January 30, 200911:40 am
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Can too many cups of coffee cause hallucinations?

According to findings published online in Personality and Individual Differences, too many cups of coffee can increase the likelihood of hallucinations. According to Simon R. Jones, Ph.D., and Charles Fernyhough, Ph.D., both of Duham University and authors of the study, eight or more cups of coffee a day triples the chance of hearing voices. The study, which focused on college students, did not find an association with delusions of persecution, a common symptom of hallucinations. As such, the researchers believe that these hallucinations are solely coffee induced rather than reflective of undiagnosed mental illness. Caffeine increases the release of cortisol when consumed which may explain the psychotic experiences. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that reviews the study’s findings:

The pilot study surveyed 219 university students regarding typical caffeine intake over the prior year (including coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, energy drinks, and caffeine tablets), stress level, and psychotic symptoms using a questionnaire scale.

The students averaged 141 mg of caffeine per day, similar to student populations in previous studies, the researchers noted. By comparison, a cup of instant coffee contains 45 mg of caffeine, one Starbucks coffee has 188 mg of caffeine, and Red Bull energy drink contains 80 mg of caffeine.

Not surprisingly, the students reported higher caffeine intake when their stress level increased (P<0.02).

Higher caffeine intake also increased the likelihood of hallucination-like experiences (P<0.02), which included reports of seeing things that were not there, hearing voices, and sensing the presence of dead people.

Although auditory hallucinations are often a symptom of schizophrenia, most healthy people have a brief experience of hearing voices at some point in their lives and about 3% regularly hear voices, Jones and Dr. Fernyhough noted.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medpage Today

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January 28, 200912:34 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Close relatives at risk….

According to findings from a study published in the January 17th issue of The Lancet, close relatives of people who have schizophrenia are at an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder. Conversely, close relatives of those with bipolar disorder possess an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. According to Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute, and colleagues, “schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share common genetic causes… and a considerable proportion of genetic variance is not in common with the other disorder, both for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.” The researchers went on to say that “… some genes are probably associated with the risk for both disorders and some with the risk for only one disorder.” A notably higher risk was present among first blood relatives. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that discusses the study in more depth:

Children and siblings of schizophrenic patients showed relative risks of 5.2 (95% CI 4.4 to 6.2) and 3.7 (95% CI 3.2 to 4.2), respectively, for having bipolar disorder themselves, reported Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute, and colleagues in the Jan. 17 issue of The Lancet.

For patients with bipolar disorder, their children and siblings had relative risks of 2.4 (95% CI 2.1 to 2.6) and 3.9 (95% CI 3.4 to 4.4), respectively, for developing schizophrenia, according to the study of some nine million Swedes.

Dr. Lichtenstein and colleagues found similar results among adopted-away children and siblings of schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

And among paternal half-siblings of patients — but not maternal half-siblings — there were significantly increased risks, although the magnitudes were attenuated.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medpage Today

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January 27, 20095:26 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

Alcohol-use disorders: A wake-up call

According to an early online publication presented by Marc A. Schuckit, M.D., alcohol-use disorders can cause, and are associated with, a number of alarming problems. According to the study, alcohol-use disorders are associated with depression, suicide, anxiety issues, abuse of other drugs, and insomnia. Heavy alcohol use additionally shortens the onset of stroke, heart disease, cancers, and liver cirrhosis. Heavy drinking is also the cause of decreased bone density, lessened blood cell production, fetal alcohol syndrome, short term cognitive deficits, gastrointestinal problems, peripheral neuropathy, anterograde amnesias, and some sleep problems. That is certainly a long list of direct contributions and associates; hopefully long enough to be a wake-up call for some. Dr. Schuckit suggests that physicians actively and routinely screen patients for alcohol abuse. Happily, if detected, there a variety of treatment options for those affected by alcohol-use disorders to include detoxification, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications to reduce cravings.

Click here to read a review of Dr. Schuckit’s publication

Click here for information on the treatment of addictions

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January 23, 200912:46 pm
posted by Aric Thorpe, MHR

MAD: missing arm disorder… ?

Could it be that the language we use to describe debilitating stress caused by a traumatic event is actually causing some folks not to seek treatment? Jonathan Shay, M.D., Ph.D., a psychiatrist for the veteran’s affairs clinic in Boston, had some thought provoking things to say about PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) during a recent American Psychoanalytic Association meeting. According to Dr. Shay, the word “disorder” may cause some returning soldiers to shun treatment. The word has stigma attached to it; if you have a disorder then there must be something innately wrong with you [some may assume]. Dr. Shay prefers the designation psychological injury instead, acknowledging that there are a variety of other word combinations that could replace the word “disorder.” “I want to get everyone thinking like a trauma surgeon rather than an internist,” said Dr. Shay. For instance, if a soldier lost his arm during battle “he would not be diagnosed with ‘MAD’ or missing arm disorder…” Dr. Shay said. Commenting, Prudence Gourguechon, M.D., president of the American Psychoanalytic Association, said, “It is a psychological injury of war… it’s not that there is something wrong with you.” The following is an excerpt of an article from Medpage Today that discusses Dr. Shay’s thoughts on the implications attached to the word disorder further:

…psychoanalysts have long been making contributions to the effects of combat on the human psyche, and the discipline’s theories may foster better understanding of how to treat the problem.

One of those tenets is a long-term approach to treatment. PTSD may continue to manifest for some time after a soldier returns from war, so ensuring that VA clinics can provide access to long-term care is a necessity, she said.

Also, the idea of “transference,” or unconsciously projecting inner experiences onto others around you, enables healthcare providers to assess the collateral effects of PTSD — how the disease affects soldiers’ families and children.

Dr. Shay, who does not practice psychoanalysis, said there is definite value to the “relationship between a skilled clinician and single person in pain or trouble.” But he advocates the importance of community in rebuilding veterans’ lost social trust.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medpage Today

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