Mental Health

Abstract Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on bipolar disorder (BD) have implicated the involvement of the fatty acid desaturase ( FADS ) locus. These enzymes (FADS1 and FADS2) are involved in the metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are thought to potentially benefit patients with mood disorders. To model reductions in the activity of FADS1/2 affected by the susceptibility alleles, we generated mutant mice heterozygously lacking both Fads1 / 2 genes. We measured wheel-running activity over six months and observed bipolar swings in activity, including hyperactivity and hypoactivity. The hyperactivity episodes, in which activity was far above the norm, usually lasted half a day; mice manifested significantly shorter immobility times on the behavioral despair test performed during these episodes. The hypoactivity episodes, which lasted for several weeks, were accompanied by abnormal circadian rhythms and a marked decrease in w...

From The Guardian : "Psychosis is often thought to be genetic, or a symptom of brain chemistry gone awry, which is what I was led to believe for much of my journey through the traditional mental health system. Zach's first diagnosis was psychosis NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), a vague kind of  darned if I know  description. Later, depending upon which doctor he saw, he was classified with either schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, depression with psychotic symptoms or, more recently, schizoaffective disorder. These labels plucked from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a text often referred to as the bible of psychiatry, felt more distracting than helpful, masking a deeper truth about what had happened to Zach and our family. They ignored larger questions that were messy and ambiguous . . . . . . I craved solutions, and the more I searched the more confused I became. First, I discovered that no disease markers show up in brain...

Depersonalization can be a symptom of schizophrenia but feeling disconnected from your sense of self doesn't mean you're developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Schizophrenia is a progressive, lifelong mental health disorder that primarily involves symptoms of psychosis — episodes of false reality perception like hallucinations or delusions. Symptoms of psychosis are diagnostic features in schizophrenia, but many other symptoms can accompany this condition. It's not uncommon to feel detached from yourself, as though you're an outsider looking in. This sensation of separation from your identity is known as depersonalization, a part of a larger psychological experience called dissociation. Depersonalization, derealization, and dissociation Dissociation is an umbrella term for a psychological sense of disconnection. It involves 5 areas of perception: depersonalization derealization amnesia identity confusion identity alteration Depersonalization is a part of dissocia...

Cedars-Sinai investigators found that women who developed mood and anxiety disorders associated with pregnancy and childbirth had specific altered proteins circulating in their bloodstream in the third trimester. The study is published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology .   "In this pilot study, we found that participants with perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) symptoms had a unique and distinct prenatal plasma protein signature that regulated certain brain signaling activity and pro-inflammatory pathways," said Eynav Accortt, PhD , director of the  Reproductive Psychology Program  at Cedars-Sinai and corresponding author of the study. The controlled pilot study included 34 women at risk for developing PMAD and 18 controls. Mental health screening was conducted in the third trimester and again three months after giving birth. Investigators used a highly sensitive tool called slow off-rate modified aptamers (SOMA) scan...

The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania is the latest public figure to disclose his mental health struggles, an indication of growing acceptance, though some stigma remains. Lynn Rivers, a Democrat from Michigan, opened up about her diagnosis with bipolar disorder during a radio call-in show when she first ran for Congress. Her opponents had been hinting she had mental health problems. She decided, spur of the moment, to let it out. "Finally, I just said, 'Are you asking me if I have depression? Yes, and so do thousands and millions of other people,'" she recalled. "I was like, 'OK, here we go. The ball is thrown at you, just hit it.' And so I did." That was 1994. Ms. Rivers was elected, despite a Republican tidal wave, and served four terms. Now another Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, has announced that he has entered a hospital to be treated for clinical depression. Politicians of both parties are praising him for his openness. M...

It's rare for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia to occur together, but it is possible. Mental health conditions aren't usually cut-and-dry conditions. It's common for some people to have multiple mental health conditions that might be connected, such as living with depression and anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). The same is true for some people with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can occur together. To understand what the co-occurring disorders of borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia might look like, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with what each disorder looks like separately. And despite the seriousness of each condition, managing symptoms is possible with the right treatment plan. You won't find the term "borderline schizophrenia" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM 5). It hasn't been ...

Why do men seek mental health treatment less than women? Decades of research shows that men are far less likely to seek help for mental health difficulties. Some researchers and clinicians are coming to think that the traditional signs of depression, which include persistent sadness, feelings of worthlessness, and a loss of interest in hobbies may not represent many men's experience of a depressive period. Although research is just beginning to support the idea of a "male-based depression," it is possible that men may instead express their depression in terms of increases in fatigue, irritability, and anger. Research has also suggested that men are more prone to addictive behaviors, particularly alcohol dependence/abuse and substance use disorder, which can mask the signs of depression, making it harder to detect and treat effectively. In 2019, APA issued new  Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Boys and Men  to recognize and address these concerns in bo...