Spring allergies could be the cause of seasonal depression

Dr. Paul Marshall, a neuropsychologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, states that a person suffering from allergies has double the risk of developing depression. Additionally, a consultation with an allergist triples the likelihood of having depression.  The correlational study is not conclusive, but allergy-connected mood changes usually boil down to mild depressive symptoms like sadness, lethargy and fatigue.

An allergic reaction is an immune response that releases cytokines, protein molecules used in communication between cells. For example, cytokines induce feelings of sickness that often accompany the flu. A 2002 study conducted by Marshall found that allergic reactions to ragweed pollen cause significant fatigue and mood changes in some patients. More recently, Dr. Teodor Postolache published a study investigating the association between suicidal indicators and allergies. Postolache’s group noted a peak in suicide rates from April to June.

Antihistamines used to treat allergies can also contribute to low moods. The side effects of allergy medications can heighten irregular sleeping patterns that can increase irritability. The major antihistamines, including Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec, can also lead to insomnia.

Dr. Michael Silverman, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, asks people not to blame allergies for deeper emotional issues. Even if some people have a direct mood response from allergies, allergies are not always the best explanation for feeling depressed.

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/04/20/allergies.depression.moods/

Plastic Surgery: The New Addiction in the UK

Adam Searle, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), warns fellow surgeons to beware of patients addicted to cosmetic surgery or Botox treatments and those who have body dysmorphic disorder, also known as “imagined ugly syndrome.”

Research by BAAPS released in May found that there were 22,041 cosmetic operations (excluding Botox injections) in Britain last year, up 35% from 2004. These included 5,646 breast enlargements.

Martin Kelly, a plastic surgeon with London Plastic Surgery Associates, states that Botox injection is the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure and, yet, the addictive appeal surrounding Botox has largely been ignored. Also, the rise of celebrity culture has played a significant part in the growth of cosmetic surgery. Sharon Osbourne, a television presenter, has spoken openly of spending up to £300,000 on plastic surgery, including having her breasts, legs and buttocks altered. The appearance of Jocelyn Wildenstein, the 60-year-old US socialite, is a stark warning to cosmetic surgery candidates. She was dubbed “Catwoman” and “the Bride of Wildenstein” after she spent a reported £2m on plastic surgery.

There are people who develop a dependency on the support they appear to get from cosmetic surgery. “Cosmetic surgery is potentially habit-forming,” said Searle.  These people feel a sense of psychological well-being after one procedure and this fuels the notion that they would feel even better if they had another.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article641628.ece

Genetics increases alcoholism risk

Sandra Villafuerte, a researcher at the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and the department of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, has found out that people with certain variations in a gene called GABRA2 have an increased risk for alcoholism. She and her colleagues studied 449 people from 173 families, including 129 families with at least one member who had been diagnosed with alcohol dependence or abuse.

The investigators used functional MRI scans to observe changes in blood flow to the brain in response to different situations. This enabled researchers to see the variations in GABRA2. The brain scans revealed that people with one form of the GABRA2 associated with alcoholism had greatly increased levels of activation in an area of the brain called the insula when they were anticipating rewards or losses.

Margit Burmeister,  a professor of psychiatry and human genetics, states that the results of the study suggest that GABRA2 exerts an influence on an underlying neural system that impacts early risk factors and, later, alcohol dependency. The researchers also emphasized that genetic risk factors don't act alone and having them does not automatically mean that someone will become an alcoholic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20110413/hl_hsn/certaingenescouldaddtoalcoholismrisk

Dennis Quaid opens up about cocaine addiction

In a Newsweek blog, actor Dennis Quaid revealed his battle with cocaine addiction that lasted through the 1980s and 1990s. 

Quaid writes, “My greatest mistake was being addicted to cocaine…it was very casual at first.  That’s what people were doing when they were at parties.”  He says, however, that the drug addiction quickly progressed into something all-consuming.  He lacked sleep and focus, causing his acting and music careers to falter. 

Quaid’s struggle with drugs exposes a large part of Hollywood culture that is often glossed over.  He describes the commonplace nature of drug use in the movie industry.  He divulged, “Cocaine was even in the budgets of movies, thinly disguised…It was supplied, basically, on movie sets because everyone was doing it.”

Eventually, the “Soul Surfer” actor sought treatment at a rehabilitation center and slowly rebuilt his life and career.  He writes, “Those years in the ‘90s recovering actually chiseled me into a person.  It gave me the resolve and a resilience to persevere in life.  If I hadn’t gone through that period, I don’t know if I’d still be acting.  In the end, it taught me humility.  I really learned to appreciate what I have in this life.”

Read his whole blog on Newsweek.com:

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/10/my-favorite-mistake.html

Catherine Zeta-Jones enters treatment center for bipolar disorder

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones checked herself into a mental health facility for a five day stay to treat bipolar II disorder.

Her rep said in a statement to People magazine, “After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check into a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her bipolar II disorder.  She’s feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films.”

Zeta-Jones reportedly made the decision to seek treatment at Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut for bipolar disorder after her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/04/13/catherine-zeta-jones-checks-mental-hospital-treat-bipolar-disorder-report-says/?test=faces

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/catherine-zeta-jones-reveals-shes-bipolar/story?id=13366854&page=1

Disney star Demi Lovato reveals struggle with eating disorder, depression and “cutting”

Demi Lovato, the 18 year old star of Disney’s “Sonny with a Chance,” sat down for her first televised interview since leaving a three-month stay in a rehabilitation center. 

The teen star spoke openly about the “emotional and physical issues” that pushed her to seek treatment in October 2010.  She details her struggle with food addiction, a lifelong battle with depression and self-mutilation (“cutting”). 

Lovato also spoke to Seventeen magazine about her eating disorder.  She said, “I will deal with it for the rest of my life because it’s a life-long disease.  I don’t think there’s going to be a day when I don’t think about food or my body, but I’m living with it.”

The “Camp Rock” actress provided advice to her young supporters: “I wish I could tell every young girl with an eating disorder, or who has harmed herself in any way, that she’s worthy of life and that her life has meaning.  You can overcome and get through anything.  If you are going through that dark period, go to your family and closest friends.  Don’t put yourself in danger.  It’s very crucial that you get your feelings out – but don’t ever inflict harm on your own body because your body is so sacred.”

She added, “I don’t let anyone’s insecurities, emotions, or opinions bother me.  I know that if I am happy, that’s all that matters to me.”

Watch the interview on “Good Morning America” and “20/20” on Friday, April 22 and read the article in the latest issue of Seventeen magazine.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/demi-lovato-interview-disney-star-opens-food-struggles/story?id=13357335

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iVCyrZTdrQZ2PyFkoHwyz0jZ6QqQ?docId=N0568471302694982088A

Anorexia on the rise in British children

According to a recent study in the British Journal of Psychiatry, more than two and a half times as many children under the age of 10 have anorexia nervosa. 

Early onset eating disorders, eating disorders starting before 13 years of age, represent a significant clinical burden on pediatric and mental health services. Dr. Dasha Nicholls, a consultant child psychiatrist at the University College of London, suggests that general practitioners have difficulty recognizing eating disorders in children.

Most of the 208 patients in Nicholl’s study were girls, but boys accounted for one in five cases. The study concluded that more than 80% of the children in the study had an anorexia-like illness: 37% had diagnosable symptoms, while 43% were classified as having an “unspecified eating disorder.” An additional one in five children had symptoms of disordered eating, such as food avoidance and being underweight.

The new study has galvanized concern that society’s obsession with physical appearance is making children become more body conscious at an increasingly early age. Blame has been placed on everything ranging from poor parenting to the media and websites such as Facebook.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/health/148191-anorexia-nervosa-on-the-rise-in-children-uk-study.html

Music linked to depression in teens

According to a recent study conducted by the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, teenagers who spent the majority of their time listening to music were 8.3 times more likely to be depressed.  However, teenagers who spent time reading books were one-tenth as likely to suffer from depression. 

It is unclear whether already depressed people listen to large amounts of music or listening to music leads to depression. However, this study shows the importance of recognizing the correlation between media and depression.

This research gives insight into the growing issue of depression in teens.  It is estimated that depression affects one in twelve teenagers.

http://teens.webmd.com/news/20110405/more-music-less-reading-in-kids-with-depression

Are we tough enough to handle negative feedback?

In the April 2011 issue of Psychology Today, Karen Wright writes about the effects of negative feedback and the most beneficial ways to deliver criticism.

The article begins by stating that negative feedback is essential for negotiating life and social relations. Human growth and development essentially relies on life’s negative experiences. Robert Sutton, an organizational psychologist at Stanford University, remarks that human beings are not trained in either giving or getting criticism.

Over the years, neurological research has provided evidence of an increase in electrical activity in the brain to negative stimuli versus equally potent positive ones. Hence, the negativity bias can seriously skew our interpretation of critical feedback. The factor that makes negative criticism unbearable is the fear of exclusion or the loss of connection with people. Neal Ashkanasy, professor of management at the University of Queensland in Australia, states that the threat of exclusion, abandonment and ostracism accompanying the negative feedback makes criticism hurtful.

As soon as we master the effective methods to deliver criticism in a mild manner, we can gain insight into the advantages of criticism. One way to reduce the negativity of criticism is to lead the criticism with questions. Also, human facial expressions associated with criticism are a key factor on how it affects the people. Therefore, warm tones would help in alleviating the negative effect of the criticism. The author concludes the article with the reminder for everyone to be prepared to admit the accuracy of the criticism and to work skillfully towards a positive effect.

Read the article, “A Chic Critique,” in the new issue of Psychology Today.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201103/how-take-feedback

Emma Stone reveals struggle with “massive anxiety”

In an interview with Glamour magazine, “Easy A” star Emma Stone, 22, revealed her childhood battle with severe anxiety and panic attacks. 

Stone told the magazine, “I had massive anxiety as a child.  I was in therapy.  From 8 to 10, I was borderline agoraphobic.  I could not leave my mom’s side.”

However, she has since overcome the disorder.  She says, “I don’t really have panic attacks anymore, but I had really bad anxiety.  There was a lot of fear…”  She also credits therapy and her supportive mother for aiding her recovery.

Read the whole interview in the May 2011 issue of Glamour Magazine.

http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2011/04/emma-stone-the-cool-girl

Is Facebook causing teen depression?

Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe, lead author of new social media guidelines in the American Academy of Pediatrics, asserts that Facebook can lead to depression in adolescents. For teens predisposed to poor self-esteem and depression, Facebook can become a painful reminder of their lackluster social life.

When teens with poor self-esteem view the status updates and photos of happy-looking people, the inability to measure up can push them into depression. O’Keefe further states that the skewed view provided by Facebook exacerbates the issue.

Several teens also agree that Facebook could lead to depression. They point out that Facebook can serve as a popularity contest in which teens compete for the most friends or tagged pictures. Also, some teens post derogatory comments on the Facebook walls of their peers. Such acts will profoundly affect the emotions of more sensitive teenagers.

In order to alleviate the situation, pediatricians are urging parents to talk with their kids about online risks and to be aware of Facebook depression, cyber-bullying and other issues.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42298789/ns/health-mental_health?GT1=43001