Health Expert Christina Bruni shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/120/index http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/150042/schizophrenia Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:56:00 -0500 Christina Bruni A study of 103 outpatients with residual schizophrenia suggests that religion and spirituality might contribute to improved quality of life for individuals with this diagnosis. You can find the study in Psychiatry Research (2011:190:200-5). The research was conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (India). The participants had been diagnosed for a mean of almost 12 years. Sixty-two percent were male,... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/150042/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149540/schizophrenia Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:44:00 -0500 Christina Bruni  A court ruling in Massachusetts has implications for everyone diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, wherever we live.  The whole problem with "Mary Moe" being legally required to obtain an abortion would have been avoided if this woman had in place a psychiatric advance directive, or mental healthcare proxy, that stated what her wishes would be if she were unable to speak for herself.   Unfortunately, as the... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149540/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149287/schizophrenia Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:26:00 -0500 Christina Bruni January is National Mentoring Month geared to adults acting as mentors for youth. I want to extend this concept to peers mentoring each other in our recoveries. A form of seeking advice from others farther along is to attend a support group where people with diagnoses meet for feedback and encouragement weekly. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has the Connection peer support meetings. Dial (800) 950-NAMI (6264) to get the name and phone... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149287/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149018/schizophrenia Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:33:00 -0500 Christina Bruni I want to spark a debate about schizophrenia treatment and get your feedback about your experiences. A number of people at the Mental Health Networking LinkedIn group have offered insight on the topic "To DSM or not DSM?"   This psychiatric bible is a tool for getting the right treatment when used accurately and wisely. The comments posted on LinkedIn spurred me to want to talk about schizophrenia treatment: the good and not-so-good and the... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/149018/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148581/schizophrenia Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:09:00 -0500 Christina Bruni   The idea that computerized brain training can aid cognition in schizophrenia is picking up steam.   Sophia Vinogradov, M.D. was interviewed at psychiatryonline.org: "I would like to argue that the brain is not immutably fixed, and that even in people with schizophrenia these neural systems show a high degree of plasticity and can change."   She is professor in residence and interim associate chief of staff for mental health at... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148581/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148489/schizophrenia Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:22:00 -0500 Christina Bruni EnVivo Pharmaceuticals announced data in Neuropharmacology that indicate its compound EVP-6124 restored memory loss and improved memory function in preclinical models, making it a candidate for use as a long-term treatment to improve cognitive function in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's. EVP-62124 is a potent and highly selective agonist of alpha-7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). It works alone or in combination with donepezil... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148489/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148003/schizophrenia Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:01:00 -0500 Christina Bruni According to Health Day:   "A new study finds that people skilled at meditation seem able to turn off areas of the brain associated with daydreaming and psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia."   It is posited that people experienced at meditation continually monitor and suppress "me" thoughts and mind wandering. They are able to co-activate two brain regions to develop a present-centered mindset that is less... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/148003/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147956/schizophrenia Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:38:00 -0500 Christina Bruni In the hopes to generate comments I feel it is time to revisit the topic of SZ drugs.  The question of the month is: What Are Your Experiences With The Schizophrenia Drugs?  I'm hoping to hear from occasional contributors as well as community members who regularly post.   Christina http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147956/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147475/schizophrenia Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:49:00 -0500 Christina Bruni Kurt Snyder is the lead author on the book Me, Myself and Them: a Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Schizophrenia.  He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hasn't had the clinical symptoms of this illness in at least four years.  He is a database administrator for the State of Maryland as well as president of his local volunteer fire department.   The memoir, coupled with detailed information about... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147475/schizophrenia http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147120/schizophrenia Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:08:13 -0500 Christina Bruni Schizophrenia and Street Drugs:   Meth, crank, speed-whatever you call it, the drug is bad news. Now a study proves methamphetamine use can trigger schizophrenia in people susceptible to this illness.  According to research, heavy meth users are nine times more likely to develop SZ than hospitalized individuals without any substance abuse history. Methamphetamine and other stimulants are the second most common type of street drug... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/147120/schizophrenia