Science News about Children and Adolescents
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Science News about Children and Adolescents
- Parent Training Complements Medication for Treating Behavioral Problems in Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- November 20, 2009 • Press Release
Treatment that includes medication plus a structured training program for parents reduces serious behavioral problems in children with autism and related conditions, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The study, which was part of the NIMH Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network, was published in the December 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - Long-term Depression Treatment Leads to Sustained Recovery for Most Teens
- November 18, 2009 • Science Update
Long-term treatment of adolescents with major depression is associated with continuous and persistent improvement of depression symptoms in most cases, according to the most recent analysis of follow-up data from the NIMH-funded Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The report, along with a commentary compiling the take-home messages of the study, was published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. - Recovery Act Grant Aims to Teach Kids with Autism How to Better Express Themselves
- November 12, 2009 • Science Update
Most children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) seem to have trouble engaging in everyday social interactions. They may seem to have no reaction to other people or may respond atypically when others show anger or affection. Their own facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language may not match what they are saying, making it difficult for others to respond appropriately. Such barriers to communication can isolate children with ASD from their peers. - Significant Weight Gain, Metabolic Changes Associated with Antipsychotic Use in Children
- October 27, 2009 • Science Update
Many children and adolescents who receive antipsychotic medications gain a significant amount of weight and experience metabolic changes, according to NIMH-funded research published October 28, 2009, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. - History of Childhood Maltreatment Linked to Higher Rates of Unemployment, Poverty
- October 15, 2009 • Science Update
The long-term impacts of childhood maltreatment include higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and use of social services in adulthood, according to a new study by David Zielinski, Ph.D., of the NIMH Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications. The related losses in productivity and tax revenues, increased spending on social services, and potential transmission of abusive behaviors from one generation to the next, suggest major costs to society as well. The results were published online ahead of print on October 8, 2009, in the journal Child Abuse and Neglect. - New Approach to Reducing Suicide Attempts Among Depressed Teens
- September 29, 2009 • Science Update
A novel treatment approach that includes medication plus a newly developed type of psychotherapy that targets suicidal thinking and behavior shows promise in treating depressed adolescents who had recently attempted suicide, according to a treatment development and pilot study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The study, described in three articles, was published in the October 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - Youth with Autism Coming of Age: New NIMH Study Will Focus on Transitions in Service Use and Coverage
- August 07, 2009 • Science Update
The transition from teen to young adult involves many highly anticipated rites of passage. However, for youths with developmental disorders, coming of age may signal the sudden end of coverage for education and training programs, health insurance, and youth-oriented services. - Brain Emotion Circuit Sparks as Teen Girls Size Up Peers
- July 15, 2009 • Press Release
What is going on in teenagers’ brains as their drive for peer approval begins to eclipse their family affiliations? Brain scans of teens sizing each other up reveal an emotion circuit activating more in girls as they grow older, but not in boys. The study by Daniel Pine, M.D., of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of National Institutes of Health, and colleagues, shows how emotion circuitry diverges in the male and female brain during a developmental stage in which girls are at increased risk for developing mood and anxiety disorders. - Questions Raised About Stimulants and Sudden Death
- June 15, 2009 • Science Update
A study examining stimulant use among children and adolescents found an association between stimulants and sudden unexplained death in youth with no evidence of pre-existing heart disease. The finding draws attention to the potential risks of stimulant medication, according to the study’s authors; an accompanying editorial notes that the rarity of sudden unexplained death and the lack of long-term data on the effectiveness of these medications for reducing other health risks make a full benefit/risk assessment difficult. - Re-shaping Negative Thoughts Shields At-Risk Teens from Depression
- June 09, 2009 • Science Update
At-risk teens exposed to a program that teaches them to counteract their unrealistic and overly negative thoughts experienced significantly less depression than their peers who received usual care, NIMH-funded researchers have found. However, the cognitive behavioral prevention program failed to similarly help adolescents prone to the mood disorder if their parents were currently depressed. - Citalopram No Better Than Placebo Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- June 01, 2009 • Press Release
Citalopram, a medication commonly prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was no more effective than a placebo at reducing repetitive behaviors, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other NIH institutes. The study was published in the June 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. - Searching for Risk Factors of Suicidal Events During Antidepressant Treatment
- May 29, 2009 • Science Update
A new set of analyses of the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) were conducted to better understand what may predict the development of suicidal events during treatment. The analyses, which were published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, showed that youths with suicidal thoughts and more severe depression prior to treatment were at higher risk for suicidal events while undergoing treatment. - ADHD Medication Treatment Associated with Higher Academic Performance in Elementary School
- April 27, 2009 • Science Update
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take medication to treat the condition tend to do better in math and reading compared to their peers who also have ADHD but do not take medication, according to data from a national survey. The NIMH-funded study was published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics. - Black Teens, Especially Girls, at High Risk for Suicide Attempts
- April 10, 2009 • Science Update
Black American teens, especially females, may be at high risk for attempting suicide even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to researchers funded in part by NIMH. Their findings, based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), provide the first national estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (ideation) and suicide attempts in 13- to 17-year-old black youth in the United States. The study was published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - Child Abuse Survivors Have Higher Risk for STDs in Adulthood Than Non-abused Adults
- April 10, 2009 • Science Update
A history of child abuse or neglect can increase the risk for STDs in adulthood, according to a study partly funded by NIMH. The researchers reported their findings in the April 2009 supplemental issue of the American Journal of Public Health. - Autism Skews Developing Brain with Synchronous Motion and Sound
- March 31, 2009 • Press Release
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to stare at people’s mouths rather than their eyes. Now, an NIH-funded study in 2-year-olds with the social deficit disorder suggests why they might find mouths so attractive: lip-syncing — the exact match of lip motion and speech sound. - Childhood Maltreatment Undermines Physical Health in Adulthood
- March 30, 2009 • Science Update
It’s well known that early life experiences can affect a child’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. A recent study funded by NIMH takes this link one step further showing that negative childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can affect a person’s physical health as well. Published in the February 24, 2009, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests a history of child abuse or neglect can lower a person’s overall immunity and ability to manage stress, and that this effect may be long-lasting. - Short-term Intensive Treatment Not Likely to Improve Long-term Outcomes for Children with ADHD
- March 26, 2009 • Science Update
Short-term Intensive Treatment Not Likely to Improve Long-term Outcomes for Children with ADHD - Youths Exposed to HIV Before Birth Have Higher Chance of Developing Psychiatric Disorders
- March 19, 2009 • Science Update
Youths who were exposed to HIV before birth, especially those who were born HIV positive, have a high chance of developing psychiatric disorders, according to an NIMH-funded study published online ahead of print February 27, 2009, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. - Brain Awareness Week Teaches Kids How Their Brains Work
- March 17, 2009 • Press Release
The 10th annual Brain Awareness Week (BAW), a science and health education fair held in various locations across the United States, teaches fifth through eighth grade students about the brain. In Washington, D.C., it will take place March 16-20, 2009, at the National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Several institutes from the National Institutes of Health will provide interactive exhibits and lectures focusing on brain health and neuroscience on March 18th and 19th. - Suicidal Thinking May Be Predicted Among Certain Teens with Depression
- February 17, 2009 • Science Update
Certain circumstances may predict suicidal thinking or behavior among teens with treatment-resistant major depression who are undergoing second-step treatment, according to an analysis of data from an NIMH-funded study. The study was published online ahead of print February 17, 2009, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. - Getting Closer to Personalized Treatment for Teens with Treatment-resistant Depression
- February 11, 2009 • Science Update
Some teens with treatment-resistant depression are more likely than others to get well during a second treatment attempt of combination therapy, but various factors can hamper their recovery, according to an NIMH-funded study published online ahead of print February 4, 2009, in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - Adolescents with Depression Not Harmed in Studies Using Placebo
- January 15, 2009 • Science Update
Teens with depression who initially are randomly assigned to placebo treatment (inactive pill) during a trial are no more likely to experience harm or have a diminished response to subsequent active treatments than teens who are initially randomized to active treatment, according to an analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). - Depression Relapse Less Likely Among Teens Who Receive CBT After Medication Therapy
- December 05, 2008 • Science Update
Adolescents with major depression who received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) after responding to an antidepressant were less likely to experience a relapse or recurrence of symptoms compared to teens who did not receive CBT, according to a small, NIMH-funded pilot study published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - Anxious and Depressed Teens and Adults: Same Version of Mood Gene, Different Brain Reactions
- December 02, 2008 • Science Update
An NIMH study using brain imaging shows that some anxious and depressed adolescents react differently from adult patients when looking at frightening faces. - Long-term Academic Effects of Child’s ADHD May Extend to Siblings
- December 02, 2008 • Science Update
The long-term academic problems that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience may affect their siblings as well, according to an analysis partially funded by NIMH and published in the Journal of Health Economics. - Study Identifies Three Effective Treatments for Childhood Anxiety Disorders
- October 30, 2008 • Press Release
Treatment that combines a certain type of psychotherapy with an antidepressant medication is most likely to help children with anxiety disorders, but each of the treatments alone is also effective. - Brain's Wiring Stunted, Lopsided in Childhood Onset Schizophrenia
- October 30, 2008 • Science Update
Growth of the brain's long distance connections, called white matter, is stunted and lopsided in children who develop psychosis before puberty, NIMH researchers have discovered. - Task Force Finds Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effective for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Trauma
- October 29, 2008 • Science Update
Individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) were the only interventions found effective in an evaluation of seven commonly-used approaches to reduce the psychological harm to youth who experience trauma. - Lack of Eye Contact May Predict Level of Social Disability in Two-Year Olds with Autism
- October 23, 2008 • Science Update
By age 2, children with autism show unusual patterns of eye contact compared with typically developing children. - New Study to Evaluate Ways to Control Metabolic Side Effects of Antipsychotics
- October 01, 2008 • Science Update
A new NIMH-funded grant will examine ways to control the metabolic side effects associated with the use of the newer atypical antipsychotic medications in children with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. - Newer Antipsychotics No Better Than Older Drug in Treating Child and Adolescent Schizophrenia
- September 15, 2008 • Press Release
Two newer atypical antipsychotic medications were no more effective than an older conventional antipsychotic in treating child and adolescent schizophrenia and may lead to more metabolic side effects, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). - Family-Focused Therapy Effective in Treating Depressive Episodes of Bipolar Youth
- September 01, 2008 • Science Update
Adolescents with bipolar disorder who received a nine-month course of family-focused therapy (FFT) recovered more quickly from depressive episodes and stayed free of depression for longer periods than a control group, according to an NIMH-funded study published September 2008 in the Archives of General Psychiatry. - Antipsychotic Does Not Harm—and May Improve—Cognitive Skills in Children with Autism
- August 27, 2008 • Science Update
The atypical antipsychotic medication risperidone (Risperdal) does not negatively affect cognitive skills of children with autism, and may lead to improvements, according to an NIMH-funded study published recently in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. - Common Mechanisms May Underlie Autism’s Seemingly Diverse Mutations
- July 10, 2008 • Press Release
Many of the seemingly disparate mutations recently discovered in autism may share common underlying mechanisms, say researchers supported in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). - Abnormal Surge in Brain Development Occurs in Teens and Young Adults with Schizophrenia
- July 08, 2008 • Science Update
Schizophrenia may occur, in part, because brain development goes awry during adolescence and young adulthood, when the brain is eliminating some connections between cells as a normal part of maturation, results of a study suggest. The new report appears online July 8, 2008 in Molecular Psychiatry. - Violence in Schizophrenia Patients More Likely Among Those with Childhood Conduct Problems
- July 02, 2008 • Press Release
Some people with schizophrenia who become violent may do so for reasons unrelated to their current illness, according to a new study analyzing data from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials for Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE). - Anxious Youth Have Disturbed Brain Responses When Looking at Angry Faces
- June 20, 2008 • Science Update
When looking at angry faces so quickly that they are hardly aware of seeing them, youth with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have unchecked activity in the brain’s fear center, say NIMH researchers. - New NIMH Research to Test Innovative Treatments for Children with ADHD
- June 05, 2008 • Science Update
Two new grants funded by NIMH will focus on novel and innovative approaches to treating children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). - NIMH Funds Research to Find Best Treatments for Children with Autism and ADHD Symptoms
- June 02, 2008 • Science Update
A new NIMH-funded study will help guide the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). - Medication-only Therapy and Combination Therapy Both Cost Effective for Treating Teens with Depression
- May 12, 2008 • Science Update
Treating depressed teenagers with either the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) or a combination of fluoxetine and psychotherapy can be cost effective, according to a recent economic analysis of the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The study was published online ahead of print April 15, 2008, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. - Clues to Role of Brain Development as Risk for Mental Disorders May Also Lead to Better Treatments
- May 06, 2008 • Science Update
WASHINGTON, DC, May 6 — Increasing evidence points to links between the timing and growth rates of specific brain areas in the young brain and the likelihood of developing a wide range of mental disorders later in life, say researchers convened by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a part of the National Institutes of Health. Included among these mental disorders are autism, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). - Study launched to test possible preventive treatment for schizophrenia in high risk youth
- May 01, 2008 • Science Update
NIMH has recently awarded a grant to study whether an intensive computerized training program can help prevent those at high risk of developing schizophrenia from having a first psychotic episode and improve adaptive functioning. The program is based on principles of brain development and resilience and an understanding of the processes that go awry in schizophrenia. - Journal Highlights Effectiveness of Research Based Psychotherapies for Youth
- April 15, 2008 • Science Update
Reviews of the current research on psychosocial and behavioral therapies, or psychotherapies, for children and adolescents found a number of "well established" and "probably efficacious" treatments for many mental disorders. For example, six were "probably efficacious" for anxiety disorders, and two were "well established" for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to scientists funded by NIMH and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, divisions of the National Institutes of Health. - Maintenance Treatment Crucial for Teens’ Recovery from Depression
- April 08, 2008 • Science Update
Long-term maintenance treatment is likely to sustain improvement and prevent recurrence among adolescents with major depression, according to an NIMH-funded study published in the April 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. - Newly Awarded Autism Centers of Excellence to Further Autism Research
- April 01, 2008 • Press Release
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on April 1, 2008, the latest recipients of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program. - State Survey Finds FDA “Black Box” Warning Correlates with Curtailed Antidepressant Prescriptions
- March 14, 2008 • Science Update
After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “black box” warning on antidepressant medications, Nebraskan doctors began prescribing fewer antidepressant medications to children and teens and referring more patients to specialists, according to a state survey. The study, which involved NIMH-funded researchers, was published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. - Teens with Treatment-resistant Depression More Likely to Get Better with Switch to Combination Therapy
- February 26, 2008 • Press Release
Teens with difficult-to-treat depression who do not respond to a first antidepressant medication are more likely to get well if they switch to another antidepressant medication and add psychotherapy rather than just switching to another antidepressant, according to a large, multi-site trial funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The results of the Treatment of SSRI-resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) trial were published February 27, 2008, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). - Cold, Unfeeling Traits Linked to Distinctive Brain Patterns in Kids with Severe Conduct Problems
- February 20, 2008 • Science Update
The callous, unemotional characteristics of some children and adolescents who bully or steal or have other severely disruptive behavior problems may have partial roots in a brain area called the amygdala. - Gene Variants Protect Against Adult Depression Triggered by Childhood Stress
- February 04, 2008 • Press Release
Certain variations in a gene that helps regulate response to stress tend to protect adults who were abused in childhood from developing depression, according to new research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. Adults who had been abused but didn’t have the variations in the gene had twice the symptoms of moderate to severe depression, compared to those with the protective variations. - Autism Risk Higher in People with Gene Variant
- January 10, 2008 • Press Release
Scientists have found a variation in a gene that may raise the risk of developing autism, especially when the variant is inherited from mothers rather than fathers. The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. - Scientists Can Predict Psychotic Illness in up to 80 Percent of High-Risk Youth
- January 07, 2008 • Press Release
Youth who are going to develop psychosis can be identified before their illness becomes full-blown 35 percent of the time if they meet widely accepted criteria for risk, but that figure rises to 65 to 80 percent if they have certain combinations of risk factors, the largest study of its kind has shown. Knowing what these combinations are can help scientists predict who is likely to develop the illnesses within two to three years with the same accuracy that other kinds of risk factors can predict major medical diseases, such as diabetes. - Ethnicity Predicts How Gene Variations Affect Response to Schizophrenia Medications
- January 02, 2008 • Science Update
Different variations in the same gene influence how well different ethnic groups, and people within the same ethnic group, respond to various antipsychotic medications, report NIMH-funded researchers. If confirmed, their findings could one day help clinicians predict which medication is most likely to help a patient, based on his or her genetic makeup. - Family-Centered Intervention Effectively Reduces Risky Behavior Among Hispanic Youth
- December 20, 2007 • Science Update
Science Update December 20, 2007 Family-centered Intervention Effectively Reduces Risky Behavior Among Hispanic Youth A family-centered program that improves parent-child dynamics and family functioning is more effective at discouraging Hispanic youth from engaging in risky behavior than programs that target specific behaviors, according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. - Behavioral Therapy Effectively Treats Children with Social Phobia
- December 17, 2007 • Science Update
A behavioral therapy designed to treat children diagnosed with social phobia helped them overcome more of their symptoms than the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac). - IQ Boost From Breast Milk Linked to Gene-Environment Interaction
- December 17, 2007 • Science Update
A new study shows that the intellectual boost associated with breast milk is only attained if a child has inherited one of two versions of a specific gene. - Behavioral Program May Stabilize Stress Hormone Patterns in Foster Children
- November 30, 2007 • Science Update
An intervention designed to enhance family interaction and improve foster parenting skills may benefit young foster children who had experienced extreme neglect or maltreatment in early life. - Brain Matures a Few Years Late in ADHD, But Follows Normal Pattern
- November 12, 2007 • 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
- November 05, 2007 • 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, according to a recent analysis of data from the Preschoolers with ADHD Treatment Study (PATS). - NIH Funds New Program to Investigate Causes and Treatment of Autism
- October 30, 2007 • 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. - Behavioral Intervention Normalizes Stress-related Hormone in High-Risk Kids
- October 24, 2007 • 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
- October 01, 2007 • 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, according to results from a major clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). - Genes Linked to Suicidal Thinking During Antidepressant Treatment
- September 27, 2007 • 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 the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). - Drops in SSRI prescription rates may coincide with increases in youth suicides
- September 19, 2007 • 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
- September 17, 2007 • 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
- September 05, 2007 • 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. - Rates of Bipolar Diagnosis in Youth Rapidly Climbing, Treatment Patterns Similar to Adults
- September 03, 2007 • 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). - Bipolar Youth Show Distinct Pattern of Brain Development
- August 28, 2007 • Science Update
The first picturess of the brain changing before-and-after the onset of pediatric bipolar disorder reveal a distinct pattern of development, when compared to that seen in healthy youth or in childhood onset schizophrenia. - Behavioral Interventions Effective for Preschoolers with ADHD
- August 15, 2007 • Science Update
Two types of early interventions designed to reduce symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers may be effective alternatives or additions to medication treatment, according to a recent NIMH-funded study. - Half of Children With Autism May be Diagnosable Soon After Their First Birthday
- August 10, 2007 • Science Update
About half of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be diagnosed soon after their first birthday; others with the disorder may appear to develop normally until that age and then falter or regress during their second year, NIMH-funded researchers have discovered. - Parents' Diagnoses Help to Distinguish Childhood Bipolar Disorder from Severe Mood Dysregulation
- August 06, 2007 • Science Update
The parents of children who have bipolar disorder are more likely to have bipolar disorder themselves than the parents of children who have severe mood dysregulation (SMD). - Improvement Following ADHD Treatment Sustained in Most Children
- July 20, 2007 • Press Release
Most children treated in a variety of ways for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed sustained improvement after three years in a major follow-up study funded by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). - NIMH Funds Research for Early Intervention in Childhood Bipolar Disorder
- June 04, 2007 • Science Update
NIMH recently approved funding to test the effectiveness of an early intervention in children at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. - Benefits of Antidepressants May Outweigh Risks for Kids
- April 17, 2007 • Science Update
The benefits of antidepressant medications likely outweigh their risks to children and adolescents with major depression and anxiety disorders, according to a new comprehensive review of pediatric trials conducted between 1988 and 2006. The study, partially funded by NIMH, was published in the April 18, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. - Adolescent Brains Show Lower Activity in Areas That Control Risky Choices
- March 15, 2007 • Science Update
A new NIMH study could help explain why adolescents are so prone to make risky choices. When contemplating risky decisions, they show less activity in regions of the brain that regulate processes involved in decision-making, compared with adults. - Depression Risk Higher in Girls with Low Birth Weight
- March 09, 2007 • Science Update
Girls’ risk for developing depression after puberty increased significantly if they had low birth weight, in a study funded in part by NIMH. Yet low birth weight didn’t appear to be just one more risk factor for depression. Rather, it seemed to increase the risk effects of other adversities. - HIV Treatment May Help Reduce Severity of Mental Impairment in Children with HIV Infection
- March 07, 2007 • Science Update
During the first few years of life, children born with HIV infection are most susceptible to central nervous system (CNS) disease, and can develop impaired cognitive, language, motor and behavioral functioning. However, NIH-funded researchers have found that among children with HIV infection, treatment with a protease inhibitor (PI)- based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helped protect against cognitive and motor difficulties compared to a control group of age-matched children who were born to HIV-infected mothers but who did not contract the virus themselves (e.g., HIV-exposed). - Extreme Irritability: Is It Childhood Bipolar Disorder?
- February 01, 2007 • Press Release
Results of a new study may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of two debilitating childhood mental disorders — pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) and a syndrome called severe mood dysregulation (SMD). - History of Childhood Abuse or Neglect Increases Risk of Major Depression
- January 03, 2007 • Science Update
People who were abused or neglected as children have increased risk of major depression, which often begins in childhood and has lingering effects as they mature, according to a study funded by NIMH. - Targeting the Most Aggressive Children May Be Cost-Effective Prevention of Later Conduct Disorders
- November 14, 2006 • Science Update
Targeted preventive interventions may help reduce conduct problems in children displaying the most aggressive or disruptive behaviors. - New NIMH Research Strives to Understand How Antidepressants May Be Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Actions
- November 13, 2006 • Science Update
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects that will shed light on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal thoughts and actions. - U.S. Youth Suicide Rates Lower in Counties with High SSRI Use
- November 08, 2006 • Science Update
For children ages five to 14, suicide rates from 1996 to 1998 were lower in areas of the country with higher rates of antidepressant prescriptions, according to an NIMH-funded study published in the November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. - New Research Helps to Improve Understanding of Bipolar Disorder in Youth
- October 24, 2006 • Science Update
Bipolar disorder may be hard to identify in children and adolescents for several reasons, including a lack of age-appropriate diagnostic guidelines and symptoms different than those commonly seen in adults with the disorder. - Shy Temperament: More than Just Fearful
- August 07, 2006 • Science Update
Compared to others, children with extremely shy temperament have heightened brain activity in response to any prominent event, whether the event is positive or negative, a new imaging study suggests. - Brain Changes Mirror Symptoms in ADHD
- July 19, 2006 • Science Update
The severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in youth appears to be reflected in their brain structure, recent NIMH-supported brain imaging studies are finding. - Behaviors, Not ADHD Diagnosis, Predict Adolescents’ Initial Substance Use
- June 23, 2006 • Science Update
A small NIH-funded study that followed 12-to 14-year olds over four years suggests that specific behaviors can help predict which youth will begin to use tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana. - Antipsychotic Prescriptions Rise Sharply for Children and Adolescents
- June 19, 2006 • Science Update
The number of antipsychotic medication prescriptions for children and adolescents increased six-fold from 1993 to 2002, according to a study of visits made by people 20 years old and younger to doctors' offices. - Fear Circuit Flares as Bipolar Youth Misread Faces
- May 29, 2006 • Press Release
Youth with bipolar disorder misread facial expressions as hostile and show heightened neural reactions when they focus on emotional aspects of neutral faces, NIMH researchers have discovered. - Depression Rates Are Lower in Children Whose Mothers Are Successfully Treated
- May 09, 2006 • Science Update
When women treated for depression become symptom-free, their children are less likely to be diagnosed with depression, according to a study published in the March 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. - ADHD Medication Use Held Steady in Recent Years
- April 01, 2006 • Science Update
The results of a study conducted by researchers at the Agency of Healthcare Research Quality and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health indicate that the prevalence of stimulant use among U.S. children for treating symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remained relatively constant between 1997 and 2002. - Harvard Study Suggests Significant Prevalence of ADHD Symptoms Among Adults
- April 01, 2006 • Science Update
A recent NIMH-funded survey tracking the prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity symptoms found that an estimated 4.4 percent of adults ages 18-44 in the United States experience symptoms and some disability. - Cortex Matures Faster in Youth with Highest IQ
- March 29, 2006 • Press Release
Youth with superior IQ are distinguished by how fast the thinking part of their brains thickens and thins as they grow up, researchers at NIMH have discovered. - Largest Study to Date on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Describes Disease Characteristics And Short-Term Outcomes
- February 08, 2006 • Science Update
Recent findings from the multi-site, NIMH-funded Course and Outcome of Bipolar Illness in Youth (COBY) study are helping to shape the understanding of three major subtypes of bipolar disorder that affect children and adolescents and how this diagnosis may affect them as adults. - Teens with Deletion Syndrome Confirm Gene’s Role in Psychosis
- October 23, 2005 • Press Release
A study in youth who are missing part of a chromosome is further implicating a suspect gene in schizophrenia. - Mental Illness Exacts Heavy Toll, Beginning in Youth
- June 06, 2005 • Press Release
Researchers supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and that despite effective treatments, there are long delays — sometimes decades — between first onset of symptoms and when people seek and receive treatment. - Brain Awareness Week Teaches Kids How Their Brains Work
- March 07, 2005 • Science Update
The fifth annual Brain Awareness Week (BAW), a science and health education fair to teach 5th–8th grade students about the brain, will take place March 14–18, 2005 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. - Psychotherapy, Medications Best for Youth With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- October 28, 2004 • Press Release
Children and adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) respond best to a combination of both psychotherapy and an antidepressant, a major clinical trial has found. - Combination Treatment Most Effective in Adolescents with Depression
- August 17, 2004 • Press Release
A clinical trial of 439 adolescents with major depression has found a combination of medication and psychotherapy to be the most effective treatment. - New Program Treats Rural Youth And Targets Barriers To Care
- July 29, 2003 • Press Release
Adolescents and teens with emotional and behavioral problems will receive treatment as part of a new study in eight of the poorest Appalachian counties in Eastern Tennessee. - NIH Awards Grants for Six New Autism Research Centers
- May 13, 2003 • Press Release
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded grants to support six new research centers of a major network focusing on the biomedical and behavioral aspects of autism. - Psychiatric Disorders Common Among Detained Youth
- December 10, 2002 • Press Release
Among teens in juvenile detention, nearly two thirds of boys and nearly three quarters of girls have at least one psychiatric disorder, a federally funded study has found. - Preventive Sessions After Divorce Protect Children into Teens
- October 15, 2002 • Press Release
Divorcing families who participated in a prevention program markedly reduced the likelihood of their children developing mental disorders as adolescents, say NIMH-funded scientists. - Brain Shrinkage in ADHD Not Caused by Medications
- October 08, 2002 • Press Release
A 10-year study by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) scientists has found that brains of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are 3-4 percent smaller than those of children who don't have the disorder—and that medication treatment is not the cause. - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders: Are Children Being Overmedicated?
- September 26, 2002 • Press Release
NOTE TO WRITERS AND EDITORS: Dr. Richard Nakamura, Acting Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, testified this morning before the Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives. - NIMH Study Finds Anti-Psychotic Medication Useful in Treating Serious Behavioral Problems among Children with Autism
- July 31, 2002 • Press Release
One of a newer class of anti-psychotic medications was successful and well tolerated for the treatment of serious behavioral disturbances associated with autistic disorder in children ages 5 to 17. - Parents Can Learn to be Effective AIDS Educators for their Children
- June 24, 2002 • Press Release
Researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are training parents to teach their young children the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from HIV infection.
