PsychBriefs: October 14-20, 2007
Our weekly wrap-up of news, interesting research, and noteworthy happenings in the worlds of psychiatry, psychology, and social work.
Schools Providing Inadequate Mental Health Aid Katrina-Affected Students
A study by RAND Health shows that schools have not sustained mental health support to students affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While initial aid was adequate, the report now shows inadequate mental health resources, staff burnout, problems communicating with parents and pressure to return to normal in order to meet federal testing goals.
Variations in Brain Structure Affect Ability to Handle Stress
New research on mice suggests that an individual's ability to handle stress may depend upon variations in brain structure and how brain cells communicate. Researchers stressed genetically identical mice and tested their ability to interact socially. They found that neurons in the brains of rats who withdrew socially fired more rapidly, releasing a substance called BDNF. When researchers blocked this substance, the rats showed greater ability to handle stress.
New Clues in Schizophrenia Development
A study of human brain tissue has shows that GAD1, a gene linked to the creation of GABA in the brain, is turned on at a greater rate in normal brain development than in that of schizophrenic brains.
Height Affects Perceptions of Health and Happiness
A few extra inches can mean a word of difference in how people perceive their mental and physical health. Using data from a 2003 British health survey, Danish researchers found that men shorter than 5' 3" and women shorter than 4'10" were more likely to report depression or anxiety and problems with physical health issues such as limited mobility and pain.
Posted by FindCounseling.com Staff on October 19, 2007 at 11:46 AM | Permalink
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