Articles of interest in the News relating to the Semel Institute at UCLA

Dying for Help: A Stark Look at Teen Mental Health

mood3 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/investigations/68826087.html

Dr. James McGough, professor of clinical psychiatry at the Semel Institute, appeared in a special report by KBFX Ch. 58 (Bakersfield) airing Nov. 1 and Nov. 4 about teenage mental illness. McGough talked about his intervention with a teen diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

When Heroin Hits Home

mood3 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110202941....

Edythe London, professor of psychiatry and molecular and medical pharmacology, was quoted in a Nov. 3 Washington Post article about growing heroin use among young people in a suburban Virginia town. Her comments were cited in a Nov. 4 New York Times blog post about kids who turn to drugs.

Center for Translational Research on Addiction

Do Digital Diaries Mess Up Your Brain?

mood3 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/03/digital.diary.brain.mind/

Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute and director of the UCLA Center on Aging, commented in a Nov. 3 CNN website article about the effect digital technologies that allow individuals to increasingly document their daily lives may have on human memory.

Center on Aging

Living Longer and Better Through Technology

mood3 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2009/10/29/living-longer-and-better-through...

Dr. Neil Martin, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and director of the UCLA Center on Aging, were featured in an Oct. 29 KPCC Radio 89.3FM "AirTalk" segment discussing new technologies in health care that will be presented at the upcoming UCLA Technology & Aging Conference. In addition, “Life After 50” magazine’s Oct. issue also highlighted the upcoming conference that will feature national academic and industry leaders who will explore cutting-edge innovations affecting every aspect of senior life, from driving and home design to health monitoring and medical advances.

Center on Aging

Gambling Addiction in the Spotlight in Philadelphia

mood3 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/24259/

Dr. Timothy Fong, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute and co-director of the Gambling Studies Program, was featured in an Oct. 26 article in The Epoch Times newspaper about the problem of gambling addiction in the Asian-American community.

Integrated Substance Abuse Programs

What is Sex Addiction?

mood3 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/26/what-is-sex-addiction/

Dr. Arif "Reef" Karim, an assistant clinical professor, voluntary, at the Semel Institute, was interviewed Oct. 26 on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 about sexual addiction and an ESPN analyst who was fired for having an affair with an employee.

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Surfing the Web May Be Good for Your Brain

mood3 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://retirementrevised.com/health/surfing-the-web-may-be-good-for-aging-brains

Retirement Revised.com reported on UCLA research by Dr. Gary Small, a professor with the Semel Institute, on technology’s impact on the brain. The story also noted the upcoming UCLA Center on Aging’s second annual “UCLA Technology & Aging Conference,” to be held on Oct. 30.

Center on Aging

UCLA Animal Researchers Step up Efforts against Protesters

mood3 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/10/21/animal-research/

KPCC-89.3 FM reported Oct. 22 on UCLA's full-page advertisement in last Sunday's Los Angeles Times urging support for animal research. The report cited plans by UCLA researchers, students and supporters from Pro-Test for Science to counter a Saturday vigil by anti-research activists. David Jentsch, associate professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute, was quoted.

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Obesity Linked to Alzheimer’s

mood3 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/health/healthy_living/wwlp_nbc_health_obesity_linked_to_...

An NBC News segment about obesity research by Paul Thompson, professor of neurology and a member of the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, aired on 131 NBC affiliates between Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The story reported on brain imaging research finding that brain regions involved in memory and planning are typically smaller in overweight and obese people.

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

TechBytes

mood3 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/techbytes-windows-now-stores/st...

A UCLA study reporting that older adults with little Internet experience were able to trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the Web continued to receive television coverage with over 200 outlets nationwide reporting the findings. ABC News web feature, “TechBytes” on Oct. 22 also featured the study. The research was presented at the 2009 Society of Neuroscience meeting.

Center on Aging

Internet Use May Help You Search and Find….A Healthier Mind

mood3 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/10/search-and-you-will-finda-...

A UCLA study finding that older adults with little Internet experience were able to trigger key brain centers that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the Web was covered Oct. 19 by HealthDay News, Live Science, Asian News International, U.K Press Association, Daily Mail, Times of India, Psychology Today, the Irish Independent, the Singapore Straits Times, KNX Radio 1070AM and more than 100 CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates nationwide. Oct. 20 coverage included the Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” blog, New York Daily News, KTLA-Channel 5, WebMD, Scientific American, National Geographic, All Headline News, London Telegraph and Malaysian National News Agency. The Topeka Capital Journal, Toronto-Sun Star, Daily Freeman Press, Investor’s Business Daily, and Daily Tech website also covered the story. Dr. Gary Small, Parlow-Solomon Professor on Aging and a professor with the Semel Institute, and Teena Moody, a senior research associate at the Semel Institute, were quoted. The study was presented Oct. 19 at the 2009 Society of Neuroscience meeting.

Center on Aging

UCLA Technology & Aging Conference Held Oct. 30

mood3 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:12:55 +0000

Article link:

http://www.caregiving.com/2009/10/ucla-technology-aging-conference-will-be-held-...

Caregiving.com ran a brief about the UCLA Center on Aging’s second annual “UCLA Technology & Aging Conference,” on Oct. 30 that will explore cutting-edge innovations affecting every aspect of senior life.

Center on Aging

Neuroscience: Small, Furry … and Smart

mood3 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091014/full/461862a.html

Nature News published an Oct. 14 feature on Dr. Alcino Silva, professor of neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute, and his research in mice aiming to enhance how the brain works.

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Nature Explores How to Build a Smarter Brain

mood3 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091014/full/461862a.html

Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity

The 7-Year-Old-Schizophrenic

mood3 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090828-tows-jani-schizophrenic

The Oct. 6 Oprah Winfrey Show told the story of a seven-year-old patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and being treated at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Dr. Mark DeAntonio, director of UCLA’s Adolescent Inpatient Service, was interviewed. The Oct. 6 Los Angeles Times health blog also cited the program.

Are You Addicted to Apple iPhone’s Ubiquitous Apps?

mood3 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2009-10-04-iphone-apps-addiction_N.htm?csp...

Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute and director of the UCLA Center on Aging, commented Oct. 5 in USA Today about iPhone applications. Psychology Today also posted Small’s latest blog article on Oct. 4 about how the rapid pace of information impacts the brain and cognitive function.

Mind Works: Meditation Myth Busting

mood3 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.latimesmagazine.com/the-california-cure-mind-works-meditation-myth-bu...

Los Angeles Times Magazine published an Oct. 4 online edition about innovative medical research in Southern California that profiled Leonard Rome, senior associate dean of research and associate director of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA; Dr. Michael Phelps, Norton Simon Professor and chair of molecular and medical pharmacology; Dr. Emeran Mayer, professor of medicine, digestive diseases and physiology; Susan Smalley, professor-in-residence of psychiatry and founding director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at the Semel Institute; and Dr. Timothy Miller, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Each faculty member was quoted. Another piece, called “Quantum Leaps,” highlighted UCLA clinical trials for stroke, multiple sclerosis, cholesterol, HIV and breast health.

Meditating on the Possibilities: Dr. Sue Smalley

mood3 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.latimesmagazine.com/the-california-cure-meditating-on-the-possibiliti...

Phenomics- the Phinal Phrontier

mood3 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/scalliwag/200909/psychologys-shaky-scientifi...

Robert Bilder, professor of psychiatry and director of the Consortium for Neuropsychiatric Phenomics at the Semel Institute, was featured Sept.26 and Sept. 29 in two online articles about psychiatry’s quest to understand the genetic and environmental bases of mental disorders.

After a Death, the Pain that Doesn’t Go Away

mood3 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/health/29grief.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

An article in the Sept. 28 New York Times about dealing with long-lasting grief cited 2008 research by Mary-Frances O'Connor, assistant professor-in-residence of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, that found that certain types of chronic grief activate reward centers in the brain, possibly giving sorrowful memories addiction-like properties. O'Connor was quoted. The article also appeared Sept. 29 in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Predicting Drug Response from Brain Waves

mood3 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23509/

The research of Dr. Andrew Leuchter, professor of psychiatry, and colleagues was featured Sept. 22 on the MIT Technology Review website about the development of a new biomarker that could help clinicians predict within a week whether a patient will benefit from a particular antidepressant medication.

First, Scan the Brain; Second, Assess the Antidepressant

mood3 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/first-scan-the-brain-secon...

Research by Dr. Andrew Leuchter, professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute, was reported in a City News Service article that appeared Sept. 14 on the KNBC-Channel 4 and KNSD-Channel 39 (San Diego) websites. Asian News International and Ivanhoe Newswire also reported Sept. 11 on the findings, as did the Sept. 16 Los Angeles Times health blog. Leuchter’s team developed a new biomarker that could help doctors predict within a week whether a person will benefit from a particular antidepressant medication.

Alzheimer's Brain Technology

mood3 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://showroom.multivisioninc.com/share.do?id=113558&key=BGiZdha8d4goCUQaUCo6nF...

Ivanhoe Broadcast reported on brain-scan technology that identifies the abnormal proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease - often years before symptoms appear. Researchers used a molecule developed at UCLA that binds to the plaques and tangles, which are then visible using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Dr. Gary Small, Parlow-Solomon Professor on Aging and a professor with the Semel Institute, was interviewed. The story aired Aug. 26 through Sept. 4 on NBC affiliates and independent stations in Florida and North Dakota.

Magnetic Treatment Helps Fight Depression

mood3 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6999817

Dr. Ian Cook, Miller Family Professor of Psychiatry and director of the Depression Research Program at the Semel Institute, was featured in a Sept. 4 KABC-Channel 7 news segment about "transcranial magnetic stimulation," a new, non-invasive device for treating major depression.

Physicians Issue Guidelines on Antidepressants and Pregnancy

mood3 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/physicians-issue-guidelines-on-antidepressant...

Dr. Vivian Burt, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute, was quoted in the Aug. 21 Newsday about depression and pregnant women.