Are There Schizophrenics for Whom Drugs May be Unnecessary or Contraindicated?

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1978 study of 80 young males diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, finding that "many unmedicated-while-in-hospital patients showed greater long-term improvement, less pathology at follow-up, fewer...

Study Finds Hearing Voices Groups Improve Social and Emotional Wellbeing

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Hearing Voices Network self-help groups are an important resource for coping with voice hearing, study finds.

Traumagenic Neurodevelopmental Model of Psychosis — Revisited

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The traumagenic neurodevelopment model of psychosis, introduced in 2001, highlighted similarities between brain abnormalities found both in people who have been abused and those...

New Study Challenges Impartiality of Peer Review

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New research shows that more connected and well-known researchers are more likely to be published, even when they receive negative reviews.

Why Disclosure Policies Don’t Discourage Drug Salesmen

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From The Chronicle: The practice of pharmaceutical industry payments to academic researchers to help promote their drugs remains widespread. Requiring scientists to disclose their ties...

“The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Role in U.S. Medical Education”

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“Pharmaceutical industry influence can harm the social and moral character of medical students. In medicine, the traditional virtues of benevolence, compassion, integrity, respectfulness, honesty...

“A Frenzy Of Lobbying On 21st Century Cures”

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Kaiser Health News and NPR report on the immense lobbying effort aimed at passing the "21st Century Cures" Act which would fast-track FDA approval...

Psychologist Rethinks Psychotropic Medications, Calls for Renewed Dialogue

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Psychologist and Professor Amber Gum has published the story of her personal journey of rethinking psychotropic medication in a special issue on "The Politics of Mental Health" in The Journal of Medicine and the Person. Influenced by Mad in America and the work of Robert Whitaker, Gum became aware of evidence that “suggests that psychotropic medications are less effective and more harmful than most believe” and now hopes to encourage other mental health professionals and researchers to engage in open-minded, critical self-assessment of standard practices.

Is Psychological Ethics in Crisis?

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From the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics: The American Psychological Association's participation in "enhanced interrogation" and other forms of torture is indicative of the need...

Compulsory Hospitalization Does Not Improve Outcomes

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Researchers in Israel followed 320 patients who had been admitted involuntarily with schizophrenia diagnoses.  157 (49%) left the hospital against medical advice (AMA), and...

Psychiatrists Warn Policymakers Benzodiazepine Overuse Could Lead to Next Epidemic

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Although opioid addiction and overuse have garnered significant national attention, similar trends in benzodiazepine overprescription and overuse continue to go unnoticed.

ADHD More Severe in Children Exposed to Pollution and Economic Deprivation

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ADHD behaviors were linked to the presence of both high levels of pollutants and persistent economic deprivation at birth and through childhood.

Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents

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In a meta-analysis of studies of 6039 individuals, researchers in the UK determined that, consistent with previous meta-analysses, antidepressants increased "suicide-related outcomes."  Read more    ...

Prolonged Exposure Reduces Dropout Rates and Symptoms for Individuals with Complex Trauma

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New study finds that intensive prolonged exposure is a promising treatment option for individuals with multiple trauma experiences.

Most Cases of Tardive Dyskinesia are Permanent

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Only one out eight patients, out of 108 with tardive dyskinesia, recovered from the disorder in an Emory University Movement Disorders Clinic study. The...

Philosophers Challenge Psychiatry and its Search for Mechanisms of Disorder

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Attempting to locate the mechanisms of psychiatric disorder is a step in the wrong direction and fails to challenge potentially unjust social practices.

Mental Health Inc: A New Book by Art Levine

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From AlterNet: A new book my Art Levine, Mental Health Inc: How Corruption, Lax Oversight and Failed Reforms Endanger Our Most Vulnerable Citizens, exposes the greed...

Initial Trial of Ayahuasca for Depression Shows Promising Results

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Ayahuasca found to be effective in treating moderate to severe depression in low-income population.

50% of All Clinical Trials Go Unpublished

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Half of the 600 randomly selected trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, a registry of publicly and privately supported clinical trials, had their results published in...

Review Finds Link Between Recession and Mental Health Issues

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A literature review published in BMC Public Health by researchers from Portugal and the Czech Republic summarizes results from 101 studies investigating the effect...

“Silent” Forms of Child Abuse Strongly Tied to Depression

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Psychological abuse and childhood neglect are strongly associated with depression in adulthood, according to a meta-analysis of childhood trauma and depression published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders. “The findings clearly highlight the potential impact of the more ‘silent’ types of childhood maltreatment (other than physical and sexual abuse) on the development of depression,” the researchers conclude.

The Coming Tsunami of Mental Health Care for ‘Boomers

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A report released yesterday by the Institute of Medicine, at the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says "at least...

Researchers Push Back Against Recommendation to Combine Antidepressants for Suicide Prevention

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Researchers challenge the recommendation of starting two antidepressants simultaneously to increase preventative effects against suicide.

Investigation Reveals Alarming ECT Practices in England

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Audit of ECT usage, demographics, and adherence to guidelines and legislation raises concern over its continued use.

“Google’s Latest Hire Has a Creepy Plan to Track Your Mental Health”

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Google has hired the former director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Thomas Insel, with plans to create “a wearable sensor to measure mood, cognition and anxiety.” Gizmodo points out the problems with this idea:“One can easily imagine a message popping up on some poor desk jockey’s monitor: ‘You’re not in the right mood today. Please take a day of unpaid leave.’ Or, worse: ‘We’ve detected signs of mental instability, based on how you’ve been talking and sleeping. Please report to a doctor immediately.’”