Grand Challenges

Depression

UCLA researchers develop therapy to treat PTSD, depression

Veteran Ron Ramirez discusses the trigeminal nerve stimulation neuromodulation device with Andrew Leuchter, director of the Neuromodulation Division at UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and a psychiatry professor.

CalFoto

Research conducted by Andrew Leuchter (Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science) and David Geffen School of Medicine’s Ian Cook (department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences) and Christopher DeGiogio (department of Neurology) is currently underway to figure out the effectiveness of the NeuroSigma Inc. electric patch, a box about the size of a deck of cards. Patients can use it to self-administer trigeminal nerve stimulation, or TNS. The therapy has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms in veterans with PTSD and major depressive disorders.

Federal panel recommends general physicians screen all adults for depression

A federal task force recommends that physicians screen pregnant and postpartum women for depression — as well as all other adults.

Nelson Freimer, director of the Depression Grand Challenge, comments on the federal panel’s recommendation that general physicians screen all adults for depression and provide treatment and further recognizes the promise of the DGC.

Resilience Peer Network to supplement student mental health services

The Resilience Peer Network, a peer-to-peer counseling service, will be implemented in the spring to supplement Counseling and Psychological Services.

Daily Bruin file photo

The UCLA Student Affairs office and UCLA Campus and Student Resilience are partnering with the Depression Grand Challenge to provide students with peer-to-peer counseling outside of a clinical setting. UCLA psychologists will train student volunteers in active listening and suicide prevention, among other skills.

Source: Resilience Peer Network to supplement student mental health services Daily Bruin, 19 Jan. 2016

Additional coverage of the Depression Grand Challenge on campus:

All of Us town hall encourages wider discourse on mental health issues UCLA Newsroom, 27 Jan. 2016

Depression

UCLA scientists create graphene barrier to precisely control molecules for making nanoelectronics

Paul Weiss (California Nanosystems Institute, department of chemistry and biochemistry) and a team of scientists developed a technique to precisely control molecules for making nanelectronics. This technique would make it much more efficient to build nanoelectronic and nanobioelectronic devices that could measure brain cell and circuit function in real time. Neurosensors that could measure brain cell and circuit function immediately could provide further insight into diseases like depression and provide further support to the Depression Grand Challenge.

Many Black Students Don’t Seek Help for Mental-Health Concerns, Survey Finds

African-American students feel less emotionally prepared for college than white students do, and they’re also more likely to keep their worries to themselves, according to the results of a national poll released on Wednesday. Black students also didn’t seek help as often as white students for their mental and emotional problems when experiencing depression, anxiety, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Happenings