Jul 24th, 2006 · Many young people in the criminal juvenile-justice system have mental illnesses, but they rarely get the psychiatric care they need. Now a handful of courts are taking these youths out of the mainstream justice system in order to give them effective mental health care.
Jun 9th, 2006 · Doctors are treating more young people with anti-psychotic drugs, according to a new study. And they're not just prescribing the medications for psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and mania, but also for disruptive behavior and mood disorders. Why are prescriptions for these drugs on the rise, and what are the risks involved?
May 4th, 2006 · Sigmund Freud was born 150 years ago this week. One of his greatest contributions -- the talking cure -- is used less these days in favor of psychiatric drugs. Commentator Lennard Davis would like to defend Freud, and talk therapy. Lennard Davis is a professor of Literature, Medical Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where is also the director of Project Biocultures.
Feb 16th, 2006 · A new study shows that spouses have a higher risk of death when their partners are hospitalized during a given year. That risk increases when their partners are suffering from severely mentally or physically disabling conditions such as dementia or a psychiatric illness.
Sep 13th, 2005 · While most people were able to recover from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, researchers in New York are trying to understand why a small number of people went on to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a serious psychiatric illness. The researchers have been using imaging technology to investigate how the trauma of 9/11 works on the brain. Stephen Smith of American Radioworks explores the brain science of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Jun 2nd, 2005 · When scientists study the psychiatric injuries of war, they usually study it in men. But now more women are coming back from Iraq with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Abbie Pickett of the Wisconsin National Guard faces a continuing struggle to get her life back on track.
Nov 12th, 2004 · The Department of Veterans Affairs releases a report on illnesses suffered by many who served in the 1991 Gulf War. Contrary to previous assessments that blamed a puzzling array of medical problems on combat stress or psychiatric illness, this new report suggests chemical exposures may be responsible. NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports.
Oct 29th, 2004 · The number of children taking psychiatric drugs has tripled since the 1980s. But doctors still have very little scientific information about whether these products are safe or effective for young patients. NPR's Jon Hamilton reports.