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- Brain Matures a Few Years Late in ADHD, But Follows Normal Pattern
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November 12, 2007
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Press Release
In youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed three years in some regions, on average, compared to youth without the disorder.
- Preschoolers with Three or More Coexisting Disorders Show No Response to ADHD Medication Treatment
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November 5, 2007
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Press Release
Preschoolers who are diagnosed with ADHD are not likely to respond to treatment with the stimulant methylphenidate, regardless of dosage, if they also have three or more coexisting disorders.
- NIH Funds New Program to Investigate Causes and Treatment of Autism
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October 30, 2007
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Science Update
The National Institutes of Health will intensify its efforts to find the causes of autism and identify new treatments for the disorder, through a new research program. The Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program represents a consolidation of two existing programs, the Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) and Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEA) programs into a single research effort.
- Behavioral Intervention Normalizes Stress-related Hormone in High-Risk Kids
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October 24, 2007
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Science Update
A family-based behavioral intervention that helps prevent social and behavior problems in high-risk preschoolers also may help normalize their cortisol levels when they anticipate stressful situations, results of a new NIMH study suggest.
- Depressed Adolescents Respond Best to Combination Treatment
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October 1, 2007
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Press Release
A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication appears to be the most effective treatment for adolescents with major depressive disorder—more than medication alone or psychotherapy alone.
- Genes Linked to Suicidal Thinking During Antidepressant Treatment
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September 27, 2007
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Press Release
Specific variations in two genes are linked to suicidal thinking that sometimes occurs in people taking the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, according to a large study led by scientists at NIMH. Depending on the particular mix inherited, these versions increased the likelihood of such thoughts from 2- to15-fold, the study found.
- Drops in SSRI prescription rates may coincide with increases in youth suicides
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September 19, 2007
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Science Update
A 2004 spike in suicide rates may have coincided with a drop in antidepressant prescriptions for youth, following warnings from U.S. and European regulatory agencies that the medications might trigger suicidal thoughts.
- Family Involvement and Focused Intervention May be Key to Helping Teens with Bulimia
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September 17, 2007
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Science Update
Family-based treatment for adolescent bulimia nervosa (FBT-BN) is more effective than an individual-based therapy called supportive psychotherapy (SPT) in helping teens overcome bulimia according to an NIMH-funded study.
- New Research to Help Youth with Mental Disorders Transition to Adulthood
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September 5, 2007
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Science Update
As young people with mental health disorders transition from adolescence to adulthood, they frequently face new and difficult challenges such as the loss of state-issued benefits like Medicaid and foster care, or loss of family-based insurance coverage. Unfortunately, many are not prepared for the abrupt transition and may not be able to effectively manage their disorder on their own.
- Rates of Bipolar Diagnosis in Youth Rapidly Climbing, Treatment Patterns Similar to Adults
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September 3, 2007
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Press Release
The number of visits to a doctor's office that resulted in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents has increased by 40 times over the last decade, reported researchers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
