Month: September 2013

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Susan L. McElroy, MDSeptember, 27, 2013 , Mason, OH – Susan L. McElroy, MD, Lindner Center of HOPE, Chief Research Officer and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, will present at “IX International Symposium on Psychopathology and Clinical Psychiatry” at Clinica Alemana in Santiago, Chile on October 4th and 5th, 2013. She is one of just a few international lecturers presenting during this course.

Dr. McElroy will present Eating Disorders Today: A General Overview and Binge Eating Disorder: Diagnostic, Comorbidities and Treatment. The first presentation is intended to provide an update on Eating Disorders and the second is a more in-depth discussion of binge eating disorder.

Dr. McElroy is internationally known for her research in bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obesity, impulse control disorders and pharmacology. She is the author of over 500 scientific papers in leading medical journals and was the 8th most cited scientist in the world published in the fields of psychiatry and psychology since 1996. She has also authored over 150 reviews and chapters in major psychiatric textbooks. Dr. McElroy is the editor or author of 4 scientific books and serves on the editorial boards of 5 journals.

As Chief Research Officer for Lindner Center of HOPE, a mental health center of excellence, near Cincinnati, Ohio, she oversees multiple ongoing studies in mood, anxiety, eating and impulse control disorders, genetics and psychopharmacology.

Lindner Center of HOPE provides excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults, intensive outpatient program for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Pierson
Lindner Center of HOPE
(513) 536 -0316
[email protected]

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Recruitment began this month for a prospective, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, sham-controlled feasibility trial of multi-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Lindner Center of HOPE is participating in this trial.

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Lindner Center of HOPE and OCD Midwest have partnered to offer Anxious Kids in School: Rethinking Response Strategies on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Lindner Center of HOPE, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This event is a panel discussion for school psychologists, school counselors and administrators in Greater Cincinnati.
Participants will:
Learn additional ways to help students and families manage anxiety and anxious behaviors in the classroom and develop effective intervention.

Increase your skills in identifying children who are struggling in school as a result of anxiety which is often disguised by misleading behaviors.

Learn how many traditional short-term responses can worsen the anxiety in the long term.

Dr. Patrick McGrath, PhD, Keynote Speaker
Dr. Patrick B. McGrath is the Director of the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and the Co-Director of the School Anxiety and School Refusal Program at Alexian Brother Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, IL. President of OCD Midwest, the midwest affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), he has authored a stress management workbook, “Don’t Try Harder, Try Different” as well as “The OCD Answer Book” in addition to being featured in newspapers, journals, magazines and numerous radio and television programs across the country.

Panel Members: 
Moderator: Charles F. Brady, PhD, ABPP, Director Lindner Center OCD and Anxiety Treatment Program and Vice-President OCD Midwest. Dr. Brady is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience on the staff and faculty of the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Psychiatry and recently honored with the Exemplary Clinical Psychologist Award from NAMI Hamilton County.

Jennifer G. Wells, MSW, LISW-S, Child and Adolescent Therapist, member LCOH OCD and Anxiety Treatment Program. Ms. Wells has completed advanced training through the Behavioral Therapy Institute at the IOCDF. She has treated hundreds of patients with OCD in her work as a therapist and was honored as the “2012 Exemplary Therapist” working with children by NAMI Hamilton County.

Leah Casuto, MD, Lindner Center of HOPE, Staff Psychiatrist and member of OCD and Anxiety Treatment Program. Dr. Casuto took the lead in Lindner Center of HOPE’s efforts to increase awareness around adolescent depression. Through her efforts, Lindner Center of HOPE launched the Johns Hopkins’ Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) in Cincinnati. ADAP is a school-based program designed to educate high school students, faculty, and parents about adolescent depression.

Liz Lindley, parent advocate and OCD-Midwest volunteer. Chairperson for fundraiser, Ping Pong for OCD and co-facilitator of NAMI support group for parents of Children with OCD.

6 p.m.
Welcome reception and
hors d’oeuvres
6:30 p.m.
Program
8 to 8:30 p.m.
Questions and
Dessert Reception

RSVP to Liz Lindley
before October 8th
and you will be entered to win one of two Maggiano’s Little Italy $50 gift cards.
Seating is limited.
[email protected]

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In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since then, mental health advocates across the country have joined with others in their communities to encourage education about mental illness.

MIAW coincides with the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding (Oct. 8) and National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 10.)

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Recruitment began this month for a prospective, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, sham-controlled feasibility trial of multi-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Lindner Center of HOPE is participating in this trial. 

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For many young people today, a huge threat to their safety and wellbeing is hidden in their laptops and cell phones.  Parents are often oblivious to this menace or how they can help.  What is this hidden threat?  It’s the 21st century social media phenomenon of cyber bullying.

The Nature of Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is a form of harassment that takes place through electronic technology – in particular, through social media outlets such as Facebook or Twitter, as well as emails and texts.  From posting of embarrassing photos online to spreading rumors on social media sites, cyber bullies seek to humiliate their victims.  Often anonymous, cyber bullying can be more vicious than traditional schoolyard bullying and more difficult to control.  Online distribution creates a wider audience, and attacks can be made 24 hours per day.

A 2011 Pew survey found that only 7% of parents worry about their child being cyber bullied, although approximately one third of teenagers have been victimized at some time.  A Consumer Reports report estimated that one million young people were harassed on the most popular social media site, Facebook, in the past year.

Effects of Social Media Bullying

Young people who are bullied online are more likely to:

  • Skip or drop out of school
  • Have failing grades
  • Use alcohol and other drugs
  • Suffer poor self-esteem
  • Have increased health problems
  • Engage in risky behaviors

In some cases risky behavior can include suicide attempts.  In one 2011 Associated Press/MTV poll, cyber bullied teens reported more thoughts of suicide than their peers.  Media reports have highlighted recent cases in which teens committed suicide after online harassment.

Warning Signs

Warning signs for cyber bullying are similar to those for traditional bullying.  Victimized children and teens may exhibit such symptoms as:

  • Avoidance of social situations
  • Anxiety about school
  • Drops in grades and school performance
  • Changes in mood; e.g., frequent sadness or irritability
  • Obsessive checking of email, texts, and internet

How Parents Can Help

You can play a major role in helping to prevent or end your own children’s cyber bullying.  Start by teaching self-respect and modeling positive relationships, empathy, and impulse control.  The better adjusted your child, the more resilient he or she can be if confronted by bullying.

In this social media age, it’s critical for parents to be aware of online hazards and to teach children how to avoid them.  Have a discussion with your child about responsible online behavior and practice online safety.  Teach your child to block or delete disrespectful friends from social media sites.  Encourage use of the most restrictive online privacy settings.  Speak frankly about the dangers of online bullying.  Teach boundaries by setting limits on daily computer and cell phone usage.  Place computers in common areas only.

Don’t hesitate to exert your parental prerogative and monitor social media and other online usage.  Tell your child or teen that online communications are subject to monitoring.  Periodically check cell phones, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc., to monitor the content of messages and posts.  Discuss any concerns you have as they occur.

Most importantly, be available.  Remind your teen that you’re always willing to listen, then make yourself accessible when you are asked, “Can we talk?” Encourage reporting of concerns to any trusted adult if you are not available.

If you believe that your child has been bullied and is having difficulty coping, don’t be afraid to seek professional help.  A counselor can provide valuable support and teach better coping skills.

In the anti-bullying movement, young people are taught the mantra: “stand up; don’t stand by” to promote reporting of peer bullying.  Likewise, responsible parents should stand up for their children’s welfare and not just stand by, through discomfort or ignorance.  It’s never too late to have that first conversation with your child about responsible online behavior.

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You may have heard the expression: “healthy mind, healthy body.”  But do you know what it really means?  For centuries, a connection has been theorized to exist between physical and mental health.  Modern science has now demonstrated that such a connection really does exist.

The role of a healthy diet, proper sleep, regular exercise, and other lifestyle practices in promoting better mental health is at the core of many behavioral health treatment regimens.  Such practices may also play a role in preventing future mental health problems.

Conversely, physical health is dependent upon one’s state of mind, as the body responds to the ways in which each of us feels, thinks, and acts.  This fact is at the heart of the mind-body connection. Emotional or mental imbalance creates physical symptoms, from aches and pains to elevated blood pressure.  These in turn can lead to chronic health problems and disease.

Ideally, an individual should strive for a state of total wellness, one in which there is a sense of balance in the mental, physical, spiritual, and social elements of his or her life. Following wellness principles can help one achieve increased resiliency, greater longevity, and overall better physical and mental health.

The Role of the Mind upon the Body

Mental or emotional problems are associated with the development of physical disease. An estimated 95% of all illnesses can be caused or aggravated by stress. Individuals with high stress levels are even more likely to catch colds. It is not uncommon for individuals to develop hypertension or an ulcer after particularly stressful life events.

Depression has been linked to a range of disorders, including strokes, heart disease, and diabetes.  Other mood and emotional problems can also take a toll. In one study, people who had difficulty coping with anger were found to have a ten times greater risk for the development of heart arrhythmias.  Anger-prone physicians have been found to have higher risks of heart attacks than even smokers or individuals with high blood pressure.

The right attitude and social supports can affect health in more positive ways, however. The old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine” is true, as it has been found to reduce pain, speed healing, and increase creativity. Being active in a group—even something as simple as a bowling club—can actually increase one’s longevity, regardless of other health habits. Social networks also provide needed support. In one study of women with metastatic breast cancer, participation in support groups doubled survival rates.

Scientists have found that individuals with mental health or substance abuse problems have a life expectancy decades lower than the general population.  Taking care of one’s physical health is a critical part of the recovery process for those with behavioral health problems.

The Role of the Body upon the Mind

Research supports the role of physical activity in helping manage mental disorders. Active people have been found to be less depressed than inactive ones, and people with chronic depression are more like to go into remission with regular exercise.

Due to increased levels of oxygen and endorphins, individuals who exercise regularly feel more alert and have more energy, better memory retention, and a greater sense of wellbeing. As little as 20-30 minutes of vigorous physical activity daily is sufficient to achieve results.

Yoga, meditation, and other relaxation strategies have been found to ease stress, depression, and sleep problems. There is growing evidence that the practice of meditation can even slow cognitive decline in older adults.

Eating healthy foods in moderation can increase emotional well-being and reduce many of the physical problems often associated with mental illness, such as fatigue and obesity.

Getting approximately eight hours sleep per night is a goal few adults achieve, but the benefits are worth the effort.  Adequate sleep improves mood and concentration, as well as decreasing physical health risks.

By following these healthy lifestyle practices, individuals may significantly improve both their mental and physical health.