Top 5 psychiatry news stories of 2014

In 2014, Healio Psychiatry provided the latest developments in psychiatry and mental health research. The most-read articles summarized peer reviewed journal publications; allowing specialists to critically examine the relevant information they can apply in day-to-day practice.

Here are the top five news stories published at Healio Psychiatry in 2014:

Study on link between MMR vaccine and autism redacted from publication

A recently published study that assessed timing of measles-mumps-rubella vaccination and autism among young black boys has been removed from the public domain, according to a statement from Translational Neurodegeneration.

According to Brian S. Hooker, PhD, PE, assistant professor of biology at Simpson University in Redding, Calif., the CDC study limited its cohort of black boys to include only those who had a valid birth certificate, which decreased the statistical significance of their analysis. Read more.

Sensory processing may help with autism diagnosis, classification

Classification of people on the autism spectrum as well as an earlier diagnosis could be improved by measuring how fast the brain responds to sights and sounds, according to recent study findings published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

Researchers found that the longer it took the participants to process the auditory stimuli, the more severe their autistic symptoms were. Read more.

Poor sleep linked to brain deterioration in Gulf War veterans

Findings from a recent study showed that poor sleep quality in Gulf War veterans was linked to lower brain tissue volume, with lower brain volume occurring independent of some patients’ comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.

The researchers discovered that that poor sleep quality in Gulf War veterans was linked to decreased frontal lobe gray matter volume. After accounting for comorbid Axis I conditions, the researchers saw a continued decrease in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-rated sleep quality. Read more.

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Genes signaling inflammatory stress reactions shared between schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Study findings from the Schizophrenia Research Institute in Sydney, Australia show that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share biological markers common to stress and immune reactions.

Stu G. Fillman, PhD, and colleagues analyzed data gathered from tissue samples taken from the Stanley Medical Research Institute Array Cohort, which included 35 mentally healthy individuals, 35 patients with schizophrenia and 34 patients with bipolar disorder. Read more.

When healthy eating runs afoul: orthorexia nervosa explained

While many Americans could benefit from dietary habits that include consuming more unprocessed foods, healthy eating styles can be taken to an extreme, and the impact on health can be detrimental.

Thomas M. Dunn, PhD, a research psychologist at the University of Northern Colorado, said the condition can be difficult to detect, unlike other more commonly known eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. Read more.