MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'anxiety disorder'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:50 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107601&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fantidepressants-overprescribed-in-primary-care%2F Antidepressants have long enjoyed a reputation as being a quick and “easy” treatment for all types of depression — from a mild feeling of being a little down, all the way up to severe, life-debilitating depression. But like all medications, they have side effects and instances where they should not be prescribed. Hence their continued need for a prescription after seeing a doctor. So what does it mean when primary care physicians are handing them out like candy? It suggests that your family doctor doesn’t really understand how antidepressants work, or what they are approved to treat. In short, it suggests that antidepressant medications are being over-prescribed by well-meaning doctors who are simply not using very good judgment. Melissa Healy, writing for the LA T... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107601 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:35:31 +0100 5107601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684432&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F05%2Fcoming-to-america-can-increase-depression-anxiety%2F I chalk this up to the category, “This is news how, exactly?” Here’s the finding in a nutshell — “After arrival in the United States, [Mexican] migrants had a significantly higher risk for first onset of any depressive or anxiety disorder than did non-migrant family members of migrants in Mexico,” the authors report. Wow, surprising. You mean going to a foreign country, not necessarily knowing anyone, not necessarily having any job or job prospects, and not necessarily knowing the language can negatively impact your mental health? Do tell. The researchers “compared a sample of Mexican-born migrants (259 men and 295 women) after their arrival in the U.S. with a sample of non-migrants in Mexico (904 men and 1,615 women) on their risk for first onset of a de... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684432 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 22:21:19 +0100 4684432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642677&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F26%2Fwhen-should-i-come-off-my-antidepressant-6-things-to-consider%2F The question of whether or not you should start taking antidepressants is complex and difficult to answer. But even fuzzier is the question of when or if you should stop. Last May, NPR ran a piece called Coming Off Antidepressants Can Be Tricky Business. Joanne Silberner writes: Several top psychiatrists say there’s just not enough data to say for sure when to try coming off an antidepressant. Drug companies generally test their new products for a few months or up to a year. They don’t spend much time looking into how to taper off their products. The dense informational inserts that come with prescription drugs have a lot of information on how to take the product, but no information on how to stop. According to the Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety White Papers, antidepress... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642677 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:58:36 +0100 4642677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570692&cid=t_148013_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FV4C8Pa1qQGs%2F photo: WENN.com via "Daybreak" Dear Charlie Sheen: We read an excerpt from your new exclusive interview with Life&Style magazine in which you make the following claims: “I’m really starting to lose my mind,” and “I’m ready to call anyone to help.” Well, Chuckles, look no further. Blisstree, your friendly health and wellness website (for men, too, not just for goddesses!) is here for you. We are anyone. To prove it, we’d like to offer you some health advice based on the stuff you spouted in that Life&Style article. Now, we’re not medical doctors or psychiatrists or bitchin’ rock stars, but you don’t seem to hold the former two in very high regard anyway, so this relationship could work out nicely for both of us. N... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570692 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:45:28 +0100 4570692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424281&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F01%2Fposting-about-health-concerns-on-facebook-twitter%2F If you’re thinking about posting your health or mental health concerns on Facebook or Twitter, you may want to think twice. According to an article published last week in The LA Times, health insurers will often turn to social networks to check out someone’s story — especially when that person is receiving medical leave or disability payments from an insurer. If you’re filing (or intending to file) a health insurance claim, be careful. This once-hypothetical scenario is now commonplace, as insurers look for ways to keep cutting costs and payments to what they perceive as people intending to commit fraud against them. In fact, insurance companies don’t just randomly check out a social networking website when a claim comes in — it is now standard practice,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424281 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:10:47 +0100 4424281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272360&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F19%2Fnew-brain-mechanism-discovered-for-anxiety%2F File this in the folder of new research discoveries that could lead to new, better targeted medications for one of the world’s most common mental concerns — anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 40 million American adults ages 18 and older — or nearly 1 in 5 people in this age group in a given year — have an anxiety disorder. Most people with one anxiety disorder also have another anxiety disorder. Nearly three-quarters of those with an anxiety disorder will have their first episode by age 21. Currently, the standard of care for anxiety treatment is either a short-acting psychiatric medication — most often a benzodiazepine for the treatment of things like panic disorder — and psychotherapy. All of this could... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272360 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:24:10 +0100 4272360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854569&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F10%2Fonline-cbt-effective-for-panic-agoraphobia%2F In the first phase of the Internet in the 1990s, we witnessed how it broke down mental health barriers by providing individuals with information about mental disorders and treatment options. Before 1990 or so, the only way to look up the “official” symptoms for a disorder was either to get to a local library that had a copy of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, or ask a mental health professional or advocacy group about the symptoms (and hope they don’t leave out anything). But the Internet broke down the arbitrary wall — that this information was somehow “special” and shouldn’t be given to people directly. People suddenly could learn about depression, or anxiety, or ADHD on their own without ever leaving their home. With gr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854569 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:05:38 +0100 3854569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772465&cid=t_148013_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FKsN_qae6b4M%2F The general idea behind a patient brochure is to sell a drug, but the FDA, as you know, also wants a drugmaker to include comprehensive, easy-to-find, readable info about safety and effectiveness, too. So omitting or minmizing such things should be avoided. And drugmakers ought to know, but sometimes - you can confess - a company may forget, or maybe push things a little too far. That’s what Jazz Pharmaceuticals did with a brochure that was submitted to the agency for its Luvox CR pill used to treat social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The agency staff took a close look and, lo and behold, the drugmaker received a warning letter that reads like a grade-school primer for pharma marketers who need lessons on how to include the correct info. The bottom-line - impor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772465 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:57:11 +0100 3772465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746694&cid=t_148013_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F187105%2F Anxiety Leads to Heart Problems: A new study found that people with stable coronary heart disease and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) had a higher rate of cardiovascular events than patients without GAD. (via ABC News) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746694 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:28:55 +0100 3746694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695626&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F24%2Fomega-3-treatment-for-depression%2F Can omega 3 help treat depression? According to new research, the answer is yes. In one of the largest studies on omega-3 supplements done to date, Canadian researchers found that for people who don’t also have an anxiety disorder with their depression, the popular omega-3 fish supplements helped improve depression symptoms. The improvements the researchers found in this study were similar to improvements found in studies of antidepressants, suggesting that for some people, omega-3 may be an inexpensive antidepressant alternative. From October 2005 to January 2009, 432 male and female participants with major unipolar depression were recruited to take part in this randomized, double-blind study (neither patients nor researchers knew which capsules patients received). For eight weeks,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695626 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:02:07 +0100 3695626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633520&cid=t_148013_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FiVcdCuhLs44%2F           One of the most interesting illnesses I encountered as a psychiatric nurse was obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  It is actually a type of anxiety disorder.  It is not your typical feeling of fear, worry or anxiety; people with obsessive-compulsive disorder will have these normal emotions but take them to extreme.  For example, people with OCD might have thoughts about bad things that could happen.  In addition, OCD patients will have upsetting or scary thoughts or images in their head (obsessions) that are hard to shake.  They may also worry about things being ‘out of order’ or not ‘just right’.  The compulsions enter into the picture when patients feel strong urges to do things repeatedly.  These compulsions give persons with OCD a brief sense of reli... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633520 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:08:06 +0100 3633520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526797&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F03%2Fmental-health-statistics%2F May is Mental Health Month again, so it’s also a good time to review the mental health statistics behind mental illness. Some of the statistics going around aren’t entirely accurate, because they’re based upon outdated web pages on the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website. This misinformation is then propagated by well-meaning people and organizations, including NAMI and others. Sadly, the NIMH website is not as accurate or up-to-date as people like to think it is (I think that because it’s a government resource, people just assume it’s accurate and correct). For instance, the NIMH Statistics page puts data into context of 2004 Census data. Well, it’s 2010, not 2004, and we have more up-to-date Census data. Also according to the more recent... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526797 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:45:34 +0100 3526797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3424820&cid=t_148013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fshould-we-be-drugging-our-kids%2F When seven-year-old foster child Gabriel Myers hanged himself by a shower cord last year, all eyes turned to psychiatrist Dr. Sohail Punjwani, who had been treating the boy. The doctor had prescribed several powerful mental health drugs to Myers – some of which aren’t approved for use by kids, and had been linked to suicide among children. Image: istockphoto Every day, more and more youngsters around the country are being diagnosed with ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism, and other emotional disorders. Some parents and doctors jump to the conclusion that every hyper kid has ADHD, or that every sad child suffers from depression and needs medication. Somewhat surprising is the fact that the FDA has officially approved only one antidepressant drug for the treatment of depression in chi... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3424820 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:30:31 +0100 3424820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067128&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fgeneralized_anxiety_disorder_produces_distinct_brain_pattern.htm By Stephanie Pappas Stanford University School of Medicine Scrambled connections between the part of the brain that processes fear and emotion and other brain regions could be the hallmark of a common anxiety disorder, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The findings could help researchers identify biological differences between types of anxiety disorders as well as such disorders as depression. The study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, examined the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, a psychiatric condition in which patients spend their days in a haze of worry over everyday concerns. Researchers have known that the amygdala, a pair of almond-sized bundles of nerve fibers in the middle of the brain that help pro... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067128 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:10:00 +0100 3067128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954554&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F02%2Fresearch-backed-online-mental-health-interventions%2F So the other week I attended and presented at the First International e-Mental Health Summit 2009 in Amsterdam and already discussed some great online interventions for depression. I’m still planning on talking about additional online interventions for other mental disorders, but am waiting for the conference folks to publish the presentations on their website because the abstract book doesn’t always contain the valuable bits of information I need to properly summarize a topic area. In the meantime, I thought I’d mention Beacon. Beacon is a website that has gone to the trouble of indexing and rating over 70 different online interventions in the following categories: Alcohol (3/3) Bipolar disorder (3/0) Depression (24/11) Eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia) (6/... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954554 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:58:42 +0100 2954554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2904926&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F19%2Fwhat-is-a-nervous-breakdown%2F A nervous breakdown refers to a mainstream and often-used term to generically describe someone who experiences a bout of mental illness that is so severe, it directly impacts their ability to function in everyday life. The specific mental illness can be anything — depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or something else. But the reference to a “nervous breakdown” usually refers to the fact that the person has basically stopped their daily routines — going to work, interacting with loved ones or friends, even just getting out of bed to eat or shower. A nervous breakdown can be seen as a sign that one’s ability to cope with life or a mental illness has been overwhelmed by stress, life events, work or relationship issues. By disconnecting from the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2904926 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:55:47 +0100 2904926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901673&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F17%2Fa-glimpse-inside-obsessed-an-interview-with-john-tsilimparis%2F I’m not one to stay up and watch TV. For one, I have to practice good sleep hygiene so I can preach that message to you guys. But A&E’s documentary series, “Obsessed” piqued my interest because it exposes viewers to the lives of every day folks battling OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, hoarding, and a healthy variety of phobias. The unscripted series educates the public on how one measly obsession can totally mess up a life if the biochemistry isn’t controlled (of course, I already know that). So I wanted to interview the show’s therapist, John Tsilimparis, about the series and about the experience of being watched by millions as he conducted therapy. Question: What is the primary message that you would like viewers to get from the thera... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901673 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:07:43 +0100 2901673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883064&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_panic_disorder_and_social_anxiety_disorder_subtype.htm Psychiatry Res. 2009 Sep 30;169(2):149-53Panic disorder and social anxiety disorder subtypes in a caffeine challenge test Nardi AE, Lopes FL, Freire RC, Veras AB, Nascimento I, Valença AM, de-Melo-Neto VL, Soares-Filho GL, King AL, Araújo DM, Mezzasalma MA, Rassi A, Zin WA. Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, R. Visconde de Pirajá, 407/702, Rio de Janeiro, RJ-22410-003 Brazil; Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Studies have demonstrated the vulnerability of anxiety disorder patients to challenge tests. Our aim was to observe if panic disorder (PD) patients and generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD) and performance... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883064 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:33:00 +0100 2883064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862558&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F05%2Fprevalence-of-common-mental-disorders%2F In support of Mental Health Awareness Week — meant to increase awareness of mental health issues and helping people better understand mental disorders — we’ve created the graph below to give you a better idea of the prevalence (in the past year) of these disorders in the general American population. The media sometimes emphasizes one disorder over another, distorting the picture of how many people actually have the disorder. For instance, the graph shows that bipolar disorder — the subject of so many advertising campaigns, TV commercials and more — has similar prevalence rates to panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and binge eating. Mental disorders are more common than many people realize, and far fewer people seek out treatment for them than... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862558 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:39:47 +0100 2862558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858666&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F04%2Fwhat-is-anxiety%2F Have you ever wondered what anxiety felt like? Robin Marantz Henig, writing for The New York Times Magazine, has penned a great (but lengthy) piece about anxiety — that non-specific feeling of nervousness that, for some, can be completely debilitating. Anxiety differs from social phobia or other kinds of fears, because it isn’t specific to particular situation (like speaking in front of crowds or going to a party). It can attack at any time, for any reason or no reason whatsoever. So while you or I may get butterflies in our stomach the first time before a big exam or presentation, someone with anxiety may have them virtually all of the time. Anxiety is not fear, exactly, because fear is focused on something right in front of you, a real and objective danger. It is instead a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858666 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:25:53 +0100 2858666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851845&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_childhood_maltreatment_linked_to_greater_symptom_s.htm Conclusions: Despite the use of validated assessments, our findings are limited by the retrospective and subjective nature of self-report measures used to assess childhood maltreatment. Nonetheless, these data suggest a high rate of childhood maltreatment in individuals seeking treatment for GSAD, and the association of maltreatment with greater disorder severity suggests that screening is clinically prudent. (Text has been reformatted for online visual clarity; ed.) Source... Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851845 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:55:00 +0100 2851845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796500&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_genetic_and_environmental_influences_on_the_comor.htm Conclusion: MD, PD, AG, and SP strongly co-aggregate within families and common genetic factors explain a moderate proportion of variance in these four disorders. The high genetic correlation between PD and AG and the increased odds ratio for PD and AG in siblings of those with AG without PD suggests a common genetic etiology for PD and AG. (Text has been reformatted for online visual clarity; ed.) Source... This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.  |  Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796500 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:52:00 +0100 2796500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796501&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_preliminary_evidence_of_white_matter_abnormality_i.htm Conclusions: These findings point to an abnormality in the uncinate fasciculus, the major WM tract connecting the frontal cortex to the amygdala and other limbic temporal regions, in GSAD, which could underlie the aberrant amygdala-prefrontal interactions resulting in dysfunctional social threat processing in this illness. (Glossary links added; ed.) Source... Copyright © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796501 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:47:00 +0100 2796501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685239&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_extracellular_serotonin_level_in_the_basolateral_n.htm Brain Res. 2009;doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2009.07.074 Extracellular serotonin level in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala and dorsal periaqueductal gray under unconditioned and conditioned fear states: an in vivo microdialysis study Zanoveli JM, Carvalho MC, Cunha JM, Brandão ML. Serotonin (5-HT) plays a key role in the neural circuitry mediating unconditioned and conditioned fear responses related to panic and generalized anxiety disorders. The basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) and the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) appear to be mainly involved in these conditions. The aim of this study was to measure the extracellular level of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the BLA and dPAG during unconditioned and conditioned fear states using in vivo m... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685239 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:39:00 +0100 2685239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621840&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Faustralia_macquarie_university_pioneers_combined_social_an.htm Lyn Danninger For many, drinking is an essential part of a night out with friends. Alcohol is widely considered to be a social lubricant, so it's not surprising that social phobia, or extreme shyness, and drinking, frequently go together. More concerning are reports of increased alcohol problems among socially anxious people. Research studies tell us that people who suffer from social phobia are 2-3 times more likely to develop problems with alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence. Yet historically, alcohol dependency and social anxiety have been treated as separate problems. Now, with greater understanding about how the two interact, researchers from Macquarie University's Centre for Emotional Health have developed a new treatment for adults that addresses both problems together. Dr Lexin... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621840 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:11:00 +0100 2621840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660716&cid=t_148013_87_f&fid=36069&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrankiespeakingfrankly.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fswine-flu-anxiety_20.html Honestly today I am soooo much better. I can now say for sure that I am disease free - still weak, but today I can actually say the coughing has stopped and each day I am feeling stronger. But last week I had one of the worst nights of my life. No joke, I really thought I was dying!As with most days over the past few weeks I woke feeling a little better, but in the afternoon my cough got worse and became very tiresome come the evening and into the night. This particular evening, feeling truly exhausted and in need of a good night's sleep, but unable to stop the coughing whenever I lay down, my husband gave me a sore throat sweet that included in it an anaesthetic to help relax my throat which he said had helped him.Indeed my throat muscles did relax, but then I started to feel really anxio... Frankie Speaking Frankly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660716 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:18:00 +0100 2660716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561313&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_effectiveness_of_mindfulnessbased_cognitive_thera.htm Conclusions: MBCT may be effective at relieving anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. However, well-designed, randomized controlled trials are needed. (Text has been reformatted for online visual clarity, link added; ed.) Source... Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561313 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:47:00 +0100 2561313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511063&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fis_valerian_useful_for_relief_of_generalized_anxiety.htm Written by Shamir Benji Anxiety disorders are quite common in our society. Anxiety can vary in intensity and can severely affect one's lifestyle. There are many medications available to treat anxiety but none is ideal and all of them have side effects. For this reason, many individuals with anxiety have now been turning to alternative health care for treatment of anxiety. One of the natural substances high highly recommended by the herbalist for anxiety is valerian. More...       Copyright © 2009 EmpowHer/HW Comment:  Benzodeiazepines are also "natural substances." At least two of the commercial benzodiazepines, diazepam (Valium®) and lorazepam (Ativan®), occur in commonly eaten foods. See: Benzodiazepines naturally (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyi... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511063 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:50:00 +0100 2511063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511162&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2F10-ways-to-manage-your-weight-on-psych-meds%2F Awhile back, a Beyond Blue reader asked me to address the problem of weight gain and medication. “How do you deal with this yourself?” she asked me. I’ll be perfectly honest. It’s a battle. As someone with a history of an eating disorder, I’ve had to work very hard on getting to place where I eat when I’m hungry. For that reason, I won’t go near drugs like Zyprexa, because the 20 pounds that I gained in one month made me feel ALMOST bad as my depression. I totally understand that body image is important to your self-esteem. I wish I wasn’t so shallow, but look at the ads around us. What’s the message that they’re screaming? “Thin people are beautiful. Overweight people aren’t.” I hate that. So, since this is F... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511162 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:27:39 +0100 2511162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441627&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_posttyphoon_prevalence_of_ptsd_mdd_panic_disorde.htm J Trauma Stress. 2009 May 19;doi:10.1002/jts.2040 Posttyphoon prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder in a Vietnamese sample. Amstadter AB, Acierno R, Richardson LK, Kilpatrick DG, Gros DF, Gaboury MT, Tran TL, Trung LT, Tam NT, Tuan T, Buoi LT, Ha TT, Thach TD, Galea S. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC; University of New Haven and Oskar Schindler Humanities Foundation, New Haven, CT; Health Department of Da Nang City, Da Nang City, Vietnam In 2006, typhoon Xangsane disrupted a multiagency health needs study of 4,982 individuals in Vietnam. Following this disaster, 798 of the original participants were reinterviewed to... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441627 Thu, 28 May 2009 07:44:00 +0100 2441627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441634&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_pathways_between_nonmedical_opioid_usedependence_.htm Conclusions: Our findings support a general vulnerability to nonmedical opioid use and major psychopathologies, as well as evidence for a 'self-medication' model for dependence resulting from nonmedical opioid use with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Source... © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441634 Tue, 26 May 2009 07:42:00 +0100 2441634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348460&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_social_anxiety_disorder_and_marijuana_use_problems.htm Conclusions: These data support the contention that SAD is uniquely related to marijuana problems and provide insight into mechanisms underlying this vulnerability. Source... Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348460 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:05:00 +0100 2348460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348466&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_generalized_anxiety_disorder_is_associated_with_me.htm Conclusions: Depression has very much been the focal condition for studies on mental health and physical health outcomes. The current data suggest that future research should perhaps pay equal attention to GAD. Source... Copyright © 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry Published by Elsevier Inc. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348466 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:41:00 +0100 2348466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348475&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_worry_exposure_versus_applied_relaxation_in_the_tr.htm Conclusion: This is the first study to show that a stand-alone exposure in sensu technique - WE - is efficacious in the treatment of GAD. Both AR and WE seem to represent effective principles of change in GAD. Source... Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348475 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:52:00 +0100 2348475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313420&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcbt_helps_elderly_reduce_worry_improve_mental_health.htm This study is the first to suggest that CBT can be useful for managing worry and associated symptoms among older patients in primary care," the authors write. "This study paves the way for future research to test sustainable models of care in more demographically heterogeneous groups." Stanley MA, Wilson NL, Novy DM, et al. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Older Adults in Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2009 Apr 8;301(14):1460-1467   [Abstract] (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313420 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:59:00 +0100 2313420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2258134&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Flinkblog%2Fjump%2F%3Fi%3D509109 An international mental health awareness packet providing accurate, evidence-based information about Generalized Anxiety Disorder -- its symptoms, its cultural differences, its treatment, and its impact on the lives of individuals who experience it and their families. Produced by the World Federation for Mental Health (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2258134 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:15:00 +0100 2258134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060689&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2Fmood_swings_are_normal.php Image via Wikipedia We have become a medicating culture. If we don't like how we feel, we can take a pill to feel better. Kellen Von Houser, MA, LPC, in her blog Kellevision says it boldly. "My concern is for people who are actually experiencing the normal emotions of life, labeling them "mood swings" and trying to medicate their discomfort away. My concern is for doctors who participate in this and validate it. My concern is for teaching people that emotions can be "negative" and undesirable. That they are "bad" in some way and should be eliminated, by chemical intervention or any other means. This is not a message we want to send. Emotions are what make us human. And expressing them is what keeps us sane. " In this world, shrewd advertisers manipulate our moods to overwhelm our self... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060689 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:03:25 +0100 4060689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2258130&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimpairment_and_treatmentresistance_in_social_phobia.htm Psychiatry Weekly 2009 Mar 9;4(5)5 Van Ameringen M. Social phobia typically starts in childhood or early adolescence, and it involves concerns about anxiety in social and performance situations. "The primary concerns of those with social phobia are about doing something, or behaving in a way, that will lead to negative evaluation or embarrassment or humiliation," says Dr Michael Van Ameringen. "There is no absolute known cause for this condition, although we know that there are familial and temperament-related predispositions that may be contributing factors." The estimated lifetime prevalence of social phobia in the US is 12.1%, a rate that has been replicated around the world-lifetime prevalence runs at around 10% across most cultures. Cross-sectionally, the rate of 12-month social phobi... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2258130 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:48:00 +0100 2258130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2132571&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsame_gene_variant_cues_social_anxiety_in_both_macaques_and_h.htm This study confirms rhesus monkeys can serve as a model of what goes on in our brains, even in the case of social behavior." The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants, the Cure Autism Now Foundation, and a Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Watson KK, Ghodasra JH, Platt ML. Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulates Social Reward and Punishment in Rhesus Macaques. PLoS ONE 4(1): e4156   [Full text] (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2132571 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:51:00 +0100 2132571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121955&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__psychological_treatment_of_social_anxiety_disorde.htm Conclusions: This study once more makes it clear that psychological treatments of social anxiety disorder are effective in adults, but that they may be less effective in more severe disorders and in studies in which care-as-usual and placebo control groups are used. Source... Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121955 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:34:00 +0100 2121955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121956&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fssri_antidepressants_have_moderate_benefits_for_anxious_elde.htm Preliminary research suggests that use of the drug escitalopram (Lexapro®, Cipralex®) provided some improvement in symptoms for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder, although the overall benefits were diminished because of nonadherence to the drug by some patients, according to a study in the January 21 issue of JAMA. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders in older adults, is defined by chronic, difficult-to-control worry and anxiety, with related symptoms such as muscle tension, sleep disturbance and fatigue. The prevalence of GAD is as high as 7.3 percent among community-dwelling older adults and even higher among primary care patients. Because the number of older adults in the U.S. is growing and there is a lack of effective tr... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121956 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:54:00 +0100 2121956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116121&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_anxiety_puts_female_welfare_recipients_at_risk_of_eco.htm Jared Wadley Women on welfare who suffer from social anxiety find it harder to work-and leave welfare-than women without the disorder, according to a new University of Michigan study. Welfare recipients with social anxiety disorder worked only six of 12 months, compared with about nine months for those who did not suffer from this disorder or from major depression. By comparison, women with depression only worked about eight of 12 months. Social anxiety disorder is a persistent fear of social or performance situations that might involve exposure to unfamiliar people or possible scrutiny by others. This condition, which often remains undetected and untreated, undermines a woman's ability to become self-sufficient and impedes efforts to reduce welfare costs through return-to-work programs, t... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116121 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:09:00 +0100 2116121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2113675&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_effects_of_safety_behaviour_on_the_maintenance_of_.htm Conclusions: It is speculated that the SAD group have a stronger link between safety behaviour and negative belief than the healthy group, whereas frequency of the use of safety behaviour is equivalent between two groups. These results support the findings of previous studies. Source... Copyright © 2009 by SAGE Publications (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2113675 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:03:00 +0100 2113675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047545&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_muscle_tension_in_generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm Conclusions: Muscle tension in its objective and subjective representations may play a role in GAD through various pathways that are testable. Future research needs to better examine the different aspects and functions of muscle tension in GAD. Source... Copyright © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047545 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:08:00 +0100 2047545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996274&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F11%2F28%2Ffriday-flashback-for-november-28-2008%2F Wow, can you believe November is nearly gone while the Thanksgiving turkey is digesting in our stomachs? Neither can we, and so we bring you another installment of our occasional Friday Flashback. 10 Years Ago on Psych Central Relationship Reprise: Don’t Forget Them As the holidays descend upon us, it may be a good time to remember what’s really important in life — our relationships with our friends, family and others, not things. Focus on those relationships, renew old ones, and do some relationship housekeeping to start the next year off right with the people that matter most in your life. 5 Years Ago on Psych Central November 2003 Blog Entry Five years ago, I blogged on the finding that UCLA researchers find gingko biloba may help improve memory. More recent res... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996274 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:03:08 +0100 1996274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955423&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ffree_publication_gives_fresh_perspectives_on_generalised_anx.htm The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has published a comprehensive 40 page toolkit "Understanding generalized anxiety disorder" to help people understand this debilitating disorder. The publication provides up-to date information about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in both adults and children, its current treatments, and the effects of stigma on those living with the disorder. Through the information presented, the toolkit aims to educate and inform those with GAD, their physicians, families and friends, and the general public about a condition that affects the lives of millions of people, and results in marked disability and significantly impaired quality of life. In addition to the information about GAD, the toolkit also contains a list of national and local organization wh... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955423 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:12:00 +0100 1955423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952359&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fworking_on_interpersonal_skills_may_help_socially_anxious_br.htm In this study, people with social anxiety disorder were observed during two social tasks - a speech and a 'getting acquainted' conversation. People watching and participating then reported how they felt towards the socially anxious person. Lead researcher, Marisol Voncken, said: "The individuals with social anxiety disorder performed badly in these social situations and this poor social performance caused the observers to feel negatively towards them. When people feel negatively about someone, they tell themselves that they are nothing like that person, and this belief and their negative feelings leads to the social rejection that we witnessed. "Fear of rejection is one of the core problems for people with social anxiety disorder, but we have seen that their anxious behavior is actually ca... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952359 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:31:00 +0100 1952359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930251&cid=t_148013_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fnew-disease-facing-drug-industry.html Pills you can take for EAD (courtesy of The Stranger: "Rx for Election Anxiety Disorder").Tomorrow, of course, is election day here in the USA and it seems that the pharmaceutical industry is, for the most part, shrugging it off as of very little consequence one way or the other. There is, however, some anxiety.Dan Jaffe, Executive VP of Governmental Relations at the Association of National Advertisers, said at last week's DTC Perspectives' DTC in the Era of Consumer Choice Conference, that the drug industry and its advertising partners are facing a new disease: EAD or Election Anxiety Disorder.But Jaffe reminded the audience that there is anti-business rhetoric from both sides of the aisle and he summarized who in Congress is against the industry and who is for it in his presentation at t... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930251 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:22:00 +0100 1930251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1927901&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_efficacy_and_safety_of_pregabalin_in_elderly_peopl.htm Conclusions: Pregabalin, in doses of 150-600 mg/day, was a safe and effective treatment of generalised anxiety disorder in patients 65 years and older. The anxiolytic efficacy of pregabalin had an early onset (by 2 weeks) and significantly improved both psychic and somatic symptoms of anxiety. Source... © 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1927901 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:01:00 +0100 1927901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856387&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_phobics_see_themselves_differently.htm Magnetic resonance brain imaging reveals that patients with generalized social phobia (social anxiety disorder) respond differently than others to negative comments about themselves, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. "Generalized social phobia is characterized by fear/avoidance of social situations and fear of being judged negatively by others," the authors write. "It is the most common anxiety disorder in the general population, with the lifetime prevalence estimated at 13.3 percent, and it is associated with a high risk for depression, alcohol and drug abuse and suicide." Previous studies have found differences in the way brains of affected individuals respond to facial expressions, suggesting that the condition involves increased responsivenes... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856387 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:58:00 +0100 1856387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769119&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fto_be_young_and_anxietyfree.htm By ANDREA PETERSEN Last fall, 12-year-old John Morganti was a very anxious kid. He was too scared to ride the bus to school or have sleepovers at friends' houses. He had frequent stomachaches, hid out in the nurse's office and begged his mother to let him skip school. "He would get so scared, he would be in a little ball in the corner," says John's mother, Danielle Morganti, of Pittsgrove, N.J. John was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and underwent a treatment known as cognitive behavioral therapy. By spring, he had largely recovered and was happily taking the bus and playing with friends at parties. More... Copyright © 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769119 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:38:00 +0100 1769119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726562&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_evaluation_of_the_effectiveness_of_crenotherapy_in.htm Sante Publique. 2008 Mar-Apr;20(2):105-12. Evaluation of the effectiveness of crenotherapy in treating generalized anxiety disorder Salamon R, Christine G, Olié JP, Dubois O. INSERM U 593, 146, rue Leo-Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. [Article in French] In preliminary studies, crenotherapy has emerged as a possible effective treatment for general anxiety disorder. We have compared crenotherapy to Paroxetine [Paxil®] in a randomized multicentric control trial for a period of 8 weeks. 237 patients who met the diagnosis criteria of generalized anxiety disorder (DSM-IV) were recruited, 117 patients were randomly assigned to Crenotherapy and 120 to Paroxetine. Evaluation of effectiveness was assessed using the scoring system according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726562 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:06:00 +0100 1726562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1714097&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fpregabalin_for_generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm Leard-Hansson J, Guttmacher L.The Problem You have a patient with generalized anxiety disorder who previously has been treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and buspirone with inadequate relief. In an attempt to avoid a benzodiazepine, you consider pregabalin (Lyrica). The Question Is pregabalin effective in treating GAD? The Analysis We performed a Medline search combining "pregabalin" and "anxiety."The Evidence Pregabalin is an alpha2-delta voltage-gated calcium channel blocker that reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. It has Food and Drug Administration approval for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, postherpetic neuralgia, adjunctive treatment in partial-onset seizures, and fibromyalgia. More... © 200... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1714097 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:34:00 +0100 1714097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660977&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__symptoms_of_offensive_type_taijinkyofusho_among_.htm This study investigated the culture specificity of Taijin-Kyofusho (TK) offensive type by examining whether symptoms of the disorder covary with social phobia and determining the proportion of those who meet criteria for a diagnosis of TK offensive type among Australian socially phobic individuals. The study included a total of 94 participants who met the DSM-IV criteria for social phobia and 39 normal controls who did not meet criteria for any mental disorder. All participants were born in Western countries and resided in Australia. Results showed that levels of offensive worry were significantly elevated in socially phobic individuals and decreased after treatment of their social phobia, pointing to a close relationship between symptoms of TK offensive type and social anxiety. Correlatio... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660977 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:08:00 +0100 1660977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640359&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbonding_hormone_may_alleviate_social_anxiety.htm Swedish and British researchers have found that the hormone oxytocin can inhibit feelings of anxiety in specific individuals. Their discovery might lead to a better understanding and the improved treatment of disorders in which people feel distressed when meeting others, such as autism and social phobia. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is secreted by the body during massage, childbirth and breastfeeding to induce a calming, analgesic effect. Animal studies have also shown that oxytocin promotes social interaction, such as during the courting process. The hormone has a direct influence on the amygdala, a brain area that is important for social interaction and for identifying immediate emotional threats. In this new study scientists at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet and... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640359 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:44:00 +0100 1640359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561255&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsome_are_wired_to_be_anxious.htm We all know people who are tense and nervous and can't relax. They may have been wired differently since childhood. New research by the HealthEmotions Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) published in PLoS ONE indicates that the brains of those suffering from anxiety and severe shyness in social situations consistently respond more strongly to stress, and show signs of being anxious even in situations that others find safe. Dr Ned Kalin, chairman of the UW Department of Psychiatry and HealthEmotions Research Institute and colleagues looked at brain activity, anxious behavior, and stress hormones in adolescent rhesus monkeys, which have long been used as a model to understand anxious temperament in human c... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561255 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:14:00 +0100 1561255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461173&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_anxiety_trust_and_the_role_of_oxytocin.htm Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on OxytocinThe brain centers triggered by a betrayal of trust have been identified by researchers, who found they could suppress such triggering and maintain trust by administering the brain chemical oxytocin. The researchers said their findings not only offer basic insights into the neural machinery underlying trust; the results may also help in understanding the neural basis of social disorders such as phobias and autism. In their experiments, Thomas Baumgartner and colleagues asked volunteer subjects to play two types of games - a trust game and a risk game. In the trust game, subjects were asked to contribute money, with the understanding that a human trustee would invest the money and decide whether to return the profits, or betray the ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461173 Thu, 22 May 2008 09:04:00 +0100 1461173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439993&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fanxiety_disorders_not_all_in_the_mind.htm Researchers find link between altered dopamine activity and social anxiety disorder Using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), researchers in The Netherlands were able to detect biochemical differences in the brains of individuals with social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), providing evidence of a long-suspected biological cause for the dysfunction. The study compared densities of elements of the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems in the brains of 12 people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, but who had not taken medication to treat it, and a control group of 12 healthy people who were matched by sex and age. Both groups were injected with a radioactive compound that binds with elements of the brain's serotonin and dopamine systems. Once adm... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439993 Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:00 +0100 1439993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1437075&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_duration_of_untreated_illness_as_a_predictor_of_t.htm Conclusion: Results from this preliminary study seem to suggest that a shorter DUI-AD may determine a better response to pharmacologic treatment in patients with GAD, and that a longer DUI (DUI-BDZ and DUI-AD) may be associated to a worse clinical course. Further investigation on the relationship between DUI and GAD is needed. Source + Full text... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1437075 Mon, 12 May 2008 08:21:00 +0100 1437075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1423632&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_the_potential_of_virtual_reality_as_anxiety_manag.htm Conclusion: We argue that the use of VR for relaxation represents a promising approach in the treatment of GAD since it enhances the quality of the relaxing experience through the elicitation of the sense of presence. This controlled trial will evaluate the effects of the use of VR in relaxation while preserving the benefits of randomization to reduce bias. Trial Registration: NCT00602212 (ClinicalTrials.gov) (Text has been reformatted for clarity; ed.) Source | Full text () (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1423632 Tue, 06 May 2008 08:03:00 +0100 1423632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369750&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_mindfulnessbased_cognitive_therapy_for_generalize.htm Conclusion: MBCT may be an acceptable and potentially effective treatment for reducing anxiety and mood symptoms and increasing awareness of everyday experiences in patients with GAD. Future directions include development of a randomized clinical trial of MBCT for GAD. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369750 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:03:00 +0100 1369750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369149&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2F15_million_americans_suffer_from_social_anxiety_disorder.htm By Steven Reinberg WEDNESDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) - Social anxiety disorder prevents some 15 million Americans from leading normal social and romantic lives, a new survey finds. The disorder leaves many isolated, ashamed and often misdiagnosed. Thirty-six percent of those with social anxiety disorder have symptoms for 10 years or more before seeking help, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports. More... Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369149 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:40:00 +0100 1369149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1358615&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fgad_anxiety_symptoms_reduced_by_cranial_stimulation.htm MedWire News: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) appears to reduce symptoms of anxiety in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), say US scientists. CES has been used for many years to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia in the general population. However, its role in the treatment of GAD has not been examined, explain Alexander Bystritsky and colleagues from the University of California at Los Angeles. More... © AstraZeneca 2008 (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1358615 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:32:00 +0100 1358615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347550&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fneuroimaging_suggests_relationship_between_temperament_and_s.htm NeuroPsychiatry Reviews 2008 Feb;9(2) BOSTON-Children with inhibited behavior in early childhood showed brain differences on fMRI in a longitudinal study, indicating that temperament in early childhood may be implicated in the development of social anxiety disorder in adolescence and adulthood, reported Carl Schwartz, MD, at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Thirty years ago, Jerome Kagan, PhD, observed 2-year-old children and classified them as having either inhibited or uninhibited temperament. Signs of behavioral inhibition included long latencies to play or interact with unfamiliar people or objects, long time spent proximal to the mother, and sensation of play or vocalization whenever a novel or unfamiliar person or object entered the ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347550 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:08:00 +0100 1347550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327594&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_anxiety_disorder_strongly_associated_with_risk_of_dep.htm BRUCE JANCIN VIENNA - Social anxiety disorder, regardless of age of onset, is consistently associated with strongly increased risk for subsequent depression, according to 10-year results of the large prospective Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study. This conclusion is an about-face from an earlier report from the EDSP based on only 4 years of longitudinal follow-up. That report found that social anxiety disorder (SAD) was related to an increased risk of later depression only among individuals aged 18-24 years at SAD onset (Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 2001;58:251-6). More... © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327594 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:10:00 +0100 1327594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1279505&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fdifferences_between_mde_major_depressive_episode_and_gad_.htm MedWire News: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive episode (MDE) differ in their risk factors, say US scientists, who add that the findings undermine the notion that they are manifestations of a single underlying syndrome. Previous studies have demonstrated that GAD and MDE are highly comorbid. More... ©Current Medicine Group Ltd (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1279505 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:18:00 +0100 1279505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1276086&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fgene_variants_linked_to_anxiety_disorders.htm Strongest genetic evidence to date could help identify new drug targetsMassachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers - in collaboration with University of California at San Diego and Yale University scientists - have discovered perhaps the strongest evidence yet linking variation in a particular gene with anxiety-related traits. In the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, the team reports finding that particular versions of a gene that affects the activity of important neurotransmitter receptors were more common in both children and adults assessed as being inhibited or introverted and also were associated with increased activity of brain regions involved in emotional processing. "We found that variations in this gene were associated with shy, inhibited behavior in children, i... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1276086 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:11:00 +0100 1276086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221338&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2F8220love_hormone8221_may_alleviate_mental_illnesses.htm By Debra Kain Gazing into your lover's eyes isn't only romantic; it may also mimic early attachments that forever alter your brain and body. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine are studying whether the brain hormone released with touches, hugs, or when a mother and her newborn baby bond might help patients with schizophrenia, social anxiety and a variety of other disorders. Oxytocin is a brain chemical associated with pair bonding, including mother-infant and male-female bonds, increased paternal involvement with children, and monogamy in certain rodents, according to Kai MacDonald, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSD. In humans, oxytocin is released during hugging and pleasant physical touch, and plays a part in the human s... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221338 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:08:00 +0100 1221338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1154079&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fthe_role_of_stress_in_just_about_everything_151_part_33.htm by Eric Wargo Association for Psychological Science Personality and environmental factors are not the whole story when it comes to stress. The next frontier of stress research is the rapidly growing field of behavioral genetics. Modeling the interaction of genetic and environmental influences is no longer a matter of weighing the relative input of nature and nurture. The two intertwine in subtle and complicated ways, with environments affecting gene expression, and vice versa, throughout life. Thus, the current watchword is "stress-diathesis" models, in which environmental stressors have varying impact on individuals due to preexisting inherited vulnerabilities. One major advance in this area was the discovery by Avshalom Caspi, University of Wisconsin, and his colleagues of a link between... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1154079 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:31:00 +0100 1154079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1150753&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fthe_role_of_stress_in_just_about_everything_151_part_23.htm by Eric Wargo Association for Psychological Science Besides heart disease, PTSD, and depression, chronic psychological stress has been linked to ailments as diverse as intestinal problems, gum disease, erectile dysfunction, adult-onset diabetes, growth problems, and even cancer. Chronic rises in stress hormones have been shown to accelerate the growth of precancerous cells and tumors; they also lower the body's resistance to HIV and cancer-causing viruses like human papilloma virus (the precursor to cervical cancer in women). The great challenge in stress psychology - and the necessary precursor to developing interventions against stress's harmful effects - has been understanding the mechanisms by which thoughts and feelings and other "mental" stuff can affect bodily health. For many years... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1150753 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:36:00 +0100 1150753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1150756&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__use_of_benzodiazepines_and_ssris_in_middleaged_a.htm Conclusions: Although there was an increase in SSRI/SNRI use in older participants with anxiety disorders over the course of study, at nine years of follow-up, only 35% of participants were utilizing SSRI/SNRI medication, while more than one-half of the same participants were continuing to use BZs. To the authors' knowledge, there are no randomized clinical trials that have addressed comparative efficacy and safety of BZs and SSRIs/SNRIs in this population. However, there is documented evidence of adverse effects of chronic BZ use and the risk of developing dependency in older populations. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1150756 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:20:00 +0100 1150756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1148234&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fexercise_away_menopausal_anxiety_stress_and_depression.htm With more menopausal women seeking natural therapies to ease symptoms, a new study has found that simply adding a brisk walking routine can reduce a variety of psychological symptoms such as anxiety, stress and depression. The research is published in the January issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. "With the aging population, physical activity represents one way for women to stay mentally healthy. Physical activity can help throughout the menopausal transition and afterwards," said Temple University public health researcher Deborah Nelson, Ph.D, the study's lead author. From 1996 to 1997, 380 women living in Philadelphia were recruited and they have been followed for more than eight years. The women reported their physical activity level and menopausal symptoms including ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1148234 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:40:00 +0100 1148234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1148238&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__a_randomized_controlled_trial_of_dcycloserine_en.htm Conclusions: This study shows that the administration of DCS before ET enhances treatment outcomes for SAD. Results also provide the first preliminary evidence to suggest that DCS moderates the relationship between a reduction in negative appraisals about one's speech performance and improvement in overall SAD symptoms. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1148238 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:12:00 +0100 1148238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106449&cid=t_148013_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F202874433%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106449 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:22:29 +0100 1106449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101710&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstudy_finds_behavior_therapy_better_than_drugs_for_adolescen.htm A behavioral therapy designed to treat children diagnosed with social phobia helped them overcome more of their symptoms than the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac®), according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is characterized by an extremely distressing fear of social situations, of being watched or judged by others, and of being embarrassed. People with social phobia also may have physical symptoms like a racing heart, excessive sweating or blushing, trembling, nausea and other symptoms. Social phobia is more extreme than common shyness and can interfere with a person's ability to function. Children with the disorder avoid everyday activities a... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101710 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:46:00 +0100 1101710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101714&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_empirically_supported_psychological_interventions_.htm Conclusions CBT is the psychological intervention of choice for social phobia. The findings of this review are compared to those of other major reviews and limitations are discussed. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101714 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:08:00 +0100 1101714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101713&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__social_fears_and_social_phobia_in_the_usa.htm Conclusions: Social phobia is a common, under-treated disorder that leads to significant functional impairment. Increasing numbers of social fears are associated with increasingly severe manifestations of the disorder. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101713 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:08:00 +0100 1101713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1060138&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Flinkblog%2Fjump%2F%3Fi%3D500315 This manual is both a guide to treatment and a workbook for persons who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. During treatment, it is a workbook in which individuals can record their own experience of their disorder, together with the additional advice for their particular case given by their clinician. After treatment has concluded, this manual will serve as a self-help resource enabling those who have recovered, but who encounter further stress or difficulties, to read the appropriate section and, by putting the content into action, stay well. Produced by Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1060138 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:59:00 +0100 1060138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1049945&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__setc_versus_fluoxetine_prozacreg_in_the_trea.htm Conclusions: Both fluoxetine and SET-C are efficacious for social phobia, although SET-C appears to provide added benefit by enhancing social skills. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1049945 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:26:00 +0100 1049945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024328&cid=t_148013_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F184334735%2F 18-year-old Leland Coats has been declared a hero for saving relatives from a house fire by waking them up: Back in February, today’s Charleston Daily Mail notes, Coats, who has autism, was staying with a cousin and got up for a drink of water while everyone was sleeping, and smelled smoke: The cousin, her boyfriend and two children under 3 all were sleeping when the fire broke out, his mother said. Leland woke everyone, and they managed to flee from the home without harm. “He was telling people to stop, drop and roll, just like they told him in school,” his mother said. “Everyone got out OK and there wasn’t a lot of damage, just some water damage.” Leland then ran barefoot to his home about a block away and called 911. It was a cold winter Sunday mornin... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024328 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:58:02 +0100 1024328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1024329&cid=t_148013_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F184165714%2F Sometimes it seems to me that a significant part of motherhood means worrying about what goes into your child (not another French fry! a little chicken first, please) and about what goes out and, even more, where it goes out—so I was hardly surprised to find the November 12th New York Times devoting a whole article to self-flushing toilets and young children’s anxieties about being, indeed, flushed away: Automatic toilets, their infrared eyes flashing, have proliferated in restaurants, airports, museums, department stores and office buildings. The American Museum of Natural History has them. So does Bloomingdale’s. Unlike their antiquated, manually operated predecessors, the toilets can flush at the slightest movement, and emit a high-pitched whine that, to some ears, sounds ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1024329 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:35:47 +0100 1024329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1003696&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_social_anxiety_disorder_psychobiological_and_evo.htm CNS Spectr. 2007;12(11):806-809 Social Anxiety Disorder: Psychobiological and Evolutionary Underpinnings Stein DJ, Vythilingum B.Social anxiety disorder (SAD) also know as social phobia is increasingly recognized as a highly prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorder. SAD patients demonstrate cognitive-affective distortions in relation to social situations and abnormal activation patterns in limbic structures during functional imaging. Behavioral inhibition is an endophenotype that may be useful in understanding vulnerability to SAD, and that has specific imaging and genetic correlates. From an evolutionary perspective, it has been speculated that SAD represents a false appeasement alarm. It is notable that SAD responds to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase inh... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1003696 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:49:00 +0100 1003696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=983326&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_panic_disorder_social_anxiety_disorder_and_a_pos.htm Conclusions: These findings are consistent with previous data supporting a PD syndrome and further suggest that this syndrome might include other anxiety disorders well. (Text has been reformatted for clarity; ed.) Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=983326 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:34:00 +0100 983326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=983327&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsowing_the_seeds_of_change.htm WMHC psychiatrist spearheads social anxiety disorder study By Lesley Bovie WHITBY — A medical director at the Whitby Mental Health Centre is carving out a name for himself with a new study linking pumpkin seeds to the effective treatment of social anxiety disorder. "It's a new way of thinking about how we can affect brain chemistry through foods," explains Dr. Craig Hudson. More... Copyright © 1995-2007 Metroland Media Group Ltd. - All Rights Reserved.Comment:  While eating pumpkin seeds may have other health benefits, any improvement in social anxiety is more likely to be from the placebo effect than the tryptophan in the seeds. More than 95% of the body's serotonin production occurs in the gut, blood and blood vessels, and the skin so very little, if any, extra tryptophan ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=983327 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:31:00 +0100 983327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=974669&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_anxiety_video_game_cuts_players_stress_hormone_levels.htm A video game designed by McGill University researchers to help train people to change their perception of social threats and boost their self-confidence has now been shown to reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol. The new findings appear in the October issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. "We already knew that it was possible to design games to allow people to practise new forms of social perception, but we were surprised by the impact this had when we took the games out of the lab and into the context of people's stressful lives," said McGill psychology professor Mark Baldwin. Prof. Baldwin and his team - McGill PhD graduates Stéphane Dandeneau and Jodene Baccus and graduate student Maya Sakellaropoulo - have been developing a suite of video gam... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=974669 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:27:00 +0100 974669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=968437&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__pregabalin_its_efficacy_safety_and_tolerability.htm Drugs Today (Barc). 2007 Sep;43(9):601-10 Pregabalin: Its efficacy, safety and tolerability profile in generalized anxiety. Owen RT.Medical Information Department, Prous Science, Barcelona, Spain. Pregabalin is a structural analogue of gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA), one of the key inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. Its mode of action is believed to be mediated by the alpha-2-delta-1 subunit protein of voltage-gated calcium channels to bring about its anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and antinociceptive effects. Pregabalin has linear pharmacokinetics, undergoes minimal metabolism and is excreted largely unchanged. It has a mean elimination half-life of 6.3 hours. Pregabalin's anxiolytic activity in generalized anxiety disorder has been demonstrated in seven acute randomized, doubleblind, ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=968437 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:38:00 +0100 968437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954371&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocially_anxious_have_heightened_sensitivity_to_subliminal_t.htm Reading the face of a person who is trying to conceal fear or other emotions is tricky business, according to a new study of electrical activity in the brain. Though such "microexpressions" as a brief flash of fear are unlikely to be consciously noticed, they still get picked up by the brain and make their way through the visual system. The effect can alter perception and the way other people are treated or judged, the study concludes. "Even though our study subjects were not aware that they were viewing subliminal emotional expressions, their brain activity was altered within 200 milliseconds," said Ken Paller, co-investigator of the study and professor of psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University. "As a result, the ratings of facial expressions th... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954371 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:40:00 +0100 954371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=945503&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fpersisting_anxiety_and_sleep_disturbance_predict_depression_.htm MedWire News: Persisting anxiety and continuing sleep disturbance may be the cause of residual symptoms in patients with late-life depression who have achieved remission following treatment, say researchers. More... ©Current Medicine Group Ltd (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=945503 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:06:00 +0100 945503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=943115&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ftherapist_assisted_selfhelp_effective_for_social_anxiety.htm Research from Australia's Macquarie University has found therapist assisted self-help treatments for social anxiety disorder/social phobia may be just as effective as more traditional, therapist only treatments. With mental health conditions such as anxiety growing in prevalence across the globe, there is a critical need for more innovative, cost-effective and accessible treatments. About one percent of the population have Social Anxiety Disorder, but less than a quarter seek help. The results of Macquarie's recently trialed self-help treatment is therefore promising news for both anxiety sufferers and mental health services. Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the study investigated the efficacy of pure self-help through written materials for severe social phobia and self-help... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=943115 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:27:00 +0100 943115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=904621&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_comparisons_of_psychopharmacological_and_psycholog.htm Conclusions: While drug treatment and CBT showed equal efficacy, only in panic disorder the combination of pharmacological and psychological treatment was superior to either treatment alone. For the other anxiety disorders, the evidence for greater efficacy of combination treatment is still not sufficient due to lack of studies. (Text has been reformatted for clarity; ed.) Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=904621 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:55:00 +0100 904621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=894327&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_benzodiazepines_in_generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of benzodiazepines in the treatment of GAD based on trial drop-out rates. We used a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that compared any of the three best established benzodiazepines (diazepam, Lorazepam and aLprazolam) against placebo. Our primary outcome for effectiveness was withdrawal for any reason. Our secondary outcome tapping efficacy was withdrawal due to lack of efficacy, and that tapping side effects was withdrawals due to adverse events. We included 23 trials. Pooled analysis indicated less risk of treatment discontinuation due to lack of efficacy for benzodiazepines, compared to placebo, relative risk (RR) 0.29 (95% CI 0.18-0.45; p < 0.00001). Nevertheless, pooled analysis showed no conc... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=894327 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:31:00 +0100 894327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=886424&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fanxiety_may_persist_after_miscarriage.htm By Joene Hendry NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - After a miscarriage, depression appears to decline during the following year, but many women and their partners continue to feel anxiety more than a year later, study findings suggest. "In people who experience miscarriage, anxiety, rather than depression is more likely to be the clinical burden, this can be persisting enduring," Dr. Grant P. Cumming, of Dr. Gray's Hospital, Elgin, United Kingdom told Reuters Health. More... © Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=886424 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:29:00 +0100 886424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=786981&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_cbt_amp_relaxation_therapy_equally_effective_for.htm J Consult Clin Psychol. 2007 Aug;75(4):513-22. Specificity of treatment effects: Cognitive therapy and relaxation for generalized anxiety and panic disorders. Siev J, Chambless DL. Department of PsychologyUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, US. jsiev@psych.upenn.edu. The aim of this study was to address claims that among bona fide treatments no one is more efficacious than another by comparing the relative efficacy of cognitive therapy (CT) and relaxation therapy (RT) in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder without agoraphobia (PD). Two fixed-effects meta-analyses were conducted, for GAD and PD separately, to review the treatment outcome literatur... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=786981 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:56:00 +0100 786981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=784108&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__teen_social_anxiety_disorder_a_risk_factor_for_la.htm Conclusions: Social anxiety disorder is an early, adolescent-onset disorder related to a substantially and consistently increased risk for subsequent depression. The demonstration of proximal and particularly distal predictors for increased depression risks requires further exploration to identify their moderator or mediator role. Along with previous evidence that comorbid SAD is associated with a more malignant course and character of depression, these results call for targeted prevention with the aim of reducing the burden of SAD and its consequences. (Text has been reformatted for clarity; ed.) Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=784108 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:53:00 +0100 784108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=743449&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fhormone_spray_could_banish_shyness.htm It was hailed as the "trust" hormone, then the "mind-reading" hormone. Now it seems oxytocin may also help people with social phobia to interact. More... © Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=743449 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:54:00 +0100 743449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=720107&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_pregabalin_for_the_treatment_of_generalized_anxiet.htm Expert Rev Neurother. 2007 Jul; 7(7): 769-81; Pregabalin for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a novel pharmacologic intervention. Bandelow B, Wedekind D, Leon T. University of Göttingen, Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, von-Siebold-Str. 5, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany. sekretariat.bandelow@medizin.uni-goettingen.de Pregabalin [Lyrica®] is the first anxiolytic pharmacologic alternative for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) to be introduced in more than 10 years. GAD is a significant psychiatric condition with lifetime... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=720107 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:25:00 +0100 720107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693043&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__treating_adolescents_with_social_anxiety_disorder.htm Conclusions: The study provides evidence that intervention for social anxiety disorder that emphasizes exposure and social skills is efficacious. Results indicate that clinical improvement is sustained for at least 6 months, and that, overall, adolescents with social anxiety disorder do not respond to non-specific treatment. This investigation has public health implications by demonstrating that effective interventions can be transported to nonclinical settings. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693043 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:17:00 +0100 693043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=677443&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fvideo_social_anxiety_disorder.htm VideoJug: Social Anxiety Disorder (Double click image to begin download) Academic psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Reist, director of medical research for the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, explains:What Social Anxiety Disorder is, What the signs of Social Anxiety Disorder are, What the most common causes of social anxiety disorder are, The most common dangers associated with Social Anxiety Disorder, How a psychiatrist determines whether you have Social Anxiety Disorder, What the common treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder are, Who is most at risk for developing Social Anxiety Disorder, What to do to avoid developing Social Anxiety Disorder, What Specific phobias are. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=677443 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:39:00 +0100 677443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=655715&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_a_family_study_of_comorbidity_between_social_phob.htm Conclusions: The results were most consistent with a co-morbidity model indicating independent familial transmission of GSP and GAD. This has clinical implications for the treatment of patients with both disorders. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=655715 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:46:00 +0100 655715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=654596&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_anxiety_in_teenagers_raises_substanceabuse_risk.htm Joan Arehart-Treichel Social anxiety in youth, but not other anxiety or mood disorders, seems to set the stage for marijuana or alcohol dependence. So treating adolescents with social anxiety might reduce such dependence. Individuals who are socially anxious often use alcohol or marijuana to calm their nerves. But can social anxiety actually predispose people to marijuana or alcohol dependence? More... © 2007 American Psychiatric Association (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=654596 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 08:15:00 +0100 654596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060866&cid=t_148013_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2005%2F10%2Fa_soldiers_perspective_ptsd.php Boston Globe IRAQ VETERAN Daniel Cotnoir learned that Baghdad rules don't apply in Lawrence (Mass.). The former Marine sergeant, who was named 2005's ''Marine of the Year" by the Marine Corps Times newspaper, was charged earlier this month with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder after firing a shotgun near a crowd of revelers outside his home. He had already reported their noise to police and, when a glass bottle shattered his bedroom window, Cotnoir allegedly feared for the safety of his wife and children. As a Marine officer from 1999 to 2003, I led platoons in Afghanistan and Iraq. Following two combat tours, I left active duty to go to graduate school, thinking I could seamlessly return to normal life. But even with a loving family, supportive friends, and solid futur... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060866 Sun, 30 Oct 2005 21:06:44 +0100 4060866