How Does Mental Health Affect Your Sleep?
Contributed By: Rose MacDowell, Sleepopolis
Expert Verified By: Dr. Nicole Moshfegh, Psy.D.
The term mental health describes emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Mental health affects not just how we feel, but how we think and behave. Our psychological condition determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
There are more than 200 types of mental illness, which is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as “a health condition involving changes in emotion, thinking, and behavior.” Mental illness is based in the brain and can have a significant impact on relationships and quality of life.
Note: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of medical advice and supervision from a trained professional. If you feel you may be suffering from any sleep disorder or medical condition, please see your healthcare provider immediately.
Mental Illness: Causes and Symptoms
Mental health problems can affect self-esteem, happiness, and basic functions, such as eating and sleeping. (1) Social and financial success is strongly influenced by psychological wellness, including self-awareness and our ability to exercise self-control.
Many factors contribute to mental health issues, including:
Genes and brain chemistry
Family history of mental health problems
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Mental health issues run the gamut from minor difficulty with daily living to full-blown psychosis. Treatment can have a significant impact on the course and outlook of psychological issues, making early detection crucial.
Mental illness can appear in early childhood or not until adulthood. (2) Some psychological issues may not emerge until later in life and can be influenced by certain drugs and medical conditions. There are numerous warning signs of mental health issues. These vary depending on the nature of the condition, and may include:
Eating or sleeping too much or too little
Withdrawing from relationships and usual activities
Having low or no energy
Feeling numb
Experiencing unexplained aches and pains
Feeling helpless or hopeless
FAQ
Q: What is the most common mental illness?A: Depression, a mood disorder that affects 300 million people worldwide, is the single most common mental illness. Anxiety disorders are more prevalent overall.
Psychological difficulties increase the risk of troubled relationships with family and friends. (3) Interpersonal conflict can be caused by irritability and mood swings, or feelings such as fear and anger. Other cognitive signs associated with mental health issues include worry, confusion, memory loss, and intrusive thoughts.
More serious mental disorders may cause hallucinations, including hearing voices or believing things that are not true. Suicidal behavior or thoughts of harming another person are also common signs of psychological issues. A person suffering from mental illness may experience paranoia, imagined physical ailments, or the need to abuse drugs or alcohol.
Types of Mental Health Disorders
Each type of mood disorder is characterized by unique signs and symptoms and may co-occur with other disorders. For example, anxiety might occur along with substance abuse, physical complaints, or a sleep disorder like insomnia.
The following are some of the most common mental health disorders:
Anxiety Disorders. People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread. Anxiety disorders can include panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, and phobias. (4) Symptoms of anxiety include:
Fatigue
Feelings of restlessness or irritability
Difficulty focusing or learning new concepts
Chronic pain or muscle tension
Trouble controlling feelings of worry
Problems sleeping, including the inability to sleep, unsatisfying sleep, or excessive sleeping
Psychiatric Disorders in Children. Common psychiatric disorders in children include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a neurodevelopmental disorder that usually persists into adulthood. Symptoms include impulsiveness, trouble focusing on tasks or conversations, restlessness, and feeling easily frustrated. Oppositional defiant disorder is part of a spectrum known as disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder include hostility toward and lack of cooperation with teachers, parents, and other authority figures. (5)
Eating Disorders. Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors related to weight and food. Common eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
Substance Use Disorders. Mental health problems and substance abuse disorders often occur together. (6) Substance abuse can be a cause or a result of psychiatric issues, and may be an attempt by some patients to self-medicate or reduce symptoms.
Mood Disorders. Almost one in ten people aged eighteen or older have a mood disorder. Mood disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness, or feelings that fluctuate between extreme happiness and extreme sadness. Mood disorders include:
Depression. Approximately 17.3 million people in the US — 7.1% of adults — suffered from one or more major depressive episodes in the last year. Depression is characterized by sadness and lack of usual enjoyment that continue for two weeks or longer. Grief and sadness related to a change in life circumstances are different from depression, which doesn’t improve in response to external events
Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder affects approximately six million adults in the US, and impacts men and women equally. The disorder is characterized by severe fluctuations in mood, behavior, and thought patterns. Fluctuations can last from a few hours to several months, and may be affected seasonal and light changes
Personality Disorders. People with personality disorders have inflexible personality traits that are distressing to the sufferer and may cause problems in work, school, or social relationships. (7) These disorders are highly resistant to treatment, and include the following:
Antisocial personality disorder, or APD. People with antisocial personality disorder exploit, manipulate, and disregard the feelings of others. APD describes the behavior of sociopaths and psychopaths. Psychopaths do not have a conscience, whereas sociopaths have a conscience that is severely disordered
Narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD. Approximately 1% of people are afflicted with NPD. The disorder is associated with lack of empathy, feelings of superiority, and a need for admiration. Narcissists tend to be easily hurt and are unable to tolerate criticism. Treatment is generally ineffective because people with NPD don’t believe they have a mental health issue
Borderline personality disorder, or BPD. People with borderline personality disorder have trouble regulating their emotions. They tend to act impulsively, resulting in career and relationship difficulties. Of the 1.4% of the population with BPD, 75% are women, though this number may represent misdiagnosis in many men with the disorder
Psychotic Disorders. Psychotic disorders are characterized by abnormal perceptions such as hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are false perceptions that involve hearing or seeing things that don’t exist. Delusions are false beliefs, such as being pursued by authorities or people wishing to do the sufferer harm. The most common psychotic disorder is schizophrenia, which typically appears in the mid to late twenties. Possible causes of schizophrenia include genetic and environmental factors, disordered brain circuitry, trauma, and drug abuse.
Psychosis
Psychosis describes mental conditions that involve loss of contact with reality.
Mental Health and Sleep
One common sign of mental health difficulty is trouble sleeping. (8) The sleep disorder most closely associated with psychiatric disturbances is chronic insomnia. Some common mental illnesses and their effect on sleep include the following:
Depression. Clinical depression often presents with persistent insomnia, or the inability to sleep. (9) Hypersomnia, or excessive drowsiness, can be a sign of depression, as well. Sleep disorders are associated so strongly with depression that some medical practitioners advise caution in diagnosing depression in patients without symptoms of a sleep disorder. Up to 75% of people diagnosed with depression also suffer from insomnia.
Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is strongly associated with the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, fall back to sleep, or all three. People in the manic phase of bipolar disorder often have difficulty sleeping, whereas those in the depressive phase may sleep much more than usual. Studies show that sleep deprivation can aggravate the struggles with emotional regulation that are common in people who are bipolar. (10) For many sufferers, trouble sleeping can be an indication of an approaching manic phase.
Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety is a principal cause of chronic insomnia. Even common anxiety related to work and life circumstances may trigger insomnia. A primary cause of chronic insomnia is conditioned anxiety related to sleep and the bedtime routine. Anxiety’s impact on the body includes hyperactivity of the central nervous system and excessive release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. Studies show a strong association between a history of insomnia and anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. (11)
Borderline Personality Disorder. BPD sufferers with insomnia typically experience the daytime consequences of sleep loss, including sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Symptoms of BPD can be worsened by insomnia, leading to a vicious cycle of sleeplessness and behavioral issues.
Personality Disorders. Some personality disorders may be associated with disturbed sleep patterns. (12) One study revealed that people with circadian rhythm disorder are more likely to have a personality disorder than people with normal sleep and wake cycles.
Psychotic Disorders. Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia can have a profound impact on sleep. Sleep disturbances are often an early sign of schizophrenia and can precede psychiatric symptoms by months or years. Schizophrenia patients are more likely to suffer from other sleep disorders, as well, including:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Restless legs syndrome
Periodic limb movement disorder
Circadian rhythm dysfunction
FAQ
Q: What is circadian rhythm dysfunction?A: Circadian rhythm dysfunction is caused by a loss of synchronization between sleep-wake cycles and natural light and darkness signals. Symptoms include the inability to fall or stay asleep, cognitive dysfunction, and trouble maintaining a traditional sleep schedule.
Does Depression Cause Insomnia, or Vice Versa?
It was once thought that insomnia symptoms resulted from psychiatric disorders and depression, not the other way around. Now the evidence isn’t so clear. Sleep problems may not just be the result of emotional disturbances, they may increase the likelihood of suffering from them, as well.
Medications to treat psychiatric disturbances may also cause insomnia. Psychotropic medications can have stimulating effects that contribute to interrupted sleep. Restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movements may be triggered or exacerbated by antidepressants and other drugs used to treat mood disorders.
An analysis of major studies revealed that volunteers who suffered from insomnia symptoms were twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression as those without sleep difficulties. Why? Though the connection between mood disorders and insomnia isn’t entirely understood, it is well-known that hormones and neurotransmitters are affected by poor sleep. Sleep is a restorative activity that reduces stress in the body and areas of the brain, especially the axis between the hypothalamus and adrenal and pituitary glands. Excess secretion of cortisol — also known as “the stress hormone” — may play a role, as well.
Lack of sleep and the resulting physiological stress may predispose insomnia sufferers to major mood disturbances, making early treatment of sleep disorders essential, especially in people with a family history of mental health issues. (13)
Depression and Other Sleep Disorders
Insomnia is not the only sleep disorder associated with depression and anxiety. (14) Sleep apnea is a common cause of depression, as is hypersomnia. Sleep apnea is characterized by blockage of the airway and repeated awakenings during the night. Chronic sleep apnea can result in weight gain, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and memory problems.
Hypersomnia is associated with excessive time spent sleeping and daytime sleepiness. The disorder can be caused by medical conditions, certain drugs, and immune system dysfunction. Though most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, the need for significantly more can indicate a mood disorder. Like sleep apnea, hypersomnia is related to a greater likelihood of heart attack and stroke.
Hypersomnia
A sleep disorder associated with excessive sleeping. Hypersomnia includes narcolepsy, an autoimmune disease that can cause extreme sleepiness and muscle weakness.
Psychiatric Medications and Sleep
Medications to treat psychological disturbances can have a positive or negative impact on sleep. (15) Most antidepressant medications influence the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, all of which help to regulate sleep and wake cycles. Some can have stimulating effects that contribute to insomnia.
Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements can be triggered or exacerbated by antidepressants and other drugs used to treat mood disorders. (16) These medications can be helpful in patients without movement-related sleep disorders who suffer from hypersomnia.
Other medications such as older tricyclic drugs can help establish healthy sleep patterns in depressed patients with insomnia. Once a depressed patient starts taking medication, insomnia may be the last symptom to improve. Newer antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can suppress the REM stage of sleep, as well as the vivid dreaming that occurs during REM sleep.
Antipsychotic medications can help with insomnia, a common issue for schizophrenia sufferers. Some of these drugs can also cause daytime sleepiness, which may be preferable to insomnia. (17) Hypnotic medications are often prescribed along with antipsychotics, and may initially help with insomnia due to their sedative effects. However, many patients become tolerant of hypnotics or develop a rebound response, which can limit their usefulness for insomnia over the long-term.
Suicidal Behavior and Sleep
Suicidal behavior is a common feature of certain psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder and depression. Suicidal thoughts and actions can also occur in the absence of a psychiatric condition. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people between 15 and 24. Suicide is more likely to be completed by people with access to guns.
Signs of suicidal thoughts and behavior may include the following:
Speaking about suicide or the desire to die
Feeling or talking about feeling hopeless
Researching ways to commit suicide
Appearing anxious or depressed
Excessive use of alcohol, or use of drugs
Exhibiting unusual behavior, such as rage, mood swings, or agitation
Suicidal behavior is often caused by psychiatric conditions, but may also be triggered by difficult life events, stress, loss of a loved one, or past trauma such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Suicidal behavior is also more common in people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic pain.
Recent research reveals that suicidal behavior and lack of sufficient sleep are related in adolescents and adults. (18) People who completed their suicidal actions were more likely to have suffered from insomnia, hypersomnia, or another sleep disturbance. Though further research is needed to better understand this link, existing studies reveal a strong association between mental health and sleep.
FAQ
Q: What is suicidal ideation?A: Suicidal ideation involves thinking about, planning, or considering suicide.
Last Word From Sleepopolis
Mental health is critically important to happiness and well-being. Research reveals a connection between mental illness and disturbed sleep, an association that may exist months or years before psychiatric symptoms appear.
Medications and other mental health treatments can help regulate sleep patterns, but may also cause or worsen insomnia, hypersomnia, and other sleep difficulties. Adjustment of medications or separate treatment of sleep issues can help establish healthy sleep patterns and improve quality of life for people suffering from mental health disorders.
References
Amy C. Watson, Self-Stigma in People With Mental Illness, Schizophrenia Bulletin, January 25, 2007
William Copeland Ph.D., Cumulative Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders by Young Adulthood: A Prospective Cohort Analysis From the Great Smoky Mountains Study, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, March 2011
Alan R. Teo, Social Relationships and Depression: Ten-Year Follow-Up from a Nationally Representative Study, Plos One, April 30, 2013
Peter J. Norton, Transdiagnostic models of anxiety disorder: Theoretical and empirical underpinnings, Clinical Psychology Review, August 2017
Martin B. Keller, MD, The Disruptive Behavioral Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Comorbidity and Clinical Course, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, March 1992
Robert E Drake, et al. A systematic review of psychosocial research on psychosocial interventions for people with co-occurring severe mental and substance use disorders, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, January 2008
Tyrer P, Mulder R, Crawford M, Newton-Howes G, Simonsen E, Ndetei D, Koldobsky N, Fossati A, Mbatia J, Barrett B., Personality disorder: a new global perspective, World Psychiatry, February 2010
Krahn LE., Psychiatric disorders associated with disturbed sleep, Seminars in Neurology, March 25, 2005
Chiara Baglioni et al., Insomnia as a predictor of depression: A meta-analytic evaluation of longitudinal epidemiological studies, Journal of Affective Disorders, December 2011
Harvey AG, Talbot LS, Gershon A, Sleep Disturbance in Bipolar Disorder Across the Lifespan, Clinical Psychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, April 8, 2012
Heidemarie Blumenthal, et al., The Links Between Social Anxiety Disorder, Insomnia Symptoms, and Alcohol Use Disorders: Findings From a Large Sample of Adolescents in the United States, Behavior Therapy, January 2019
Yaron Dagan, High prevalence of personality disorders among Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders (CRSD) patients, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, October 1996
Liu X, Buysse DJ, Gentzler AL, Kiss E, Mayer L, Kapornai K, Vetró A, Kovacs M., Insomnia and hypersomnia associated with depressive phenomenology and comorbidity in childhood depression, Sleep, January 30, 2007
Nutt D, Wilson S, Paterson L., Sleep disorders as core symptoms of depression, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, September 2008
DeMartinis NA, Winokur A., Effects of psychiatric medications on sleep and sleep disorders, CNS and Neurological Disorders Drug Targets, February 6, 2007
Staner L., Sleep disturbances, psychiatric disorders, and psychotropic drugs, Dialogues in Clincal Neuroscience, December 7, 2005
Waite F, Myers E, Harvey AG, Espie CA, Startup H, Sheaves B, Freeman D., Treating Sleep Problems in Patients with Schizophrenia, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, May 2016
Goldstein TR, Bridge JA, Brent DA., Sleep Disturbance Preceding Completed Suicide in Adolescents, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, February 17, 2010
Original article: https://sleepopolis.com/education/how-does-mental-health-affect-your-sleep/
Rose MacDowell
Rose is the Chief Research Officer at Sleepopolis, which allows her to indulge her twin passions for dense scientific studies and writing about health and wellness. An incurable night owl, she loves discovering the latest information about sleep and how to get (lots) more of it. She is a published novelist who has written everything from an article about cheese factories to clock-in instructions for assembly line workers in Belgium. One of her favorite parts of her job is connecting with the best sleep experts in the industry and utilizing their wealth of knowledge in the pieces she writes. She enjoys creating engaging articles that make a difference in people’s lives. Her writing has been reviewed by The Boston Globe, Cosmopolitan, and the Associated Press, and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. When she isn’t musing about sleep, she’s usually at the gym, eating extremely spicy food, or wishing she were snowboarding in her native Colorado. Active though she is, she considers staying in bed until noon on Sundays to be important research.
Mind Boosting Benefits of Music Therapy
How Music Helps with Mental Health – Mind Boosting Benefits of Music Therapy
By Will Tottle
www.myaudiosound.co.uk/music-therapy-benefits/
“If you were to look at those brains, you couldn’t tell the difference between people who were interacting through music and people who were interacting verbally” – Edward Roth
Music has been with us for thousands of years as a form of entertainment, communication, celebration, and mourning. There are so many different emotions that music can help us to express, and it is a language that we share universally, as well as one that everyone can understand.
The style of music that we listen to most and enjoy may change every decade, but that sense of communication and feeling always remains. If you, or someone close to you, suffer from mental health conditions, you may find that they listen to music quite a lot, or even play it.
Music has a way of helping us express emotions that we don’t even understand ourselves, and can put these feelings into meaningful lyrics, or just a tune that resonates with every fibre of our being.
For many, music is a lifeline that keeps them tethered to the world, and without it, so many of us would be lost entirely. It is because of this link that music therapy was developed, and it is a great way to learn how to channel your feelings and combat mental illness. As someone who suffers from crippling anxiety and waves of depression, I have always been interested in trying this form of therapy out.
Whether you like to play the music or listen to it, you might be surprised to discover how beneficial this form of treatment can be, and in this extensive article, we look at the different ways in which music therapy can boost mental health.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is classed as a form of expressive therapy that works to improve physical and mental health through the expression of emotions. There are two forms of music therapy, and these are called active and receptive. In the former, you will create music with your therapist or group (depending on the type of therapy you have sought).
This helps you to deal with emotions, alleviate stress, and can even relieve the symptoms of conditions like Alzheimer’s (something we will look at later). Receptive music therapy, on the other hand, is where you listen to music while you draw or partake in other relaxing activities.
In short, music therapy tends to consist of three potential activities: playing music, singing, or listening to music. You can either create your own music or learn to play specific pieces that you will practice and develop over time – it depends on your personal preferences. You also have plenty of choices, as you can decide what kind of music therapy you take as well as the type of music that you play.
One thing that makes a lot of people nervous is the fact that they do not know how to play a musical instrument. The great thing is that you don’t need to worry about that. Music therapy tends to involve instruments similar to the following: Drums, Cymbals, Wood blocks, Bells, Simple harps, Xylophone, Tambourines, Maracas.
These are basic instruments that don’t require skill or knowledge, and you can still have a great deal of fun playing them. Plus, they are just as expressive as a guitar or piano.
What Can it Do for Mental Health?
So how does this form of therapy impact mental health, and what kind of general advantages can it have? We will look at the ways in which it can help specific mental illnesses later, but for now, here is what you can expect it to do for you as a whole.
For starters, music therapy starts conversation, and it gets you talking about topics that you would have otherwise found difficult to discuss by having you rework lyrics, but also analysing the words that go with some of the songs you love the most. It creates a relaxed environment in which to talk, and one that doesn’t feel frightening or like actual therapy – allowing you to talk about past and present feelings alike without fear of judgement.
Leading on from this, you may also get the chance to write your own songs. This engages the creative parts of your mind, and rewards you with a sense of pride and self-worth. You can choose the instruments that go with the way you are feeling and create something truly expressive.
Through playing the instruments and improvising new melodies, emotional expression is encouraged, as is better socialisation – especially if you are in a therapy group. It allows you to explore different ways of expressing emotion, and the sounds that are associated with things like rage, joy, and grief. You can also use it to learn how to control these emotions over time, using the music to transition between them.
You can listen to music in order to regulate your mood, and this is because of the way in which music is repetitive and engages the neocortex of the brain – calming you and reducing the desire to be impulsive. Music therapy will help you to stop matching the music to your mood, as depressing music can leave us stuck in a loop – a symptom that we explore later on.
This teaches you better habits when listening to music, and can leave you with a boosted mood. To summarise, here are the top things music therapy can help you with:
Express yourself and talk about feelings you find difficult to process/discuss
Deal with past trauma and emotions
Improve social skills and emotion regulation
Give you better faith and confidence in yourself
Before we move onto how music can help with specific mental health issues, here are some interesting statistics for you to look at, displaying how many people (roughly) in the USA and UK suffer from mental health issues and try to commit suicide.
Mental Health Problem
UK Statistics
USA Statistics
Generalised Anxiety Disorder 5.9/100 people 3.1%
Depression 3.3/100 people 8.3%
Phobias 2.4/100 people 8.7%
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 1.3/100 people 1%
Panic Disorder 0.6/100 people 2.7%
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 4.4/100 people 3.5%
Psychotic Disorder 0.7/100 people >1%
Bipolar Disorder 2.0/100 people 2.6%
Antisocial Personality Disorder 3.3/100 people 4%
Borderline Personality Disorder 2.4/100 people 1.6%
Mixed Anxiety and Depression 7.8/100 people 6.7%
Suicidal Thoughts 20.6/100 people 4%
Suicide Attempts 6.7/100 people 0.5%
Self-Harm 7.3/100 people 4% (adult) 15% (teen)
Never feel as though you are alone if you are struggling with your mental health. There are people you can call for help no matter where you are or what time it is. Below, you will find the top numbers to call for the UK and the USA if you find yourself in need of help.
UK: Samaritans (24/7) 116 123
USA: Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7) 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Music therapy has only really become popular over the past couple of years, and as a result, there is not as much research as we would like for every mental health condition. To help you as much as we can, we have taken the mental illnesses with the most research and evidence, placing them here so that you can see the ways in which music therapy can help, and maybe even apply them to yourself if we are not able to cover it here.
Anxiety (General and Social)
Anxiety comes in many forms, from a mild version that causes some disturbance to a crippling beast that you just can’t shake. Regardless of the form you live with, it is a difficult illness to have, but also one that might be able to benefit from the excellence of music therapy.
When listening to music, or creating it, the levels of cortisol in our bodies is lowered dramatically, and this also decreases your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. It creates a more relaxed environment, and the longer you spend listening to/creating it in a chilled location, the better you are going to feel. Plus, it creates an enhanced feeling of satisfaction and pride when you create something.
Social anxiety works in much the same way, and spending some time listening to music will help you to feel calmer and more confident in your abilities and the plans you have made. Case studies have shown that patients who underwent music therapy for their anxiety ended up feeling less anxious and more relaxed by the time it was over, and this is a very positive step forward.
Depression
One of the things we look at later on is the fact that sad music can actually make you feel more depressed than you were before, and so you need to try something different. Depression can be hard to cope with, regardless of how severe or mild your strain is, and music is often a great tool to help combat these feelings of failure and inadequacy.
NHS studies found that those who took music therapy courses were less likely to drop out of the sessions and had a higher attendance rating than those who took part in normal counselling. After three months of music therapy, the depression levels in the patients were much lower than when they left – especially when compared to the group that was receiving standard care.
Music can also reduce your blood pressure, leaving you feeling more relaxed and comfortable while you listen to tunes or create new ones. Being able to create something beautiful also offers you a sense of validation and self-worth, while also providing you with a good dose of serotonin to boost your mood and leave your day ending on a brighter note.
On the whole, music therapy gets you to socialise with others and express yourself, while also giving you the chance to grab onto a little happiness while you ride the wave out and start feeling a little normal again.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Whether you have been through singular or multiple traumas, there is a chance that you may have PTSD. This often consists of feelings of anxiety, tension, and dread, as well as vivid nightmares (or night terrors) and flashbacks to the event in question. Any way you slice it, this condition is not a kind one, and it can be very difficult to live with and try to overcome.
Studies have shown that PTSD can be successfully calmed with music. They show that music can actually reduce prominent symptoms of PTSD like emotionally-dysregulating intrusions, avoidance, mood swings, arousal, and high reactivity. It can lead to an improved ability to function properly, meaning that you can try to live your life as normally as possible once the music therapy starts to kick in.
The music works by triggering a release of good chemicals and hormones throughout the body, like dopamine and serotonin. These are able to work to distract the body from negative thoughts that have started, but also help to boost your mood overall so that you can start to feel a little better in yourself.
The music travels through the brain and to the auditory cortex, which is linked to emotion, memory, and body control, so your mind can work together to create a more calming environment.
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Contrary to popular belief, OCD is not all about cleaning and washing your hands. It is also intrusive thoughts that won’t leave you alone and harmful habits that you never seem to be able to stop. It can be a stressful way to live, and one that feels as though you never get any respite from. Music can provide a little escape from your own mind, and be very beneficial while doing so.
There is a lot of pent-up frustration with OCD, and studies by Jose Van Den Hurk have shown that playing music can help those with OCD to properly express the way they feel over time, and as they become more comfortable around their therapist.
This form of expression can even lead to physical talks about the way they are feeling and what they are struggling with. Music therapy can also increase spontaneity and the willingness to try something new and unpredictable.
The OCD mind is often locked in routine, and the notion of doing something that has not been planned gets your mind out of that and has you focus on better and more positive things. It shuts down the thoughts that have been flooding through your mind because it is flowing and does not get stuck in loops like your head.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
While it is most commonly associated with children, ADHD does last into adulthood, and it can be just as difficult to cope with. A lack of concentration and focus, as well as seemingly endless energy, can leave those that have the condition feeling drained and frustrated. The mind has too much going on, and there feels like it’s impossible to refocus it.
Music therapy has been shown to increase the amount of dopamine produced by the body, and this is the neurotransmitter responsible for concentration and working memory. People with ADHD have low levels of it, and so music provides a good and increased dose to keep things running smoothly. It also engages both sides of the brain, helping them to become stronger and also boosting creativity.
Due to both sides being activated at once, it also means that you can improve your concentration, and the distracted part of the mind is able to focus on the music while you concentrate on something else. This is part of improving multi-tasking as well as audio-processing and smoother thought processes.
Structure is an important part of life for those with ADHD, and music is always structured in some way – whether it’s in the lyrics or the very beat itself. The fact that it is so organised has a soothing effect, and also means that those with ADHD can start to learn how to lead more ordered lives. This is very positive because the ADHD mind needs a lot of routine to function efficiently.
Autism
Like ADHD, autism is a condition that lasts for life, and there are millions of adults across the world who have autism. It is a spectrum disorder, and it changes the way we think, feel, and behave. Symptoms can vary depending on where you are on the autism spectrum, and so music can yield different results depending on who you try it with.
There are many autistic adults that are non-verbal, and this makes trying to communicate a very stressful and frustrating task. However, music has been shown to aid this process – giving them a language that they can use to talk to those around them and tell everyone exactly how they feel. There have even been some cases where they have started to use words as well as the music, which is a massive breakthrough.
For everyone on the spectrum, it is a new way to communicate, improving social skills while also reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Since those with autism tend to show a higher interest in music than the average person, it is a great way to get people engaged and talking to each other.
Much like those with ADHD, people with autism also like structure and routine, something that music is full of, and it can invoke a sense of calm, as well as further interest in creating set rhythms of their own.
Insomnia
It is a surprisingly common condition, the inability to fall asleep at night because the mind is racing with thoughts. We all have a hormone called noradrenaline, and this is what causes us to be watchful and alert, which is great when we are awake, but not so much when we are sleeping.
If you have too much noradrenaline in your system, you will feel more stressed and anxious, as well as find yourself completely unable to sleep. It can affect your ability to function, but listening to music is able to help – even if it’s just for 45 minutes before you fall asleep.
It can lead to much better sleep quality, improved mood, and even improved concentration. Once you are able to fall into a regular sleep pattern with the help of your music, you may even start to benefit from deeper sleep – leaving you very well rested.
While the elderly can, and often do, suffer from all of the mental illnesses we have mentioned above (and more), there are also some that tend to affect older people far more frequently. It is in this section that we take a look at each of them and the ways in which music can help to alleviate symptoms and boost their mood.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is actually a form of dementia, and it can cause cognitive difficulties, like memory loss, perception, and learning. Additionally, it can cause severe mood swings and sudden bouts of anger, and even violence. It’s a difficult and progressive disease, but there have been some promising results from music therapy.
The way in which music therapy works is by creating a relaxing environment in which those who suffer from Alzheimer’s can create music together or sing songs that resonate in a positive manner with each of them. This can alleviate feelings of stress, anxiety, and social isolation because they are in a group and interacting with each other.
On a related note, there has also been a lot of research into sound waves and how they might be able to pause Alzheimer’s symptoms. It is an interesting branch when it comes to finding a cure for the condition, and it does involve a form of music therapy – although it is one that is less diverse and interactive.
Dementia
This is caused by changes in the brain, usually as a result of disease or trauma, and they can happen very quickly or over a long period of time – it’s down to the individual. It is a cognitive disease, which means it affects things like decision making, judgement, memory, verbal communication, special awareness, and general thought and reasoning.
However, music therapy has had a massively positive impact on dementia sufferers. It is an interactive and engaging activity that helps them to express thoughts and feelings, as well as connect with others around them, so they don’t feel as isolated anymore.
On top of all the social benefits, it can also boost physical activity as the music often results in participants getting up and dancing. This enhances mood, leaving you feeling way better than you did on arrival.
Loneliness
We’ve mentioned the concept of music therapy alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation a few times, but it is good to have all the key information in one place. Music therapy is a way for everyone to get together in one place, share ideas, and collaborate in order to create new music together.
It is both a social exercise and one that increases mood, as well as alleviates anxiety, stress, and depression. It’s a helpful and beneficial practice overall – both for the elderly and younger generations.
Even kids can benefit from music and music therapy, and you may be surprised to discover just how much it can benefit them. In this section, we look at some common conditions, as well as the effect music has on children before they are even born – giving you better insight into how your child might be able to take advantage of it.
Autism
Just as in adults, autism is a spectrum, and as such music therapy can have a different effect on each of the people who take part in it. While music therapy works excellently across the spectrum, some of the best and most exciting results are in those who are non-verbal, meaning that they cannot speak, or have a very limited ability to do so.
Studies have shown that those who are non-verbal have been able to use music therapy as a way to interact and express emotions that they otherwise would not be able to because they do not have the words. Even very basic instruments, like cymbals, are a great way for them to express themselves.
It allows them to socialise and discover a new language, and brain scans show that the area where language is stored looks the same in those communicating with music, as it does those with words. Regardless of where a child is on the spectrum, music therapy can help them to achieve the following:
The ability to listen better
Spontaneous play
The desire to communicate and engage with others
The ability to build better relationships
The ability to express themselves
Language development through songs
Learning to share and take turns
Boost the imagination and creativity
Strengthen muscles and coordination
The reason for all of these good things is that music therapy creates a relaxed and enjoyable environment where they are stimulated and engaged, and all of this combined creates positive results for them as they grow and learn.
ADHD
It can be hard having ADHD because you are so full of energy and unable to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes. Your mind is moving at a million miles an hour, and it is hard to get it to stop. Music therapy, however, can help with a few of the symptoms quite effectively.
You see, music consists of rhythm, and rhythm is a form of structure, and this appeals to the ADHD mind because all it wants is structure and organisation. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end, so everything is anticipated, and in the long run, it can help a child with ADHD learn planning and organisation so that they can lead a more structured life.
ADHD brains have a pretty low dopamine level, and this is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, attention, and working memory. Music activates both sides of the brain, which means everything is engaged, and the activated brain muscles are able to become stronger – boosting things like motivation and the ability to focus.
Music therapy also gives kids a chance to get up and dance, allowing themselves to move freely and burn some of that pent-up energy. It also doubles up as a form of expression, as dance is a very emotive activity, allowing them to engage with others and tell them how they are feelingthrough the combination of music and dance.
It is a fun experience for those with ADHD, but also a social one. It can be hard to know how to act appropriately, especially for children, and music encourages socialisation through song and playing instruments. They learn how to work together when creating song lyrics, as well as a musical number that they can perform in the group.
Infant Development
This is an interesting area, and studies have shown that playing music while a foetus is growing and developing in the womb will make them more responsive to it after birth. This means that some babies may find that music relaxes and soothes them when they become distressed, helping them to sleep and stay a little quieter.
Preterm babies that are exposed to music tend to have increased feeding rates, reduced days to discharge, increased weight gain, and a better tolerance of stimulation. After therapy, they may even have reduced heart rates and deeper sleep.
We all have songs that help us get through the most difficult times. Personally, I really enjoy listening to sounds of the ocean when I am really struggling, or Zen music. However, I know others that like to listen to heavy metal in order to start feeling alright again. There’s no wrong answer for which music to listen to in order to help your mental health, but I do have a few good suggestions you might want to try.
Anxiety and Social Anxiety
Interestingly, there is an actual song that was developed for relieving anxiety, and it can reduce the feelings and symptoms by up to 65% - which is pretty remarkable. Created by Marconi Union in collaboration with sound therapists, the song Weightless consists of a series of carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms and bass lines that are there to slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and the stress hormone cortisol.
Generally speaking, slower music like the songs sung by Adele and even some Coldplay singles are ideal for reliving those tight and tense feelings of anxiety – but you should have Marconi Union at the top of your list. You can also try these Binaural Beats on YouTube; you might find them to be quite relaxing.
Depression
The most important thing you can do when you are feeling depressed is resist the sad music on your phone or in your CD collection. Listening to sad music does more harm than good, and can actually lower your mood and leave you feeling worse than before. Instead, you need upbeat and uplifting songs on your playlist to really help you fight the battle and win against your depression.
Artists like Pharrell Williams, who creates music that is catchy and focuses on positive emotions are the best ones to listen to when you are trying to relieve your depression. Walk On by U2 and Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammar are just another two songs that can really help to boost your mood and assist you with getting through difficult times. My personal favourite? Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac.
Stress
Much like with anxiety, if you want to reduce stress (and therefore the hormone cortisol that creates it), you are going to want to listen to music with a soft and gentle rhythm. It will lower your blood pressure, relieve tension, and help you to feel a little less worried about the road ahead. It’s a great coping strategy, and a healthy one.
The album In My Time by Yanni has no vocals. Instead, it is a beautiful combination of piano and orchestra – creating a soothing and relaxing atmosphere that you can melt into. More than that, each track on the album has uplifting undertones to boost your mood. Maroon 5 is an excellent band to look at for stress relief, and the album Songs by Jane is filled with mellow and upbeat songs to brighten your day and calm the soul.
PTSD
Studies have shown that the best music for PTSD contains low pitches, have a steady beat, and is slow. In addition to this, it can be very beneficial to use binaural beats and isochronic tones, each of which triggers a chemical reaction in the brain to help calm the mind and relieve feelings of terror and anxiety.
This particular YouTube soundtrack has been created specifically for PTSD, and it contains carefully embedded binaural beats that can help with sleep and feelings of calm. It also lasts for an hour, so you can spend time meditating and really focussing on the music. There are quite a few binaural tracks out there that you can look at, but the one we have suggested is certainly in the top five.
OCD
As the music helps you to focus on the song as opposed to obsessive and intrusive thoughts, it is important to consider your song choice carefully. Honestly, there is not a specific type of music that can help, although some sufferers feel that binaural beats can be quite refreshing.
As long as the song help you to focus on other things, you are good to go. Some of the top suggestions from OCD sufferers have been Heavy by Linkin Park and this classical music selection that is said to be able to free you from your OCD symptoms for a time.
ADHD
The ADHD mind can become distracted easily and lose focus, and so music with lyrics can actually assist with that interruption and cause a new focus for the mind. As a result, many ADHD sufferers have found that listening to classical music, or music with no lyrics in general, can help to keep the mind focused on the task at hand, as well as giving the part of the brain that interrupts you something to focus on.
Bach, Mozart, and Handel are just some of the artists that can create a peaceful background while you try to work, keeping your mind on what you are doing in the present moment. There is also a company called Focus at Will, and this creates soundtracks to suit the type of thinker you are, but also has one dedicated to those with ADHD – adults and kids alike. You might want to try it out.
Autism
Due to the fact that autism is such a vast spectrum, the type of music that helps varies from person to person, and where they are on it. Plus, there are times where music can make things worse – such as if it is put on when a person is suffering from a sensory overload. However, there are some ideas for what might help you out, and the songs here are recommended by those that suffer from autism.
The key thing here is that all of the music is soft and mellow, which has a calming effect and will reduce feelings of anxiety and tension. Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles is a popular choice, as is I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons. Similarly, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata can help massively due to its calm melody and lack of lyrics.
Insomnia
When you can’t sleep and spend ages looking up at the ceiling, the last thing you need to listen to is music that has a fast pace and beat. This is because it will boost the amount of noradrenaline that your body is producing, keeping you awake and watchful all through the night. Instead, for 45 minutes before you go to sleep, why not take our music advice? Harmat’s insomnia study in 2008 proved its effectiveness after all.
The songs here are ones that other insomnia sufferers recommend because of their calming melodies. Midnight by Coldplay is a prime example, and the first one you should add to your sleep playlist. Weightless by Marconi Union (a song we talk about more in the anxiety section) is also an excellent choice. Try adding On Melancholy Hill by Gorillaz, as well as Nude by Radiohead.
There are two ways in which you can start music therapy. The first is by getting a referral from your doctor – either for you or your child – and they will send you to a specific centre. Often, this is funded by the NHS. In the USA, there may be some charities that fund music therapy if you cannot afford it. In both the UK and USA, you may be expected to pay for some courses, depending on your age and circumstances.
You can also go directly to music therapy centres yourself and contact them for self-referral to one of their courses. We have gathered some of the top centres in the UK and USA for you to take a look at, so you can see what they offer and the conditions that they are able to help with.
UK Music Therapy Centres:
Nordoff Robbins: Located across the UK
British Association for Music Therapy: Located across the UK
Richmond Music Trust: Located in Twickenham and Teddington
Belltree Music Therapy Centre: Located in Brighton
The Owl Centre: Located across the South of England
USA Music Therapy Centres:
Music Therapy Centre: Located in California
Centre for Music Therapy: Located in Texas
To Conclude
Hopefully, this has helped you to understand what music therapy is, how it works, and the ways in which it might be able to benefit you, or a loved one, who is suffering from a mental illness. There are so many conditions that have yet to be properly explored with music therapy, and we hope that they are added to the list soon so that even more people can experience the incredible benefits.
Generally speaking, soft and steady rhythms seem to be the best choice for most conditions, and it has an amazing way of reducing our stress levels, relieving tension, and generally boosting our mood. Music is a wonderful tool that we do no use enough, and hopefully, this will start getting you interested in seeing if music therapy is something that can work for you.
What did you think of our guide to music and the effect it has on mental health? Did you find the points we made valid and interesting, or were there areas that you think could have been further explored? We love hearing from you, so leave a message in the comments below.
References and Resources List
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Impact-of-Music-Therapy-on-Mental-Health
https://www.bamt.org/music-therapy/what-is-music-therapy/mental-health-care.html
https://www.bamt.org/music-therapy/what-is-music-therapy/autistic-spectrum-conditions.html
https://www.nhs.uk/news/mental-health/music-therapy-helps-treat-depression/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S217358081730072X
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/natural-standard/201306/music-therapy-health-and-wellness
https://newconnectionspsychology.com.au/blog/breaking-down-the-alarming-suicide-statistics/
https://theconversation.com/sad-music-and-depression-does-it-help-66123
https://brainwavepowermusic.com/home/blog/using-music-to-treat-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
https://themighty.com/2018/05/heavy-linkin-park-ocd-mental-illness/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-distracted-couple/201601/music-your-adhd-ears
https://www.additudemag.com/music-for-adhd-focus/?tos=accepted
https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/songs-to-help-you-sleep-insomnia-2142494
http://www.healthcommunities.com/depression/music-therapy-depression-treatment_jhmwp.shtml
https://www.additudemag.com/music-therapy-for-adhd-how-rhythm-builds-focus/
http://www.specialneeds.com/activities/adhd/music-therapy-children-adhd
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/sound-waves-could-help-treat-alzheimers/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455615000064
The following provided by:
Mike Levitsky, Drumsandguitar.com
Choosing to play an instrument is the beginning of a journey. One that is exciting, but often filled with struggle and hard work. It will require you to take in new information and master new skills.
Listed in the link below are some of the many benefits of playing an instrument. When you feel yourself getting discouraged, remember to keep these benefits in mind.
Lessons & benefits of playing a musical instrument
Brief quote from About Mike:
Now I spend most of my time as a youth pastor. I run a youth worship band and lead our adult congregation in worship twice a month. I still teach private music lessons at my house and play the occasional gig. When I have time I post drum and guitar lessons on my youtube channel. Music is a part of everything I do, and I suspect it will be for a long, long time.
The Best Daily Journal Routine for Mental Health
Guest post by: Paige A. Mitchell
Struggling with mental health can be a tough mountain to climb. Living with anxiety, depression, bipolar, or even struggling with anger management can leave you feeling isolated and drowning in your feelings. It doesn’t need to be that way, however. With the right tools and support system, you can manage your mental health to live a happy and healthy life.
Journaling is a great way to start or end your day or even use as a mental release in the middle of the day. The key is to find a journaling routine that works well for you and your lifestyle. To get started, here are a few tips on how to find the best journal routine for your mental health.
Routines are Great for Mental Health
Creating a daily routine offers a wide variety of benefits. It helps boost productivity, helps keep you organized, and it great for maintaining mental health. Consider tying in a daily journaling session each day to help document your feelings, create affirmations for yourself, and help set future goals.
For example, if you’re a morning person, consider starting your day with daily affirmations or a daily devotional to have yourself placed on the right foot for the rest of the day. If you’re an evening person, you may want to document how your day went, the feelings you had paired with certain situations you were placed in, or even create a gratitude journalto help keep your life in perspective and allow you to rest easy each night.
Find a Quiet Place - Void of Any Distractions
Ensuring you are distracted when journaling each day is essential. No matter your location, be it the park, home, a quiet corner at work, or a peaceful coffee shop, make sure you don’t find yourself distracted by the movement around you.
If you are home, make sure you aren’t in a noisy place that could make you lose focus. Make sure the kids aren’t able to interrupt you and all your appliances have been fixed with your home warrantyso that the noise of a faulty washer or dryer doesn’t distract you. If you decide to journal during a break at work, make sure you don’t take any technology with you that would allow a coworker to ask you any work-related questions.
Create A Daily Tracker
For those struggling with depression, having a daily tracker could prove to be a very successful journaling style. While this is something that should be tracked throughout the day, be sure to still spend three minutes in a quiet place contemplating your feelings and why you’re feeling them. Then, at the end of the day, spend a little extra time reflecting on your daily tracker.
Why did you feel a certain way at a certain time? What caused these feelings? Were they unwarranted? Is there a pattern? This strategy could help put your feelings into perspective and also help pinpoint patterns and relationships between different circumstances and your feelings. Maybe there is a meeting each day that makes you anxious. Maybe there is a drink or food item that causes you to feel certain emotions. Evaluate your tracker and if you see an unhealthy pattern, consider adjusting accordingly.
Don’t Spend Too Much Time Each Day On It
Be sure to not spend too much time journaling each day. Carve out no more than an hour each day for journaling and reflection. Spending more than that could cause you to over-analyze your emotions and put too much focus on how you’re feeling, instead of living your life.
Consider this hour each day as a time to relax and focus on mental healing, instead of a chore. That way, your time will be spent purposefully and you will finish your journaling session feeling refreshed, instead of bogged down.
Explore What Journaling Style Works Best
There are a wide variety of journaling techniques that can be practiced. Daily devotionals are typically used in conjunction with scripture. Daily tracking is a journaling style that allows you to document your feelings throughout the day. You can create a gratitude journal that documents a number of items you are grateful for each day. You can also try a stream of consciousness journaling style that unleashing what you are feeling in that given moment.
Try exploring a number of journaling style to determine what works best for you.
Discover the Best Time to Journal
Not all of us are morning people, just like not all of us are night owls. Try and figure out a good time to dedicate to journaling each day, and make sure you journal at that time. Routine is keyhere. The most typical times to journal are right when you wake up or right before you go to sleep, to help avoid any distractions such as the kids being awake, having to take on daily tasks, or work.
Discover the best time to incorporate a journaling routine. Whether it is in the morning or at night, or even if you know you have an hour each day in the afternoon to dedicate to journaling. Carve out that time for a journaling routine to better your mental health.
Mental health disorders common following mild head injury
Risk factors for neuropsychiatric conditions after concussion
January 30, 2019
Science Daily/NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
A new study reveals that approximately 1 in 5 individuals may experience mental health symptoms up to six months after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), suggesting the importance of follow-up care for these patients. Scientists also identified factors that may increase the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or major depressive disorder following mild mTBI or concussion through analysis of the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) study cohort.
"Mental health disorders after concussion have been studied primarily in military populations, and not much is known about these outcomes in civilians," said Patrick Bellgowan, Ph.D., NINDS program director. "These results may help guide follow-up care and suggest that doctors may need to pay particular attention to the mental state of patients many months after injury."
In the study, Murray B. Stein, M.D., M.P.H., professor at the University of California San Diego, and his colleagues investigated mental health outcomes in 1,155 people who had experienced a mild TBI and were treated in the emergency department. At three, six, and 12 months after injury, study participants completed various questionnaires related to PTSD and major depressive disorder. For a comparison group, the researchers also surveyed individuals who had experienced orthopedic traumatic injuries, such as broken legs, but did not have head injury.
The results showed that at three and six months following injury, people who had experienced mTBI were more likely than orthopedic trauma patients to report symptoms of PTSD and/or major depressive disorder. For example, three months after injury, 20 percent of mTBI patients reported mental health symptoms compared to 8.7 percent of orthopedic trauma patients. At six months after injury, mental health symptoms were reported by 21.2 percent of people who had experienced head injury and 12.1 percent of orthopedic trauma patients.
Dr. Stein and his team also used the data to determine risk factors for PTSD and major depressive disorder after mTBI. The findings revealed that lower levels of education, self-identifying as African-American, and having a history of mental illness increased risk. In addition, if the head injury was caused by an assault or other violent attack, that increased the risk of developing PTSD, but not major depressive disorder. However, risk of mental health symptoms was not associated with other injury-related occurrences such as duration of loss of consciousness or posttraumatic amnesia.
"Contrary to common assumptions, mild head injuries can cause long-term effects. These findings suggest that follow-up care after head injury, even for mild cases, is crucial, especially for patients showing risk factors for PTSD or depression," said Dr. Stein.
This study is part of the NIH-funded TRACK-TBI initiative, which is a large, long-term study of patients treated in the emergency department for mTBI. The goal of the study is to improve understanding of the effects of concussions by establishing a comprehensive database of clinical measures including brain images, blood samples, and outcome data for 3,000 individuals, which may help identify biomarkers of TBI, risk factors for various outcomes, and improve our ability to identify and prevent adverse outcomes of head injury. To date, more than 2,700 individuals have enrolled in TRACK-TBI.
A recent study coming out of TRACK-TBI suggested that many TBI patients were not receiving recommended follow-up care.
"TRACK-TBI is overturning many of our long-held beliefs around mTBI, particularly in what happens with patients after they leave the emergency department. We are seeing more evidence about the need to monitor these individuals for many months after their injury to help them achieve the best recovery possible," said Geoff Manley, M.D., professor at the University of California San Francisco, senior author of the current study and principal investigator of TRACK-TBI.
Future research studies will help identify mental health conditions, other than PTSD and major depressive disorder, that may arise following mTBI. In addition, more research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms that lead from mTBI to mental health problems and other adverse outcomes, such as neurological and cognitive difficulties.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130112717.htm
People who commute through natural environments daily report better mental health
This association is even stronger among active commuters
October 18, 2018
Science Daily/Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
People who commute through natural environments report better mental health. This is the main conclusion of a research based on questionnaires answered by nearly 3,600 participants from four European cities.
According to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) -- a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation -- , people who commute through natural environments report better mental health. This is the main conclusion of a research based on questionnaires answered by nearly 3,600 participants from four European cities and published in Environment International.
The study was conducted within the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe project (PHENOTYPE). The 3,599 participants from Barcelona (Spain), Doetinchem (the Netherlands), Kaunas (Lithuania) and Stoke-on-Trent (UK) answered a questionnaire about their commuting habits and their mental health. The statistical analysis showed that respondents commuting through natural environments on a daily basis had on average a 2.74 point higher mental health score compared to those who commuted through natural environments less frequently. This association was even stronger among people who reported active commuting (i.e. walking or cycling). In this case, natural environments were defined as all public and private outdoor spaces that contain 'green' and/or 'blue' natural elements such as street trees, forests, city parks and natural parks/reserves, and also included all types of waterbodies.
Other results showed that there were more active commuters among those who declared commuting through natural environments daily. However, the quality of the natural environments in which commuting took place did not influence the results.
"From previous experimental studies we knew that physical activity in natural environments can reduce stress, improve mood and mental restoration when compared to the equivalent activity in urban environments. Although this study is the first of its kind to our knowledge and, therefore, more research will be needed, our data show that commuting through these natural spaces alone may also have a positive effect on mental health," says Wilma Zijlema, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.
"Mental health and physical inactivity are two of the main public health problems associated with the life in urban environments. Urban design could be a powerful tool to confront these challenges and create healthier cities. One way of doing so would be investing in natural commuting routes for cycling and walking," states Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, coordinator of the ISGlobal Initiative of Urban Planning, Environment and Health and last author of the study.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181018095349.htm
Brain activity buffers against worsening anxiety
Activity in brain's thinking and problem-solving center linked to avoiding anxiety
November 17, 2017
Science Daily/Duke University
Boosting activity in brain areas related to thinking and problem-solving may also protect against worsening anxiety, suggests a new study. Using noninvasive brain imaging, the researchers found that at-risk people were less likely to develop anxiety if they had higher activity in a region of the brain responsible for complex mental operations. The results may be a step towards tailoring psychological therapies to the specific brain functioning of individual patients.
Using non-invasive brain imaging, the researchers found that people at-risk for anxiety were less likely to develop the disorder if they had higher activity in a region of the brain responsible for complex mental operations. The results may be a step towards tailoring psychological therapies to the specific brain functioning of individual patients.
"These findings help reinforce a strategy whereby individuals may be able to improve their emotional functioning -- their mood, their anxiety, their experience of depression -- not only by directly addressing those phenomena, but also by indirectly improving their general cognitive functioning," said Ahmad Hariri, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke. The results are published Nov. 17 in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
Previous findings from Hariri's group show that people whose brains exhibit a high response to threat and a low response to reward are more at risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression over time.
In the current work, Hariri and Matthew Scult, a clinical psychology graduate student in the department of psychology and neuroscience at Duke, wanted to investigate whether higher activity in a region of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could help shield these at-risk individuals from future mental illness.
"We wanted to address an area of understanding mental illness that has been neglected, and that is the flip side of risk," Hariri said. "We are looking for variables that actually confer resiliency and protect individuals from developing problems."
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is our brain's "executive control" center, helping us focus our attention and plan complex actions. It also plays a role in emotion regulation, and well-established types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, engage this region of the brain by equipping patients with strategies to reframe or re-evaluate their emotions.
The team drew on data from 120 undergraduate students who participated in the Duke Neurogenetics Study. Each participant completed a series of mental health questionnaires and underwent a type of non-invasive brain scan called functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) while engaged in tasks meant to activate specific regions of the brain.
The researchers asked each participant to answer simple memory-based math problems to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Participants also viewed angry or scared faces to activate a region of the brain called the amygdala, and played a reward-based guessing game to stimulate activity in the brain's ventral striatum.
Scult was particularly interested in "at-risk" individuals with the combination of high threat-related activity in the amygdala and low reward-related activity in the ventral striatum. By comparing participants' mental health assessments at the time of the brain scans, and in a follow-up occurring on average seven months later, he found that these at-risk individuals were less likely to develop anxiety if they also had high activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
"We found that if you have a higher functioning dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the imbalance in these deeper brain structures is not expressed as changes in mood or anxiety," Hariri said.
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is especially skilled at adapting to new situations, the researchers say. Individuals whose brains exhibit the at-risk signatures may be more likely to benefit from strategies that boost the brain's dorsolateral prefrontal activity, including cognitive behavioral therapy, working memory training, or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
But, the researchers warn, the jury is still out on whether many brain-training exercises improve the overall functioning of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, or only hone its ability to complete the specific task being trained. Additional studies on more diverse populations are also needed to confirm their findings.
"We are hoping to help improve current mental health treatments by first predicting who is most at-risk so that we can intervene earlier, and second, by using these types of approaches to determine who might benefit from a given therapy," Scult said.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171117141743.htm
How toxic air clouds mental health
November 2, 2017
Science Daily/University of Washington
Researchers have found a link between air pollution and psychological distress. The higher the level of particulates in the air, the study showed, the greater the impact on mental health. The study is believed to be the first to use a nationally representative survey pool, cross-referenced with pollution data at the census block level, to evaluate the connection between toxic air and mental health.
There is little debate over the link between air pollution and the human respiratory system: Research shows that dirty air can impair breathing and aggravate various lung diseases. Other potential effects are being investigated, too, as scientists examine connections between toxic air and obesity, diabetes and dementia.
Now add to that list psychological distress, which University of Washington researchers have found is also associated with air pollution. The higher the level of particulates in the air, the UW-led study showed, the greater the impact on mental health.
The study, published in the November issue of Health & Place, is believed to be the first to use a nationally representative survey pool, cross-referenced with pollution data at the census block level, to evaluate the connection between toxic air and mental health.
"This is really setting out a new trajectory around the health effects of air pollution," said Anjum Hajat, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the UW School of Public Health. "The effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health and lung diseases like asthma are well established, but this area of brain health is a newer area of research."
Where a person lives can make a big difference to health and quality of life. Scientists have identified "social determinants" of physical and mental well-being, such as availability of healthy foods at local grocers, access to nature or neighborhood safety.
Air pollution, too, has been associated with behavior changes -- spending less time outside, for instance, or leading a more sedentary lifestyle -- that can be related to psychological distress or social isolation.
The UW study looked for a direct connection between toxic air and mental health, relying on some 6,000 respondents from a larger, national, longitudinal study, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Researchers then merged an air pollution database with records corresponding to the neighborhoods of each of the 6,000 survey participants. The team zeroed in on measurements of fine particulate matter, a substance produced by car engines, fireplaces and wood stoves, and power plants fueled by coal or natural gas. Fine particulate matter (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) is easily inhaled, can be absorbed into the bloodstream and is considered of greater risk than larger particles. (To picture just how small fine particulate matter is, consider this: The average human hair is 70 micrometers in diameter.)
The current safety standard for fine particulates, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Between 1999 and 2011, the time frame examined in the UW study, survey respondents lived in neighborhoods where fine particulates measured anywhere from 2.16 to 24.23 micrograms per cubic meter, with an average level of 11.34.
The survey questions relevant to the UW study gauged participants' feelings of sadness, nervousness, hopelessness and the like and were scored with a scale that assesses psychological distress.
The UW study found that the risk of psychological distress increased alongside the amount of fine particulate matter in the air. For example, in areas with high levels of pollution (21 micrograms per cubic meter), psychological distress scores were 17 percent higher than in areas with low levels of pollution (5 micrograms per cubic meter). Another finding: Every increase in pollution of 5 micrograms per cubic meter had the same effect as a 1.5-year loss in education.
Researchers controlled for other physical, behavioral and socioeconomic factors that can influence mental health, such as chronic health conditions, unemployment and excessive drinking.
But some patterns emerged that warrant more study, explained primary author Victoria Sass, a graduate student in the Department of Sociology.
When the data are broken down by race and gender, black men and white women show the most significant correlation between air pollution and psychological distress: The level of distress among black men, for instance, in areas of high pollution, is 34 percent greater than that of white men, and 55 percent greater than that of Latino men. A noticeable trend among white women is the substantial increase in distress -- 39 percent -- as pollution levels rise from low to high.
Precisely why air pollution impacts mental health, especially among specific populations, was beyond the scope of the study, Sass said. But that's what makes further research important.
"Our society is segregated and stratified, which places an unnecessary burden on some groups," Sass said. "Even moderate levels can be detrimental to health."
Air pollution, however, is something that can be mitigated, Hajat said, and has been declining in the United States. It's a health problem with a clear, actionable solution. But it requires the political will to continue to regulate air quality, Sass added.
"We shouldn't think of this as a problem that has been solved," she said. "There is a lot to be said for having federal guidelines that are rigorously enforced and continually updated. The ability of communities to have clean air will be impacted with more lax regulation."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171102121128.htm