Neuroimaging studies of alexithymia: physical, affective, and social perspectives

Alexithymia refers to difficulty in identifying and expressing one's emotions, and it is related to disturbed emotional regulation. It was originally proposed as a personality trait that plays a central role in psychosomatic diseases. This review of neuroimaging studies on alexithymia suggests that alexithymia is associated with reduced neural responses to emotional stimuli from the external environment, as well as with reduced activity during imagery, in the limbic and paralimbic areas (i.e., amygdala, insula, anterior/posterior cingulate cortex). In contrast, alexithymia is also known to be associated with enhanced neural activity in somatosensory and sensorimotor regions, including the insula. Moreover, neural activity in the medial, prefrontal, and insula cortex was lowered when people...

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Video » Project Achieve Weight Loss Trial for People with Serious Mental Illness

NIMH grantee Dr. Gail Daumit talks about the Project Achieve weight loss trial. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

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Prodrome negative symptoms predict experiential symptoms

Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have an increased likelihood of having experiential negative symptoms, such as avolition-apathy and anhedonia-asociality, at first presentation for treatment if they had negative symptoms during the prodrome phase, research suggests. (Source: MedWire News - Schizophrenia)

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CBCL profile identifies severe bipolar I disorder in children

A positive child behavior checklist-severe dysregulation profile, which denotes high scores for attention problems, aggressive behavior, and anxious-depression, could help identify children who are likely to develop a severe form of bipolar I disorder, according to study results. (Source: MedWire News - Bipolar Disorder)

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A New Model of Techniques for Concurrent Psychodynamic Work with Parents of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Patients

To address the neglect of the importance of parent work in the psychodynamic psychotherapy of children and adolescents, the authors present a model of concurrent dynamic parent work that has demonstrated success with patients of all ages. The model includes dual goals for all therapies, addresses the challenge of confidentiality by differentiating privacy and secrecy, and emphasizes the importance of parent work throughout treatment. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Psychodynamic Perspectives on Psychotropic Medications for Children and Adolescents

Recent trends in pediatric psychopharmacology have resulted in advances in treatment but also an overly optimistic and, at times, simplistic extension of pediatric psychopharmacology practice. Concerns about these changes in the field are discussed. The authors outline how understanding the meaning of medications to all those involved in the prescribing process can help integrate our thinking about this complex interaction with patients and their families. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Index

(Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Contributors

(Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Contents

(Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Forthcoming Issues

(Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Preface

This issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America is the second in a pair of volumes devoted to providing a view of psychodynamic psychotherapy as it is currently practiced. A century has passed since psychodynamic psychotherapy with children made its debut in the case of “Little Hans,” in which the horse phobia of a 5-year-old boy was treated by Freud through consultations and subsequent recommendations to the boy’s father. During the following century, child and adolescent psychodynamic psychotherapy flourished when child and adolescent psychiatry focused on fostering development and a healthy adaptation to life circumstances. With the publication of the DSM III, the field shifted toward a focus on diagnosis, with descriptive psychopathology as an organizing r...

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The State of the Evidence Base for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents

This article reviews outcomes of psychodynamic psychotherapy (PP) for children and adolescents reported in articles identified by a comprehensive review of the literature on treatment evaluations of psychological and medical interventions for mental disorders in pediatric populations. The review identified 48 reports based on 33 studies. While there is evidence of substantial clinical gains associated with PP, in almost all the studies, when contrasted with family-based interventions, PP fares no better and appears to produce outcomes with some delay relative to family-based therapies. Further rigorous evaluations are needed, but evidence to date suggests that the context in which PP is delivered should be extended from the traditional context of individual therapy and parents should be in...

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Family Intervention as a Developmental Psychodynamic Therapy

This article reviews a continuum of family interventions targeting interactions that shape the child’s mind, and offers guidance to the clinician about when to use individual and family approaches. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Play Technique in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This article present clinical examples to illustrate how the author uses play in the clinical situation. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Games Children Play: Board Games in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This article discusses ways to use board-game play therapeutically, by watching the way children stretch and bend the rules to display their psychological self-states, and by interpreting their experiences within the play. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Mentalizing-Based Treatment with Adolescents and Families

In this article, the process of mentalizing, its components, and role in self-regulation and attachment are reviewed. An examination is presented of the neurodevelopmental changes affecting the adolescent’s capacity to mentalize and the role of such compromised mentalizing in the adolescent’s vulnerability to adaptive breakdown and psychopathology, in general, and to emerging personality disorders, in particular. The principles, objectives, and core features of mentalizing-based treatment and its application to adolescents and families are discussed. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)

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Stop-Smoking Drugs Not Equal in Real Life (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Varenicline (Chantix) may hold some longer-term advantages for smoking cessation compared with bupropion (Zyban, others), according to a community-based trial. (Source: MedPage Today Psychiatry)

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CBCL profile identifies severe bipolar I disorder in children

A positive child behavior checklist-severe dysregulation profile, which denotes high scores for attention problems, aggressive behavior, and anxious-depression, could help identify children who are likely to develop a severe form of bipolar I disorder, according to study results. (Source: MedWire News - Psychiatry)

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Physicians Fight to Keep Psychologists From PrescribingPhysicians Fight to Keep Psychologists From Prescribing

Illinois has moved to allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications, but judging from the fate of no less than 170 similar bills across the country, it's going to be an uphill battle. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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CBT Improves Anger Management in Intellectually DisabledCBT Improves Anger Management in Intellectually Disabled

Group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy from "lay therapists" may improve anger coping skills and decrease levels of challenging behavior in people with intellectual disabilities. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Poll: Gender Differences in Depression

Typically studies point to the fact that women will experience depression twice as often as men. Does this statistic hold true for visitors to this site? What's your gender? Click through to vote in our forum poll....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Depression)

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How We React To Customer Abuse Depends On Culture

A new UBC study reveals that North American service workers are more likely to sabotage rude customers, while Chinese react by disengaging from customer service altogether. "Our research shows that culture plays a significant role in how frontline workers deal with customer abuse," says UBC Sauder School of Business Professor Daniel Skarlicki, a co-author of the study. "In North America, employees tend to retaliate against offensive customers - doing things like giving bad directions or serving cold food... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Same-Sex Parents Likely To Be Judged More Harshly Than Heterosexual Parents

Is there a double standard for gay parents? A new study published this month by a Binghamton University research team suggests that gay parents are being judged more harshly than straight parents. Members of Binghamton University's Interdisciplinary Research Group for the Study of Sexuality and Gender conducted a study of people's reactions to the parenting behaviors of gay and straight parents. Their results showed a clear pattern of negative reactions from study participants towards a gay couple engaging in exactly the same negative parenting behaviors as a straight couple... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Creating Nontoxic Cassava May Prevent Konzo, 'Bound Legs' Disease

The harm done by konzo - a disease overshadowed by the war and drought it tends to accompany - goes beyond its devastating physical effects to impair children's memory, problem solving and other cognitive functions. Even children without physical symptoms of konzo appear to lose cognitive ability when exposed to the toxin that causes the disease, researchers report in the journal Pediatrics. "That's what's especially alarming," said lead author Michael Boivin, a Michigan State University associate professor of psychiatry and of neurology and ophthalmology... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Spring Forward, Fall Back Into Depression?

While many look forward to Daylight Saving Time and having more light at the end of the day, others, especially those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), may find themselves slipping back into depression at this time of year....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Depression)

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Incidence rates and risk factors of bipolar disorder in the general population: a population‐based cohort study

ConclusionsWe found two peaks in the age at onset of bipolar disorder, one in early adulthood and one in later life, the former consisting mainly of bipolar I disorder subjects. The incidence of bipolar disorder is higher in deprived areas. The onset of bipolar disorder is not associated with gender, urbanization, or month or season of birth. (Source: Bipolar Disorders)

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Randomized controlled study of the T‐type calcium channel antagonist MK‐8998 for the treatment of acute psychosis in patients with schizophrenia

ConclusionsMK‐8998 was not effective in treating acutely psychotic inpatients with schizophrenia, as measured by PANSS score at week 4. Because of the limited efficacy of the active comparator, we cannot exclude the possibility that T‐type calcium channel antagonists could prove to be effective in schizophrenia. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Efficacy of the novel antidepressant agomelatine for anxiety symptoms in major depression

ConclusionOnce‐a‐day oral agomelatine is a new, efficacious alternative option for the treatment of anxiety in patients with major depression. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Levels of TNF‐α, soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR1, sTNFR2), and cognition in bipolar disorder

ConclusionsHigh levels of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 in euthymic patients showed that it may support that proinflammatory process continues in euthymic period. This is the first study which showed increased sTNFR2 levels in euthymic period, which could be interpreted as a compensatory mechanism and again the first which deals with verbal memory. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Inferring about individual drug and schizotypy effects on cognitive functioning in polydrug using mephedrone users before and after clubbing

ConclusionResults suggest that polydrug use and depressive symptoms in the general population negatively affect cognition. For schizotypy, only elevated cognitive disorganisation showed potential links to a pathological cognitive profile previously reported along the psychosis dimension. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Movement disorders in patients with schizophrenia and a history of substance abuse

ConclusionsHistory or current use of alcohol or drug abuse did not predict EPS, except for alcohol abuse at the time of diagnosis which was associated with current akathisia. Length of illness was correlated with EPS, whereas suicidality was not linked to akathisia. Neither chlorpromazine equivalent antipsychotic dose nor whether the patient received first‐generation or second‐generation antipsychotic medication was significantly associated with EPS or substance abuse. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Plasma catecholamine metabolite levels and the activities of psychiatric symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus

ConclusionHyperactivity of noradrenergic neurons and/or sympathetic nerves might be involved in SLE pathophysiology. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental)

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Differences in impact of long term caregiving for mentally ill older adults on the daily life of informal caregivers: a qualitative study

Conclusions: The concept of freedom of choice adds to our understanding of the differences and explains the variation in impact on the caregivers' life. The type 1 caregiver generally experiences gain whereas type 2 generally experiences loss, which puts the latter group typically at risk of becoming overloaded. Whether people perceive that they have freedom of choice in caregiving is an important consideration in evaluating the type of intervention needed to support caregivers. (Source: BMC Psychiatry - Latest articles)

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The reliability and validity of the Questionnaire - Children with Difficulties (QCD)

Conclusions: The internal consistency and validity of the QCD were demonstrated. The QCD is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating daily life problems for children during different time periods of the day. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health)

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How Do You Find Credible Health Information Online?

One of the things I love about the Internet is that you can find information about anything and everything under the sun. Need to know how late your local bank is open? It's there. Looking for an antique sock knitting machine. That's probably there too....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Depression)

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Infection exposure linked to cognitive performance

Research shows that people with the highest level of exposure to common pathogens, such as the cold-sore-causing virus herpes simplex type 1, have worse cognition than those with the lowest level of exposure. (Source: MedWire News - Psychiatry)

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Antidepressants Not Tied to Stunted Infant GrowthAntidepressants Not Tied to Stunted Infant Growth

A small new study finds no size differences in the first year of life between babies exposed and not exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

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Regional variation in hospital admission rates for long term conditions

March 27, 2013: Hospital admission rates for patients with long term conditions differ markedly across the country, new analysis from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows today. (Source: The IC : Mental Health)

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Lamictal/Lamotrigine Side Effects

The side effects of Lamictal - generic lamotrigine - are important for patients and their caregivers to know. While Lamictal is generally a safe and well-tolerated medication, some side effects are serious or even life threatening. (Source: About.com Bipolar Disorder)

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