Quest for personalized medicine hits a snag

The quest for personalized medicine, a medical approach in which practitioners use a patient’s unique genetic profile to tailor individual treatment, has emerged as a critical goal in the health care sector. But a new Yale-led study shows that the mathematical models currently available to predict treatments have limited effectiveness. In an analysis of clinical trials for multiple schizophrenia treatments, […]

Young men at highest risk of schizophrenia linked with cannabis use disorder

Young men with cannabis (marijuana) use disorder have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, according to a study led by researchers at the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health. The study, published in Psychological Medicine, analyzed detailed health records data spanning 5 decades and representing […]

Severe mental illness linked to low attendance at cancer screening

People with severe mental illness are less likely to attend cancer screening compared to those who do not have such conditions, according to new research from the University of Surrey and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) at the Department of Health and Social Care. Funded by OHID and NHS England, with support from Cancer Research UK, the […]

Identifying rare disease-associated genetic variants in patients with severe schizophrenia

New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that examining genetic mutations in individuals with severe schizophrenia can improve the ability to detect disease-associated rare genetic variants. The research was conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and led by Dr. Anthony Zoghbi, now assistant professor of molecular and human genetics and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at […]

FDA approves Invega Hayfera (6-month paliperidone palmitate), first and only twice-yearly treatment for adults with schizophrenia – Janssen Pharmaceuticals

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson has announced the FDA has approved long-acting atypical antipsychotic Invega Hafyera (6-month paliperidone palmitate), the first-and-only twice-yearly injectable for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Before transitioning to Invega Hafyera, patients must be adequately treated with Invega Sustenna (1-month paliperidone palmitate) for at least four months, or Invega Trinza (3-month paliperidone palmitate) […]