Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with accelerated cognitive decline over time, new research suggests. In an analysis of more than 12,000 middle-aged women who had experienced at least one trauma in their lives, those with PTSD symptoms showed an approximately two-fold faster decline in cognition during follow-up compared with those who did not have … Read more
A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has rejected the atypical antipsychotic pimavanserin (Nuplazid, Acadia Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease psychosis (ADP). In a 9-3 vote, the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) found that the drug’s manufacturer failed to offer convincing evidence of its efficacy in patients with ADP. Today’s rejection … Read more
The following is an excerpt from the newly released book “The Self-Healing Mind: An Essential Five-Step Practice for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, and Revitalizing Your Life.” As interlaced as spirituality and medicine are, some churches and religious practices have historically suggested that mental illness can only be dealt with in the church itself. Conventional medicine … Read more
Burnout in psychiatrists is “highly prevalent” across the globe, new research shows. In a review and meta-analysis of 36 studies and more than 5000 psychiatrists in European countries, as well as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India, Turkey, and Thailand, results showed that 25% of respondents met criteria for burnout, as measured by the … Read more
Impaired vision in older adults is an underrecognized and modifiable dementia risk factor, new research suggests. Investigators analyzed estimated population attributable fractions (PAFs) associated with dementia in more than 16,000 older adults. A PAF represents the number of dementia cases that could be prevented if a given risk factor were eliminated. Results showed the PAF … Read more
DENVER — A first-of-its-kind study evaluating a mindfulness intervention to ease unexpectedly grief showed that the control treatment, progressive muscle relaxation, was more effective. Dr Lindsey Knowles “Both progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness training were shown to improve grief, yearning, depression symptoms, and stress; [but] The results from this study suggest that progressive muscle relaxation … Read more
France — Demand for gender reassignment surgery in children and adolescents has increased in the United States and Europe over the past few years. For its part, the French National Academy of Medicine has urged that caution be exercised when it comes to the therapies involved and advised that the psychological support phase be extended. … Read more
Loss of vestibular function is a key contributor to a well-documented increased risk for falls in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), new research confirms. Falls are twice as common in patients with AD vs older individuals without the disorder and significantly increase the likelihood of institutionalization. However, researchers recorded fewer falls in patients with a … Read more
