Depression, Anxiety Pass from Parents to Kids “Children of parents with anxiety disorders are up to seven times more likely than others to develop anxiety problems themselves, research shows, and children of depressed parents also are at high risk for becoming depressed. Two new studies suggest that talking to therapists can break the cycle, reducing the risk of mental health problems in children and teens. Both studies released this week focused on "cognitive behavior therapy," in which patients learn to reframe the way they think about upsetting events to avoid falling into a depressive spiral. Adolescence could be the best time to try to prevent depression, because most depressed adults say their problems started in their teen years, says Judy Garber of Nashville's Vanderbilt University, author of a study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. About one in five teens experience depression by age 18.”

Earliest symptoms discriminating juvenile-onset bipolar illness from ADHD. (Bipolar Disord. 2009)

Sinus infections may cause toxic shock in children “"It is imperative that physicians, particularly those who are providing intensive care to children, recognize that rhinosinusitis can be the sole cause of toxic shock syndrome in children," Chan and colleagues wrote.”

Abused Kids Face Higher Cancer Risk “"One important avenue for future research is to investigate dysfunctions in cortisol production -- the hormone that prepares us for 'fight or flight' -- as a possible mediator in the abuse-cancer relationship," she said in a news release from the university. "Few talk about childhood physical abuse and cancer in the same breath," Esme Fuller-Thomson, of the University of Toronto's faculty of social work and department of family and community medicine, said in the news release. "From a public health perspective, it's extremely important that clinicians be aware of the full range of risk factors for cancer. This research provides important new knowledge about a potential childhood abuse-cancer relationship." “

Canada to ban phthalates in toys, vinyl bibs: Chemical can cause liver, kidney damage in young children

Early Bedtime May Help Stave Off Teen Depression “Teens whose parents pack them off to bed at 10 p.m. are less apt to become depressed or have suicidal thoughts than their peers who stay up much later, recent research shows. "This study bolsters the argument that a lack of sleep can cause depression," said study author James Gangwisch, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. "Teens with earlier parental-mandated bedtimes were less likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts." “

Newborn weights affected by environmental contaminants “Recent epidemiological studies have revealed an increase in the frequency of genital malformations in male newborns (e.g., un-descended testes) and a decrease in male fertility. The role played by the growing presence in our environment of contaminants that reduce male hormone action could explain this phenomenon.”

People With Parents Who Fight Are More Likely To Have Mental Health Problems In Later Life

Pesticide Susceptibility In Children Lasts Longer Than Expected “"Current EPA standards of exposure for some pesticides assume children are 3 to 5 times more susceptible than adults, and for other pesticides the standards assume no difference," said Nina Holland, UC Berkeley adjunct professor of environmental health sciences and senior author of the paper. "Our study is the first to show quantitatively that young children may be more susceptible to certain organophosphate pesticides up to age 7. Our results suggest that the EPA standards need to be re-examined to determine if they are adequately protecting the most vulnerable members of the population." “

Studies Suggest Physicians Should Be Vigilant for Serious H1N1 Infection in Young “The pattern of the swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) seen in March and April of this year suggests that people exposed to H1N1 strains during childhood before the 1957 flu pandemic will be relatively protected from severe illness, according to a study in the June 29 Online First issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The study, which appears along with a case series describing some of the first patients to be hospitalized with confirmed H1N1 and pneumonia, paint a picture of the early days of the pandemic and highlight that the virus can cause serious illness in a younger population. “

Teens who move a lot have twice suicide risk

Rear-Facing Car Seats Advised for Children Under 4 Years of Age

Sudden infant death syndrome. (Am Fam Physician. 2009)