Mental Health

Losing a family member in childhood associated with psychotic illness
Experiencing a family death in childhood is associated with a small but significant increase in risk of psychosis, suggests a paper published today in BMJ. MedicalXpress

Depressive symptoms linked to adult-onset asthma in African-American women
The results indicated that as the frequency of depressive symptoms increased, the incidence of adult-onset asthma also rose, up to a two-fold increase in women in the highest category (score of ≥33) compared to the lowest category (score <16) of the depressive symptom scale. Furthermore, the incidence of asthma was increased 2.8 times in women who had a depressive symptom score of ≥16 and also reported use of antidepressants. MedicalXpress

'Love hormone' oxytocin carries unexpected side effect
Ultimately, oxytocin has solid potential to help those with diagnosed mental disorders overcome social deficits, such as autism, but the potential social benefits of oxytocin in most people may be countered by unintended negative consequences, like being too sensitive to emotional cues in everyday life. MedicalXpress

Study on DSM-5 shows effects on autism diagnosis and prevalence
A new study finds that the estimated prevalence of autism under the new DSM-5 criteria would decrease only to the extent that some children would receive the new diagnosis of social communication disorder (SCD). The study, funded in part by a research grant from Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, appears online in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. MedicalXpress

Depression Symptoms and Emotional Support Impact PTSD Treatment Progress
Many individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also experience depression. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that during PTSD treatments, rapid improvements in depression symptoms are associated with better outcomes. NewsWise