Researchers have noted a link between gluten sensitivity and mental illness in the past. In Europe in World War II, for example, wheat and gluten were often scarce in people's diets. During that time period, fewer people were admitted to hospitals because of schizophrenia.
]]> A new study appears to back up the possible connection. Researchers with the Karolinska Institute and Johns Hopkin's Children's Center looked at antibodies in 764 neonatal blood samples, and also examined birth records of people born in the 1970s and 80s. 211 of those people ultimately developed schizophrenia or a similar disorder.Researchers determined that women who had high levels of antibodies to gluten almost doubled the risk of seeing their child develop a psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia. In essence, the children of women with gluten sensitivity appear to be at higher risk than children of women with no such sensitivity.
It was also noted by researchers, however, that what they found is a connection, not a casual relationship. In the future, more research may shed more light on the link between gluten sensitivity and schizophrenia, and how that knowledge may be used.
The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Source: Huffington Post, "Mother's gluten sensitivity linked with child's schizophrenia risk: study," May 11, 2012
]]>Specialized trauma centers offer the most comprehensive care for traumatic injuries, and a new study suggests that people treated at these facilities, versus "regular" hospitals, often manage to survive with fewer permanent disabilities.
]]> The research shows that being treated at a trauma center not only cuts the risk of dying by about 25 percent, but it also improves the chance of a better functional outcome. In layman's terms, people are more likely to leave a trauma center without severe disabilities.The study examined 5,000 patients who suffered traumatic injuries and were treated at a Level 1 trauma center or other hospitals. (To qualify as that kind of center, certain requirements must be met, such as having specialists on duty at all times and having a certain number of surgeons.) Those who were treated at the Level 1 trauma center were found to be less disabled a year later.
35 percent of patients had a "good" recovery, meaning they essentially resumed their normal activities and relationships of their "healthy" selves. However, the chances of a better recover were 22 percent higher for those treated at trauma centers.
As the study suggests, often what's most important after an accident or traumatic injury is that the right patients are taken to the right hospitals as quickly as possible.
Source: Reuters, "High-level trauma care may limit disability," Amy Norton, May 10, 2012
]]>A lot of people don't even know how to detect potential mental illness in children. It doesn't always manifest the same way as it does in adults. If kids experience loss of appetite, see a drop in grades, have trouble sleeping and seem constantly worried, that may be an indicator of a mental health issue.
]]> According to one doctor, it's best for parents to raise the issue with a physician if they suspect such a problem. Intervening early and tackling the issue before it becomes an even bigger problem can make a big difference. So can seeking treatment that can really help, such as therapy, counseling or medication in more extreme cases. Also just having the support of family and friends can be extremely beneficial to a child.Unfortunately, not all children with mental health issues get such treatment, and that's partially because of the stigma surrounding mental illness. One in five children in this country suffers from some type of mental health issue. Their problems may vary from anxiety or depression to hyperactivity disorder.
In any case, being aware of a problem and seeking treatment is always better than pretending it isn't there. Issues that emerge in childhood can become more serious later in life, and it can affect all aspects of one's lifestyle, including the ability to work.
Source: Boston.com, "It's Children's Mental Health Awareness Week - how aware are you?" Claire McCarthy, May 7, 2012
]]>The woman was diagnosed with fibromarella, an unusual form of liver cancer, about 12 years ago. A tumor the size of a grapefruit was removed, but the cancer later returned, requiring various treatments and surgeries. After a surgery on her stomach, she has had to rely on a feeding tube. She says she lost an adopted child and her marriage suffered.
]]> She could work at various intervals, but now the woman says she relies on Social Security disability payments, and it's just not enough. She's starting a nonprofit group that will target disability determination reform. She has two main goals in mind:• Raise the $2,000 resource limit for people relying on Supplemental Security Income to $20,000. She says that it's not fair that people have to liquidate so much in order to qualify for benefits, so she thinks that should change.
• Change the "credit of work" calculator that determines one's disability benefits so that it takes into account more years worked. As it is now, it only takes into account the last 10 years of income, and for individuals who have been sick for many years, that number often times is not very high.
She hopes the changes will help those in situations similar to her own. What do you think of the proposed changes?
Source: Dayton Daily News, "Cancer survivor advocate for disability rights for all," Susan Dalzell, May 2, 2012
]]>That can be tricky for children who develop the disease because of obesity. New studies have shown that the disease progresses faster in kids and that oral medication to treat it sometimes does not work as well as it does with adults.
]]> This type of diabetes didn't really used to exist in children, but the obesity epidemic has changed that. According to the New York Times, there were 3,600 new cases of type 2 diabetes in children between 2002 and 2005. Clearly, it's a growing problem.According to a recent study, which took a look at nearly 700 children between the ages of 10 and 17, the oral medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes stopped working for about half of them after several years. The drugs tend to work well in adults, but the children often required shots of insulin to help with their treatment.
Physicians say this is troubling since the disease can cause so many problems, including nerve damage and kidney failure. According to the Times, one doctors says, "I fear that these children are going to become sick earlier in their lives than we've ever seen before."
The study was published by the New England Journal of Medicine.
Source: New York Times, "Obesity-linked diabetes in children resists treatment," Denise Grady, April 29, 2012
]]>The study, recently published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, examined data from over 50,000 pairs of identical twins, mostly from data from the United States and Scandinavian countries. The registries used showed how often one twin, none or both got 24 different diseases.
]]> Researchers thought that since identical twins share all their genes, they might be able to predict whether someone would have an increased chance of getting a disease. Looking at DNA sequencing and a mathematical model, their findings were not particularly illuminating. Scientists found that most people will be at an average risk of all 24 diseases.Another question they hoped would be answered: Would people who are considered healthy be found to be at lower risk for disease? The results were again surprisingly unhelpful. For example, more than 97 percent of men and women would learn they were at low risk for lung cancer. But that doesn't mean they have no risk, and the level of risk was noted to be about the same as the general population.
The findings did show that gene sequencing could be helpful in predicting Alzheimer's disease, type 1 diabetes and heart disease in men, among others. At this point, it's not entirely known how the information can help, but it's hoped that in the future we'll know more about what causes the diseases and how we can treat them.
Source: New York Times, "Study says DNA's power to predict illness is limited," Gina Kolata, April 2, 2012
]]>According to Forbes, a recent report conducted by a children's hospital and State Farm Insurance has some interesting data. Of 55,000 teen drivers and passengers injured in car accidents in 2009 and 2010, nearly a third of them suffered some sort of acute head injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, skull fracture or a concussion.
]]> And, as the Centers for Disease Control note, the leading cause of brain injury-related deaths among 15 to 19-year-olds are car crashes. For those who survive, there can be lifelong effects, depending on the severity of the injury. Some may see personality changes, and others could need round-the-clock care, unfortunately.Prevention is the key, says a co-author of the report. Since the brain is often slow to heal, he says, it's obviously best to avoid such an injury in the first place. The director of technology research at State Farm thinks teen-focused initiatives regarding seatbelts should be a priority.
Another helpful tool in combating teen brain injuries is graduated licensing laws. Such laws can restrict how often teens can be on the road and when they can start driving. The states that have implemented such laws have seen drops in severe brain injuries and fatalities in teen car crashes.
Source: Forbes, "Car crashes are the leading cause of fatal head trauma among teens," Jim Gorzelany, April 2, 2012
]]>A scientist at Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago has developed a blood test that could eventually change the way depression is diagnosed and theoretically lead to better treatment as well.
]]> The study, which was published this week in an issue of Translational Psychiatry, took a look at 14 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 with major depression that went untreated, as well as 14 teenagers who were not depressed.Through blood tests, researchers aimed to find genetic markers. They found 11 markers that may be tied to depression by comparing the depressed teens with the non-depressed ones. Also, 18 of the 26 markers apparently distinguished between major depression and other types, which could lead to more specific diagnoses.
While the tests involved teens, it's possible that similar tests could help adults in the future and lead to new treatments.
The teenage and adolescent years are often a trigger for depression to start. According to CBS News, only 2 to 4 percent of pre-adolescent kids have major depressive disorders, but 10 to 20 percent of late adolescents do.
One researcher says that failing to distinguish between different types of depression can be frustrating. She tells CBS, "It's like treating type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes exactly the same way. We need to do better."
Source: CBS News, "Depression blood test for teens may lead to better treatment, less stigma," Ryan Jaslow, April 17, 2012
]]>According to the Chicago Tribune, 724,746 people with disabilities applied for SSDI in the first quarter of 2012. That's up substantially from the 660,712 people with disabilities who applied for the insurance in the final quarter of 2011. In the first quarter a year ago, 720,119 people applied.
]]> Allsup, a provider of Social Security disability based in Belleville, Illinois, has provided some other sobering statistics. Nearly 2.9 million people were not able to work because of a disability and accordingly applied for disability insurance in 2011. The number of pending SSDI claims stands at an astounding 1.8 million, and the average wait time is more than 800 days, the Tribune reports.Also, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities stood at 14.6 percent in the first quarter of this year. That compares to an 8.4 percent unemployment rate for those without disabilities. That means the rate is 74 percent higher for those with disabilities.
The information was collected by Allsup, which also provides Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services. It began conducting the study in 2009.
Clearly, the backlog and cumulative wait time for people to receive benefits is concerning, particularly when so many people with disabilities are unable to work.
Source: Chicago Tribune, "Unemployment among those with disabilities climbs to 14.6%," Kristin Samuelson, April 16, 2012
]]>According to the Council for Disability Awareness, 60 percent of people believe that the chances of them becoming disabled during their working years are two percent or less. But the Social Security Administration says the number is actually closer to 30 percent.
]]> For people who become quickly disabled, waiting for disability benefits can take a while, and the wait may seem excruciatingly long when there are medical bills to pay. That's what it can be advantageous take steps to prevent disability, or plan for the possibility of it.The CDA recommends maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and exercising. Going to the doctor regularly is also important and can prevent undetected medical conditions from worsening. Always using safety equipment and seatbelts can prevent injuries when accidents occur.
Unfortunately, over half of all personal bankruptcies relate to disability or an illness of some kind, according to a Harvard study in 2009. KXLY tells the story of a 37-year-old working mother who broke her elbow and then developed osteonecrosis, a condition that caused her bones to crumble. It took her two and a half years to see the disability payments come in, and she was forced to use some of her retirement savings to pay her bills since she was unable to work.
Many people don't have savings to use in emergency situations, but it is always a good idea if at all possible.
Source: KXLY, "Plan in case of disability," April 11, 2012
]]>A new study reportedly links migraines and severe headaches to suicide attempts. The research took a look at about 1,200 people. Nearly half suffered from migraines, while over 150 of them experienced severe headaches but not migraines. (A headache was deemed "severe" if it was intense and lasted for more than four hours.) The remaining people did not suffer from headaches and served as a comparison group.
]]> The results were illuminating. Over a two-year period, those who suffered from migraines and serious headaches that weren't migraines reported similar rates of suicide attempts. Ten percent of serious headache sufferers said they had tried suicide, while 9 percent of migraine sufferers had. That compares to slightly above 1 percent of people in the comparison group.Clearly, there is some sort of correlation. Even factoring in past suicide attempts and depression, those with the headaches were still found to be four to six times more likely to attempt suicide.
According to MSNBC, one possible link is serotonin and other brain chemicals. Researchers believe serotonin is involved in the headaches, and it has been linked to suicide risk as well.
Still, researchers point out that despite the results of the study, which was published in the journal Headache, nothing has proved that severe headaches cause people to attempt suicide.
Source: MSNBC, "Severe headaches tied to suicide attempts," March 23, 2012
]]>The man was a co-pilot on a flight from New York to Las Vegas. He apparently interfered with the flight crew and was banging on the cockpit door when they shut him out. He was also reciting numbers and referred to "sins in Las Vegas." Passengers say he also mentioned Jesus and terrorists, among other things. Passengers ultimately subdued him, the flight was diverted to Texas and he was evaluated at a hospital.
]]> Clearly his condition, whatever it was, interfered with his ability to do his job. Now prosecutors are wondering if he is fit to stand trial, or if he could be "mentally incompetent" to the extent that he would not understand what happens at trial. If he is convicted of interfering with the flight crew, the 49-year-old man could face a $250,000 fine and as long as 20 years in prison.According to Bloomberg, a U.S. District Court judge granted the government's request for a mental evaluation, which is set to take place at a federal medical facility to determine if the pilot was "legally insane" at the time of the incident.
His case is highly unusual for its circumstances. However, being unable to work because of a mental disorder is quite common. Mental illness is recognized by the Social Security Administration as an impairment that can sometimes qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Source: Bloomberg, "JetBlue pilot to get mental exam after diverted flight, arrest," Joel Rosenblatt, April 4, 2012
]]>There are, of course, varying degrees of the disorder and not everyone is severely impacted. But in extreme cases, the psychiatric disorder can really interfere with day-to-day life, including work.
]]> The disorder often develops in early adulthood and causes people to fixate on control, orderliness and perfectionism. The cause of it may be serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that controls repetitive behaviors and mood states. Treatment can include medications such as Prozac, as well as behavior therapy and self-education.People with OCPD tend to be hard workers who can become preoccupied with details. They can be meticulous and list makers.
The Coloradoan gives a good example of how OCPD can get in the way of work. One woman with OCPD worked for the district attorney's office. Her work was always good and very neat, every fact double and triple checked.
But timeliness became an issue. Her boss called her into the office to ask why she couldn't perform tasks in a timely manner. She confessed that she worked hard and often stayed late. Even when she went home, she couldn't seem to get work out of her thoughts.
As the Coloradoan puts it, the woman concentrated so hard on her work tasks that she wasn't able to actually accomplish them. OCPD can be a problem in the workplace and learning more about the disorder can help anyone affected by it.
Source: The Coloradoan, "Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder can get in way of work," Sandi Squicquero, March 27, 2012
]]>The syndrome involves consistent and widespread soft tissue pain and tenderness. It can cause severe soreness, fatigue, memory loss, sensitivity to temperature and headaches. Establishing a disability claim for fibromyalgia can be challenging because fatigue and pain can be difficult to document. But it certainly is common, with some five million Americans suffering from the syndrome, mostly women.
]]> One woman, for example, worked as a medical assistant several years ago. She says that her shoulders began to hurt while she was working, so much so that she had to lie down and rest during her lunch breaks.She eventually saw a neurosurgeon, who told her the problem was more serious than she might have guessed. Four of her vertebrae were compressed, and she ended up having a cervical fusion procedure.
While such procedures may alleviate pain for a time, and medication can help, the symptoms may never fully go away, and there can be frequent flare-ups. The woman says that she now works in another field, and she must choose her leisure activities carefully because the pain can last for days afterwards.
She says she is always upfront about having fibromyalgia and wants people to know it's a real condition. She also tells Hernando Today, "Because of it I am the person I am today. It has made me stronger."
Source: Hernando Today, "People with fibromyalgia aren't crazy," Daniel J. Vance, March 29, 2012
]]>IBS has a wide range of symptoms and severity. It's a gastrointestinal disorder that causes gaseousness, bloating, abdominal pain or discomfort and changes in bowel habits. It's not known why people suffer from it and there is no "cure," per se.
]]> Experts do believe there is a link between IBS and mental health, however. The symptoms may be a response to physical or psychological stress, although stress cannot always be pinpointed as a primary cause. In addition, it's believed that some people who suffer from the disorder go on to suffer from mental health problems, possibly because IBS can be stressful and embarrassing.One psychologist says that anxiety and stress play a key role for IBS sufferers, according to EmpowHer's website. The psychologist suggests keeping a journal of one's diet as a way to track possible triggers of IBS. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be an effective treatment, as can relaxation exercises.
Typically, women suffer from IBS more frequently than men, although men are less likely to report it. And while there is no easy cure, the psychologist thinks that a combination of stress relief and an IBS diet can provide relief of at least some of the symptoms. That may not sound like a lot, but for IBS sufferers it could be a huge help.
Source: EmpowHer, "IBS Awareness Month: Link between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and mental health," Rheyanne Weaver, March 21, 2012
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