Research

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In addition to helping patients find the optimal therapeutic approach to their mental health concerns, we provide patients and other mental healthcare providers with resources and research to expand their knowledge of effective treatment methods and groundbreaking developments in the world of psychiatry. Explore our library of content below.

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The Babysafe Project

Select research suggests that wireless radiation from cell phones, wireless internet, and other signals can affect a baby in the womb or even directly following its birth. The Babysafe Project provides such research and we’ve provided the link here for information on this topic and how to protect your child prior to birth.

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Benzodiazepines: How They Work & How to Withdraw C. Heather Ashton, DM, FRCP

Professor Heather Ashton outlines how various benzodiazepine medications work and how withdrawal works in the human body.

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A Personalized Approach to Evaluating and Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder Richard Frye et al.

Currently there is no perfect way to approach treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Research needs to continue to improve understanding of underlying biological mechanisms or causes of ASD and from identifying effective treatments.  Since ASD varies in each individual, a more personalized approach to treatment is recommended in order to realize the best results for each individual patient.

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Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Daniel A. Rossignol and Richard E. Frye

Twenty-one studies (including four placebo-controlled and three prospective, controlled) treated individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using d,l-leucovorin. d,l-Leucovorin was found to significantly improve communication with medium-to-large effect sizes and have a positive effect on core ASD symptoms and associated behaviors (attention and stereotypy) in individual studies with large effect sizes. Furthermore, adverse effects of these treatments were mild, with the most common being aggression in 9.5% of the participants.

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The Effectiveness of Cobalamin (B12) Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Daniel A. Rossignol and Richard E. Frye

Biochemical abnormalities associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) include impaired methylation and sulphation capacities along with low glutathione (GSH) redox capacity. Potential treatments for these abnormalities include cobalamin (B12). This systematic review collates the studies using B12 as a treatment in ASD. Clinical improvements observed with B12 included sleep, gastrointestinal symptoms, hyperactivity, tantrums, nonverbal intellectual quotient, vision, eye contact, echolalia, stereotypy, anemia, and nocturnal enuresis.

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Ratings of the Effectiveness of Nutraceuticals for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Results of a National Survey James B. Adams et al.

This paper reports on the results of the National Survey on Treatment Effectiveness for Autism, focusing on nutraceuticals. Compared to psychiatric and seizure medications rated through the same Survey, on average nutraceuticals had significantly higher ratings of Overall Benefit and significantly lower ratings of Overall Adverse Effects.  Additionally, the top two rated treatments in the study were folinic acid and vitamin B12.

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Biochemical, physiologic, and clinical effects of L-methylfolate in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial Joshua Roffman, MD

Folic acid supplementation confers modest benefit in schizophrenia, but its effectiveness is influenced by common genetic variants in the folate pathway that hinder conversion to its active form. Joshua L. Roffman, MD, and others examined physiologic and clinical effects of L-methylfolate, the fully reduced and bioactive form of folate, in schizophrenia. In this randomized, double-blind trial, outpatients with schizophrenia (n=55) received L-methylfolate 15 mg or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients were maintained on stable doses of antipsychotic medications. The pre-defined primary outcome was change in plasma methylfolate at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included change in symptoms (PANSS, SANS, CDSS), cognition (MATRICS composite) and three complementary MRI measures (working memory-related activation, resting connectivity, cortical thickness). Primary, mixed model, intent-to-treat analyses covaried for six genetic variants in the folate pathway previously associated with symptom severity and/or response to folate supplementation. Analyses were repeated without covariates to evaluate dependence on genotype. Compared to placebo, L-methylfolate increased plasma methylfolate levels (d=1.00, p=.0009) and improved PANSS Total (d=.61, p=.03) as well as PANSS Negative and General Psychopathology subscales. While PANSS Total and General Psychopathology changes were influenced by genotype, significant PANSS Negative changes occurred regardless of genotype. No treatment differences were seen in other symptom rating scales or cognitive composite scores. Patients receiving L-methylfolate exhibited convergent changes in ventromedial prefrontal physiology, including increased task-induced deactivation, altered limbic connectivity, and increased cortical thickness. In conclusion, L-methylfolate supplementation was associated with salutary physiologic changes and selective symptomatic improvement in this study of schizophrenia patients, warranting larger clinical trials.

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Low cholesterol levels in children predict impulsivity in young adulthood Katrin Tomson-Johanson

Total and LDL cholesterol measured in 9, 15 and 18 years old boys predicted disinhibition and thoughtlessness in 25 years old young adults. High scores of disinhibition were associated with low total and LDL cholesterol levels in males but, while less consistently, with high total and LDL cholesterol levels in females. Cross-sectional analysis did not result in systematic outcomes.

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Micronutrient Therapy for Violent and Aggressive Male Youth: An Open-Label Trial Jessica L. Hambly, MPharm

In a 2016 article in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, researchers found that micronutrient therapy significantly improved parent-reported aggressive and violent behaviors. Further research is needed for additional verification but micronutrient therapy could help prevent the significant adverse events that can occur with pharmacotherapy.

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Screen Dependency Disorders: a new challenge for child neurology Aric Sigman, PhD

In a 2017 journal article, Dr. Aric Sigman found associations between screen dependency disorders and specefic neurogenetic polymorphisms, abnormal neural tissue and neural function. The research goes on to say that it is even possible that intensive routine exposure to certain screen activities during critical stages of development may alter gene expression leading to screen dependency disorders.

The article discusses these concerns and preventive strategies for child neurology.

Read the Journal Article:2017 Journal Article
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The Influence of Early Media Exposure on Children’s Development and Learning Katherine Hanson, PhD

In Dr. Katherine Hanson’s doctoral dissertation – she explores the research on early screen media exposure and its relationship to executive functioning and language skills in children. She also discusses the constant presence of television in a home and its effect on children’s working memory skills, academic ability and language outcomes.

It’s fascinating research and ties much of the modern literature on screen media and children together.

Read Her Dissertation:Dissertation Link
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What Screen Time and Screen Media Do To Your Child’s Brain and Sensory Processing Ability Amy and Evelyn Guttmann

Did you know? Night-time exposure to LED-illuminated devices (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) supress melatonin and disrupt the natural sleep cycle? Sleep cycle disruption is a significant factor in ADHD as well as other mood and behavioral problems.

Additional research also suggests that too much screen time for your children can affect the way your child’s brain functions with too much information too fast and creates more stimuli than our brains are capable of handling.

Hands on OT founders Amy and Evelyn Guttman have done a wonderful job of capturing some of this research in a recent blog post.

Read More from Amy and Emily's blog:Hands on OT
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