9/20
Psychiatry
Habit circuits altered in brains of individuals with binge eating disorders
New Penn Medicine research finds that altered connectivity may make patients more vulnerable to develop binge eating disorders, and lead to stronger-developed habit circuits.
Study links air pollution, heat, carbon dioxide, and noise to reduced sleep
Researchers from Penn Medicine find a drop in sleep efficiency from high exposures to these environmental factors.
Restricted abortion access linked to increased suicide risk in young women
Research from the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia determined that this association exists for women of reproductive age, findings that hold potential clinical, policy, and ethical implications.
Managing mental health amid gun violence
In 2021, Philadelphia saw a record number of 486 homicides by shooting as well 1,846 non-fatal shootings. According to clinical psychologist Leah Blain, exposure to trauma, including to gun violence, increases the risk of negative health outcomes.
Parental nicotine use and addiction risk for children
In research done using rats, Penn Nursing’s Heath Schmidt and colleagues found that males that engaged in voluntary nicotine use had offspring more likely to do so, too. Some offspring also developed impaired memory and anxiety-like behavior.
Inflammation is not always linked to depression
A new Penn Medicine study finds that late-life depression is not linked to inflammation when other inflammatory conditions are excluded, but that depression occurs independently of inflammation.
The pandemic’s psychological scars
It’s been a long and uncertain road, with some groups shouldering a disproportionately greater burden of mental anguish from COVID-19. Yet now there’s a glimmer of hope. Has the page finally turned?
Hospitalizations for eating disorder increased during pandemic
Researchers can’t yet pinpoint definitive reasons, though they surmise it was a combination of factors, including stress, an outsized focus on weight gain and personal appearance, and maybe even symptoms of COVID-19 itself.
The immune link between a leaky blood-brain barrier and schizophrenia
Research from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia points to the involvement of the immune system the brain as a contributor to mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
The path to deeper connections, even amidst a pandemic
A new book from Penn’s Edward Brodkin and psychology doctoral candidate Ashley Pallathra focuses on the science and practice of attunement, the process by which people can most effectively connect to themselves and others.
In the News
Fentanyl plus stimulants drives ‘fourth wave’ of overdose epidemic in the U.S.
Anna Childress of the Perelman School of Medicine says that fentanyl was ripe for combination with other drugs when it first appeared, given the long trend of combining opioids and stimulants.
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Penn Medicine opens walk-in crisis response center at Cedar Avenue campus
Penn Medicine has relocated its crisis response center to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania-Cedar Avenue campus in West Philadelphia. The facility opened with remarks from Maria Oquendo.
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Can’t sleep? Try this proven alternative to medication
Philip Gehrman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that as many as 80% of the people who try cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia see improvements in their sleep, with most patients finding relief within four to eight sessions even if they’ve had insomnia for decades.
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Five things experts do before bed to get the best sleep possible
Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that amount and quality are the two key components of good sleep.
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Wegovy shown to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke in major cardiovascular trial
Jena Shaw Tronieri of the Perelman School of Medicine says that current insurance coverage for weight loss medication is poor, with many people struggling for access.
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Researchers say this simple hack could stop your nail-biting habit
Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine says that any behavior that creates a physical barrier to a nail-biting habit can be helpful.
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