Researchers have identified 72 genes very strongly linked to autism spectrum disorders and more than 250 other genes with a strong link to ASD, according to a study published in Nature Genetics. The findings, based on analysis of more than 150,000 people’s genetics, arose from a collaboration of five research groups whose work included comparisons … Read more
Adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) had significantly reduced expression of chemokine receptor 4 on blood T lymphocytes, which predicted disease severity in combination with polygenic risk scores in a study of 54 individuals. Chemokines and their receptors “influence neuroendocrine signaling, neurotransmission, and interaction between neurons and microglia and have therefore been suggested to be … Read more
A new study sheds light on some of the risk factors for the development of psychosis, including the potentially causative role of sexual assault. Investigators conducted an exposome-wide association analysis on over 155,000 individuals. Of more than 140 correlates of psychotic experiences that they identified, they narrowed it down to 36 variables, which they further … Read more
A new analysis reveals a bidirectional relationship between sleep patterns and schizophrenia, leading researchers to suggest that sleep may be a potential treatment target for the disorder. Applying a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, the investigators selected genetic variants from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted using data from UK Biobank and 23andMe. They … Read more
Different psychiatric disorders often share the same architecture, which may help explain why many genetic individuals diagnosed with one psychiatric disorder will be diagnosed with another in their lifetime, new research suggests. Investigators conducted a genetic analysis of 11 major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. “Our findings confirm that high comorbidity across some … Read more
An apple a day keeps the doctor away! We’ve probably been given this advice or know of others who have been given this advice time and time again… to eat healthier, and more important, to exercise. While exercise is not necessarily the cure-all for the world’s infections and diseases, it plays an important role in … Read more
Jon E. Grant, JD, MD, MPH Trichotillomania is a chronic psychiatric disorder that causes people to repeatedly pull out their own hair. Not only does it result in alopecia with no other underlying causes but it can have significant psychosocial ramifications and rare, but serious, complications. Though reported prevalence rates of up to approximately 2%, … Read more
Dr Stacy L. Pines Misaligned eyes in children are associated with an increased prevalence of mental illness, results of a large study suggest. Investigators found children with strabismus or “crossed eyes” had up to a twofold increased risk of developing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia compared to their counterparts without the eye condition. “Psychiatrists … Read more