A Vaccine for Anxiety?

Beth Mole     May 17, 2016

Vaccine against stress and anxiety made using dead gut microbes of yore

 

Growing up in meticulously sanitized conditions, devoid of the “old friends” germs and parasites that have coevolved with us and help train our immune systems, leaves us more prone to a host of health issues. These include inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders, scientists have found. 
Prevalence of these health issues has soared in the squeaky-clean developed world. But that’s not all. This well-established hypothesis—the hygiene hypothesis—may also explain rises in certain mental health issues, according to a growing number of studies.

The same inflammation and haywire immune responses that may be explained by the hygiene hypothesis have also been linked to depression, anxiety, and stress disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have found that high levels of inflammation increase the risk of developing depression, for instance, and PTSD is associated with pro-inflammatory signals and reduced regulatory T cells—cells that quell immune responses, including inflammation.

Immune signals—including errant ones—can alter brain signals, the brain’s release of hormones, and the neural circuitry for mood, researchers have found. While the findings highlight the importance of our microbial communities to our health, they also offer hints on how to treat such mental health problems.

Step aside, probiotic yogurts

 

With the new appreciation for the microbiome and its roles, researchers are eagerly chasing ideas for harnessing the power of microbes and boosting health—most notably by trying to reconcile with bygone microbes. To this end, entrepreneurs have developed probiotic foods and bacterial-laden body washes—with dubious success. But now, scientists are tackling the mental health connections and have pinned down some promising early results.

By injecting mice with dead batches of a once-common gut microbe, researchers show that they can manipulate the rodent’s immune systems, alter gene regulation in their brains, and reduce stressed-out and anxious behaviors. While the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was only conducted in a small pack of mice, the findings hint at future therapeutics that could tap microbial community members to block psychiatric disorders.

“These data support a strategy of “reintroducing” humans to their old friends to promote optimal health and wellness,” the authors conclude.

For the study, the researchers chose heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae, an abundant soil-dweller that feasts on dead or decaying organic matter and is known to spur immune responses in mice.

Compared with control mice that didn’t receive a vaccine of M. vaccae, the injected mice showed less anxious and submissive behavior in a stress test. The test involved tossing males into a cramped cage with a dominant male and monitoring their behavior. While 95.7 percent of control mice showed at least one submissive behavior in the first hour, such as standing upright, avoidance, and flight behaviors, only 65.3 percent of the vaccinated mice did. Additionally, the vaccinated mice scored higher on dominance indexes, which accounts for chasing and fighting behavior.

When the researchers glimpsed into the brains of the mice, they found that the vaccinated rodents had turned on genes involved with stress-coping strategies. And, while the control mice generally developed stress-induced colitis—inflammation of the colon— during the month-long test, the vaccinated mice did not.

Lastly, when the researchers gave the vaccinated mice an antibody that throws off the activity of regulatory T cells—those inflammation-calming cells—the protective effects of the vaccine were wiped away.

For now, it’s too early to extrapolate the specific findings to human health. But the study suggests that reintroducing humans to the microbes of their dirty days of yore may be able to improve mental health. “Restoring exposure to these old friends through immunization or other routes may decrease inflammation-associated disease vulnerability in modern urban societies,” the authors write.

Source: http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/05/old-friend-gut-microbes-may-immunize-against-stress-and-anxiety/

 

Emerging Natural Remedies for Depression

Dena Schmidt     May 12, 2016

3 ways to beat depression naturally

We know that millions of Americans deal with depression on a regular basis. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.7% of U.S. adults have faced a major depressive disorder in the past year and the problem is worldwide.

A failed system: Conventional medicine is too quick to offer antidepressant medication as the go-to treatment for depression.  However, many of these drugs bring a range of harmful and dangerous side effects. The truth is there are many natural ways to combat depression. The following are three of the most effective:

Turmeric (curcumin) shown to be a natural treatment for depression without negative side effects

Turmeric is a delicious spice found in Indian and Asian cooking. It is also extremely beneficial when used therapeutically for depression.

Studies have found that turmeric, also referred to as curcumin, can stop depression as effectively as antidepressant drugs – and without the negative and harmful side effects often associated with them. Researchers believe that it inhibits the depression enzyme monoamine oxidase. Curcumin also boosts the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which help to reduce depression as well as anxiety.

In contrast, common pharmaceutical medications like Prozac can cause side effects like sleep disturbances, anxiety, schizophrenic behavior and suicidal ideation.

The study found that using 500 mg of standardized, bioavailable curcumin extract twice per day was effective against major depressive disorder. Absorption is enhanced by taking it with healthy fats like avocado, olive oil or coconut oil.

Niacin (vitamin B3) has been easing depression successfully for decades

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is another potent depression and anxiety cure. It has been studied extensively by Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. and has been found to be safe, affordable and highly effective against depression and other mental disorders.

Vitamin B3 is also effective against anxiety, alcoholism, and even schizophrenia. Those with depression should strongly consider avoiding the hazards of antidepressant side effects in favor of a natural cure like niacin.

Beat depression and improve brain function with a healthy diet

Finally, one of the top depression cures that’s readily available to anyone is a healthy diet. It is as simple as making the proper choices every week at the grocery store.

Treatment for depression through diet can be accomplished by favoring foods high in polyphenols. These compounds are prevalent in plant foods and are effective in reducing oxidative stress and improving synaptic plasticity in the brain.

A 2012 study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience showed showed that polyphenols improved cognitive functioning as well as psychiatric disorders like depression.  A British Journal of Health Psychology study found that diets high in fruits and vegetables improved both mood and brain functioning.

Foods richest in polyphenols include blueberries, blackberries, flax seeds, hazelnuts, dark chocolate and herbal teas. Foods high in omega 3s such as oily fish, nuts, flaxseed oil, and legumes are also effective against depression. Avoiding gluten, artificial ingredients and processed foods will boost your mood and promotes clarity of thought.

So, as you can see, a natural treatment for depression is not only safe and effective but, it’s available to all of us now.  If you suffer from depression, don’t become a victim of poor medical advice.  Work with a qualified healthcare provider (if needed) – who appreciates the power of nutrition to heal the body.

Source: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/treatment-for-depression-niacin-1839.html

 

Treating Anxiety Naturally

Homeopathic remedies for anxiety and stress

By Admin24       May 10, 2016

One can think about a wide range of events in which dread and tension show themselves and cause difficulties in taking care of the circumstances. For instance, one might be a totally able driver, yet put into the connection of a driving test, may turn out badly and come up short. In such circumstances some individuals just stop, and can’t think what to do next. Some break out in icy sweats and palpitations, while others need to dash off to the loo. Homeopathic remedies for anxiety can be customized to the individual response of the person.

Inside the most recent a very long while, the utilization of homeopathic cures has blasted. A huge number of individuals in the United States and millions all the more abroad rely on upon homeopathic solutions for treating a large group of various issues, one of which is anxiety. You may have known about homeopathic drug some time recently, however you may not recognize what it is, the place it produce from, and regardless of whether it is compelling as a characteristic tension treatment. This articles looks to clarify the greater part of the diverse components of homeopathic treatment for anxiety and regardless of whether you have to consider it as an option approach to battle anxiety.

Homeopathic remedies for anxiety:

 

The roots of the convictions in homeopathic drug are not generally clear, as not the majority of the fixings appear to bring about nervousness in higher measurements. In any case, the accompanying is a portion of the more regular homeopathic medicines for anxiety.

• Aconitum napellus
• Argentum nitricum
• Arsenicum album
• Gelsemium
• Natrum muriaticum

These are just a little specimen. There are many distinctive convictions, and not every homeopathic professional contend for the same sorts of weakened ingredients. Many homeopathic cures are intended for particular side effects of tension and the convictions connected with them. For instance, natrum muriaticum is utilized for individuals that are modest or stay away from social circumstances, which are a side effect yet not a reason for anxiety. Also, what’s intriguing about homeopathic cures is that they are accepted to work quickly. That is the reason most suggest that you take the drug, hold up to check whether it improves you feel, and on the off chance that it doesn’t, take a second dosage. Check dosing necessities for every individual homeopathic remedy for anxiety that guarantee you meet the capabilities.

Does Homeopathic Anxiety Medicine Work?

 

 

Homeopathic medicine is an unfathomably fascinating field, and one that has majorly affected the lives of a large number of those that have attempted these medications. Unfortunately, there is almost no proof that any homeopathic prescriptions have ever been successful at curing any illness, including uneasiness. That makes it about difficult to suggest endeavoring a homeopathic treatment.

Source: http://www.bestnaturalherbsforanxiety.com/homeopathic-remedies-for-anxiety/

Making Sense of a Psychopath

Scott A. Bonn, Ph.D.     May 09, 2016

Understanding Psychopathic Criminals

Photo: Serial murderers Edward Gein, Ted Bundy, and Gary Heidnik

Psychopathy is highly correlated with criminal behavior and violence. In Psychopathy: An Important Forensic Concept for the 21st Century, the powerful connection between psychopathy and crime was well articulated Dr. Paul Babiak and his colleagues. The seminal 2012 FBI report states that 15-20 percent of the two million+ prisoners in the U.S., which are 90 percent male, are psychopaths (1).

This is not surprising. Egocentrism and the need for power and control of a psychopath are the perfect character traits for a lifetime of antisocial, deviant or criminal activity. However, the relative ease with which a psychopath can participate effectively in crime and violence is very significant for the public and the criminal justice system. 

Psychopaths are unabashed in their actions against others, whether it is defrauding someone of their life savings, manipulating law enforcement personnel during an interrogation or blaming their victims for their crimes. This is particularly true in cases involving psychopathic killers. When psychopaths commit a homicide, their killings likely will be planned and purposeful—that is, organized, and not committed in the heat of passion.

The motive of a psychopathic killer will often involve either power and control or sadistic gratification. When faced with overwhelming evidence of their guilt, a psychopathic serial killer such as John Wayne Gacy (the “Killer Clown”) will often claim they lost control or were in a fit of rage when committing the act of murder. In reality, however, their killings are stone-cold, calculated, and completely premeditated. 

Sometimes, psychopaths commit serious crimes with the assistance of another person.  If a psychopath does commit a serious crime with another individual, the research suggests that the other person will almost always be a non-psychopath. The psychopath will typically seek to avoid prosecution by manipulating the other individual into taking the blame for the crime. The other person is thus used as a scapegoat by the psychopathic offender. When a psychopathic, male serial killer takes on a subordinate partner it will generally be a female.

It is important to understand that not all violent offenders are psychopaths and, conversely, not all psychopaths are violent offenders. Violent offenders who are psychopaths are able to assault, rape or murder without concern for legal, moral or social consequences. Psychopaths tend to be totally indifferent to the emotions or suffering of others. This allows them to do what they want, whenever they want, without concern, pity or remorse for their victims.

Those psychopaths who do engage in violence and sexual deviance are generally more dangerous than other criminal offenders and their likelihood of reoffending may be significantly higher than non-psychopaths. The FBI reports that psychopathic offenders generally have longer, more diverse and more serious criminal histories, and are more chronically violent than non-psychopaths, overall. In addition, their use of violence is generally more extreme and more directed toward particular goals than the violence employed by non-psychopaths. 

Psychopathy is often misread, misdiagnosed, minimized or explained away by professionals whose jobs involve regular interaction with psychopaths, particularly in the mental health, judicial and law enforcement communities. This is due to the considerable deception skills of psychopaths. Their charm, poise and cunning frequently enable them to go unrecognized even by trained professionals.

Misconceptions about psychopaths and their improper identification by professionals can lead to serious consequences, ranging from mishandling strategies for interrogation, intervention and treatment to accepting the fabrications and lies of a psychopath as the truth.

The 2012 FBI report states that the unique ability of psychopathic criminals to manipulate law enforcement authorities poses legitimate challenges for the criminal justice system. During interrogations, psychopaths are not sensitive to altruistic interview themes such as sympathy for their victims or remorse for their criminal acts.

As a result of their arrogance and illusions of invulnerability, they are more likely than non-psychopaths to deny charges brought against them by authorities. According to the FBI, there is also evidence that psychopaths are able to influence the system to either receive reduced sentences or appeal their sentences to a higher court.

This is likely due to the fact that psychopaths are extremely meticulous, compulsive and relentless by nature which helps them to coerce criminal justice practitioners. Moreover, psychopaths are very adept at imitating emotions such as remorse or guilt in the courtroom if they believe it will mitigate their punishment.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201605/understanding-psychopathic-criminals

 

How to Tell if You Are Dealing With a Sociopath

 Scott A. Bonn, Ph.D.    April 18, 2016

 

Over the years, neurobiologists have identified several factors that are highly correlated or associated with violent behavior in people. 

First, the failure to develop adequate coping mechanisms in childhood has been associated with violent behavior later in life. Second, neglect and abuse by caregivers during childhood have been linked to an increased risk of adult violence. 

Third, substance abuse (alcohol and drugs) is highly correlated with increased aggression and violence in adolescents and adults. Fourth, childhood brain trauma—due to severe head injury during childhood—has been linked by neurologists to violent behavior in adulthood.

Each one of these correlates of violence—that is, factors which are often found in combination with it—has been observed among violent criminals and murderers over the years. 

Although these factors have been scientifically linked to violent behavior, none of them, either individually or collectively, should be considered sufficient or even necessary for an individual to become violent. 

In order to understand violent behavior it is necessary to know some fundamental principles about human personality first. The personalities of people represent who they are and how they behave. Personalities result from genetics and upbringing, and reflect how people view the world and believe the world views them. 

Personalities dictate how people interact with others and how they cope with problems, both real and imagined. Human personalities develop and evolve until sometime around their late twenties. After that, human personalities are hardwired, static and cannot be altered.

Forensic psychologists have discovered that certain key traits of violent behavior are very consistent with an antisocial personality disorder known as sociopathy. This disorder is manifested in certain distinct and troublesome behavioral traits and characteristics. 

Sociopathy is not classified as mental illnesses by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), released by the APA in 2013, lists sociopathy under the heading of Antisocial Personality Disorders (ASPD). 

The APA estimates that there are approximately eight million sociopaths in the U.S. Therefore, many of us know one, and may be related to one or intimately involved with one. 
Sociopathy is characterized by the following personality and behavioral traits:

• A disregard for laws and social mores 
• A disregard for the rights of others
• A failure to feel remorse or guilt 
• A tendency to display violent behavior and emotional outbursts

Sociopaths tend to be volatile. That is, they tend to be nervous and easily agitated or angered. They are volatile and prone to emotional outbursts, including fits of rage. In addition, they may be uneducated and live on the fringes of traditional society, unable to hold down a steady job or stay in one place for very long. They are frequently transients and drifters. 

It is difficult but not impossible for sociopaths to form attachments with others. They are capable of bonding emotionally and demonstrating empathy with certain people in certain situations but not others. Many sociopaths are able to form an attachment to a particular individual or group, although they have no regard for society in general or its rules. 

In the eyes of others, sociopaths will typically appear to be very disturbed. Any crimes committed by a sociopath will tend to be haphazard or spontaneous. If they commit murder, for example, their decision to kill will typically be impulsive and triggered by a fit of rage. The killing itself will generally be committed in a blitz-like attack on the victim and the crime scene will be very messy and disorganized.

It is believed that sociopathy is the result of “nurture” (environment) rather than “nature” (genetics). According to the late Dr. David Lykken, a behavioral geneticist known for his studies involving twins, sociopathy is the product of childhood trauma and abuse. Because sociopathy appears to be learned rather than innate, sociopaths are capable of empathy or forming an emotional connection with others, but only to certain individuals such as a family member or a friend, and only in certain circumstances. 

The good news about sociopaths is that due to their volatile personalities, you can typically see them coming. Forewarned is forearmed. 

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201604/how-know-if-you-are-dealing-sociopath

How Much Memory Does the Human Brain Fit?

What Is the Memory Capacity of the Human Brain?

 By Paul Reber on May 1, 2010

Can an old head injury suddenly cause detrimental effects much later in life? —Anonymous, via e-mail

Douglas Smith, professor of neurosurgery and director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, answers:

ALTHOUGH A BRAIN INJURY from a car accident or a collision during a football game often seems to cause a sudden change to cognitive ability years later, this change does not just appear out of the blue—the damage has been building up slowly, unnoticed, over time.

Postinjury, the progressive brain deterioration that may occur likely reaches a tipping point, after which the loss of function “suddenly” becomes obvious. Depending on the type and severity of the traumatic brain injury (TBI), it can accelerate memory loss or increase a person’s chance of succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease.


TBI commonly damages nerve fibers in the brain called axons. These thin, tubelike structures transmit electrical and chemical signals that are vital for carrying information among different regions of the brain. For unknown reasons, these fragile structures not only disconnect shortly after injury but can continue to disconnect even for decades later in some patients. Once disconnected, the blunt end of an axon seals itself off, swells with fluids, enzymes and proteins and eventually bursts. When axons burst open, they often distribute amyloid proteins through the neighboring brain tissue. These sticky proteins are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, and in fact many TBI patients exhibit signs of dementia later in life that mimic the deterioration observed in Alzheimer’s patients.

In addition, with axons disappearing or not functioning well after TBI, a person’s ability to process new information may slow down. Surviving axons may compensate for the damage by increasing electrical signaling and thus restoring the normal speed of information processing in the brain. This temporary fix, however, can cause these axons to become even more sensitive to damage if a second concussion occurs.

 
Most people with TBI will have progressive axonal damage, but it is difficult to predict who will suffer from cognitive changes years later. TBIs have a devastating effect on society, with more than 1.5 million cases documented in the U.S. every year. Currently no therapies exist for either short- or long-term damage, which means for now the best treatment is protection and prevention.

What is the memory capacity of the human brain? Is there a physical limit to the amount of information it can store? —J. Hawes, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Paul Reber, professor of psychology at Northwestern University, replies:


 "MR. OSBORNE, may I be excused? My brain is full,” a student with a particularly tiny head asks his classroom teacher in a classic Far Side comic by Gary Larson. The deadpan answer to this question would be, “No, your brain is almost certainly not full.” Although there must be a physical limit to how many memories we can store, it is extremely large. We don’t have to worry about running out of space in our lifetime.

The human brain consists of about one billion neurons. Each neuron forms about 1,000 connections to other neurons, amounting to more than a trillion connections. If each neuron could only help store a single memory, running out of space would be a problem. 
You might have only a few gigabytes of storage space, similar to the space in an iPod or a USB flash drive. Yet neurons combine so that each one helps with many memories at a time, exponentially increasing the brain’s memory storage capacity to something closer to around 2.5 petabytes (or a million gigabytes). For comparison, if your brain worked like a digital video recorder in a television, 2.5 petabytes would be enough to hold three million hours of TV shows. You would have to leave the TV running continuously for more than 300 years to use up all that storage.


The brain’s exact storage capacity for memories is difficult to calculate. First, we do not know how to measure the size of a memory. Second, certain memories involve more details and thus take up more space; other memories are forgotten and thus free up space. Additionally, some information is just not worth remembering in the first place.

This is good news because our brain can keep up as we seek new experiences over our lifetime. If the human life span were significantly extended, could we fill our brains? I’m not sure. Ask me again in 100 years.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-memory-capacity/

What's the Difference between a Psychopath and a Sociopath?

How to Tell a Sociopath from a Psychopath

Understanding important distinctions between criminal sociopaths and psychopaths

 

By Scott Bonn, Ph.D.    Jan 22, 2014 

 

Many forensic psychologists, psychiatrists and criminologists use the terms sociopathy and psychopathy interchangeably. Leading experts disagree on whether there are meaningful differences between the two conditions. I contend that there are clear and significant distinctions between them.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), released by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, lists both sociopathy and psychopathy under the heading of Antisocial Personality Disorders (ASPD). These disorders share many common behavioral traits which lead to the confusion between them. Key traits that sociopaths and psychopaths share include: 

• A disregard for laws and social mores
• A disregard for the rights of others
• A failure to feel remorse or guilt
• A tendency to display violent behavior

In addition to their commonalities, sociopaths and psychopaths also have their own unique behavioral characteristics, as well.

Sociopaths tend to be nervous and easily agitated. They are volatile and prone to emotional outbursts, including fits of rage. They are likely to be uneducated and live on the fringes of society, unable to hold down a steady job or stay in one place for very long. It is difficult but not impossible for sociopaths to form attachments with others. Many sociopaths are able to form an attachment to a particular individual or group, although they have no regard for society in general or its rules. In the eyes of others, sociopaths will appear to be very disturbed. Any crimes committed by a sociopath, including murder, will tend to be haphazard, disorganized and spontaneous rather than planned.

Psychopaths, on the other hand, are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them, and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature.

When committing crimes, psychopaths carefully plan out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. Unlike their sociopathic counterparts, psychopathic criminals are cool, calm, and meticulous. Their crimes, whether violent or non-violent, will be highly organized and generally offer few clues for authorities to pursue. Intelligent psychopaths make excellent white-collar criminals and "con artists" due to their calm and charismatic natures. 

The cause of psychopathy is different than the cause of sociopathy (1). It is believed that psychopathy is the largely the result of “nature” (genetics) while sociopathy is more likely the result of “nurture” (environment). Psychopathy is related to a physiological defect that results in the underdevelopment of the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotions. Sociopathy, on the other hand, is more likely the product of childhood trauma and physical/emotional abuse. Because sociopathy appears to be learned rather than innate, sociopaths are capable of empathy in certain limited circumstances but not in others, and with a few individuals but not others.

Psychopathy is the most dangerous of all antisocial personality disorders because of the way psychopaths dissociate emotionally from their actions, regardless of how terrible those actions may be. Many prolific and notorious serial killers, including the late Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, and Dennis Rader ("Bind, Torture, Kill" or BTK) are unremorseful psychopaths. Psychopathic killers view their innocent victims as inhuman objects to be tormented and violated for their amusement.

Contrary to popular mythology, most serial killers are not mentally ill or "evil" geniuses. 

 

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201401/how-tell-sociopath-psychopath