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- One Gene Overrides Another to Prevent Brain Changes that Foster Depression
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March 12, 2008
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Science Update
A variation on one gene affects how much of the brain chemical serotonin is available to brain cells. This variation is thought to raise the risk of depression in people who carry it. But NIMH scientists found that a variation in another gene, which produces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – a substance that enables growth and health of brain cells – appears to prevent or offset the changes generated by the depression-fostering variant. - Bipolar Youths’ Misreading of Faces May be Risk Marker for Illness
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March 4, 2008
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Science Update
Youngsters with pediatric bipolar disorder and healthy peers who have first-degree relatives with bipolar disorder share the same difficulty labeling facial emotions, NIMH researchers have discovered. - Teens with Treatment-resistant Depression More Likely to Get Better with Switch to Combination Therapy
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February 26, 2008
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Press Release
Teens with difficult-to-treat depression who do not respond to a first antidepressant medication are more likely to get well if they switch to another antidepressant medication and add psychotherapy rather than just switching to another antidepressant. - Group Therapy Program Offers Meaningful Gains for People with Borderline Personality Disorder
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February 26, 2008
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Science Update
A 20-week group therapy program focusing on cognitive behavioral and skills training, when used in conjunction with usual care, helped reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder and improve overall functioning, reported NIMH-funded researchers. Their findings were published online February 15, 2008 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. - Primary Care Doctors May Overlook Elderly Patients’ Mental Health
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February 25, 2008
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Science Update
Doctors spend little time discussing mental health issues with their older patients and rarely refer them to a mental health specialist even if they show symptoms of severe depression. - Co-occurring Anxiety Complicates Treatment Response for Those with Major Depression
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February 25, 2008
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Science Update
People with major depression accompanied by high levels of anxiety are significantly less likely to benefit from antidepressant medication than those without anxiety, according to a study based on data from the NIMH-funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. - Genetic Tags Reveal Secrets of Memories’ Staying Power in Mice
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February 21, 2008
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Press Release
A better understanding of how memory works is emerging from a newfound ability to link a learning experience in a mouse to consequent changes in the inner workings of its neurons. Researchers, supported in part by NIMH, have developed a way to pinpoint the specific cellular components that sustain a specific memory in genetically-engineered mice. - Scans Reveal Faulty Brain Wiring Caused by Missing Genes
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February 20, 2008
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Science Update
An NIMH study using an emerging imaging technology has discovered faulty wiring in the brains of people with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects some aspects of thinking. - Cold, Unfeeling Traits Linked to Distinctive Brain Patterns in Kids with Severe Conduct Problems
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February 20, 2008
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Science Update
The callous, unemotional characteristics of some children and adolescents who bully or steal or have other severely disruptive behavior problems may have partial roots in a brain area called the amygdala. - Genetic Variation May Influence Response to Depression Treatment
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February 20, 2008
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Science Update
Variations in a gene known as TREK1 may explain some forms of treatment-resistant major depression, according to a new study analyzing genetic data.
