People With Borderline Personality Disorder May Misinterpret Facial Emotions THURSDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Symptoms of borderline personality disorder often mimic traits of other psychiatric disorders, complicating diagnosis and treatment. But researchers in Canada say they have identified a characteristic that may be unique to borderline personality disorder: a tendency to misinterpret emotions expressed by the face. "They have difficulty processing facial emotions and will see a negative emotio...

Got an Itch? Mouse Study May Help Explain Why THURSDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- The sensation of itching is hardwired into the nervous system and can be traced back to a small molecule released in the spinal cord, according to a new study in mice. Researchers say this molecule, known as natriuretic polypeptide b (Nppb), triggers a signal that passes through the central nervous system. Ultimately, this signal is experienced as an itch. Since the nervous systems of humans and mice are similar, the rese...

Low Prenatal Iodine May Affect Child's Brain Development THURSDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Mild to moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy may have a negative long-term impact on children's brain development, British researchers report. Low levels of the so-called "trace element" in an expectant mother's diet appear to put her child at risk of poorer verbal and reading skills during the preteen years, the study authors found. Pregnant women can boost their iodine levels by eating enough dairy pro...

Cost of Treating Strokes in U.S. Could Soar to $180B Annually by 2030: Report WEDNESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Over the next two decades, the cost of treating strokes in the United States is expected to more than double, topping more than $180 billion a year, according to new research. The main factor driving the increase: an aging population. The report, from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association, was published May 22 in the journal Stroke . "Strokes will absolut...

Fish Oil Pills Might Cut Diabetes Risk, Researchers Say WEDNESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Fish oil supplements could help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, new research suggests. The supplements, also known as omega-3 fatty acids, increase levels of a hormone called adiponectin that's linked to insulin sensitivity, Harvard researchers found. Higher levels of this hormone in the bloodstream have also been linked to a lower risk for heart disease. "While prior animal studies found fish oil increase...

Underactive Thyroid and Heart Failure a Bad Combination: Study WEDNESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- People with heart failure are more likely to experience poorer health from having a thyroid gland that is even mildly underactive, according to a new study. And among black patients, the researchers found an increased risk of death linked to the condition, which is known as hypothyroidism. "This study is the first to show that African-Americans who have hypothyroidism face a greater risk of death than pa...

Migraine, Chronic Back Pain Tied to Higher Suicide Risk WEDNESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- People who endure chronic migraines or back pain are more likely to attempt suicide, whether or not they also suffer from depression or another psychiatric condition, according to a new study. "Clinicians who are seeing patients with certain pain conditions should be aware they are at increased risk of suicide," said study co-author Mark Ilgen, of the Veterans Affairs Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource a...

Having Both Migraines, Depression May Mean Smaller Brain WEDNESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Migraines and depression can each cause a great deal of suffering, but new research indicates the combination of the two may be linked to something else entirely -- a smaller brain. Already aware that people with migraines face double the risk of depression, scientists wanted to determine if having both conditions together affected total brain volume. The difference in size -- about 2 percent -- isn't alarming...

Weather Worries Can Threaten a Child's Mental Health TUESDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- The monstrous tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., on Monday, killing dozens of adults and children, is a stunning example of violent weather that can affect a child's mental well-being. But even thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds can be emotionally upsetting, too, health experts note. Some anxiety in the face of violent weather is normal. But some children develop storm phobias that interfere with their...

Antidepressants May Be Helpful for Some Heart Patients: Study TUESDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Use of the antidepressant Lexapro appears to help prevent a potentially serious stress-related heart condition, a new study finds. The condition is known as known as "mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia." Although people with this condition may not develop noticeable symptoms, their heart muscle is not receiving adequate blood supply, according to researchers from Duke University School of Medicine in...