psychosis

New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder
03/07/2013 - 10:43

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study, which is published in the scientific periodical Molecular Psychiatry, identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

 

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Decline in verbal ability in adolescence linked to psychosis
01/21/2013 - 14:24

New research from Karolinska Institutet and King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry has found that adolescents whose verbal performance drops off are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders many years later. The findings are published in the scientific periodical JAMA Psychiatry.

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Vitamin B12 deficiency: tracking the genetic cause
08/26/2012 - 18:29

Vitamin B12 is essential to human health. However, some people have inherited conditions that leave them unable to process vitamin B12. As a result they are prone to serious health problems, including developmental delay, psychosis, stroke and dementia. An international research team recently discovered a new genetic disease related to vitamin B12 deficiency by identifying a gene that is vital to the transport of vitamin into the cells of the body. This discovery will help doctors better diagnose this rare genetic disorder and open the door to new treatments. The findings are published in the journal Nature Genetics.

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Study of psychosis risk and brain to track effects of omega-3 pills
07/18/2012 - 18:24

The first major study on the biological effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the human brain is focusing on the role that this natural substance, primarily found in fish oil, may play in fighting psychosis. Emory University recently launched the first phase of the double-blind, clinical trial of a specific combination of omega-3 fatty acid supplements, which will ultimately involve about 160 participants, and researchers from eight universities.

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Psychiatric Medication Effects on Brain Structure
05/08/2012 - 09:38

It is increasingly recognized that chronic psychotropic drug treatment may lead to structural remodeling of the brain. Indeed, clinical studies in humans present an intriguing picture: antipsychotics, used for the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis, may contribute to cortical gray matter loss in patients, whereas lithium, used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and mania, may preserve gray matter in patients.

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Evidence of Familial Vulnerability for Epilepsy and Psychosis
05/02/2012 - 06:40

Although the two disorders may seem dissimilar, epilepsy and psychosis are associated. Individuals with epilepsy are more likely to have schizophrenia, and a family history of epilepsy is a risk factor for psychosis. It is not known whether the converse is true, i.e., whether a family history of psychosis is a risk factor for epilepsy.

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