NIMH Outreach Partnership Program

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The NIMH Genetic Study of Schizophrenia - If you or someone in your family is 18 years old or older and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (depressed type), you may be able to participate in a genetic study that looks for genes in families. In order for family members to participate, the person with schizophrenia must be willing and able to participate. Eligible family members participate in an interview and contribute a sample of blood for genetic analysis. If you have schizophrenia, and if possible, your sibling, you may qualify to participate in this study. There is no change in medication involved. The study involves simple cognitive tests and some MRI scans (no radiation). All testing is completed free of charge and there is compensation for each family member's participation in the study. Travel and lodging assistance is also available. Scientists believe that the identification of susceptibility genes is key to understanding the molecular pathways of this disease so that better treatments and preventive methods can be developed in the future. To find out if you qualify or for more information, please call 301-435-8970 (1-888-674-6464) or email us at schizophrenia@mail.nih.gov. From National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD click here. Find Clinical Trials by State. (Added 1-14-12)

A Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder - This guide is intended to help parents understand what autism spectrum disorder is, recognize common signs and symptoms, and find the resources they need. (Added 11-16-11)

Report Finds Parent Training Effective for Treating Young Children with ADHD - Formal training in parenting strategies is a low-risk, effective method for improving behavior in preschool-age children at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while there is less evidence supporting the use of medications for children younger than 6 years old, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The report found that formal parenting interventions—known as parent behavior training or PBT—are supported by strong evidence for effectiveness for children younger than the age of 6, with no reports of complications or harms. However, one large barrier to the success of PBT is parents who drop out of therapy programs, the report found. For children older than age 6, the report found that methylphenidate (sold under the brand name Ritalin) and another drug used to treat ADHD symptoms, atomoxetine (sold as Strattera), are generally safe and effective for improving behavior, but their effects beyond 12 to 24 months have not been well studied. Little information is available about the long-term effects of other medications used to treat ADHD symptoms. (Added 11-16-11)

FDA Approves First Generic Olanzapine to Treat Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Zyprexa (olanzapine tablets) and Zyprexa Zydus (olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets) to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (Added 11-16-11)

National Survey Dispels Notion That Social Phobia is the Same as Shyness - Normal human shyness is not being confused with the psychiatric anxiety disorder known as social phobia, according to an NIMH survey comparing the prevalence rates of the two among U.S. youth. (Added 11-15-11)

CMS Decision: Screening for Depression in Adults - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the evidence is adequate to conclude that screening for depression in adults, which is recommended with a grade of B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is reasonable and necessary for the prevention or early detection of illness or disability and is appropriate for individuals entitled to benefits under Part A or enrolled under Part B. Therefore CMS will cover annual screening for depression for Medicare beneficiaries in primary care settings that have staff-assisted depression care supports in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up. (Added 11-15-11)

CDC Study Shows Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior May Vary Among U.S. Adults - Every 15 minutes, someone in the United States dies by suicide. And for every person who dies, there are many more who think about, plan or attempt suicide, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Serious thoughts of suicide range from about 1 in 50 adults in Georgia to 1 in 15 in Utah. For suicide attempts, the range goes from 1 in 1000 adults in Delaware and Georgia to 1 in 67 in Rhode Island. This report is the first to present state-level data concerning suicidal thoughts and behavior among adults in the United States. Press Release (Added 11-15-11)

Report Highlights Resources to Support At-risk Youth - The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has released this report that provides the latest research on the risk factors youth face, highlights their needs, and describes how ACF and community programs have helped serve them. It then discusses how programs can be better catered to meet at-risk youths needs in the future. (Added 11-11-11)

Latest Issue of NIAA's Spectrum - The latest of issue of NIAAA's online magazine features research about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The magazine also provides results from a study that finds that binge drinking may harm adolescent brain development. (Added 11-11-11)

Perinatal Antidepressant Stunts Brain Development in Rats; Miswired Brain Circuitry Traced to Early Exposure - Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, in an NIH-funded study. After receiving citalopram, a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor, during this critical period, long-distance connections between the two hemispheres of the brain showed stunted growth and degeneration. The animals also became excessively fearful when faced with new situations and failed to play normally with peers – behaviors reminiscent of novelty avoidance and social impairments seen in autism. The abnormalities were more pronounced in male than female rats, just as autism affects 3 to 4 times more boys than girls. The researchers report on their discovery online during the week of October 24, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Added 11-11-11)

Polyvictimization: Children's Exposure to Multiple Types of Violence, Crime, and Abuse - This report focuses on polyvictimization, which is defined as having experienced multiple victimizations of different kinds such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, and exposure to family violence. (Added 11-10-11)

Children's Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Other Family Violence - This report explores in depth the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence results regarding exposure to family violence among children in the United States, including exposure to intimate partner violence, assaults by parents on siblings of children surveyed, and other assaults involving teen and adult household members. (Added 11-10-11)

Student Reports of Bullying and Cyber-Bullying: Results from the 2009 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey - These web tables use data from the 2009 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey to show the relationship between bullying and cyber-bullying victimization and other variables of interest such as the reported presence of gangs, guns, drugs, and alcohol at school; select school security measures; student criminal victimization; and personal fear, avoidance behaviors, fighting, and weapon-carrying at school. (Added 11-10-11)

Help Wanted: Making Workplaces Work in Mental Health Care - In recognition of World Mental Health Day, NIMH Director Thomas Insel discusses the use of task-shifting to address the shortage in care providers. Task-shifting aims to use the available workforce more efficiently by assigning certain aspects of care to less specialized providers. For example, Lady Health Workers in Pakistan –– community health workers who routinely visited peripartum women –– were successfully trained to deliver a cognitive behavioral intervention to depressed rural women. Community and other lay health workers as well as primary care staff have successfully provided care for depression in Chile, Uganda, and India. (Added 11-9-11)

Psychiatric Genetics: More Pieces of the Puzzle - NIMH Director Thomas Insel discusses the results of the two largest studies of their kind to have identified new common gene variants associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The results implicate specific pathways and hold promise for development of new treatments. (Added 11-9-11)

Youth Suicide Prevention Training for Early Identification and Referral - These recommendations were developed for SAMHSA grantees and others interested in implementing community-based youth suicide prevention training. Recommendations are intended to specifically address gatekeeper training that is designed to equip members of the community to identify youth with an increased potential for suicide and refer them to appropriate sources of help. (Added 11-9-11)

Brain Chemical Linked to Joylessness Provides Insight Into Teen Depression - Depressed teens with anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, have lower levels of the neurotransmitter GABA in a key mood-regulating region of the brain, according to an NIMH-funded study published online October 3 in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The researchers note that focusing on specific symptoms and using different types of measures may offer new clues to the pathways and processes underlying depression and other mental disorders. (Added 11-8-11)

NIH Releases Clinician's Guide for Screening Underage Drinkers - Based on just two questions from a newly released guide, health care professionals could spot children and teenagers at risk for alcohol-related problems. Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide, is now available from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, clinical researchers, and health practitioners, the guide introduces a two-question screening tool and an innovative youth alcohol risk estimator to help clinicians overcome time constraints and other common barriers to youth alcohol screening.Press Release and Guide (Added 11-8-11)

Off-Label Use of Antipsychotic Drugs for Some Conditions Not Supported by Evidence - There is little evidence to support the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs for some treatments other than their officially approved purposes, even though many clinicians continue to commonly prescribe these drugs for so-called "off label" uses, according to a new AHRQ report. An article based on information in the report was published in the September 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Added 11-2-11)

Interventions for Disruptive Behavior Disorders Evidence-Based Practices Kit - This kit includes tools to assist in developing mental health programs that help prevent or reduce severe aggressive behavioral, emotional, and development problems in children by enhancing the knowledge of parents, caregivers, and providers. (Added 11-2-11)

Director's Blog: The Global Cost of Mental Illness - NIMH Director Thomas Insel discusses the economic costs of mental illness. (Added 11-1-11)

Depression and College Students - This booklet describes what depression is, how it affects college students, and treatment options. (Added 11-1-11)

NIH Research Matters: Gene Linked to Optimism and Self-Esteem - Why can some people make it through difficult times with little trouble while others crumble under the same circumstances? A new study suggests that the answer lies—at least in part—in your genes. (Added 11-1-11)

ED Awards $15.2 Million in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Grants for FY 2011: The U.S. Department of Education (ED) awarded $15.2 million to 43 schools districts in 19 states across the country to establish or expand counseling programs. Grantees will use funds to support counseling programs in target elementary or secondary schools. Specifically, the new awards will aid schools in hiring qualified mental health professionals with the goal of expanding the range, availability, quantity, and quality of counseling services. (Added 11-1-11)

HHS announces $224 million to support evidence-based home visiting programs to help parents and children: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $224 million in grants to help at-risk families voluntarily receive home visits from nurses and social workers to improve maternal and child health, child development, school readiness, economic self-sufficiency, and child abuse prevention. As part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, these grants are funded by the Affordable Care Act and are awarded to state agencies that applied for the grants in 49 states across the country. (11-1-11)

"Preventing Depression in At Risk Adolescents" NIMH Presentation by Paul Rohde, Ph.D. (Added 9-26-11)

"Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Preschool Children" NIMH Presentation by Joan Luby, M.D. (Added 9-26-11)

NIMH Videocast "Suicide in the U.S.: Finding Pathways to Prevention" is now available for viewing. (Added 9-26-11)

Connect the Dots: Understanding Children's Mental Health videocast is now available for viewing. (Added 5-13-11)

Teenage Brain: A Work in Progress (Fact Sheet) - A brief overview of research into brain development during adolescence. (Added 5-3-11)

Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent's Guide - This booklet is a guide for parents who think their child may have symptoms of bipolar disorder, or parents whose child has been diagnosed with the illness. (Added 5-3-11)

NIMH Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders - Not until the middle of the twentieth century was there a name for a disorder that affects thousands of children,a disorder that causes disruption in families and unfulfilled lives for many children. (Added 5-3-11)

Realizing the Promise of the Whole-School Approach to Children's Mental Health: A Practical Guide for Schools - This is a new Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) guide to implementing mental health promotion and prevention programs in elementary and middle schools. This guide enables school and community practitioners to join together for children's mental health in schools; provides a practical, hands-on approach with examples from SS/HS sites; describes the phases and steps for effective implementation; offers strategies for addressing predictable barriers; and provides tools and links to existing tools. This publication is a joint effort of the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services (HHS). (Added 5-2-11)

NIMH Workshop on Child Maltreatment and Trauma: Integrating Biological, Cognitive, and Social Trajectories of Development - This summary provides an overview of an NIMH multidisciplinary workshop convened to discuss the state of empirical knowledge about, and opportunities regarding, the psychological and biological consequences of maltreatment in children. Although the negative consequences of maltreatment are well documented, little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying the association between childhood maltreatment and later mental illness. (Added 5-2-11)

NIH Radio: Brain Activity Patterns in Anxiety-Prone People suggest Deficits in Handling Fear - Anxiety as a personality trait appears to be linked to the functioning of two key brain regions involved in fear and its suppression, according to an NIMH-funded study. Differences in how these two regions function and interact may help explain the wide range of symptoms seen in people who have anxiety disorders. (Added 5-2-11)

More Young Neurons Equals Better Brain Function - Scientists improved the cognitive ability of adult mice by boosting the survival of newborn neurons in the brain's memory hub. Enhancing the survival of these cells, when combined with exercise, produced antidepressant effects as well. The findings may open up new avenues for treating cognitive, mood and anxiety disorders. (Added 5-2-11)

New NIMH Fact Sheets About Children and Adolescents

Clinical Trial Participation News: Nationwide Recruitment - Children & Adolescents with Severe Mood Dysregulation; Brain Imaging, Non-Treatment and Treatment Studies (Added 4-2-11)

The National Institute of Mental Health is hosting a lecture in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services' month-long focus on raising autism awareness. This event will be accessible by live videocast and archived for later viewing at http://videocast.nih.gov. This event will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 10:30 - 11:30 AM at the Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Conference Room C, Rockville, MD 20852 (Added 4-7-11)

ACMH is now a NIMH Outreach Partner. Visit these websites for more information.

• NIMH Home page
• NIMH Outreach Partnership Program page
• Clinical Trials.gov
• NIMH Clinical Trials web page


NIMH Outreach Partnership Updates