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| 300,000 Children in the U.S. have Autism | A comprehensive national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that around 300,000 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism. Autism is characterized with three symptoms: impairments in imagination, social communication and social interaction, plus a strong tendency towards repetitive behavior. Autism diagnosis sharply increased in the 1990’s with boys being four times as likely as girls to have the disorder. Some experts believe the 1990’s increase reflected changes in diagnostic criteria and increased public awareness. Often, children are not diagnosed as being autistic until they enter school and teachers recognize the problem. Early diagnosis allows for early interventions, which are more effective. The Washington Post reported that some researchers claim there is a link between the mercury additive thimerosal and autism. Thimerosal was used as a preservative in vaccines until 1999 when its use was started to be phased out. |
| Behavioral Therapy Helps Children with ADHD | The Food and Drug Administration has recently recommended that warning labels on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drugs be strengthened because of their possible links to rare cardiac problems and vivid hallucinations. This has renewed interest in non-drug treatments for ADHD. A landmark 1999 study by the National Institute of Mental Health found the best treatment for children with ADHD was a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. However, many parents find it difficult to consistently invest the effort necessary for behavioral therapy to be effective. Behavioral therapy uses a structured system of rewards and consequences to reinforce desired behavior, such as video game privileges for following directions or improved organizational skills. A behavior therapy regimen should be developed with guidance from a pediatrician, a school psychologist or a mental health worker. The regimen works best when it is kept simple, especially for younger children. ADHD treatments that include behavioral therapy can often lower the dose of ADHD medications, such as Ritalin. |
| Prozac’s Mechanics Explained | Although consumers have been using Prozac for nearly two decades, scientists haven’t understood precisely how this popular antidepressant works. Prozac and its chemical cousins promote a positive effect on mood by stimulating brain cell growth. Now, Newsday reports that scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have recently figured out how the drug triggers the birth of neurons in the brain. More complete understanding of this mechanism could lead to the development of more effective treatments. |
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