual cycle to prospectively chart anxiety symptoms and help identify temporal associations with hormonal changes or possible comorbid disorders.
Once treatment is initiated, women with anxiety disorders should be evaluated during the course of the menstrual cycle for continuous effectiveness of their medications. Women who exhibit premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety disorders may respond to increased doses immediately preceding or during the luteal phase.48,59 Progesterone augmentation may be a therapeutic option for women with anxiety disorders who do not respond, or who respond only partially, to standard therapeutic regimens.2,38
Ms Peer reports that she has no conflicts of interest concerning the subject matter of this article. Dr Soares reports that he has received grant/research support from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline; he is a consultant for Sepracor, GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth-Ayerst, and Neurocrine; and he is on the Promotional Speakers' Bureau of GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth-Ayerst, Forest Laboratories, and Pfizer. Dr Steiner reports that he has received grant/ research support from Wyeth, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca; he is a consultant for Eli Lilly, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Novartis, Wyeth, OrthoMcNeil, AstraZeneca, and Azevan Pharmaceuticals; he is on the advisory board of Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Lundbeck, OrthoMcNeil, Wyeth, Schering, Ferring, and Azevan Pharmaceuticals; and he is on the Speakers' Bureau of AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, and Wyeth.
The ocurrence and severity of anxiety disorders have been correlated with fluctuations in female sex steroid levels in both epidemiological and experimental studies.1-5 Female reproductive hormones play a role not only in the development and course of anxiety disorders but also in treatment response.1,2,6-12 This article focuses on the premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety disorders and briefly reviews the biological pathways and physiological mechanisms thought to contribute to the expression of different anxiety disorder subtypes. Female steroid hormone influences on pharmacological properties of psychoactive drugs used to treat anxiety disorders are also addressed, because these may contribute to treatment response in women who experience premenstrual exacerbation of these disorders.
Recommendations for Clinical Practice:
A better clinical practice to manage anxiety disorders would include:
• A careful assessment of sex-specific triggers of anxiety.
• A clinical interview performed on 2 consecutive occasions (1 in the luteal phase and 1 in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle).
• The use of a diary for at least 1 menstrual cycle to prospectively chart anxiety symptoms and help identify temporal associations with hormonal changes or possible comorbid disorders.
Once treatment is initiated, women with anxiety disorders should be evaluated during the course of the menstrual cycle for continuous effectiveness of their medications. Women who exhibit premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety disorders may respond to increased doses immediately preceding or during the luteal phase.48,59 Progesterone augmentation may be a therapeutic option for women with anxiety disorders who do not respond, or who respond only partially, to standard therapeutic regimens.2,38
Friday, November 28, 2008
U.S. researchers call off controversial autism study
Provided by: Associated PressWritten by: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sep. 17, 2008
CHICAGO - A government agency in the United States has dropped plans to test a controversial treatment for autism that critics had called an unethical experiment on children.
The National Institute of Mental Health said in a statement Wednesday that the study of chelation (kee-LAY'-shun) has been discontinued. The statement says the agency decided the money would be better used testing other potential therapies for autism and related disorders.
The study had been on hold because of safety concerns . A study published last year linked a chemical used in the treatment to lasting brain problems in rats.
The treatment removes heavy metals from the body and is based on the fringe theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism - a theory never proved and rejected by mainstream science.
CHICAGO - A government agency in the United States has dropped plans to test a controversial treatment for autism that critics had called an unethical experiment on children.
The National Institute of Mental Health said in a statement Wednesday that the study of chelation (kee-LAY'-shun) has been discontinued. The statement says the agency decided the money would be better used testing other potential therapies for autism and related disorders.
The study had been on hold because of safety concerns . A study published last year linked a chemical used in the treatment to lasting brain problems in rats.
The treatment removes heavy metals from the body and is based on the fringe theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism - a theory never proved and rejected by mainstream science.
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