psychiatric disorders Archives

Autoimmune encephalitis and psychiatric disorders

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Daniela Reisz studies the human mind from neurological, psychiatric, and philosophical perspectives, including brain-derived functions like morals, thinking, behaviour and cognition. Here, through the study of a rare case of autoimmune encephalitis, she develops a broader approach to psychiatric disorders including their biological causes.

Despite the latest advances in medical research, the causes of psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia (a long-term illness that affects the person’s perception of reality) remain a puzzle for researchers and doctors around the world. Unlocking the mechanisms behind these diseases is paramount for effectively treating or even preventing them. Through her study of an uncommon case of autoimmune encephalitis, […]

Stress vulnerability and resilience: Insights from a novel mouse model

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A novel mouse model for early life adversity and stress, and the impact this can have in later life stress response and possible psychiatric disorders, has been developed.

Stress and early life adversity alter the body’s stress response and are predisposing individuals to psychiatric disorders. Additionally, stress vulnerability and resilience have a genetic predisposition in humans due to variants of the FKBP5 gene. For in depth understanding of underlying mechanisms altering the stress-response network, valid animal models are needed. A novel mouse line developed at Taconic Biosciences and […]

Shedding light on the role of sleep in memory consolidation

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Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of mental and physical issues.

The average human spends about a third of their life sleeping and it is accepted that sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health. Still, scientists remain in the dark about many of the details and mechanisms of this strange state. Harry Pantazopoulos, Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in the U.S., has conducted novel research […]