Addiction Blog

Study Highlights Need for Substance Abuse Programs Among Highly Educated

October 29, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Addiction

There is a common assumption among certain cultures and societies that pursuing a higher education can automatically protect against risky behavior. By making these assumptions, opportunities for prevention and intervention can easily be missed as the higher educated are not immune to developing substance use and abuse problems. It is important to examine evidence of …

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Online Addictions Could Have Significant Impact on Health

October 29, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Addiction

Nearly every individual has the potential to develop an addiction to something. Whether it is a substance that is illegal or unhealthy, an online game, a particular type of food or even a specific activity, developing an addiction is not something saved only for those with a tendency to move towards drugs or alcohol. Only …

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Study Examines Peer Pressure and Addiction

October 28, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Addiction

Is peer pressure the main cause of addiction? Unfortunately, what people believe their peers want them to do is often the cause of what they actually do. The findings from a National Drug Agency (AADK) study done in Malaysia revealed that of 26,841 drug addicts surveyed between 2007 and 2008, 55 percent became hooked on …

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Children on Psychiatric Drugs Can Quickly Become Obese

October 28, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / News and Research

Children taking psychiatric drugs can quickly gain an alarming amount of weight. The Associated Press reports that a study found that many gain nearly 20 pounds and become obese within just 11 weeks of starting the medication. “Sometimes this stuff just happens like an explosion. You can actually see them grow between appointments,” said Dr. …

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Depression-Inflicted Adults Fail to Seek Treatment

October 26, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Mood Disorders

Seeking medical treatment for depression can make a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. For men and women in Ontario, Canada, less than half are seeking this treatment. In addition, those who have been hospitalized for severe depression fail to see a doctor for follow-up care within 30 days of discharge. These findings …

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a doctor discusses mental health and physical health with a patient

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Impairs Formation of New Brain Cells

October 23, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Alcoholism

A new study found that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the number of new brain cells that form in the hippocampus of adolescent rhesus monkeys. This finding suggests that these cells are vulnerable to alcohol and their presence may be essential for preventing alcohol dependence.

Research Suggests Doctors Have Less Respect for Obese Patients

October 22, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / News and Research

A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that doctors have less respect for their obese patients than they do for patients of normal weight. The findings raise questions about whether negative physician attitudes about obesity could be affecting the long-term health of their heavier patients. As patients had higher body mass indexes (BMI), physicians …

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Too Much Light at Night Can Lead to Symptoms of Depression in Mice

October 21, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Mood Disorders

Too much light at night can lead to symptoms of depression, according to a new study. Researchers found that mice housed in a lighted room 24 hours a day exhibited more depressive symptoms than did similar mice that had a normal light-dark cycle. However, mice that lived in constant light but could escape into a …

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Death After Surgery

October 20, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / News and Research

A new study suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with death after surgery. Researchers found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to die within a year after surgery than those without the disease, regardless of how many years had passed since their service.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Better for Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

October 19, 2009 / By Promises Behavioral Health / Mood Disorders

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of severe depression that occurs annually in the fall and winter seasons. University of Vermont psychologist Kelly Rohan presented the first published research study of the long-term effects of different treatments for SAD in the September issue of the journal Behavior Therapy.

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