http://psychcentral.com/news Psychology, psychiatry and mental health news and research findings, every weekday. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:45:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A new report on parental concerns about the safety of their children’s lives online reveals a wide range of opinion, although some common themes do emerge. According to the researchers, of those parents with kids online, nearly two-thirds are concerned (32 percent very concerned) about online sexual predators. Similarly, about ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/20/mixed-parental-anxiety-over-internet-predators/9693.html Researchers have announced a second positive trial of an aerosol spray medication, termed PSD502, used to treat premature ejaculation (PE). PE is defined as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about one minute of vaginal penetration. Premature ejaculation has ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/20/medication-for-premature-ejaculation-on-track-for-approval/9696.html A new summary analysis discovers an individual can improve two health behaviors concurrently -- rebuffing the contention that embarking on a smoking cessation program will ruin a woman's effort to lose weight. Many women believe nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts metabolism and would rather take the health risks associated ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/20/stop-smoking-while-losing-weight/9690.html A new study warns that phthalates, a family of chemical substances used primarily to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) soft and flexible, may be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Phthalates have been used for more than 50 years and are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/20/chemicals-found-in-plastics-linked-to-adhd/9687.html Swedish researchers have developed a technique that analyzes inflammatory substances in cerebrospinal fluid -- the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Using this method they discovered patients with recent-onset schizophrenia have higher levels of inflammatory substances in their brains. Although the cause of schizophrenia is unknown, this new finding ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/20/infections-linked-to-schizophrenia/9685.html A new study suggests meditation may be an effective modality to mitigate blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and anger among at-risk college students. "The Transcendental Meditation Program, a widely-used standardized program to reduce stress, showed significant decreases in blood pressure and improved mental health in young adults at risk for hypertension," said ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/19/meditation-reduces-stress-in-college-students/9656.html Experts are concerned with a finding that suggests chronic pain patients with a history of depression are much more likely to receive prescriptions of opioid medications. Opioid medication include drugs such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Percodan, and Percocet. Researchers discovered chronic pain patients with a history of depression are three times more ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/19/opioid-use-among-those-with-depression/9650.html We all know the joke about the individual who could not walk and chew gum at the same time. Now, the joke becomes reality as new studies warn of dangers associated with talking over a cell phone while walking. Two new studies of pedestrian safety found that using a cell ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/19/cell-talk-makes-walk-dangerous/9659.html IA new study explores the issues a woman confronts when she is the primary support for the family. According to a University of Missouri scholar, female breadwinners experience a range of emotions and challenges ranging from control, independence, ambition, pressure, worry, guilt and resentment. Dr. Rebecca Meisenbach believes there are more ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/19/challenges-for-women-who-support-family/9654.html A Norwegian study has found that the risk of dying from depression is analogous to morbidity from smoking. Interestingly, if an individual displays anxiety along with depression, then the risk of dying is less than that of depression alone. Researchers at the University of Bergen, Norway, and the Institute ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/18/depression-as-deadly-as-smoking/9634.html A new study from the University of Kansas School of Medicine demonstrates that brain imaging can determine the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s in healthy subjects. Investigators used automated neuroimaging analysis techniques to characterize the impact of an AD-risk gene, apolipoprotein E (ApoE4), on gray and white matter in the ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/18/brain-imaging-illuminates-alzheimer-risk/9639.html Depression is a common diagnosis associated with heart disease and a dangerous sequel after cardiac surgery. A new study finds that telemedicine consultations can reduce depression and improve quality of life after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Although experts have known that depressive symptoms are associated with poor clinical outcomes ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/18/telephonic-depression-care-after-heart-surgery/9636.html New research suggests a particular genetic profile may contribute to how empathetic a human is, and how that person reacts to stress. Investigators discovered a variation in the genetic receptor of the hormone/neurotransmitter oxytocin was linked to a person's ability to infer the mental state of others. Interestingly, this same genetic ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/18/levels-of-compassion-and-stress-related-to-genetics/9632.html A wide-reaching study of people with schizophrenia discovered amazing similarities in symptoms, medication, employment and sexual problems. The findings are remarkable because investigators studied more than 17,000 individuals located among health care systems in 37 different countries. The research, published in the November issue of IJCP, provides a valuable international ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/17/schizophrenia-profile-consistent-worldwide/9620.html A new study on how children and young people view parenting provides an excellent perspective on how control, even in the best context, can turn into a negative if parents are perceived to be too controlling. The study discovered young people feel differently about two types of parental control -- behavioral ... http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/17/excess-parental-control-may-backfire/9618.html