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Psychiatry
Weight management drug does not increase risk of depression or suicidal behavior
Weight management drug does not increase risk of depression or suicidal behavior
In new clinical trials, researchers from Penn Medicine find that for people without known major psychopathology, taking semaglutide for weight loss are at no increased risk of mental health issues.
New form of repetitive magnetic brain stimulation reduces treatment time for bipolar disorder
New form of repetitive magnetic brain stimulation reduces treatment time for bipolar disorder
The potential bipolar disorder therapy can be completed in five days of treatment, compared to four-to-six weeks for standard transcranial magnetic simulation treatments.
Identifying connections between adverse childhood events and substance use disorders
Identifying connections between adverse childhood events and substance use disorders
New research from Penn Medicine finds that people with anxiety and substance use disorders reported experiencing more adverse childhood experiences and lacking protective factors, such as close family connections, that can mitigate their harms.
Two-and-a-half decades of research in Malawi
Two-and-a-half decades of research in Malawi
As the country’s life expectancy has risen, the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health has shifted its current and future research to aging.
Habit circuits altered in brains of individuals with binge eating disorders
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
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
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
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
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
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.
In the News
Huffington Post
Is the ‘3-2-1 rule’ the secret to better sleep?
Jennifer Goldschmied of the Perelman School of Medicine says that approaches like the “3-2-1” rule aren’t necessarily evidence-based.
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Baltimore Banner
Why few communities chose Baltimore’s high-risk, high-reward opioid legal strategy
Peggy Compton of the School of Nursing outlines the contextual factors that laid the foundation for the opioid crisis.
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The Guardian
Trouble sleeping? This therapy can help with insomnia
Michael Perlis of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the distinctive difference between CBT and CBT-I is the inclusion of the principles and practice of sleep medicine.
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Yahoo! Life
What four experts who treat people with restless legs syndrome want you to know about the common disorder
Jennifer Goldschmied of the Perelman School of Medicine says that many people mistake restless legs syndrome for nervous or habitual shaking of the leg.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
She’s an expert on OCD at Penn. It still took a while to recognize the disorder in her five-year-old son
Emily Becker-Haimes of the Perelman School of Medicine shares how she recognized OCD in her son’s behavioral habits.
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HealthDay
Dementia may not be as common among Parkinson’s patients as thought
A study by Daniel Weintraub of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that dementia is not inevitable with Parkinson’s and is actually less common than presumed.
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