Bipolar Parents Pass on Gene

It’s pretty common knowledge among the adoption community that if a parent has a mental illness or a learning disorder that a child has a high likelihood of inheriting the same disorders. A recently study has proven that parents who have bipolar disorder have an eight-fold chance of having ADHD and a six fold chance of developing two or more mental disorders.

Bipolar is a serious mental illness characterized by severe mood swings, mania, and depression. My oldest son was diagnosed with early onset bipolar just last year. He also has signs of ADHD and ha sensory processing disorder.

The study from the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh tested children from both bipolar and typical parents.

Their results, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, point to an elevated risk for ADHD and other psychiatric disorders among children of parents with bipolar disorder.

And while only three children of bipolar parents had mood disorders, children of parents with bipolar disorder, especially those with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, had significantly more severe manic and depressive symptoms than comparison children.

The researchers indicated that one of the best ways to diagnose bipolar is to have a watchful eye from a parent who can recognize the symptoms. They also found that early detection is possible, especially when there is a genetic connection.

Kids’ Mental Health Unaddressed

It is estimated that at least 13 percent of American children and teens have at least one mental health disorder but only about half have actually been seen by a mental health professional, most likely because of the number of mental health professionals in the United States.

NIMH researcher Dr. Kathleen R. Merikangas noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health.

The problem, she said, is that there is a severe shortage of mental health professionals with expertise in child psychiatry in the US. “There simply aren’t enough child psychiatrists to go around. It’s an urgent crisis.”

A survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health indicated that there is , in fact, a severe shortage of mental health professionals in child psychiatry in the US. They survey provided a comprehensive look  at the rate of six mental disorders including ADHD, anxiety disorders, and depression.

The results found that children and teens of lower socioeconomic status were more likely to report disorders such as ADHD, whild those with higher socioeconomic status reported disorders like anxiety disorders.

Additionally, there were higher rates of mood disorders among Mexican-Americans than Caucasians or African Americans.

Overall, 55 percent of those with a mental health disorder had consulted with a health professional and only 32 percent with an anxiety disorder had sought treatment. African Americans and Mexican-American were significantly less likely to seek treatment than Caucasians.

“We need to raise awareness that most of the problems that we see in adults in terms of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, even psychosis, begin in adolescence, some in childhood,” Merikangas told Reuters Health. “We need to identify these kids so that we can prevent these conditions from interfering their development — and life.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wirestory?id=9331005&page=2

Depression and Your Heart

It is a well known fact that as our loved ones get older the holidays seem to cause them to get more depressed. When someone suffers lose of a loved one, or the simple fact of their being alone for long periods can trigger a deep depression.

If you notice a serious change in the behavior of the older family members at the holidays, you should encourage them to talk to their health care provider.

What if you notice that one of your older loved ones isn’t quite their old self? You may notice that they’re more anxious, more irritable, less joyful or quieter than they once were? They seem to have trouble focusing, they may be obsessed with talking about people who have died, or have lost interest in things that they used to enjoy such as holiday traditions and festivities.

When thinking of depression one generally thinks it is associated with women, this is not always true as you get older. There have been studies that show when men are in their fifties they may start to show signs of depression, if this happens it puts them at a greater risk of a heart attack.

Research shows that in the U.S. 80 percent of suicides are male and 90 percent of these suicides are Caucasian males over the age of 60. If men at this age fall into a depressed state after a heart attack or stroke are more likely to die of heart disease.

We all seem to think that depression goes along with aging, which is a myth. People do not just get old, tired and sad naturally there is usually an underlying problem of some kind. Normal aging is not associated with depression, and late-life depression is just as treatable as any other form.

Depression & Anxiety Linked to the Economy

Have you realized how many people are growing more and more anxious over the economical crisis we are experiencing?

Just yesterday I had a conversation with my dad – being retired, he has a great deal of concern for his own retirement that comes through the auto industry. Understandable, right?

When I explained to him the way in which I’m personally trying to remain as positive as I can, he nodded in agreement. He could see how perhaps the right frame of mind might just help keep your sanity, especially during the current recession our country is going through.

I shared an observation about New Castle, one of the small cities closest to where I live and with a population of right around 17,000 people. In New Castle, on the main state road that runs through the city, within a 1.5 mile stretch, there are FOUR pharmacies!  CVS, Wallgreens, Kroger Pharmacy and a local mom-and-pop pharmacy called McGrady’s all rest within that short distance. Why?

In the entire city there are ten pharmacies. Why exactly a city with so little people need TEN pharmacies, I’m not sure. It seems to me that the 4 mom-and-pop pharmacies are being backed into a corner by larger chain stores and when those chain stores are located so close together, someone is bound to go down eventually. Now, when that chain store closes up shop, what has it gained from it’s short-lived existence besides driving the mom-and-pop out?

Maybe the bad times have to happen to drive larger, franchised businesses back under control while allowing doors of opportunity to open back up for the mom-and-pop operations that were driven out to begin with?

Could it be?

Personally, I’d rather pay a little more and keep my money locally than to pay the cheaper prices and have my money support outsourcing and devastating business practices.

Now, whether or not that is what is happening – I would like to think there’s something positive that will come out of the days spent in this economical purgatory.

What are ways you are trying to keep your spirits up during these hard times?