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3 common drugs can reduce severe mental health symptoms

Mental Health

A new study revealed that three common drugs normally used to treat cardiovascular problems or diabetes could also aid in the treatment of some serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia.

Could we repurpose common drugs to treat mental health conditions?

Scientists at University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Hong Kong conducted a study to see how some commonly prescribed drugs for physical health treatments can impact the symptoms of severe mental health conditions.

They did so using large population datasets.

“Serious mental illnesses,” the study authors say, “including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and nonaffective psychoses, are associated with high levels of morbidity and are challenging to treat.”

“Many drugs have been identified as having potential for repurposing in these disorders,” they add in the introduction to their study paper.

The first author is Joseph Hayes, from UCL, and the paper appears in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.…

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Orgasmic dysfunction: Everything you need to know

Mental Health

Orgasmic dysfunction is when a person has trouble reaching an orgasm despite sexual arousal and stimulation.

In this article, learn about the causes and symptoms of orgasmic dysfunction and how to treat it.

What is orgasmic dysfunction?


Orgasmic dysfunction can affect men and women of any age.

Orgasmic dysfunction is the medical term for difficulty reaching an orgasm despite sexual arousal and stimulation.

Orgasms are the intensely pleasurable feelings of release and involuntary pelvic floor contractions that occur at the height of sexual arousal. Orgasmic dysfunction is also known as anorgasmia.

There are several different types of orgasmic dysfunction, including:

  • Primary orgasmic dysfunction, when a person has never had an orgasm.
  • Secondary orgasmic dysfunction, when a person has had an orgasm but then has difficulty experiencing one.
  • General orgasmic dysfunction, when a person cannot reach orgasm in any situation despite adequate arousal and stimulation.
  • Situational orgasmic dysfunction, when a person cannot orgasm in certain situations or with certain kinds of stimulation.
…

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Bullying alters brain structure, raises risk of mental health problems

Mental Health

New research is suggesting that there may be physical structural differences in the brains of adolescents who are regularly bullied.

A recent study charts brain changes linked to bullying.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics, between one and three students in the United States report being bullied at school.

In recent years, cyberbullying has become a widespread problem.

Cyberbullying is any bullying performed via cell phones, social media, or the Internet in general.

Such devices allow bullies to continue their harassment anonymously and at any time of the day.

Bullying has serious effects on health

One study revealed that childhood bullying has effects on health, and it can lead to significant costs for individuals, their families, and society at large.

In the U.S., researchers estimate that the prevention of high school bullying could result in lifetime benefits of over $1 million per individual.

New research now suggests that bullying may cause physical changes in the brain and increase the chance of mental illness.…

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How do our emotions affect our immune response?

Mental Health

New research uncovers fresh evidence to suggest that frequent exposure to negative emotions may have an important impact on the functioning of the immune system.

Do you often feel sad or angry? This could affect how your body reacts, researchers warn.

Many studies have shown that chronic exposure to stress, anxiety, and negative moods generally can affect physical health to a large extent.

As Medical News Today reported only last year, researchers have found that chronic stress has a negative impact on memory.

Also, feelings of distress can raise the risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke.

Now, a study conducted by specialists from Pennsylvania State University in State College has found that negative moods may change the way in which the immune response functions, and they are associated with an increased risk of exacerbated inflammation.

The results of the research — which was led by Jennifer Graham-Engeland, an associate professor at Pennsylvania State University — appear in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.…

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Through my eyes: Addiction and recovery

Mental Health

Growing up, I had the picture-perfect family. I lived in a beautiful home in the suburbs of Detroit with my parents and younger brother. I had every opportunity in the world, attended private schools, and even made it onto the honor roll. I was involved in dance, theater, and many of the school sports teams.

I was the first of 12 grandchildren, and this led to me feeling that I had to be the best at everything I did.

Beneath the surface, however, I always felt a lot of pressure to be perfect.

I was the first of 12 grandchildren, and this led to me feeling that I had to be the best at everything I did, which gave me terrible anxiety from the early age of 5.

When I was 15, the perfect little world I thought I was living in was shattered into a million pieces; my mom informed me that she and my dad had decided to get divorced.…

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What are the health benefits of 5-HTP?

Mental Health

L-5 hydroxytryptophan is a natural chemical in the body that people can also take as a nutritional supplement. Some people believe that taking the supplement can improve certain aspects of health, including mental health and sleep quality.

The compound is a natural precursor to a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which helps produce “feel-good” chemicals in the brain and body.

However, there is little significant research to prove that L-5 hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) can offer such benefits.

In this article, learn about the possible benefits of 5-HTP, as well as its possible side effects.

What is 5-HTP?


Manufacturers use the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia to produce 5-HTP supplements.

The body produces serotonin through a series of chemical steps, starting with the amino acid L-tryptophan. One of the chemicals on the way from transforming L-tryptophan to serotonin is 5-HTP.

The chemical was only available via prescription until 1995, when the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it as an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement.…

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Internet-based CBT effective for treating severe depression

Mental Health

New research finds that cognitive behavioral therapy sessions delivered via an app can effectively treat various forms of depression, including a severe form of the condition.

iCBT enables people with depression to manage their symptoms using a cell phone or tablet.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term form of therapy that helps change people’s thought patterns.

The technique can successfully treat depression, anxiety and panic disorder, bipolar, substance use disorders, and many other mental health conditions.

In recent decades, more and more studies have been pointing to the benefits of Internet-based CBT (iCBT) for depression.

iCBT can help overcome many obstacles that are often in the way of treating mental health conditions.

Such treatment barriers include geographical distance, the social stigma surrounding mental health problems, the often prohibitive cost of treatment, and the insufficient numbers of mental healthcare providers that are available.

Until now, however, it was unclear whether the studies hailing the benefits of iCBT for depression also included people living with severe depression or those living with anxiety or alcohol use disorder in addition to depression.…

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How your imagination can help you overcome your fears

Mental Health

In your imagination, you can do anything. Riding a dragon? Piece of cake. Imagination is what fuels creativity and allows us to come up with innovative solutions. New research assessing brain scans shows that our imagination can also help us get rid of our anxieties and fears.

Your imagination is a powerful tool that you could use to overcome your fears.

Our imagination is an incredibly useful tool. It can soothe us during difficult times and help us solve problems, create new things, and consider possible courses of action.

Some researchers have argued that our imagination, which gives us the ability to consider different scenarios, is at the core of what makes humans different from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Moreover, existing research has suggested that what we imagine can actually affect our minds and bodies in very concrete ways.

For instance, a study that the journal Psychological Science published in 2009 found that when we imagine doing something, our minds and bodies anticipate the imagined action as though it were a real action.…

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Vitamin D deficiency increases schizophrenia risk

Mental Health

Some research suggests a link between low vitamin D levels and a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia. New evidence indicates that this notion may be correct.

A new study has investigated the link between low vitamin D levels and schizophrenia risk.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

Symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive problems characterize schizophrenia.

So far, however, researchers have been unable to find out exactly what causes this condition.

That being said, they have identified some likely risk factors — such as the presence of certain sets of genes, or exposure to some viruses.

Due to older research suggesting that schizophrenia might be more prevalent in regions with less sun, some scientists have hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency may also be a risk factor for this condition.

A recent study led by teams from Aarhus University in Denmark and the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, has found that newborn babies with low vitamin D levels are more at risk of developing schizophrenia later on.…

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What’s the difference between Valium and Xanax?

Mental Health

Valium and Xanax have uses in treating anxiety. Both are in a class of medications called benzodiazepines, which are sedatives. However, there are key differences in side effects and drug interactions. Here, we explore how these drugs work and compare their effects.

Valium and Xanax are brand names for two types of medication for anxiety. The generic name for Valium is diazepam. The generic name for Xanax is alprazolam.

Many anxiety symptoms result, to some extent, from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication can help change this imbalance.

Sedatives slow down certain functions in the body. This can help a person sleep or make them feel calmer.

The best choice of medication and the dosage and duration of treatment will be different for each individual.

Similarities and differences

Image credit: Dean812, 2007“
Valium and Xanax are both medications for anxiety.
Image credit: Dean812, 2007

Valium and Xanax are different medications.…

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