The Key To Treating Depression

A new study funded by The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda suggests that determination is the key to treating depression. Results showed that some people who don’t initially improve with an antidepressant may do so if they try other treatments. Phase one of the study looked at how people with major depression responded to the drug Celexa. One third of them had positive results. For the others, in phase tow doctors found that an additional third became symptom free by taking an additional antidepressant and about one quarter recovered by switching to a different one. Based on these findings, researchers say patients should try an antidepressant for 6-12 weeks to see if it works. If it doesn’t, then you should try another. Sometimes people who don’t respond well to synthetic prescriptions may want to try alternative natural therapies, such as Deprex. A big plus to Deprex is that it won’t give you the bad side effects that you may experience wit prescription drugs.

Environmental Triggers of ADHD

Previous studies have determined that environmental factors such as exposure to lead, substance and alcohol abuse and smoking during pregnant, an impoverished environment, malnourished, physical abuse, traumatic brain injury and seizures may be reasons for childhood behavioral problems. Research also shows that children of tobacco users face a higher risk of ADD. One study of 2,232 5 year old twins suggested that there is a connection between affection given by the other and lower rates of the disorder in those with a low birth weight. Another study done at the University of Illinois studied hyperactive children between 5-8 years and discovered tat playing outdoors can have a big positive impact. Finally, a Temple University preliminary report found that deep pressure and strenuous exercise can soothe symptoms, such as restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Another environmental trigger is violence. In a number of surveys, it's been found that violence can also be a possible factor in hyperactivity. One survey, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, found that 90 percent of children between 4 and 6 were exposed to some form of aggression that caused a traumatic stress reaction, such as nightmares, thumb-sucking or bed wetting. Also, one third have allergies, asthma or ADHD. Investigators observed that those who had one or more of these health problems were significantly more likely to have had an encounter with excessive force. Finally, a huge number of reports have linked lack of sleep with behavioral problems. One study of 229 preschoolers showed that those who snored were four times more likely to develop new or worsened symptoms of hyperactivity four years later than those who slept well.

Depression is Common For Parents

According to a new analysis based on data from the National Survey of Families and Households, parents experience higher levels of depression then adults who do not have children. A study conducted by the Florida State University also found that increased symptoms of depression don’t leave you when the kids grow up and leave. Researchers are therefore suggesting that worrying is a lifelong cost of having children. Those who exhibit more signs of depression are the ones whose children are grown and parents who don’t have custody of minor children.

Is Being A Perfectionist Pushing You To The Edge?

The drive to get things done right is making many people prone to depression,obsessive-compulsive disorders and suicidal thoughts. Negative feelings could be reduced significantly by using cognitive behavioral therapy similar to depression and anxiety treatments. These treatments helped decrease the levels of depression and obsessive compulsive behavior. But some people wonder what’s wrong with being perfect? Because being perfect will become a problem when people’s goals are not attainable. It can cause feelings of failure that can lead to these psychological problems.

PLEASE Read If You're On Adderall

I'm sure that most of you have seen a lot of stories pertaining to the terrible side effects of Adderall. This is a very powerful stimulant that you mostly hear side effect stories from children who are on it. Well, today, I couldn't believe what I heard from a wonderful person who just recently purchased Attend for her son. She is trying to win a battle against her son's doctors and teachers who are telling her that he needs to be on prescription medication; prescription medication that took the life of a child she knew. But what's even more tragic was that it wasn't the child who was on Adderall-it was his mother. When the first trial against the makers of Adderall was taking place, she was there telling her story about how she had killed her seven year old son during a psychotic episode she had because of Adderall. I know these types of stories are very rare, but it's so shocking when you do hear one. I'm not saying that everyone on Adderall is going to have a psychotic episode. What I am saying is that everyone responds differently to medications, no matter what it is. All I hope is to try to make more people aware and hope they'll take a little more time doing research, finding alternatives, if possible, and getting more than one doctors opinion. No one should die because they have ADHD.

Is Provigil Good For ADHD?

According to the panel of experts that advises the FDA, Provigil, a drug used to treat ADHD, is not safe enough to win their approval. They are most concerned about the side effects of skin rashes, which can lead to hospitalization. They have called upon the manufacturer, Cephalon, to conduct more clinical trials, believing more patients need to be studied before approval will be granted. They voted 12-1 against recommending Provigil as safe for children who have ADHD. Provigil, already approved to treat sleep disorders, is seeking to market under the name Sparlon for those with ADHD. This ADHD version, also known as modafinil, would be a smaller tablet and have a wider range of doses. Although approval was given by the FDA in October of 2005 to use for ADHD, it had concerns about rashes, mania, aggression and other possible psychiatric effects that prompted the added advice from the expert panel. Even if the wider use is approved, Sparlon will more than likely come with the strongest warning possible, which is the black box warning. This recommendation follows only one day after another FDA panel called for all ADD drugs to include new information about psychiatric and heart risks, even though the data is still unclear. Apparently some panel members are uneasy about supporting Sparlon when other treatments are available and just as effective. This is another setback for Cephalon, who faced problems with its sleep disorder drug Nuvigil and the Vivitrol alcoholism treatment it is developing along with Alkermes Inc. The FDA committee recommends that Cephalon carries out a trial of 3,000 patients to help determine the risk the drug may pose for the sometimes fatal skin disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, which can produce widespread blistering and rashes. During previous studies, it was found that one out of 900 children developed the disease.

Sick Building Syndrome

In a recent study, researchers found that out of more than 4,000 government employees, high job demands and the perception of poor support were more closely related to sick building symptoms than were the physical conditions of the workplace. According to these British researchers, its work related stress rather than the building conditions that are causing the problem. The cluster of symptoms includes headache, nasal congestion, and fatigue and eye irritation. These appear to occur when a person is in a particular indoor environment. Researchers have failed to find connections that were consistent between symptoms and specific physical conditions of buildings. Now there is growing evidence that job stress, especially when combined with demanding work and little autonomy, has health effects and the physical reactions to stress are similar to those that attribute to sick building syndrome. In a recent study at eh University College London Medical School; employees were surveyed about symptoms, job stress and the conditions of their work space. They even took environmental measurements of temperature, dust, humidity, airborne fungus, bacteria, and other conditions in some of the buildings. There was some evidence that heat and humidity and levels of dust and bacteria were related to the symptoms. But there was a stronger relationship between the symptoms and job stress, such as demanding work and a feeling of lack of support from superiors and co-workers. These finding suggest that the social and psychological environment of the workplace should be a consideration when employees are affected by fatigue, headaches and other symptoms that are attributed to sick building syndrome.

Can Omega Oils Calm ADHD Teens?

A recent study by English researchers found that supplements containing omega-3 and omega-6 oils, which are all found in Attend, could improve the behavior and attention span of ADHD teenagers.
Studied were twenty teens between 12 and 15, 90 percent of whom had moderate to severe ADHD. They were given supplements for three months and found that inattentiveness fell from 94 percent to 17 percent by the end of the trial. Similar results were seen for impulsivity, which lowered from 89 percent to 28 percent. The supplements effect is proposed to function by increasing blood flow, and it is also suggested to affect hormones and the immune system, which have a direct effect on brain function.

Are Your Eating Habits Affecting Your Mental Health?

Some are beginning to wonder if there’s a link between changes in your eating habits and the rise of mental health problems today. Over the past fifty years, consuming fresh produce has declined and eating more saturated fats and sugars is rising. As a result, the nation’s health is being affected and it could also be damaging to our mental health, according to a recent report. It also shows that an unbalanced diet has led to an increase in depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study also shows that consumption of vegetables and fish has declined by 34 and 59 percent respectively within the last 60 years. Also, only 13 percent of men and 15 percent of women eat at least five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. There has also been a decrease in the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in such things as fish and nuts. A deficiency in these has been implicated in a number of mental health problems, which includes depression and hyperactivity disorders.
But the problem isn’t just how we eat, but also how our food is now produced. In many cases, due to changes in the way food is manufactured and produced, the vitamins and minerals have been reduced. Pesticides are now more widespread, and the body fat content of many animals is now higher.

The Benefits of Exercise

The word exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, but it has a lot of benefits that you should be aware of. Participating in daily exercise not only makes us healthier, it can diminish the effects of stress on our bodies as well. How many times have you heard someone say,” The doctor says it’s due to stress”? Stress plays a major role in many diseases. To increase your immune system and decrease your stress levels, you can try daily exercise. Some of the very simple things you can do are bending, stretching, reaching, or walking. You could try a simple aerobic video. You could also so simple stretching exercises of your neck and shoulders while sitting or walk in place while watching TV. Make it a point to move more throughout the day and boost your body’s immune system so you can stay healthier in general. There are no reasons to allow stressful situations to take their toll on your health and well being.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

For many in the military, post-traumatic stress disorder is an unfortunate reality. A study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that nearly 20 percent of those returning from the Iraqi War suffer from this condition or other mental health disturbances. For the Gulf War, the rate of soldiers coming back with these conditions was just half of that. One conclusion was that perhaps the nature of the conflict and the increased risk of being redeployed were making the Iraq War more taxing for these men and women. High amounts of stress and hyper vigilance were considered normal for soldiers serving in Iraq.
Those with post-traumatic stress disorder, whoever they may be, cannot selectively release emotions. For example, letting out love would also mean letting out many other feelings, such as fear and sadness. Therefore, a person with this disorder will stop interacting with the world around them. They will basically withdraw and try to escape. They also frequently feel guilt and shame foe being alive or experiencing pleasure. For these peoples’ partners it can be quite confusing and painful. A highly anticipated reunion may crumble once he or she returns, which can take a significant toll on their relationship. So for our soldiers and their partners it becomes a cruel irony that after a long battle, their plight continues when they do finally return home. For these stories to have happy endings that they deserve, both must make their relationship a priority and bring a strong measure of understanding and compassion to the effort.

Stress Is Not Good For Your Heart

If something is stressing you out, it’s probably not good for your heart. Mental stress decreases blood flow to the heart in those who have no problems in other stress tests according to a recent study. Researchers have found that the adverse effects of mental stress are more widespread than previously recognized. The study found that there may be a stronger association between mental stress and it being a serious risk factor for death in those that already have a pre-existing heart disease, just like smoking and high cholesterol are risk factors.
Patients were monitored for heart blood flow as they performed a mentally stressful scenario. All to them had coronary artery disease. They found that 21 percent of the patients had a drop in blood flow to the heart even though they had previously done well on treadmill stress tests. This study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Could Depression Predict the Future?

Switzerland researchers analyzed information on more that 4,000 people over a period of 25 years. They found that there’s a link between childhood depression and adult asthma and obesity. Although researchers believe more study is needed, they believe that the neurobiology of depression is different during childhood than at any other time in their life.

Is There A Link Between Allergies And Depression?

In a national survey of over 3,000 U.S. adults, researchers found that women with major depression were more likely to have allergies. Also noted was that men with nervous and anxious personalities also had allergies. These findings lead to the suggestion that there is a relationship between depression or neurotic personality traits and allergies. Although past studies have linked depression and allergies, it’s not clear which one leads to the other.
One hypothesis is that those who have neurotic personalities might be prone to both depression and allergies, which is already thought of as a risk factor for depression. One study found that those with depression were 50 percent more likely to have allergies than those without. And adults with neurotic personalities were 22 percent more likely to have allergies than those without. However, analysis showed that depression and allergies were linked only among women and in contrast, men with neurotic personalities had a higher risk of allergies, but there was no connection between depression and allergies. Researchers speculate that with depression, it’s possible that the disorder contributes to allergy development by impairing the immune system. On the other hand, those that have to deal with chronic allergies may become depressed.

Is It Time To Fix The ADHD Diagnosis And Not The Child?

Ever since the term was first adopted by the American Psychiatric Association in 1987, ADHD has been a source of much debate. And as the multi-million dollar industry has grown, so to have the amount of literature that describes the fundamental flaws in logic and research, and points out that claims of a neurobiological origin has never been substantiated. For example, Ritalin is considered a class 2 drug, which is the same as cocaine. Yet most parents don’t have deep concerns about it because they are unaware of all the facts. Unfortunately parents are not being informed of the medical opinion surrounding ADHD and its validity as a diagnostic concept and the nature of the drugs that are being prescribed. There are basic procedures and medical tests to help establish a correct diagnosis, but very few children have been subjects of these tests and yet they are “medically diagnosed” without finding the source of their symptoms.
Although there has been what some call poor quality research on ADHD, the pharmaceutical industry is now generating huge profits. The differences of opinion in the medical field can be reflected by the wide range of prescription rates throughout the world. In the largest analysis study, published by the Oregon Drug Effectiveness Review Project, researchers found no evidence that supported the claims about the drugs’ safety or even the legitimacy of the diagnosis out of over 2,000 pieces of research. Some feel that to continue giving these drugs while parents aren’t being made aware of safety issues is a crime. Many parents don’t even realize that they’re giving mind altering drugs to children whose brains aren’t fully developed. Yet they do because their doctor gives them a prescription for a drug that has yet to be determined what the long term side effects may be. Will our children just become “junkies” after being on meds for years, will they die from heart complications due to medicines, or will they be properly diagnosed so they don’t have to experience side effects or possibly die?

Britain Now Raises the Health Issue of Strattera

The British are now saying that a new report links drug company Lilly’s Strattera with heart rhythm problems and seizures. This drug has already been linked to rare cases of liver damage and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. But now British authorities have associated this drug with seizures and a lengthening of time between heartbeats, which could be potentially dangerous, in what they consider a handful of more than 3.7 million people who have been using the drug since it came out in 2002. These warnings are based on an internal report that was made by the British Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is the equivalent of the U.S. FDA. British authorities are updating the label on the medication to warn about the possible side effects. At the moment, no warnings are planned to be given to doctors and their patients taking the medicine here in the states and the U.S. label for Strattera contains no warning of seizures.

ADHD and Females

Today many researchers are complaining that even in the handbook of standard criteria for ADHD the gender base is not adequately addressed. Currently there are 3-5 boys diagnosed with ADHD for every one girl. That may be because girls with ADHD present themselves differently. They tend to be less aggressive and more likely to be very talkative. They also tend to be more depressed and more internalized than boys, who are externalized by doing such things as pushing, shoving, and running. Girls also tend to engage in sexual behavior at an earlier age than normal and face a higher risk of becoming pregnant.
In the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, one study suggests that the major symptoms of ADHD appear similar in both boys and girls, but girls are less likely to have the accompanying disruptive behaviors. This may be one reason that girls have a lower diagnosis rate. Researchers tested 140 girls with ADHD, whose average age was 11. They observed all of the typical symptoms which included inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The most frequent symptom found was inattention. Girls with ADHD were found to also have a higher of other psychiatric disorders, such as behavioral, mood, anxiety, as well as an increased risk of drug and alcohol abuse. Rates of mood disorders were similar in both genders, but girls had a less tendency to be affected by disruptive conditions, such as oppositional defiant disorder. Girls are more cognitive in symptoms. Unlike boys, they may never by restless, hyperactive, or impulsive. And while boys tend to get more diagnosed than girls because they’re disruptive in class, girls will quietly space off and not bother anyone. Some studies have estimated that as many as half to three fourths of all girls with ADHD will go undiagnosed. Others speculate that may be one more reason girls, and women, are diagnosed with depression than are men.

Is ADHD Really A Disease?

Many children today are inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive. They often get bored easily in class, can’t sit still, always on the go, and often don’t get along with other students or their teachers. These are symptoms of an alleged disease called ADHD and a majority of these children are given such medications as Ritalin and Adderall. But is it really ADHD that doctors are treating? Or could these children be bright, normal kids that are full of energy and just bored from sitting in a classroom? Could the National President of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights be right with saying that these kids are simply smart and become hyper while waiting for slower classmates to catch up to them? After all, those who are bored tend to fidget, scratch, wiggle, stretch, and may even start looking for ways to get into trouble, especially boys. There are also other conditions that mimic the symptoms of ADHD. These include hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, allergies, learning disabilities, problems with the thyroid, hearing or vision, mild to high lead levels in the blood, exposure to toxins, spinal problems, carbon monoxide poisoning, sleeping disorders, and about 16 or more other disorders.
Because these conditions can cause ADHD symptoms, it is almost impossible for a teacher, principal, or even a family doctor to say for certain that the child has ADHD. To be absolutely certain, a doctor would have to test and rule out these other conditions. And since parents or doctors rarely do this, than every diagnosis of ADHD is suspect to say the least. Technically, researchers have found no physical evidence of the disease or laboratory tests to prove that it actually exists. So parents, take heed when school officials tell you that your child has ADHD and wants them put on medicine so they can be more controllable at school. Why give mind altering drugs to children whose brains aren’t fully developed anyway? And just because a doctor prescribes it, doesn’t mean you have to give it to them. I would get a second opinion.

Instead of Pills, Lets Talk About Depression

In a new research study from Stanford University, they found that the number of doctor visits made by kids, ages 7-17, who were depressed, has more than doubled between 1995-2002. The first choice of therapy should be talk therapy. But unfortunately a number of children ended up getting pills instead. And the amount of prescriptions has also grown.
Researchers analyzed records of more than 1,000 doctors nationwide and found that referrals to psychotherapy for adolescents declined by 18 percent, while antidepressant prescriptions nearly tripled. The studies author believes that physicians are over medicating our youth with antidepressants and gives a little advice to parents. First, watch out for symptoms. If your child sleeps a lot, is suddenly getting poor school grades, or loses interest in such things as friends or hobbies for more than two weeks, you should talk to your doctor. Second, get the proper treatment. The first step for treatment should be talk therapy. In cases that are more severe, he/she might prescribe an antidepressant along with counseling. Finally, don’t forget to follow up. If you feel that the current treatment is not working, ask for something else. Some may need to try a different antidepressant. This would have to be under close supervision because now the only antidepressant that is currently approved for children is Prozac.

Women Over 50 Need Tools To Help Deal With Stress

You may be feeling more stress than the average person if you’re a female and over 50. The stress load might grow daily no matter how you try to cope with it. One example may be that you’re probably trying to deal with adult children, grandchildren and or aging parents. You also might have a stressful job, aging issues and health problems. And you probably aren’t thrilled with menopause creeping around the corner.
Women 50 or over can also experience pressure from money problems, such as paying your children’s college loans, and health issues that can be related to weight gain. Due to a number of these circumstances, women are now seeking counseling. Here are a few tips that may also help or that you may want to try before you feel you need counseling.
1). Don’t go it alone. It’s okay to ask a lot of people for a little help. For example, ask one daughter to check in on your mother on Mondays and Fridays, and ask another to check on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
2). To help you take control of future problems, be more demanding. Stop allowing able-bodied people to run you ragged. Tell your husband to make his own doctors’ appointment, for instance.
3). Realize you’re not 20 anymore. Look out for yourself in new creative ways. Instead of trying to keep the house spotless, steal some time to exercise.
4). Gain support for yourself by getting a girlfriend network going. Yes, you may have to listen to a lot of their problems, but friends your age will understand your pain.
Women over 50 sometimes need to give up their nice ways. Some have been taught to be nice and agreeable even at the expense of hurting themselves. Think of this age as the time to become more powerful. Insist doctors and other professionals do their job to your satisfaction. If not, then fire them and find more competent help.
Finally, don’t forget that those who are in a good mood look healthier and sexier. While you face life head on, humor keeps you from dragging others down. Making good choices about food, health, money and time issues are hard to deal with. But humor will help you keep your looks and sustain your mental well-being.