Drake Institute

Biological Psychiatry: Heart rate variability: Pre-deployment predictor of post-deployment PTSD symptoms. Heart rate variability has been used as a physiological measure of the autonomic nervous system. This study of 343 Army National Guard soldiers found that low heart rate variability in pre-deployment was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms in post-deployment. Previous studies have shown that with clinical intervention, heart rate variability can be improved/increased with biofeedback training.

Molecular Autism: Bloodbrain barrier and intestinal epithelial barrier alterations in autism spectrum disorders: DOI: 10.1186/s13229-016-0110-z This study examined tissue samples of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and findings were suggestive of a dysfunctional gut-brain axis likely associated with neuroinflammation in ASD. An altered blood-brain barrier, a suggested impaired gut barrier, and neuroinflammation were linked together in Autism Spectrum Disorder. At the Drake Institute we have seen that treating the surface of the abdomen with inflammation reduction protocol with low intensity pulsed electromagnetic stimulation has improved symptoms of children on the Autism Spectrum, and follow up qEEG brain maps showed improvements. Our clinical work correlates with their hypothesis of a gut-brain axis in ASD.

Antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations in a cohort of depressed pregnant women: an updated analysis of the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort British Medical Journal, Volume 7, Issue 1 This study evaluated women who took antidepressant medication in the first trimester which is the gestational period when organs are being formed. Infants born from mothers who took antidepressant medications during the first trimester were at increased risk fo...r congenital malformations affecting various organs. The in utero exposure to antidepressant drugs increased their risks to birth defects by altering the serotonin signaling process. Furthermore, research has shown that antidepressant drugs taken during pregnancy have only shown marginal improvement in symptoms. Caution is advised in prescribing these drugs in the first trimester and non-drug treatments should be strongly considered. See more

Mapping brain in preemies may predict later disability http://buff.ly/2jung81 ... published in the Jan. 18, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology American Academy of Neurology Brain mapping of newborn premature infants identified white matter injury that increased the risk of these infants having developmental problems with motor and thinking skills by 18 months of age. Furthermore, larger frontal lobe injuries correlated with greater probabilities of having developmental problems with thinking and motor skills. Ten percent of infants are born premature and lack of oxygen will damage the brain’s white matter. The advantage of early diagnosis of these injuries in premature infants is that it can lead to earlier therapeutic interventions.

Atherosclerosis: Room for depressed and exhausted mood as a risk predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality beyond the contribution of the classical somatic risk factors in men http://buff.ly/2k0bV36 It has been previously known that depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In this study of 3428 men, ages 45-74 years old who were followed for 10 years, it was found that depressed mood and exhaustion is comparable to obesity and high cholesterol as a strong predictor of mortality risk of cardiovascular disease. Only high blood pressure and cigarette smoking have a higher risk for fatal cardiovascular disease. In high risk patients, assessment and treatment for depression should be an essential part of the patient’s care.

The Lancet: Relation between resting amygdalar activity and cardiovascular events: a longitudinal and cohort study http://buff.ly/2j4LzKk This landmark study found that increased activity in a region of the brain, the amygdala (which is involved in the stress response), was associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease events. The study provided insights into biologic mechanisms associated with increased amygdalar activity, increased bone marrow activity and arterial inflammation, and cardiovascular disease events. Clinical brain map guided neurofeedback and biofeedback can train the brain to reduce overactivity of the stress response and the amygdala.

Association Between Influenza Infection and Vaccination During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(1):e163609. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.3609 This study of nearly 200,000 children born at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, between 2000 and 2010, found no increased autism risk in children whose mothers had influenza infection during pregnancy. They did find an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders among children whose mothers received an influenza vaccination during the first trimester, but it was not statistically significant. Though the study did not recommend changing vaccine policy, it did state that further studies on autism risk and 1st trimester maternal influenza vaccination are warranted.

Frustration Tolerance in Youth With ADHD Journal of Attention Disorders Karen E. Seymour, Richard Macatee, Andrea Chronis-Tuscano http://buff.ly/2iLJ2WO This study compared children with ADHD to children without ADHD on a computerized behavioral task to measure frustration tolerance. The findings suggest that low frustration tolerance is directly linked to ADHD and not better accounted for by ODD. ADHD youth are more likely to quit the task when frustrated. Multiple neural circuits in the brain are involved in frustration tolerance, and the authors suggested that biofeedback could be helpful for ADHD youth.

Following the interview of David Velkoff,M.D. on KABC radio on Jan.8, 2017, a Q&A titled, Interview: Dr. David Velkoff discusses attention deficit and substance use disorders in adults. is now posted on the website In Your Right Mind. This interview was conducted, written and edited by Dana Connolly, Ph.D., and Susan Logan-McCracken, M.P.W. http://buff.ly/2jHo61y

David Velkoff, M.D., medical director of the Drake Institute, was interviewed on KABC radio, 790am, on Jan. 8, on the program, In Your Right Mind. The interview with Dr. Velkoff by Dr. Tonroy Sharma and Kristina Kuestner, focused on ADHD in adults and addictions. A Q and A with Dr. Velkoff is posted on their website, http://buff.ly/2iBsCxO.

Hidden Side Effects: Medical Studies Often Leave Out Adverse Outcomes: A new analysis estimates that for nearly half of clinical studies, data goes missing when published Studies published in scientific journals may not be including some of the adverse effects of the treatment investigated, so it gives an unbalanced, biased view of the positive effects of the medical treatment. In essence, physicians prescribing drugs to their patients may not even be aware of some of the risks of the medications they are prescribing.

We are pleased to announce a new Q&A interview for In Your Right Mind is now live on the website. This Q&A is titled, Interview: Dr. David Velkoff discusses attention deficit and substance use disorders in adults. This interview was conducted, written and edited by Dana Connolly, Ph.D., and Susan Logan-McCracken, M.P.W. http://buff.ly/2j1uHWP http://buff.ly/2j1w6N0