Researchers use brain scans to study brain development in healthy people and people with illnesses. This publication answers frequently asked questions about what brain scans can and cannot do related to diagnosing mental illnesses.
Answers to frequently asked questions about the treatment of mental disorders in children. En Español
HIV-positive children older than 1 year who were treated after showing moderate HIV-related symptoms did not experience greater cognitive or behavior problems compared to peers treated when signs of their infection were still mild, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who attend regular education classes may be more likely to improve their social skills if their typically developing peers are taught how to interact with them than if only the children with ASD are taught such skills. According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, a shift away from more commonly used interventions that focus on training children with ASD directly may provide greater social benefits for children with ASD.
Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. 
An extract of the herb St. John's Wort and a standard antidepressant medication both failed to outdo a placebo in relieving symptoms of minor depression in a clinical trial comparing the three. The results of this study, consistent with earlier research, do not in support the use of medications for mild depression.
A study in mice has pinpointed a pivotal new player in triggering the rapid antidepressant response produced by ketamine. By deactivating a little-known enzyme, the drug takes the brakes off rapid synthesis of a key growth factor thought to lift depression, say researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health.More Science News about Treatments
By Thomas Insel on January 26, 2012
Dr. Insel responds to discussion from the National Advisory Mental Health Council concerning the need to balance research funding for basic science and mental health services.
By Thomas Insel on December 23, 2011
Dr. Insel shares NIMH’s Top 10 Research Advances for 2011.
By Thomas Insel on November 15, 2011
Dr. Insel describes how precision medicine may put us on the path to better diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
By Thomas Insel on October 28, 2011
Two papers published this week in Nature provide the first maps of the molecular development of the human brain. Mapping brain development by changes in gene expression gives us a new level of precision and raises new possibilities for understanding the mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders.By Thomas Insel on October 07, 2011
Dr. Insel discusses World Mental Health Day and a new approach to meeting the shortage of mental health providers.
September 03, 2007
A recently published research paper (September 2007, Archives of General Psychiatry) reported a 40-fold increase in the rate of diagnosing bipolar disorder in youth over the past decade.
August 10, 2007
Following a competitive, nationwide search, Wayne K. Goodman, M.D., joined NIMH in July 2007 as Director, Division of Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development (DATR).
May 02, 2007
Molly Oliveri, Ph.D., was recently selected to be Director of the Division of Pediatric Translational Research and Treatment Development (DPTR), after a competitive, nationwide search.
February 02, 2005
Depression is a serious disorder that can cause significant problems in mood, thinking, and behavior at home, in school, and with peers. It is estimated that major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 5 percent of adolescents.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health
This page last reviewed: December 15, 2011.