Looking for a different back-to-school or return-to-work story idea? Douglas Hospital researchers and clinicians are available to discuss the impact of this stressful time on our mental health. Read on to learn more about everything from drug addiction to what makes a bully:

The how and why of addictions
Children entering new schools may be exposed to good and bad influences. Why do some children turn to drugs and alcohol and how can parents help them to avoid this? As adults, many turn to alcohol for stress relief. Do childhood experiences make this more likely to occur? What is the difference between an alcoholic and a social drinker? Douglas Hospital researcher, Thomas G. Brown, PhD, is studying the motivation and treatment of alcohol and drug-use disorders and can respond to these questions.

What did you do for summer vacation?
Ahhhh, summer vacation - for some it was a trip to foreign places but for others it meant going to a sleep camp. Clinician-researchers at the Douglas Hospital sent children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) back to bed in hopes that this would help reduce their symptoms. For three weeks, these young patients participated in a drug free, fun-filled, sleep camp that took place at the Douglas Hospital Disruptive Behaviour Disorders Program and ADHD Clinic. According to Douglas child psychologist and researcher, Reut Gruber, PhD, previous studies have shown that even though children with ADHD are hyperactive, they are actually hypoaroused (more tired, less alert). Treatment of sleep problems may improve cognitive functioning and the summer camp for ADHD kids has helped test this possibility. The Douglas currently offers sleep intervention programs for children with ADHD with the ultimate goal of establishing an inexpensive and easy way to manage this disorder.

What makes a bully?
The age-old argument of nature versus nurture comes to mind when looking at aggressive behaviour. How much of a role do genetics play and to what degree can psychosocial interventions help? Douglas psychiatrist Philippe Lageix, MD, can comment on the type of patients he sees, types of therapies and their effects.

Stressed by looming strikes?
Impending school and daycare strikes will leave working parents in the lurch as they look for alternative care for their children. Many will turn to extended families for help, but some do not have this option. Anxiety levels will likely run high in these households. Douglas Hospital researcher, Sonia Lupien, PhD, has advice and strategies to help these families through this tough time.

Why size might be important
Why can some children handle rejection or failure better than others? According to Jens Pruessner, PhD, from the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, the size of a small brain region might be the key. His new findings link the size of the hippocampus, a small but critically important brain region, to both self-esteem and stress reactivity. He showed that subjects with small hippocampi had consistently higher stress responses, and expressed lower self-esteem. His research supports the emerging concept that size and form of different brain structures can have behavioural and functional consequences.

Are mom’s lunches trashed?
Concerned about your teen not eating enough? You are probably not alone. In Quebec, more than 30 000 women struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Howard Steiger, PhD, is the director of the Douglas Eating Disorders Program, the only large-scale specialized clinical, teaching, and research program involved in the treatment of eating disorders. He and his colleagues have shown that certain biological factors render some people more vulnerable to becoming anorexic or bulimic. They also suggest that environmental factors such as life stresses, childhood abuse and social influences about dieting play an important role.

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca