The information gathered showing a connection between mental and physical health has broad implications for healthcare procedures. When a person is diagnosed with a mental health problem, it may make sense to immediately screen for certain physical issues.

A recent study provides support for a link between depression and peripheral artery disease, or PAD. According to the American Heart Association, PAD is the narrowing of the peripheral arteries. It often occurs in the arteries found in the pelvis and legs, a critical region of the body. The most common symptoms of PAD include fatigue in the legs or hip muscles or pain and cramps in the same areas. The symptoms usually occur while the individual is climbing stairs or even walking.

While PAD is often mistaken for other problems, it is important to detect the disease early. Those who are diagnosed with PAD have a four to five times increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The condition can also result in gangrene or amputation if it is not properly treated.

Those who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at a higher risk for PAD, and smokers and diabetics are especially at risk of developing the disease. Now, researchers find that those who suffer from depression are also at a higher risk of developing PAD.

While previous research has shown a link between depression and constricted heart arteries, researchers now believe that depression is linked to PAD. The researchers accessed data from 1,024 males and females enrolled in the Heart and Soul study and followed them over a seven year period.

At the beginning of the study period, about 12 percent of participants who had depression also were diagnosed with PAD. This was compared to about seven percent of patients without depression who were diagnosed with PAD. About nine percent of patients with depression had PAD related incidents and about six percent of patients with no depression had PAD related incidents during the seven year study period.

The researchers say that the study’s findings provide support for the use of depression screening and treatment among those diagnosed with PAD.

Many experts believe that findings such as these provide support, as well, for the treatment of mental disorders on an equal plane with physical health problems. Because research is increasingly finding that the two aspects of health overlap, there is a need to effectively treat the whole picture of a person’s health.

When a victim does report her situation, it is through the criminal justice system that she is referred for help with the symptoms of her trauma. IPA can lead to depression, intense feelings of fear and revictimization. In addition, women may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the abuse they have endured. There are many mental, physical and social consequences that result from IPA that need attention from trained therapists and medical doctors.

While previous research has validated the usefulness of treatment for victims of IPA, often the needs of the victim are not prioritized over those of the perpetrator. The victim’s struggles to overcome such consequences as PTSD are often forgotten.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Denver explored the use of community coordinated response (CCR) programs and compared their effectiveness when compared with criminal justice referral programs.

Led by Anne P. DePrince of the Department of Psychology, the researchers compared how the two types of programs met the physical and psychological needs of victims of IPA. They interviewed 236 women who had received help from a criminal justice referral program or a CCR program following a report of IPA.

The participants were assessed for several common symptoms of IPA trauma, such as PTSD, fear and depression. They were each evaluated at three weeks, six months, and one year following the report of abuse. They were also evaluated for revictimization.

The results showed that the participants who had been treated in a CCR program more likely to experience a decrease in their symptoms at the one-year follow-up. The women who participated in a CCR program actually experienced an increase in their symptoms.

The researchers found that about one-third of the women reported aggression from their abusers following their report of IPA. About one-fourth of the participants experienced revictimization by a new partner and about ten percent reported that they had been sexually abused.

The authors of the study believe that the results provide support for the use of CCR programs over the criminal justice referral process. The CCR programs appear to be much more effective at helping women manage the symptoms and consequences resulting from IPA.

DePrince also noted that both types of programs were unable to change whether the victim was revictimized. This may indicate that women lack the skills to respond effectively to others’ behaviors.

The technique had previously been used to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Helen Mayberg, neurologist and professor at Atlanta’s Emory University School of Medicine, hypothesized that the same treatment would be beneficial for those suffering from treatment -resistant depression. Four years after her brain study research was published, she decided to put her hypothesis to the test.

The first set of clinical trials in 2003 was conducted on six volunteers who had tried other treatment methods for depression previously but to no avail. After six months of treatment, only two of the original six volunteers did not see significant improvement in their symptoms. The results have since been replicated in 31 other individuals.

The treatment is administered while the patient is awake but sedated. This is so the patient can react to different positioning of the probes to determine their effect on mood. Several holes are drilled into the skull where the probes are to be inserted. One volunteer, Edi Guyton, said the result of the electrical impulses helped her experience feelings she hadn’t felt in years. After several suicide attempts and a general feeling of numbness, instead of feeling nothing when she holds her newborn grand-niece, she now smiles and has a sense of joy.

While Mayberg admits that her studies still have not unveiled why the treatment works and why it does not work for everyone, for some like Guyton, the results can be life-saving. Further research is underway to determine what role DBS plays in recovery and whether or not other areas of the brain aside from Area 25 might also be responsible for depression.

A new study finds that physical health is also tied to a person’s mental well-being. The study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that there is a link between certain mental health problems and physical health issues.

Individuals above the age of 18 who have had a diagnosis of a mental illness or experienced a major depressive episode in the past 12 months are at an increased risk of developing certain physical health problems, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or having a stroke, when compared with those not having a history of a mental illness in the past year.

High blood pressure was found to occur in 21.9 percent of individuals experiencing any mental illness, compared with 18.3 percent in those who had no mental illness. Likewise, for those with a mental illness, 15.7 percent were diagnosed with asthma, compared to 10.6 percent of adults with no mental illness.

SAMHSA also discovered that when an individual suffered from a serious mental illness, one that causes severe functional impairment that interferes with at least one major life activity, they were more likely to develop asthma, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes than those without a serious mental illness.

Those with a major depressive episode that occurred over more than two weeks were at a higher risk of developing additional health problems. For instance, 24.1 percent of individuals with a major depressive episode developed high blood pressure, versus 19.8 percent. When it came to asthma, 17.0 percent of those with a major depressive episode developed the respiratory problem, versus 11.4 percent in those without any depression.

The study also showed that individuals who had been diagnosed with a serious mental illness over the last year were more likely to visit the emergency room, at a rate of 47.6 percent versus 30.5 percent among those without a mental illness. Hospitalization was more common as well, with 20.4 percent hospitalized versus 11.6 percent for those without a mental illness.

SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde says that the study provides additional evidence to support the growing information showing that mental health and physical health are closely related. She explains that mental health is central to developing good overall health.

SAMHSA’s study emphasizes the need for treating behavioral health problems with the same level of attention as physical health problems.

Looking For Genes Connected to Brain Size as a Marker For Mental Health

The study aimed to discover two main objectives. First the researchers were looking for genes connected to a single heritable disease and second they searched out factors which contribute to brain tissue atrophy and a reduction in brain size. These are considered markers for heritable conditions such as Alzheimer’s depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia.

An International Effort and Worldwide Data Base

Geneticists from Australia, Holland and the United States collaborated on an initiative called ENIGMA (enhancing neuro imaging genetics through meta-analysis) whose goal was to share brain scan and genome data with other scientists around the globe. Such a comprehensive collection of data was predicted to reveal a better picture of genetic variations and patterns and how they impact the brain in physical ways (larger or smaller brains).

Prior studies have been done which identified "risk" genes for certain commonly occurring diseases, but this was the first large scale study undertaken to investigate how the genes impact the brain (shielding/protecting or making it vulnerable).

Brain Imaging Plus DNA Revealed Specific Gene Activity

Combining the brain images and DNA information from literally tens of thousands of study subjects from around the world gave researchers an unprecedented pool of data from which to conduct their research. They could now observe genes which had similar impact regardless of country or environment. Searching through the DNA information for people with images of smaller brains, the team discovered a pattern of changes in the gene code which related directly to decreases in memory regions.

Literally millions of individuals carry genetic variations which make them either more or less susceptible to certain diseases. The ability to identify genes which directly impact a person’s vulnerability to a disease means that drug treatments for those diseases can become more highly targeted. Even non-pharmaceutical strategies to counteract a bad gene’s effect will be impacted by the results of this broad study.

Team Also Discovered Genetic Spot For Determining Individual Intelligence

As important as it is to identify which genes shield the brain from these diseases and which actually precipitate them, the data gathered yielded other important information. Because they were looking specifically at brain size, the team was also able to identify a specific gene variation which directly impacts individual brain size and even intelligence. The collaborative team hopes to check out how genes affect brain wiring next.

Dr. Rhodes and his colleagues at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology started off with two groups of laboratory mice. One group had exercise wheels and was allowed to exercise as much as they wanted, and the others did not exercise. Then all the mice were exposed to cocaine, and they quickly developed a preference for the place in their cages where they could receive the drug. They associated that place with the pleasure of the drug and just as quickly became addicted. Some of the inactive animals were allowed to exercise, as were all the animals that had exercised originally.

The group that began to run only after they became addicted to cocaine had little trouble breaking their drug habits. However, those who had already been runners when they tried cocaine had difficulty losing their preference for the place in their cages where they got their drug, and many never stopped going there.

"There is good news and maybe not-so-good news about our findings," said Dr. Rhodes.

The results could mean that it would be harder for a person used to exercising to recover from addictions. Dr. Rhodes explained why he thought this might be true. The brains of the animals that exercise had more new cells, especially in a region of the brain critical for learning. It could be that having more brain cells enabled them to learn to crave the drug more efficiently than the others, and to have more problems forgetting what they learned.

Dr. Rhodes pointed out that other studies have shown that since exercise stimulates the reward centers in the brain, it can almost become a substitute for drugs in some people. They can achieve "runner’s highs," for example, and not crave the effects of psychoactive substances.

He said this study does not tell the whole story of the relationship between exercise and addiction because it looks that only one narrow aspect of it.

The study appears in the European Journal of Neuroscience.

Mr. Wallace was old enough to have been born long before the advent of television and got his first break into the public spotlight through the radio waves. When television began to capture the public heart, Wallace was there working on game shows and as the spokesman for TV commercials. He really got national attention however, when he stepped in to fill the role of tough interviewer on 60 Minutes.

Wallace spent 40 years facing off against every major international personality of his day. He was sometimes accused of driving too hard, but one case in particular seemed to affect him deeply. In 1982 Wallace did a report on Vietnam which resulted in him being sued by one of those targeted in his piece. Though he was not found liable to pay damages as a result, he certainly did not walk away from the incident undamaged. It was from this point, according to news reports, that Wallace appeared to enter into his fight against depression.

He didn’t go public with his condition until 1996 however. At that time he asked the federal Special Committee on Aging to set aside more money for research into the affective disorder. Wallace’s reporting style was tough. But it also took a lot of toughness to overcome depression and tell the world about it in an effort to help others without a voice.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is understood by the medical community as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep either as a symptom of another disease or disorder (for example, insomnia is a symptom of both depression and menopause), or as a problem not related to any other medical or psychiatric diagnosis. When the insomnia occurs without any other disorder, it is called primary insomnia. When it happens as a symptom of another disorder it is referred to as secondary insomnia.

In terms of treatment, most doctors will differentiate between initial trouble falling asleep and trouble remaining asleep. Sometimes your doctor will order a sleep study to explore more deeply just how your sleep cycle is disrupted as this can offer important insights into treatment.

Insomnia is extremely common in adults, and more common among women than men. Occasional trouble sleeping, especially when clearly related to stress or emotional distress, is normal and often resolves itself. Before discussing best practices for promoting good quality sleep, it is important to debunk some sleep myths.

Sleep Hygiene

No, sleep hygiene does not mean that you did the laundry. Sleep hygiene is a term used by doctors to talk about ways to protect your sleep – to set yourself up well to sleep deeply and wake up refreshed.

The basics?

• Watch out for stimulants after noon. Coffee, chocolate, and cola drinks are well known sources of caffeine, but be aware of hidden sources of caffeine and other stimulants such as asthma medications, or diet pills. Stimulants will have a negative impact upon sleep, but the severity will vary from person to person. If you are trying to improve your sleep, try eliminating or cutting back on stimulants where possible.
• Protect your bedtime: don’t drink, smoke, eat, argue or watch disturbing television shows within an hour or so of bedtime. Many sleep specialists agree that turning off screens (computer, laptop, video games, television, smart phone, or any other entertainment screen) is best at least one hour before attempting to sleep.
• Try making sure your room is completely dark: unplug or cover up LED lights or other sources of light. Charge cell phones and laptops elsewhere in your home, not in your bedroom.
• Exercise daily, but not right before bed.
• Making love can be relaxing and promote good sleep.
• Try to reserve your bed for sleep (and sex). Don’t allow your bed to become an all-purpose space in which you do your taxes and eat meals.
• Try a self-hypnosis exercise: when you lie in bed and are ready for sleep, visualize the face of a clock. Make the clock say the time it is right now. Now watch the hands of the clock move through the hours until the time you want to wake up. Do this visualization three times, and then tell yourself that you are going to fall asleep now and wake up at that time. If you would like to, also tell yourself that you will remember all your dreams upon waking.
• Reduce stress. Try to assess your own attitude and see where you could be more relaxed and more easy-going. Let go of what you can’t control, and get help if you feel overwhelmed.

In most cases, once adopting any or all of these techniques, insomnia improves on its own. However, if all of these techniques fail, please consult your doctor.

This new therapy delivers a small electric pulse to the nerve cells that regulate the emotional centers in the brain and is done so through a wire wrapped around the head. The patient relaxes in a chair for almost 40 minutes during the treatment which is continued anywhere from four to six weeks with 20 to 30 minute sessions. The reported side effects are headaches and tingling of the scalp, according to a recent post.

The full regimen of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Therapy) costs almost $12,000 and not all insurance covers it. There are only a handful of doctors and Chicago institutions that offer the treatment such as Northwestern and Rush University. Dr. Murali Rao at Loyola University is impressed with results so far and says some depression can be especially hard to treat. Rao says he has treated nearly 25 patients and has seen two thirds of them improve and one third of them completely recover. Another Chicago psychiatrist who started offering TMS treatment in 2009 has seen 80 percent improvement is his patients. Many patients tolerate the TMS treatment better than different treatments they had tried in the past and so they go on to complete the full regimen.

So far the treatment is seen as safe and is tolerated well by patients. This has proven to be something that offers hope for those battling depression.

For some patients, however, the use of therapy is not enough. Patients may struggle to recover without a boost from a medication that helps them stay consistent with using the tools gained though therapy. What began as a boost for those struggling to recover is now routine because physicians sometimes immediately prescribe anti-psychotics for treating mental health problems.

A new study says that clinicians should not offer anti-psychotics as a first option when treating those with psychotic episodes. The study’s findings reveal that because so few young people go on to develop a serious mental illness, medication should not be the first tool used to provide help to those who experience psychosis.

The study was conducted by researchers from five universities, finding that when episodes of psychosis were treated with less invasive measures, there were positive outcomes. Treatments such as cognitive therapy resulted in a reduction in the severity of psychotic experiences.

The researchers found that only about one-tenth of young people who experienced psychosis ended up developing a more serious condition. In most situations, the use of cognitive therapy was effective.

The study, published on the web site for the British Medical Journal, found that certain aspects of psychosis, such as the frequency, seriousness and intensity, were significantly reduced by the combined use of counseling and cognitive therapy.

The research provides new support for the use of therapy as a first option treatment in helping young people who have had been diagnosed with psychosis.

The researchers teamed up from the universities of Glasgow, Cambridge, East Anglia and Birmingham, and were led by researchers from the University of Manchester. They recruited participants between the ages of 14 and 35 and conducted CT sessions on a weekly basis for about six months. The sessions occurred over a four year period. The patients were all monitored following treatment to measure the symptoms and effects of treatment.

At the beginning of the study, it was believed based on previous research that about 40 to 50 percent of young people who were at risk for psychosis at a young age would go on to develop a serious psychotic illness. However, the current study showed that only about 8 percent of the participants made the transition to a more serious psychotic illness diagnosis.

The study was led by Professor Andrew Gumley from the University of Glasgow, who explained that the study will serve to encourage the use of psychological therapy for treating young people, rather than moving directly to medication.