Psychiatry

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.

From Penn Medicine News

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.

Michele W. Berger

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?

Michele W. Berger

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.

Michele W. Berger



In the News


WHYY (Philadelphia)

Philadelphia hospital program adds psychologists to bridge mental health services for trauma survivors

A new psychology team at the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program has provided about 46 survivors with short- and long- term therapy, featuring remarks from Elinore Kaufman and Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine.

FULL STORY →



National Geographic

This day of silence brings a fresh start for Bali’s new year

Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that human bodies interpret noise as a stressor, which can initiate increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the blood.

FULL STORY →



Associated Press

A brain pacemaker helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available to more people

Stanley Caroff of the Perelman School of Medicine says that scientists still don’t know the exact pathways or mechanisms in the brain that produce depression, making it hard to pick a site for deep brain stimulation.

FULL STORY →



The New York Times

How family history influences your drinking

Henry Kranzler of the Perelman School of Medicine says that complete abstinence is an extreme solution for alcohol use disorder but is the one that works the best.

FULL STORY →



Huffington Post

Do you hit the snooze button? Sleep doctors share what it could mean for your health

Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that alarm-snoozing is bad for sleep recuperation, since it robs the body of the opportunity for continuous sleep.

FULL STORY →



NPR

Thanks, Neanderthals: How our ancient relatives could help find new antibiotics

A study by César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues used AI to recreate molecules from ancient humans that could be potential candidates for antimicrobial treatments.

FULL STORY →