Signs And Symptoms Of Brain Problems

Brains are very complex organs. Each day we depend on them to help us do the simplest things such as brushing our teeth to solving the most complex problems, like whether to apply for a new job or not. There are certain injuries and sicknesses that can stop the brain from functioning the way it used to or the way others do.

The first kind of brain problem that can occur is caused by trauma. This can be a impact of the head of any kind from mild to severe. Head trauma can cause skull fractures, hematoma and contusions of the brain tissue. Where and how hard you are hit will partly determine the extent of the damage of the brain injury.

Headaches are also a type of brain problem or symptom. These can range from simple headaches to more painful headaches such as migraines. If you are finding your headaches are more frequent or longer lasting it is possible it is pointing to some bigger problem with your overall brain health.

One of the most serious brain injuries that can occur is a brain aneurysm. An aneurysm is a weak blood vessel in the brain. If this aneurysm bursts before you get to a medical professional it could be potentially fatal. The usual symptoms are a terrible headache that comes on quickly you could also experience double vision, neck stiffness and eye pain.

Another serious medical condition that can product brain symptoms is a stroke. A stroke can occur when the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen which can be caused from a few different reasons. Strokes can have lasting effects in some cases including headaches, confusion memory loss or paralysis.

Although some brain traumas such as headaches are simple and will go away on their own there are some symptoms that require immediate medical treatment. These symptoms include change in consciousness, change in mental status such as hallucinations or lethargy, double vision, difficulty walking, garbled speech, loss of muscle use and severe stiff necks or headaches. If you experience any of these symptoms it is best to dial emergency right away.

Keeping the brain in optimal condition is essential to your overall brain health. If you suspect you may have a brain injury or are experiencing any of these symptoms you should consider getting checked by a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you find out the problem the less likely you are to experience long term brain issues.

Nathanael Eisenberg is the CEO of CogniFit, a company that develops software which measure and train cognitive abilities. We help people discover new insights about themselves and decide what to improve in their life.

The rapid growth of scientific knowledge around the brain creates new opportunities to help tackle some of the major challenges of the early part of the 21st century. Nathanael's goal is to participate in the search of some of these additional solutions.

View the original article here ezine.com

Schizophrenia Symptoms: The Positive, Negative and Cognitive Symptoms

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects around 2.5 million of Americans. The word "schizophrenia" literally translates to "split mind", but it does not actually refer to split personality or multiple personalities. It refers to the disruption in emotion and cognition. Commonly, the symptoms start to develop at from age of 13 to 25. Men usually show the warning signs in their teens or 20s, while women show symptoms when they are in their 20s or early 30s. What are schizophrenia symptoms? The warning signs are classified into three categories: positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.

Positive Symptoms

Patients show positive symptoms when their perception of reality does not exist in the real world. Delusions are one of them; the term refers to the distorted belief that the sufferer strongly holds. One can experience something that is called "delusion of grandeur". This happens when one believes that he or she is well known or has extraordinary powers. Delusions can also be a belief about being followed or being controlled by someone or something. Besides delusions, hallucinations are also categorized as a positive symptom. Hallucinations are disturbances of the perception; usually people experiencing this symptom will see or hear something that is not there. Difficulty in speaking and disorganized behavior are also categorized into this group of symptoms. People suffering from schizophrenia often speak only a little even when they are urged to interact.

Negative Symptoms

Negative symptoms are the absence of the characteristics of normal function. Compared to the positive ones, they are less apparent, and therefore are more difficult to identify. Patients will experience loss of motivation, sense of apathy, social withdrawal, and more. Patients may also show changes in expressing the emotions.

Cognitive Symptoms

Just like the negative symptoms, cognitive symptoms are also hard to identify as they are subtle. They include difficulty in focusing attention, as well as difficulty in understanding information and not knowing how to use them to make decisions. These symptoms can cause emotional distress and sufferers who experience cognitive symptoms will find it difficult to live a normal life.

Those are some common schizophrenia symptoms that you should know. People who are suffering from this debilitating condition need immediate medical attention, but they may not even know that they have it. Thus, it would be your responsibility to find professional help when you find out that your family members or friends are suffering from this mental disorder.

Get more information on schizophrenia symptoms and how you can help schizophrenics deal with the symptoms by visiting our website.

View the original article here ezine.com

Adult ADHD: Common Problems and Symptoms

ADHD in children is a little more obvious and easier to detect. As the name suggests, attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a condition characterized by the inability to sit still, pay attention for prolonged periods of time, or controlling one's impulses. Come adolescence and adulthood, the hyperactive ADHD symptoms tend to get replaced by a host of other problems related to behavior, mood, and productivity. Adult ADHD still comes with difficulties paying attention, remembering information, and completing tasks. However, the disorder is also more likely to cause the following related problems if the person does not seek help immediately.

Relationship problems

All couples experience problems at some point in their relationship, but having ADHD tends to complicate these issues. ADHD symptoms can be very erratic - an adult with ADHD may be extremely open and loving one day but hyperfocused in a couple of hours. This can be very confusing for a partner to deal with, especially when their loved one suddenly seems cold or distant for no reason. Adults with ADHD also tend to have short fuses that can be set off by almost anything. The partner of such an adult is often left confused and angry about the outbursts that seem to occur from out of nowhere. It's hardly surprising that adults with ADHD tend to have more marital problems, multiple marriages, and higher incidences of divorce or separation.

Career problems

An adult with ADHD faces a lot of challenges at work. Poor time management, disorganization, and distractibility are just some of the symptoms that can impair one's productivity and performance. Even symptoms like interrupting others or blurting blunt statements can make a negative impact on one's relationship with co-workers and colleagues. All of these traits increase one's risk of losing a promotion or getting fired.

Another problem adults with ADHD contend with at work is their need for stimulation and excitement. Almost every job requires doing mundane, repetitive tasks, which can trigger boredom that sidetracks the adult and causing his or her performance to suffer. For these reasons, adults with ADHD are likely to change employers frequently or have fewer occupational achievements.

It's important for adults with ADHD to be able to find work they consider interesting. Once they find a job they feel passionate about, their performance usually soars and their symptoms seem to have a smaller impact on their work.

Emotional problems

Adults with ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, low frustration tolerance, and mood swings. Experts believe that these emotional problems are either caused by ADHD themselves or their difficulties dealing with the symptoms. These problems also increase the risk of substance abuse or addiction, getting into motor vehicle accidents, impulsive shopping, or eating disorders.

Adult ADHD can be treated

Reading this list of problems might sound a bit discouraging, but adults with ADHD don't have to be slaves to their symptoms forever. There are many treatment options available to adults, from medication to behavior therapy. While ADHD cannot be outgrown, adults can learn to adapt and work around their symptoms so they can develop their strengths and live productive, meaningful lives.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

View the original article here ezine.com

How to Detect Early Schizophrenia Symptoms

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder mostly connected with the thought process and emotional responsiveness. The medical condition is characterized by impaired thinking, behaviors, and emotions. Usually, the disintegration of thought process and emotional responsiveness manifests in the form of paranoia, strange delusions, auditory hallucinations, and disorganized speech and thinking. These symptoms are often followed by noticeable dysfunctions in social and occupational aspects. Although children ages 14 or under can be affected by this mental disorder, schizophrenia typically begins between the ages of 15 and 25. The early signs can be categorized into several groups, namely physical symptoms, behavior, feeling and mood, cognitive problems, as well as delusions and hallucinations.

Physical Symptoms

Early physical symptoms include unusual postures or gestures, awkward gait, clumsiness, sleeping disorder (either insomnia or too much sleep), sped up movements, slowed up movements, overly sensitive senses (especially to bright lights or loud noises), involuntary movements of tongue and mouth, Parkinsonian symptoms (e.g. jerking arm movements, rigidity). Other physical symptoms include blank facial expression, inability to express emotion through the face, and tendency to stare with infrequent blinking while engaged in deep thinking.

Behavior

People with schizophrenia tend to restrain themselves from social activities and have difficulty in building or maintaining relationships, neglect their self-care (e.g. clothing, hygiene, appearance), have excessive preoccupation with spiritual or religious activities, misuse drugs and alcohol, replay or rehearse conversations in loud voice (i.e. talking to themselves), and smoke (although many non-schizophrenic people also smoke). They also find it hard to cope with minor problems or difficult situations and are unable to engage in purposeful activities.

Feeling and Mood

Schizophrenia also affects feelings and moods. Early signs include inability to feel enjoyment from doing activities, feeling indifference to important matters, hypersensitivity to insults or criticism, sudden anger, little enthusiasm, depression, severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and frequent mood changing.

Cognitive Problems

Early signs of schizophrenia also include cognitive problems such as ruminating thoughts (thoughts that go round and round the head), poverty of speech (speaking very little), thought blocking, lack of insight, strange use of language structure, difficulty in expressing thoughts verbally, nonsensical logic, or disintegrated thought, action, and behavior.

Delusions and Hallucinations

Delusions are most frequently connected with paranoia and can manifest in many forms. People suffering from schizophrenia might think that their food might be poisoned or that the people around them are conspiring to harass them. A religious person may have the delusion that she/he is a god or a prophet. Meanwhile, hallucinations include visual and auditory hallucinations.

It is very important for you to know how to identify early schizophrenia symptoms. The earlier schizophrenia is detected, the higher the chance for cure. Visit our website to find out more about this mental disorder.

View the original article here ezine.com

ADHD Symptoms: Three Simple Solutions

Lack of focus and easy distractibility makes it difficult for kids to accomplish the easiest of tasks. As for those diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms present a number of daily hurdles that cannot be overcome without help. The treatments provided by your doctor can minimize symptoms but for long-term recovery, your child needs to learn how to manage ADHD himself. Below are some simple solutions to problems presented by ADHD.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactive behavior is the most visible of the symptoms; it's difficult to ignore a child who can never sit still! However, new research shows that hyperactive kids do need to keep on moving in order to stay focused and attentive. Teach your child ways to fidget without being disruptive. For instance, let your child squeeze a stress ball or manipulate a small toy in situations where he needs to sit still. While studying, encourage your child to memorize facts while walking around the room or jumping on a trampoline. It also helps to give your child the opportunity to burn extra energy with sports, dance classes, and other extracurricular activities that require movement.

Distractibility

Kids and adults with ADHD rarely ever pause to think about their options, and this makes distractibility even more of a problem. For instance, if your child's cellphone rings while washing the dishes, your child will probably pick up the call and spend thirty minutes talking, leaving you to finish up after. Or when your child comes home from the library, he might head to the kitchen for a snack and leave a borrowed book on the table. The next day, your child is late for school because he takes too long looking for it. You've probably observed different variations of these situations, but the final result is the same - your ADHD child gets distracted and the task at hands suffers.

Help your child eliminate distractions by coming up with solutions that will enable him to do the right tasks when they should be done, without even giving it a second thought. Suggest putting all mobile phones on silent mode while your child is doing chores or homework. Designate one area of the house where your child should place his school things, such as a table beside the front door. Ask your child to leave his backpack and books in this area before proceeding to the rest of the house. The proximity of this area prevents your child from getting distracted by something in the house and losing important things.

Impulsivity

Impulsive children with ADHD let their initial feelings dictate their behavior - they go with what they feel instead of what they thing. Minimizing impulsivity will take time and effort, but your child can manage it with a technique called mindful meditation. This practice allows your child to be in the moment and be aware of the self. Martial arts is another discipline that can teach kids to control their impulses.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

View the original article here ezine.com

Risk factors predictive of psychiatric symptoms after traumatic brain injury

ScienceDaily (July 11, 2011) — A history of psychiatric illness such as depression or anxiety before a traumatic brain injury (TBI), together with other risk factors, are strongly predictive of post-TBI psychiatric disorders, according to an article published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

In addition to a pre-injury psychiatric disorder, two other factors are early indicators of an increased risk for psychiatric illness one year after a TBI: psychiatric symptoms during the acute post-injury period, and a concurrent limb injury. Kate Rachel Gould, DPsych, Jennie Louise Ponsford, PhD, Lisa Johnston, PhD, and Michael Schönberger, PhD, Epworth Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and University of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, also describe a link between risk of psychiatric symptoms and unemployment, pain, and poor quality of life during the 12-month post-TBI period.

In the presence of a limb injury, patients who suffered a TBI had a 6.4 greater risk of psychiatric disorders at 1 year, and a 4-fold greater risk of depression in particular, compared to patients without a limb injury.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

Kate Rachel Gould, Jennie Louise Ponsford, Lisa Johnston, Michael Schönberger. Predictive and Associated Factors of Psychiatric Disorders after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Study. Journal of Neurotrauma, 2011; : 110613150039035 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2010.1528

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here sciencedaily.com

Short-term use of amphetamines can improve ADHD symptoms in adults, review finds

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — Giving amphetamines to adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can help them control their symptoms, but the side effects mean that some people do not manage to take them for very long. These conclusions were drawn by a team of five researchers working at Girona and Barcelona Universities in Spain, and published in a new Cochrane Systematic Review.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a childhood onset disorder, but half of people with it find that the symptoms of hyperactivity, mood instability, irritability, difficulties in maintaining attention, lack of organization and impulsive behaviours persist into adulthood. "We wanted to see whether amphetamines could reverse the underlying neurological problems that feature in ADHD, and so improve ADHD symptoms," says Xavier Castells, who led the study and works in the Unit of Clinical Pharmacology at University of Girona.

After searching through medical literature, they identified seven studies, which had enrolled a total of 1091 participants in clinical trials. The three amphetamine based medicines they considered (dextroamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine and mixed amphetamine salts (MAS)) all reduced ADHD symptoms, although there was no evidence that higher doses worked better than lower ones.. The researchers did not find any difference between in effectiveness between formulations that release the amphetamines rapidly, and those that have a sustained-release.

While there was evidence that people taking amphetamines drop out of treatment due to adverse events slightly more than those on placebo controls, the researchers were keen to point out that only 9% of people taking amphetamines withdrew from treatment. Looking at the different formulations of amphetamines, those on MAS had lower drop-out rates than those on other versions of the drug. Furthermore, most studies had a duration of between 2 and 7 weeks, therefore precluding the possibility of drawing conclusions regarding amphetamine's efficacy and safety in the long-term.

In many clinical trials, doctors randomly allocate some patients to 'treatment group' and give them the active medication, while others are placed in a 'control group' and receive a placebo -- a treatment that looks and feels like the real thing, but has no active ingredient in it. The idea is that the patient doesn't know which one they are on. This helps researchers determine how much of any apparent treatment effect is actually due to the therapy, and how much is due to other factors unrelated to drug effects such as the person believes regarding the efficacy of the intervention or the natural history of the disease. This experimental system only works, though, if the patients have no idea which group they are in. "One of the problems with trying to make sense of this research is that you cannot do a properly controlled study because the amphetamines have such a distinct set of effects.. Patients instantly know whether they are on the treatment or the placebo, so you have to be more cautious about the way you interpret the data," says Castells.

"Given that other drugs, like atomoxetine or methylphenidate, have also been shown to reduce ADHD symptoms in adults, it would be of great interest to compare the efficacy of amphetamines to these interventions," says Castells.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Wiley-Blackwell, via AlphaGalileo.

Journal Reference:

Xavier Castells, Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Rosa Bosch, Mariana Nogueira, Miguel Casas. Amphetamines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011; 6: CD007813 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007813.pub2

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Short-term use of amphetamines can improve ADHD symptoms in adults, review finds

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — Giving amphetamines to adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can help them control their symptoms, but the side effects mean that some people do not manage to take them for very long. These conclusions were drawn by a team of five researchers working at Girona and Barcelona Universities in Spain, and published in a new Cochrane Systematic Review.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a childhood onset disorder, but half of people with it find that the symptoms of hyperactivity, mood instability, irritability, difficulties in maintaining attention, lack of organization and impulsive behaviours persist into adulthood. "We wanted to see whether amphetamines could reverse the underlying neurological problems that feature in ADHD, and so improve ADHD symptoms," says Xavier Castells, who led the study and works in the Unit of Clinical Pharmacology at University of Girona.

After searching through medical literature, they identified seven studies, which had enrolled a total of 1091 participants in clinical trials. The three amphetamine based medicines they considered (dextroamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine and mixed amphetamine salts (MAS)) all reduced ADHD symptoms, although there was no evidence that higher doses worked better than lower ones.. The researchers did not find any difference between in effectiveness between formulations that release the amphetamines rapidly, and those that have a sustained-release.

While there was evidence that people taking amphetamines drop out of treatment due to adverse events slightly more than those on placebo controls, the researchers were keen to point out that only 9% of people taking amphetamines withdrew from treatment. Looking at the different formulations of amphetamines, those on MAS had lower drop-out rates than those on other versions of the drug. Furthermore, most studies had a duration of between 2 and 7 weeks, therefore precluding the possibility of drawing conclusions regarding amphetamine's efficacy and safety in the long-term.

In many clinical trials, doctors randomly allocate some patients to 'treatment group' and give them the active medication, while others are placed in a 'control group' and receive a placebo -- a treatment that looks and feels like the real thing, but has no active ingredient in it. The idea is that the patient doesn't know which one they are on. This helps researchers determine how much of any apparent treatment effect is actually due to the therapy, and how much is due to other factors unrelated to drug effects such as the person believes regarding the efficacy of the intervention or the natural history of the disease. This experimental system only works, though, if the patients have no idea which group they are in. "One of the problems with trying to make sense of this research is that you cannot do a properly controlled study because the amphetamines have such a distinct set of effects.. Patients instantly know whether they are on the treatment or the placebo, so you have to be more cautious about the way you interpret the data," says Castells.

"Given that other drugs, like atomoxetine or methylphenidate, have also been shown to reduce ADHD symptoms in adults, it would be of great interest to compare the efficacy of amphetamines to these interventions," says Castells.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Wiley-Blackwell, via AlphaGalileo.

Journal Reference:

Xavier Castells, Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Rosa Bosch, Mariana Nogueira, Miguel Casas. Amphetamines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011; 6: CD007813 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007813.pub2

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

New therapy may help people with unexplained symptoms of pain, weakness and fatigue

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — A new type of therapy may help people with symptoms such as pain, weakness, or dizziness that can't be explained by an underlying disease, according to a study published in the July 27, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These symptoms, which can also include fatigue, tingling and numbness, are also known as functional or psychogenic symptoms.

"People with these symptoms make up one-third of all clinic visits, but the outcomes are poor," said study author Michael Sharpe, MD, of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Previous studies have shown that intense cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce the symptoms, distress and disability in people with these symptoms, but there are obstacles to providing this therapy. Many people do not feel psychological treatment is appropriate and resist referrals to mental health services, and therapists trained in cognitive behavioral therapy are not available in all communities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to improve people's physical symptoms, emotional state and functioning by helping them to understand, and where necessary change, how they think about and respond to their symptoms and life situation.

For the study, the researchers developed a self-help workbook especially for patients with physical symptoms that was based on the therapy. A total of 62 people were given the workbook and over three months had up to four half-hour hour sessions guiding them in the use of the book with a nurse at their neurologist's office in addition to their usual medical care. They were compared to 63 people who received only their usual medical care. Most of the participants also had psychiatric diagnoses, such as panic disorder, anxiety disorder and depression.

After three months, the people who received the extra therapy were approximately twice as likely to report improvements in their overall health as those who did not receive the extra therapy. A total of 13 percent more people who received the extra therapy reported that their health was "better" or "much better" than those who received only their usual care.

After six months, there was no longer a significant difference in improvements in overall health between the two groups. However, those receiving the extra therapy continued to have greater improvement in their symptoms than those who received the usual care and also in their physical functioning. They were also more satisfied with their treatment.

"This study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy-based guided self-help may be a new and potentially useful first step in improving the management of these challenging symptoms," Sharpe said. "This approach needs further evaluation but can be a potentially effective and cost-effective first step toward providing more help for these often neglected patients."

The study was supported by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology.

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

New therapy may help people with unexplained symptoms of pain, weakness and fatigue

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — A new type of therapy may help people with symptoms such as pain, weakness, or dizziness that can't be explained by an underlying disease, according to a study published in the July 27, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These symptoms, which can also include fatigue, tingling and numbness, are also known as functional or psychogenic symptoms.

"People with these symptoms make up one-third of all clinic visits, but the outcomes are poor," said study author Michael Sharpe, MD, of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Previous studies have shown that intense cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce the symptoms, distress and disability in people with these symptoms, but there are obstacles to providing this therapy. Many people do not feel psychological treatment is appropriate and resist referrals to mental health services, and therapists trained in cognitive behavioral therapy are not available in all communities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to improve people's physical symptoms, emotional state and functioning by helping them to understand, and where necessary change, how they think about and respond to their symptoms and life situation.

For the study, the researchers developed a self-help workbook especially for patients with physical symptoms that was based on the therapy. A total of 62 people were given the workbook and over three months had up to four half-hour hour sessions guiding them in the use of the book with a nurse at their neurologist's office in addition to their usual medical care. They were compared to 63 people who received only their usual medical care. Most of the participants also had psychiatric diagnoses, such as panic disorder, anxiety disorder and depression.

After three months, the people who received the extra therapy were approximately twice as likely to report improvements in their overall health as those who did not receive the extra therapy. A total of 13 percent more people who received the extra therapy reported that their health was "better" or "much better" than those who received only their usual care.

After six months, there was no longer a significant difference in improvements in overall health between the two groups. However, those receiving the extra therapy continued to have greater improvement in their symptoms than those who received the usual care and also in their physical functioning. They were also more satisfied with their treatment.

"This study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy-based guided self-help may be a new and potentially useful first step in improving the management of these challenging symptoms," Sharpe said. "This approach needs further evaluation but can be a potentially effective and cost-effective first step toward providing more help for these often neglected patients."

The study was supported by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology.

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Risk factors predictive of psychiatric symptoms after traumatic brain injury

ScienceDaily (July 11, 2011) — A history of psychiatric illness such as depression or anxiety before a traumatic brain injury (TBI), together with other risk factors, are strongly predictive of post-TBI psychiatric disorders, according to an article published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

In addition to a pre-injury psychiatric disorder, two other factors are early indicators of an increased risk for psychiatric illness one year after a TBI: psychiatric symptoms during the acute post-injury period, and a concurrent limb injury. Kate Rachel Gould, DPsych, Jennie Louise Ponsford, PhD, Lisa Johnston, PhD, and Michael Schönberger, PhD, Epworth Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and University of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, also describe a link between risk of psychiatric symptoms and unemployment, pain, and poor quality of life during the 12-month post-TBI period.

In the presence of a limb injury, patients who suffered a TBI had a 6.4 greater risk of psychiatric disorders at 1 year, and a 4-fold greater risk of depression in particular, compared to patients without a limb injury.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

Kate Rachel Gould, Jennie Louise Ponsford, Lisa Johnston, Michael Schönberger. Predictive and Associated Factors of Psychiatric Disorders after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Study. Journal of Neurotrauma, 2011; : 110613150039035 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2010.1528

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Brain imaging study of preschoolers with ADHD detects brain differences linked to symptoms

ScienceDaily (June 10, 2011) — In a study published June 9 in the Clinical Neuropsychologist, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute found differences in the brain development of preschool children with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results showed the region of the brain important for cognitive and motor control was smaller in these children than in typically developing children. Novel for its use of neuroimaging in very young, preschool age children with early symptoms of ADHD, this study's examination of brain differences may offer new insights into potential early interventions for the disorder.

ADHD is the single most common child behavioral diagnosis, affecting approximately 2 million children. This highly prevalent developmental disorder is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. By age 4, as many as 40 percent of children have sufficient problems with attention to be of concern to parents and preschool teachers. This observation is important, as children whose symptoms begin in early childhood are at high risk for academic failure and grade repetition.

Since preschool children with symptoms of ADHD are at significant risk for social and academic difficulties compared to typically developing children, researchers set out to determine how to identify the disorder as early as possible in order to begin intervention earlier and facilitate better outcomes. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have provided some insights into brain differences associated with ADHD, but these have almost exclusively focused on children ages 7 and older.

In the current study, researchers examined brain images in preschoolers (ages 4 and 5) both with and without symptoms of ADHD, specifically looking at cortical and basal ganglia volumes and the size of these particular areas of the brain. Researchers analyzed high resolution MRI brain images in 26 preschoolers, 13 presenting with ADHD symptoms and 13 without, and found differences in the caudate nucleus.The caudate nucleus is a small structure in the subcortical region of the brain and is associated with cognitive and motor control. Results showed that children with ADHD symptoms had significantly reduced caudate volumes compared to the children who did not present with ADHD symptoms. Additionally, these caudate volumes were significantly correlated with parent ratings of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Cortical volumes, however, were not associated with symptom severity. Researchers concluded that differences in basal ganglia development, particularly the caudate nucleus, appear to play an important role among children presenting with early onset symptoms of ADHD.

"Clinically, this abnormal brain development sets the stage for the symptoms of ADHD that contribute to cognitive challenges and problems in school," said Dr. Mark Mahone, lead author and Director of Neuropsychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. "Earlier identification and treatment of children presenting with attention problems in the preschool years may minimize the impact of ADHD in the long-term."

As part of this longitudinal study, researchers will continue to follow the brain development of these children to determine if abnormalities persist or regress with age.

This study was principally supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Kennedy Krieger Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

E. M. Mahoneab; D. Crocettia; M. E. Rantaa; A. Gaddisa; M. Cataldoa; K. J. Sliferab; M. B. Dencklaab; S. H. Mostofskyab. A Preliminary Neuroimaging Study of Preschool Children with ADHD The Clinical Neuropsychologist. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 09 June 2011 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2011.580784

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Brain imaging study of preschoolers with ADHD detects brain differences linked to symptoms

ScienceDaily (June 10, 2011) — In a study published June 9 in the Clinical Neuropsychologist, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute found differences in the brain development of preschool children with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results showed the region of the brain important for cognitive and motor control was smaller in these children than in typically developing children. Novel for its use of neuroimaging in very young, preschool age children with early symptoms of ADHD, this study's examination of brain differences may offer new insights into potential early interventions for the disorder.

ADHD is the single most common child behavioral diagnosis, affecting approximately 2 million children. This highly prevalent developmental disorder is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. By age 4, as many as 40 percent of children have sufficient problems with attention to be of concern to parents and preschool teachers. This observation is important, as children whose symptoms begin in early childhood are at high risk for academic failure and grade repetition.

Since preschool children with symptoms of ADHD are at significant risk for social and academic difficulties compared to typically developing children, researchers set out to determine how to identify the disorder as early as possible in order to begin intervention earlier and facilitate better outcomes. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have provided some insights into brain differences associated with ADHD, but these have almost exclusively focused on children ages 7 and older.

In the current study, researchers examined brain images in preschoolers (ages 4 and 5) both with and without symptoms of ADHD, specifically looking at cortical and basal ganglia volumes and the size of these particular areas of the brain. Researchers analyzed high resolution MRI brain images in 26 preschoolers, 13 presenting with ADHD symptoms and 13 without, and found differences in the caudate nucleus.The caudate nucleus is a small structure in the subcortical region of the brain and is associated with cognitive and motor control. Results showed that children with ADHD symptoms had significantly reduced caudate volumes compared to the children who did not present with ADHD symptoms. Additionally, these caudate volumes were significantly correlated with parent ratings of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Cortical volumes, however, were not associated with symptom severity. Researchers concluded that differences in basal ganglia development, particularly the caudate nucleus, appear to play an important role among children presenting with early onset symptoms of ADHD.

"Clinically, this abnormal brain development sets the stage for the symptoms of ADHD that contribute to cognitive challenges and problems in school," said Dr. Mark Mahone, lead author and Director of Neuropsychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. "Earlier identification and treatment of children presenting with attention problems in the preschool years may minimize the impact of ADHD in the long-term."

As part of this longitudinal study, researchers will continue to follow the brain development of these children to determine if abnormalities persist or regress with age.

This study was principally supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Kennedy Krieger Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

E. M. Mahoneab; D. Crocettia; M. E. Rantaa; A. Gaddisa; M. Cataldoa; K. J. Sliferab; M. B. Dencklaab; S. H. Mostofskyab. A Preliminary Neuroimaging Study of Preschool Children with ADHD The Clinical Neuropsychologist. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 09 June 2011 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2011.580784

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Risk factors predictive of psychiatric symptoms after traumatic brain injury

ScienceDaily (July 11, 2011) — A history of psychiatric illness such as depression or anxiety before a traumatic brain injury (TBI), together with other risk factors, are strongly predictive of post-TBI psychiatric disorders, according to an article published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

In addition to a pre-injury psychiatric disorder, two other factors are early indicators of an increased risk for psychiatric illness one year after a TBI: psychiatric symptoms during the acute post-injury period, and a concurrent limb injury. Kate Rachel Gould, DPsych, Jennie Louise Ponsford, PhD, Lisa Johnston, PhD, and Michael Schönberger, PhD, Epworth Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and University of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, also describe a link between risk of psychiatric symptoms and unemployment, pain, and poor quality of life during the 12-month post-TBI period.

In the presence of a limb injury, patients who suffered a TBI had a 6.4 greater risk of psychiatric disorders at 1 year, and a 4-fold greater risk of depression in particular, compared to patients without a limb injury.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal Reference:

Kate Rachel Gould, Jennie Louise Ponsford, Lisa Johnston, Michael Schönberger. Predictive and Associated Factors of Psychiatric Disorders after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Study. Journal of Neurotrauma, 2011; : 110613150039035 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2010.1528

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Panic symptoms increase steadily, not acutely, after stressful event

ScienceDaily (June 20, 2011) — Just like everyone else, people with panic disorder have real stress in their lives. They get laid off and they fight with their spouses. How such stresses affect their panic symptoms hasn't been well understood, but a new study by researchers at Brown University presents the counterintuitive finding that certain kinds of stressful life events cause panic symptoms to increase gradually over succeeding months, rather than to spike immediately.

"We definitely expected the symptoms to get worse over time, but we also thought the symptoms would get worse right away," said Ethan Moitra, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

But even if the events don't seem to trigger an immediate panic attack, said Dr. Martin Keller, professor of psychiatry and human behavior and principal investigator of the research, patients, family members, or their psychiatrists need to keep their guard up.

"If they have the event and they are not feeling much different then maybe the vigilance on the individual's part decreases somewhat," Keller said. "With the knowledge we have, you may need to stay vigilant for three months or maybe longer. This is something you have to watch for."

In their study, published in advance June 11 in the Journal of Affective Disorders, lead author Moitra, Keller, and their co-authors also found that panic symptoms did not seem to increase in advance of stressful life events, even if they were predictable, such as a divorce becoming official.

The study is based annual assessments of 418 adults with panic disorder or panic disorder with agoraphobia, who were enrolled in the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project (HARP) between 1998 and 2004. Research staff asked the volunteers detailed, standardized questions about important events in their lives and their levels of anxiety.

A statistical analysis of the results found that for stressful life events in the categories of "work," such as a demotion or layoff, or "friends/family/household," such as a family argument, panic symptoms that had meandering severity before the event, increased steadily but gradually for at least 12 weeks afterward.

Stressful events in seven other categories, such as "crime/legal" or "deaths" did not seem to affect panic symptoms at all.

While the findings about the effect of some stressful life events on symptoms of people already diagnosed with panic disorder are new, other researchers have connected stress to panic attacks before. Stressful events are associated with the onset of panic disorder in the vast majority of cases, Moitra said.

Moitra said a possible biological explanation for the association is that stressful life events might exacerbate an underlying proclivity in people with panic disorder to perceive oncoming bouts of hyperventilation, which in turn lead to panic responses.

But while some stressful events have proven to be associated with changes in panic symptom levels, more research is needed to determine what kind of causal role stressful events may have.

"This may be one of those reasons why panic disorders can get worse," Moitra said.

In addition to Moitra and Keller, other authors include Brown psychiatry and human behavior researchers Ingryd Dyck, Courtney Beard, Andri Bjornsson, and Nicholas Sibrava. Author Risa Weisberg is also affiliated with the Alpert Medical School's Department of Family Medicine. The National Institutes of Health funded the research.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Brown University.

Journal Reference:

Ethan Moitra, Ingrid Dyck, Courtney Beard, Andri S. Bjornsson, Nicholas J. Sibrava, Risa B. Weisberg, Martin B. Keller. Impact of stressful life events on the course of panic disorder in adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.029

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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