An international team of scientists has reported finding two more genetic risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. Includes comments by co-author and WUSTL professor of genetics in psychiatry Alison Goate.

References:

1. Sept. 8, 2009 — More Alzheimer genetic risk factors found in the United Press International

and 3 others.

A child psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, treats tiny babies who have "flat affect" -- no joy in the things that a baby would normally delight in. Refrence made to a WUSTL study on childhood depression [led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Joan Luby].

References:

1. Aug. 4, 2009 — Can Toddlers Get Depressed? Yes, and Parents Can Help Them Feel Better in the U.S. News & World Report online

While a number of studies in recent years have found toddlers -- and even babies -- can suffer from major depressive disorder, doctors have debated whether preschool depression was an isolated blip in a child's development or a sign of future problems. According to a new WUSTL study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, preschoolers can suffer from major depression, and those children are likely to face depression again in elementary school.

References:

1. Aug. 3, 2009 — Toddler Depression -- Real or a Phase? in the ABCNews.com

A new study in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that as the drinking age has gone up, binge drinking has gone down -- except among college students. Includes comments by study leader WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza.

References:

1. June 30, 2009 — Patterns: Drinking Age Affects Bingeing, to a Point in the The New York Times

Are some people hardwired to get the blues? Scientists have long believed that a tendency toward melancholy runs in families. A new study published on June 16 in JAMA now threatens to send researchers back to the drawing board. The meta-analysis of 14 prior studies concludes that the so-called depression gene may not be associated with an elevated risk for depression, as many researchers had believed. WUSTL psychiatric geneticist Alexandre Todorov, whose 2007 peer-reviewed study was included in the JAMA piece, comments.

References:

1. June 17, 2009 — Study: 'Depression Gene' Doesn't Predict the Blues in the Time.com

Matthew Herper reports on the controversy surrounding the FDA and its policy for approving new schizophrenia drugs. Includes comments by WUSTL psychiatry professor John Newcomer.

References:

1. May 8, 2009 — Is The FDA Easing Up? in the Forbes

According to a new study led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Kenneth Freedland, two non-drug treatments seem to be more effective than usual care for treating depression in patients who've had coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

References:

1. April 6, 2009 — Psychotherapy Can Ease Post-Surgical Depression in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 15 others.

Depression almost doubles the risk of developing heart disease over 12 years, according to a long-term study of twins. It contributes to the risk of heart disease as much as diabetes, high cholesterol or obesity does, says study leader and WUSTL psychiatry professor Jeffrey Scherrer.

References:

1. March 4, 2009 — Depression can break the heart in the USA Today

In the largest study of SSRIs in older people with anxiety disorders, a team of psychiatric researchers found the drug escitalopram improved anxiety symptoms and quality of life. The study was conducted by WUSTL associate professor of psychiatry Dr. Eric J. Lenze while at the University of Pittsburgh. His team studied 177 people over the age of 60.

References:

1. Jan. 20, 2009 — Antidepressant Eases Anxiety in Older Adults in the The Washington Post

and 4 others.

Some drugs used in premature babies and in pregnant women at risk for preterm deliveries can kill infant brain cells, research by WUSTL scientists shows.

References:

1. Nov. 18, 2008 — Steroids can cause infant brain cell death in the United Press International

and 3 others.

Glucocorticoid drugs used to treat chronic lung damage in premature infants caused brain injury in mice and may cause cognitive and motor control problems even when they're given before birth, according to WUSTL psychiatry researchers.

References:

1. Nov. 17, 2008 — Drugs to Treat Lung Damage in Preemies May Harm Brain in the U.S. News & World Report

Certain drugs used in premature babies and in pregnant women at risk for preterm deliveries kill brain cells, new animal studies show. WUSTL scientists, led by study author and psychiatry postdoctoral fellow Kevin Noguchi and co-author and psychiatry professor Nuri Farber, presented their research at this week's Society for Neuroscience conference.

References:

1. Nov. 18, 2008 — Steroids used in preemies may kill brain cells in the USA Today

and 1 others.

A new WUSTL study strongly suggests that many children with bipolar disorder continue to have bouts with the condition as young adults.

References:

1. Oct. 9, 2008 — Bipolar Disorder in Children Lingers in the The Washington Post

and 5 others.

Heavy drinking by females in their teens and 20s may reduce their chances of motherhood later in life, new research has found. The study by WUSTL researchers was led by psychiatry professor Mary Waldron.

References:

1. Aug. 24, 2008 — Teens' risky drinking linked to infertility in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

and 3 others.

Alcoholism is associated with delayed childbearing in women, according to a study that compared women's and men's lifetime history of alcohol dependence and their age when they had their first child. Corresponding author and WUSTL psychiatry professor Mary Waldron comments.

References:

1. Aug. 20, 2008 — Women's Alcohol Use Tied to Delayed Childbearing in the The Washington Post

and 7 others.

Scientists have long observed a link between depression and heart disease. Now there's research to help pinpoint the symptoms of depression that may signal cardiovascular trouble.
A study suggests that people who suffer from depression, especially certain physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, sleep problems or fatigue, may be at risk of developing heart disease.WUSTL psychiatry professor Robert Carney, who is director of the Behavioral Medicine Center at WUSTL medical school, comments.

References:

1. Aug. 1, 2008 — Taking Depression to Heart in the U.S. News & World Report

and 5 others.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry called for NBC to pull the series "The Baby Borrowers." The show includes five teenaged couples who take on the challenge of being caregiving adults for three days to first infants, then toddlers. The fact that teenagers who are not trained in childcare are being left with 6- to 11-month-old infants has outraged child psychology experts. WUSTL child psychiatry professor Joan Lubey comments.

References:

1. July 3, 2008 — Child Experts Call NBC to Pull Reality Show in the ABCnews.com

Several states are considering lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. Evidence is accumulating that waiting until age 21 to drink dramatically cuts the risk of developing alcoholism. One study on women and alcohol dependence was led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza.

References:

1. June 6, 2008 — Should states lower the legal drinking age? in the Los Angeles Times

In a series on the issue of women and alcohol, NBC Today Show's Janet Shamlian reports on women and drinking and driving. She refers to a study led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza that found a substantial increase in drinking and alcohol use among American women born between 1954 and 1963, with a notable increase of 50 percent among white and Hispanic women.

References:

1. May 29, 2008 — Drunk driving on rise with women in afternoon in the NBC Today Show

Drinking and alcohol dependence has increased substantially among women, particularly white and Hispanic women born since 1945, new study finds.
The findings were published in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
WUSTL psychiatry professor and corresponding author Richard Grucza comments.

References:

1. May 6, 2008 — Alcoholism Gender Gap Is Closing in the The Washington Post

and 8 others.