Anxiety is a common negative psychological outcome after stroke. How does this impact on the patient?

shutterstock_stroke

Every year an estimated 152,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke (for more general information go to the Stroke Association website). Quality of life post stroke is not only influenced by physical impairment but also by psychological factors. Although anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem globally, the study of anxiety post-stroke has [read the full story…]

Parents and caregivers of people with Williams syndrome rate benefits from medications in reducing anxiety

Question-5

Williams syndrome is a neuro-developmental genetic disorder caused by gene deletion estimated to have a prevalence of 1 in 7,500 to 1 in 20,000 live births. Previous studies have identified anxiety as part of the behavioural phenotype of the syndrome The authors of this US study set out to look at the effectiveness and adverse [read the full story…]

Short term exercise programme reduces anxiety states in people with learning disabilities

Healthy

A state of high anxiety can have an impact on daily living. For people with learning disabilities, anxiety can be common and persistent anxiety can significantly affect people’s quality of life. There is a literature on effects of exercise on reducing anxiety, but the researchers in this study point out that there has been little [read the full story…]

Higher than expected levels of anxiety found in children and young people with learning disabilities and autism

boy with autism

Previous research has suggested that the likelihood of experiencing mental health problems is increased in children and young people with learning disabilities if they also have autism. The researchers in this study were interested in looking at symptoms of anxiety in this population, hypothesising that they may experience symptoms of anxiety at a greater level [read the full story…]

Further evidence suggests anxiety is part of behavioural phenotype of Williams syndrome

Breakdown

Williams syndrome is genetic condition caused by gene deletion and is estimated to have a prevalence of 1 in 7,500 to 1 in 20,000 live births. Previous studies, which have relied mainly on the testimony of parents and carers, have suggested that people with Williams syndrome may have a disposition towards anxiety. The authors of [read the full story…]

Lack of reasonable adjustments hampers access to psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities

Comfort

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme which was established to treat people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Positive Practice Guidance was published in 2009, but there are currently no areas listed as having a special interest in psychological therapies to people with learning disabilities. You can download the Positive Practice Guidance [read the full story…]

Study suggests people with depression and anxiety have lower use of oral health services and greater tooth loss

Depression

A previous systematic review has shown that ‘‘People with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are over three times more likely to lose their teeth’.   Another large cross-sectional study from the USA has now been published that looks at the associations among depression, anxiety, use of oral health services, and tooth loss. This [read the full story…]

Access to psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities could be improved

Comfort

This paper reports on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme which was established to treat people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Interestingly, although Positive Practice Guidance was published in 2009, there are currently no geographical areas listed as having a special interest in specifically rolling out psychological therapies to people with [read the full story…]