The Military Is Building Brain Chips to Treat PTSD

How well can you predict your next mood swing? How well can anyone? It’s an existential dilemma for many of us but for the military, the ability to treat anxiety, depression, memory loss and the symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder has become one of the most important battles of the post-war period.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/the-military-is-building-brain-chips-to-treat-ptsd/371855/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Heroin's new users are now the suburban kids next door, study says

Cory Monteith, the 31-year-old, fresh-faced star of "Glee" who died of a heroin overdose last year, is now the standard heroin user, not the exception. A new study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry reports that the demographics of the typical heroin user have changed from an inner-city junkie to a white, middle-class suburban man or woman in his or her 20s. Today's addicts often get into heroin after bouts with prescription opioids because heroin is less expensive and easier to obtain

 http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/heroin-new-users-kids-door-study-article-1.1810085

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Cynicism linked to greater dementia risk, study finds

According to a report from the American Academy of Neurology, individuals exhibiting high levels of cynical distrust may be more likely to develop dementia.  The complete findings appear in the May 28 online issue of the journal Neurology...

http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/cynicism-linked-to-greater-dementia-risk-study-finds/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Rat Study Shows the Power of Gut Instinct

By studying rats, researchers have shown that gut instinct has a powerful impact on how we react to fear. While the brain is viewed as the center of emotions, fear and other threats are often felt in the stomach...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/24/rat-study-shows-the-power-of-gut-instinct/70294.html

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Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Cheap Food Fuels Obesity Epidemic

A provocative new review posits that many of the traditional beliefs explaining the obesity epidemic are wrong. Roland Sturm, Ph.D of RAND Corporation and Ruopeng An, Ph.D, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, maintain that rising obesity rates have coincided with increases in leisure time, increased fruit and vegetable availability, and increased exercise uptake...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/26/cheap-food-fuels-obesity-epidemic/70402.html

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Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Classroom Clutter a Distraction to Students?

Elementary school classrooms often include a mosaic of art and educational material cluttering the room, covering walls and sometimes even glazing the ceiling.

But new research from Carnegie Mellon University shows that too much of a good thing may end up disrupting attention and learning...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/28/classroom-clutter-a-distraction-to-students/70471.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Mental Illness May Be More Deadly Than Smoking

According to Oxford University researchers, about one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem sometime during the year, while fewer than that smoke cigarettes — around 21 percent of men and 19 precent of women.

Furthermore, many mental disorders have a higher mortality risk than smoking. Yet despite these statistics, say the researchers, mental health still lags behind as a public health priority...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/24/mental-illness-may-be-more-deadly-than-smoking/70343.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

That 'To-Do' List May Lead to Stress and Risk

New research suggests that “pre-crastination,” hurrying to complete a task as soon as possible, may be nearly as common as the better-known procrastination. Further, people often opt to begin a task as soon as possible just to get it off their plate, even if it takes more physical effort...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/15/that-to-do-list-may-lead-to-stress-and-risk/69865.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Tetris Dreams: What the pieces people see in their sleep tells us about dreaming and learning

A diversion? Yes. Addictive? Maybe. But a research tool for delving into the purpose of dreaming? In fact, the game Tetris has proved to be just that. Robert Stickgold and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School recently conducted a clever set of experiments in which they used the game to guide the content of people's dreams...

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tetris-dreams/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Economic Climate Linked to Development of Narcissism

Although narcissistic tendencies are often attributed to parenting practices or early social experiences, new research presents a powerful argument that economic conditions in the formative years of early adulthood also play a role.

The research shows that people who entered their adulthood during hard economic times are less narcissistic 

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/13/economic-climate-linked-to-development-of-narcissism/69772.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

ADHD Treatment May Lower Smoking Risk

Conventional stimulant medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a secondary benefit; they may lower smoking rates in youth.

As discussed online in the journal Pediatrics, Duke Medicine researchers say the association is especially apparent when medication is taken consistently.

“Given that individuals with ADHD are more likely to smoke, our study supports the use of stimulant treatment to...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/13/adhd-treatment-may-lower-smoking-risk/69777.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Mayor's Daughter Opens Up About Recovery

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's daughter said Tuesday she was in the throes of serious substance abuse and mental-health problems during her father's campaign last year for City Hall.

Chiara de Blasio, a 19-year-old college student, received an award Tuesday afternoon from Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for speaking publicly about her experience recovering from depression and substance use...

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140506-719927.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

BVCASA on Alert Following Mass K2 Overdoses Across State of Tx

Authorities in Texas say that nearly 120 reported drug overdoses in Austin and Dallas in a five-day period might be linked to the same Dallas supplier.

The overdoses involve K2, a synthetic drug that is supposed to mimic the effects of marijuana. It is also marketed under other names, like Spice and Black Mamba.

"Several [patients] came in with similar symptoms of psychosis, altered mental status, abnormal behavior -- ranged from very sedated to an agitated state,"...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/synthetic-marijuana-overdoses-texas_n_5280792.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Caring for Horses Can Benefit Alzheimer's Patients

Spending time with horses and caring for their needs eases the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, according to new research published in the journal Anthrozoos.

The small pilot study was a group effort between researchers at Ohio State University, an adult daycare center, and an equine therapy center.

The findings showed that people with Alzheimer’s were able to safely groom, feed, and walk horses with supervision and that the experience gave them a better state of mind and made them less likely to resist care or become aggravated later in the day.

Equine therapy is a treatment currently used for children and teens who have emotional and developmental disorders. The study shows that this type of therapy could work for adults as well.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/06/caring-for-horses-can-benefit-alzheimers-patients/69473.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Family-Based Therapy Found to Help Young Children With OCD

A new study has found that family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) is beneficial for children between the ages of five and eight with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD an anxiety disorder).

The study, from researchers at the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center in Rhode Island, found family-based CBT that included exposure/response prevention (EX/RP) was more effective in reducing OCD symptoms for these children than a relaxation program.

“CBT has been established as an effective form of OCD treatment in older children and adolescents..."

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/05/06/family-based-therapy-found-to-help-young-children-with-ocd/69479.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

How Your Genes Help You Become A Good Parent

Or a bad one, for that matter. A new study suggests both genetic and environmental factors determine how a parent is likely to raise a child, both positively and negatively.

Scared expectant parents are always told that knowing how to take care of their offspring just comes naturally. Turns out a new study by Michigan State University psychologists backs up that theory with cold, hard facts.

The study, which was published in the Psychological Bulletin, a research journal of the American Psychological Association, found that our genetics control 23 to 40 percent of the positive and negative emotions that parents hold toward their children...

http://time.com/33471/how-your-genes-help-you-become-a-good-parent/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Friending Your Shrink: When You Find Your Therapist on Social Media

Therapists differ in opinion on the professional challenges, concerns and effects social media cause.

http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/04/when-you-find-your-therapist-on-social-media.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Those Corporate Trust Exercises Aren't Working

APA’s Work and Well-Being Survey identifies feeling valued in the workplace and employee-employer trust as significant factors for employee satisfaction...

Only about half of U.S. workers feel their employers are open and upfront with them, according to a survey about work and well-being set to be released this week by the American Psychological Association. And one-quarter of Americans say they simply don’t trust the companies they work for.

That’s bad for business, said David Ballard, who heads the APA’s workplace initiative. When a sense of trust is missing, workers may put in less effort or otherwise subverting their employers’ goals, he said.

“Employees want to know that there are fair processes in place and a sense of equity”...

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/04/22/those-corporate-trust-exercises-arent-working/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

drcharlesdavenport.com

Can stress really make us sick?

Research shows that while stress may not suppress the immune system, it can hamper the body’s ability to respond to infections appropriately...

Hormones biologically express our emotions, says Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, a psychologist at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and a pioneer in this field. Stress hormones are part of the “fight or flight” response that primes your body for battling a saber-toothed predator or avoiding a car crash.

“But if stress is chronic every day, pumping out hormones without any escaping or fighting, then it’s not good for your immune system,” impairing its response to infection, Kiecolt-Glaser says. And Americans’ chronic stress isn’t going away...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/can-stress-really-make-us-sick/2014/05/05/a1af9dd2-d074-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Adults at Higher Risk of Suicide Attempt if Parent Abused Alcohol, Research Finds

Having divorced parents who also abused alcohol did not increase suicide risk, according to study

WASHINGTON — People who grew up with a parent who abused alcohol may be 85 percent more likely to attempt suicide than people whose parents did not abuse alcohol, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Furthermore, having divorced parents increased by 14 percent the risk that a person would try to take his or her own life when compared to people whose parents did not divorce, the study found. But putting those two factors together — parents who abuse alcohol and are divorced — did not increase suicide attempts, according to the study, coming out in the May issue of APA’s American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. ...

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/05/suicide-alcohol.aspx

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Blood Test for Depression?

In a new proof of principle study, European scientists say they have demonstrated that depression can be detected by a blood test. While blood tests for mental illnesses have until recently been regarded as impossible, researchers at the MedUni Vienna say the technique may be in place in the not too distant future. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and pharmacological investigations to monitor and predict levels of serotonin...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/04/30/blood-test-for-depression/69198.html

Reposted by:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Chronic Stress Increases Dietary Health Risks

Groundbreaking research discovers highly stressed people are more apt to suffer health-related consequences of a poor diet.

In the study, University of California, San Francisco researchers determined that highly stressed people who eat a lot of high-fat, high-sugar food are more prone to metabolic illness than low-stress people who eat the same amount of unhealthy food...

... “Many people think a calorie is a calorie, but this study suggests that two women who eat the same thing could have different metabolic responses based on their level of stress. There appears to be a stress pathway that works through diet — for example, it could be similar to what we see in animals, where fat cells grow faster in response to junk food when the body is chronically stressed” said Kirstin Aschbacher, Ph.D., lead author.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/04/30/chronic-stress-increases-dietary-health-risks/69187.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

www.drcharlesdavenport.com