Real Teen Stories - Parents. The Anti-Drug.
The Anti-Drug can help you communicate with your teenager and can offer sound advice for parents on drug use.
http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/teens-today/teens-and-technology/real-teen-stories.aspx
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Suicide means restriction: Rhode Island created an interactive website about limiting access to lethal means for suicide: http://suicideproof.org/
Childhood Trauma Linked To Schizophrenia
21 Apr 2012
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that children who have experienced severe trauma are three times as likely to develop schizophrenia in later life.
The findings shed new light on the debate about the importance of genetic and environmental triggers of psychotic disorders. For many years research in mental health has focused on the biological factors behind conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychotic depression, but there is now increasing evidence to suggest these conditions cannot be fully understood without first looking at the life experiences of individual patients.
The research, conducted by teams at Liverpool and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, is the first of its kind to bring together and analyze the findings from more than 30 years of studies looking at the association between childhood trauma and the development of psychosis. The researchers looked at more than 27,000 research papers to extract data from three types of studies; those addressing the progress of children known to have experienced adversity; studies of randomly selected members of the population; and research on psychotic patients who were asked about their early childhood.
Across all three types of studies the results led to similar conclusions. Children who had experienced any type of trauma before the age of 16 were approximately three times more likely to become psychotic in adulthood compared to those selected randomly from the population. Researchers found a relationship between the level of trauma and the likelihood of developing illness in later life. Those that were severely traumatized as children were at a greater risk, in some cases up to 50 times increased risk, than those who experienced trauma to a lesser extent.
The Liverpool team also conducted a new study which looked at the relationship between specific psychotic symptoms and the type of trauma experienced in childhood. They found that different traumas led to different symptoms. Childhood sexual abuse, for example, was associated with hallucinations, whilst being brought up in a children's home was associated with paranoia. The research further suggests a strong relationship between environment and the development of psychosis, and provides clues about the mechanisms leading to severe mental illness.
Professor Richard Bentall, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, said: "The causes of psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia, are a source of controversy amongst psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors. There is also disagreement about how the disorders are defined. It's not unusual, for example, for a patient to be diagnosed with schizophrenia by one psychiatrist, but as bipolar by another.
"Our findings suggest that studies on the neurological and genetic factors associated with these conditions, which are not yet fully understood, are more like to advance our knowledge if we take into account a patient's life experiences. We need to know, for example, how childhood trauma affects the developing brain, as well as whether there are genetic factors that increase vulnerability or resilience to traumatic events.
"These questions will need new research strategies, such as studies comparing traumatized children who grow up to be psychologically healthy and those who go on to develop mental illness. Looking at the brain or genes only is unlikely to tell us what we need to know in order to treat a patient effectively."
"Now that we know environment is a major factor in psychosis and that there are direct links between specific experiences and symptoms of the condition, it is even more vital that psychiatric services routinely question patients about their life experience. Surprisingly, some psychiatric teams do not address these issues and only focus on treating a patient with medication."
Researchers at Liverpool will now look the psychological and brain processes involved in the links between different types of trauma and particular psychotic symptoms. Future research will also aim to discover why symptoms of psychosis may only be expressed in later life, when the initial trigger many have been many years before in childhood.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that children who have experienced severe trauma are three times as likely to develop schizophrenia in later life.
The findings shed new light on the debate about the importance of genetic and environmental triggers of psychotic disorders. For many years research in mental health has focused on the biological factors behind conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychotic depression, but there is now increasing evidence to suggest these conditions cannot be fully understood without first looking at the life experiences of individual patients.
The research, conducted by teams at Liverpool and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, is the first of its kind to bring together and analyze the findings from more than 30 years of studies looking at the association between childhood trauma and the development of psychosis. The researchers looked at more than 27,000 research papers to extract data from three types of studies; those addressing the progress of children known to have experienced adversity; studies of randomly selected members of the population; and research on psychotic patients who were asked about their early childhood.
Across all three types of studies the results led to similar conclusions. Children who had experienced any type of trauma before the age of 16 were approximately three times more likely to become psychotic in adulthood compared to those selected randomly from the population. Researchers found a relationship between the level of trauma and the likelihood of developing illness in later life. Those that were severely traumatized as children were at a greater risk, in some cases up to 50 times increased risk, than those who experienced trauma to a lesser extent.
The Liverpool team also conducted a new study which looked at the relationship between specific psychotic symptoms and the type of trauma experienced in childhood. They found that different traumas led to different symptoms. Childhood sexual abuse, for example, was associated with hallucinations, whilst being brought up in a children's home was associated with paranoia. The research further suggests a strong relationship between environment and the development of psychosis, and provides clues about the mechanisms leading to severe mental illness.
Professor Richard Bentall, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, said: "The causes of psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia, are a source of controversy amongst psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors. There is also disagreement about how the disorders are defined. It's not unusual, for example, for a patient to be diagnosed with schizophrenia by one psychiatrist, but as bipolar by another.
"Our findings suggest that studies on the neurological and genetic factors associated with these conditions, which are not yet fully understood, are more like to advance our knowledge if we take into account a patient's life experiences. We need to know, for example, how childhood trauma affects the developing brain, as well as whether there are genetic factors that increase vulnerability or resilience to traumatic events.
"These questions will need new research strategies, such as studies comparing traumatized children who grow up to be psychologically healthy and those who go on to develop mental illness. Looking at the brain or genes only is unlikely to tell us what we need to know in order to treat a patient effectively."
"Now that we know environment is a major factor in psychosis and that there are direct links between specific experiences and symptoms of the condition, it is even more vital that psychiatric services routinely question patients about their life experience. Surprisingly, some psychiatric teams do not address these issues and only focus on treating a patient with medication."
Researchers at Liverpool will now look the psychological and brain processes involved in the links between different types of trauma and particular psychotic symptoms. Future research will also aim to discover why symptoms of psychosis may only be expressed in later life, when the initial trigger many have been many years before in childhood.
References:
The research is published in Schizophrenia Bulletin.
University of Liverpool
The research is published in Schizophrenia Bulletin.
University of Liverpool
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Commentary: 6 Tips to Protect Your Child from Online Drug Threats
Many people in Philadelphia were stunned by a recent report that students in one community had been depicted on YouTube drinking and taking other drugs.
To read more visit:
http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/alcohol/six-tips-to-protect-your-child-from-online-drug-threats?utm_source=Join+Together+Daily&utm_campaign=1865d8c1d2-JT_Daily_News_2012_White_House&utm_medium=email
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center Welcomes Three New Staff
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center welcomes three new staff, Dan Goodnature, Amy Meyer and Elizabeth Meyer. Dan Goodnature provides individual therapy services for children, adolescents and adults in the Wabasha and Winona offices. He completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University in Seattle, WA. Dan’s specialties and interests include testing for learning disabilities, ADHD, and dementia.
Amy Meyer is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who earned her master’s degree in Counselor Education from Winona State University. She provides therapy services to adolescents and adults through Hiawatha Valley’s Winona office. Amy recently worked as an intern counselor at the VA Medical Center’s PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), serving OEF/OIF, Gulf War, and Vietnam veterans suffering with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Her recent capstone project included the implementation of a group intervention for veterans suffering from posttraumatic nightmares. She specializes in person-center counseling and cognitive behavioral interventions. Her interests include working with clients struggling with mood and anxiety problems as well as those who are dealing with reactions to trauma. 
Elizabeth Meyer was hired as Development Coordinator, a newly created position at Hiawatha Valley. She received her education from Winona State University and the University of Minnesota. Elizabeth has experience doing community organizing around substance abuse and has worked as a Child Protection Social Worker at a county level. Elizabeth will be partaking in outreach services to educate the public and reduce the stigma of mental illness. She will also be involved in grant writing, program development and fundraising.
To schedule an appointment with Dan, Amy or other Hiawatha Valley Mental Health staff call toll-free 1-800-657-6777
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