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ANF Investigates: Allegiance Health plans to sell 2 struggling Acadiana hospitals
Allegiance Health Management plans to sell four financially struggling rural hospitals in Louisiana, including two in Acadiana, at the directive of the Louisiana Department of Health. The two Acadiana hospitals involved are Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte and Acadian Medical Center in Eunice. Both facilities have dealt with a number of problems, including unpaid payroll taxes, broken equipment, overdue bills, the loss of doctors and staff, and a shortage of critical supplies.
ANF Investigates: Allegiance Health plans to sell 2 struggling Acadiana hospitals
Allegiance Health Management plans to sell four financially struggling rural hospitals in Louisiana, including two in Acadiana, at the directive of the Louisiana Department of Health. The two Acadiana hospitals involved are Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte and Acadian Medical Center in Eunice. Both facilities have dealt with a number of problems, including unpaid payroll taxes, broken equipment, overdue bills, the loss of doctors and staff, and a shortage of critical supplies.
3 minors arrested after fights at Chandler health center
Three minors were arrested after two separate assaults Sunday night inside Oasis Behavioral Health in Chandler, police said.
3 minors arrested after fights at Chandler health center
Three minors were arrested after two separate assaults Sunday night inside Oasis Behavioral Health in Chandler, police said.
3 minors arrested after fights at Chandler health center
Three minors were arrested after two separate assaults Sunday night inside Oasis Behavioral Health in Chandler, police said.
3 minors arrested after fights at Chandler health center
Three minors were arrested after two separate assaults Sunday night inside Oasis Behavioral Health in Chandler, police said.
Former Olympian asks watchdogs to investigate Reflecting Pool vandalism case
Lawyers for David Hearn, who was cleared of charges of vandalizing the pool, are asking government watchdogs to investigate the conduct of senior officials.
Woman hospitalized after truck crashes into northwest Miami-Dade business
A vehicle crashed into a business in northwest Miami-Dade County on Tuesday afternoon.
Calista Initiative builds curiosity using hands-on science
Founder says program lets kids explore water science for themselves
How did Arlington fare during the World Cup when it comes to health and safety?
Arlington firefighters worked more than 13,000 total hours during the region’s nine matchdays, in which 87 heat-related cases were reported.
Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in race for railroad commission
After Republican Bo French disparaged the racial makeup of students at a UT football game, Democrat Jon Rosenthal received an influx of donations from nearly all 50 states.
Eagles star tackle Lane Johnson retires due to 'personal reasons'
The Philadelphia Eagles learned Tuesday that star right tackle Lane Johnson decided to retire, citing 'personal reasons.'
Milton business fined for oil spill into Lamoille River
A Milton business will have to pay the state a fine of $6,750 for a hazardous waste spill.
MNUFC, Allina Health and the Sanneh Foundation Team Up to Address Food Insecurity with Meal Kit Initiative
Meal kit program launched to build connection between nutrition education and lifelong well-being
Maxwell Hairston: From Chosen One to Just Another Bust
After surrendering two touchdowns to the Patriots and skipping postgame media, the Bills' self-proclaimed superstar faces a harsh reality check following a disastrous, discipline-lacking performance in Buffalo.
New Hanover County opens applications for Mental Health Fellows Program
Applications are now open for the next installment of New Hanover County’s Mental Health Fellows Program.
Entertainment: Paramount closes deal with Warner Bros.
Paramount has closed its $81 billion dollar purchase of Warner Brothers Discovery, forming a new Hollywood giant now called "Skydance".
LOCALIZE IT: As coding boom fades, computer science grads focus on AI skills in choppy job market
Computer science graduates face hiring challenges; artificial intelligence demand is shifting recruitment toward seniors
DeKalb hosts small business summit Oct. 14
Join the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit on Oct. 14 at the Emory Conference Center for expert panels.
The Harvard Crimson (@theharvardcrimson)
83 likes, 0 comments - theharvardcrimson on October 6, 2026: "Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences is launching 25 tenure-track faculty searches, FAS Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra announced in a Monday email to faculty, further loosening a University-wide hiring freeze instituted last spring as the school draws an influx of philanthropic support. The searches, which include positions across the FAS’ three divisions and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, come less than a week after Hoekstra announced the school would also be upping Ph.D. admissions for the upcoming admissions cycle — and as the University continues soliciting support from donors for its academic programming. Full story linked in bio. 🖋: Abigail S. Gerstein and Amann S. Mahajan 📷: Mae T. Weir".
Biological aging offers clues to long-term health after Fontan surgery
Our birthdays tell us how long we have lived, but not necessarily how our bodies are aging. Biological age reflects the condition and function of our cells and tissues, shaped by genetics, lifestyle, ...
OCHD launches first public health vending machine
The Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) recently announced the launch of its first public health vending machine.
Archbishop Golka to Celebrate 40 Days for Life Mass at Marisol Health
At the heart of the Church’s defense of life is a simple but powerful response: prayer. This October, Catholics across the Archdiocese of Denver are invited to come together in that prayer as Archbishop James R. Golka celebrates a special 40 Days for Life Mass at Marisol Health.The Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 23, at 2:00 p.m. in the garden at Marisol Health, 2894 Olive Street in Denver. Together, the faithful will give thanks to God for the precious gift of life and pray for mothe
Oak Hill Bio Names Joerg Hipp Chief Translational Science Officer
Oak Hill Bio has appointed Joerg Hipp, PhD, chief translational science officer, bringing a former Roche neuroscience leader who previously... Read More
Napo Pharmaceuticals, a Jaguar Health Family Company, Sponsoring Intestinal Failure Panel Discussion at Pediatric Gastroenterology Conference in Abu Dhabi
Participants in the panel discussion include Dr. Christos Tzivinikos, and Pravin Chaturvedi, PhD, Napo's and Jaguar's Chief Scientific Officer and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board.
Paramount and Warner Bros. to become one Hollywood giant: Skydance. Here's how we got here
Skydance-owned Paramount is expected to close its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday. The new Hollywood giant will have a shorter nametag: “Skydance.” But it marks one of...
Saquon Barkley Injury Update: Eagles RB’s Hamstring Timeline Revealed
Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury against the Los Angeles Rams, and it could be a few weeks before we see the superstar running back on the field. Originally entering the league as the second-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Penn State product hit the ground running, recording 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns …
Sanford Health Fargo offering flu shots at clinics, hosting vaccine events including ‘Boo to the Flu’
Sanford Health Fargo is now offering flu vaccinations to patients 6 months and older at all Fargo metro area primary care clinics.
Trump says Iran can 'take out' LA or San Diego during political rally
President Donald Trump faces backlash for saying Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego as a 'small price to pay' during Nebraska rally. (Source: POOL)
Trump says Iran can 'take out' LA or San Diego during political rally
President Donald Trump faces backlash for saying Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego as a 'small price to pay' during Nebraska rally. (Source: POOL)
8 Players Withdraw from ATP Shanghai
Shanghai, the penultimate Masters 1000 of the year has, in recent years, been one of the most unpredictable. Several withdrawals are already contributing to the narrative of the tournament as it’s set to get underway soon. Which Players Have Withdrawn from Shanghai? Jannik Sinner has once again pushed back his return to the court, withdrawing …
Wilton business damaged by Monday afternoon fire
The cause of the fire and extent of damage are still unknown at this time.
Fitter Kids May Grow Into Less Depressed Adults
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Kids who run and play will reap mental health benefits into middle age, a new study says. Active, fit children appear to have a lower risk of developing depression in their late 30s and 40s, researchers reported recently ...
Exclusive | Apple News hid stories about how broke the DNC is ahead of the midterms, watchdog alleges
Complaints against town attorney a flashpoint in Clifton Park politics
Town attorney Kevin Dailey said two complaints have been filed against him.
Patient Dies By Suicide After 'Insurance Issue' Delayed Medicine For Lung Disease Flare-Ups
By Lauren Sausser and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersTUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Kenney Blewett was diagnosed with lung disease more than a decade ago but started experiencing flare-ups this year that made him feel like he couldn’t breathe. Blewett, of Kyle, Texas, described those ...
Kacey Musgraves covers Selena and finds 'Middle of Nowhere' in Houston
Kacey Musgraves brought Selena covers, Tex-Mex soul & radical inclusion to Houston’s Toyota Center.
The GTA VI Rush Is Drying Up New PS5 Pro Stock, and GameStop Now Wants $1,399 for Used Units
Used PS5 Pro units now cost more than new ones at GameStop: $1399 for Digital, twice the console's 2024 launch price, with GTA VI weeks away.
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Las Vegas Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old dies in shooting
Advocates call for youth spaces after deadly First Friday shooting
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Arts District business pushes for safe space for teens after 15-year-old’s shooting death at First F
Experts say the shooting death of a teenager in the Arts District is shining a light on the growing issue of youth violence.
Baptist Health restores IT systems following server outage
Baptist Health-Central Alabama said Monday its IT systems have been restored after a server outage knocked its systems offline last week.
UW Health offers tips to ease symptoms after breast cancer treatment
UW Health offers tips to ease symptoms after breast cancer treatment
Portage Co. Health and Human Services announces free flu shot clinic for kids
Portage Co. Health and Human Services announces free flu shot clinic for kids
On Your Side: Better Business Bureau shares tips for winterizing your home and car
The Better Business Bureau has tips to help you winterize your home and vehicle so you’re prepared for anything the season throws at you.
Health officials confirm case of dengue fever locally-acquired in Broward County
Officials in Broward County have confirmed a case of dengue fever.
How AI is adding to health care affordability concerns
AI was touted as a way to improve efficiency in health care. But in the short run, it's adding to cost pressures.
Answer Man: Misleading political ads? What’s up with water alerts?
Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers: Question: The ads against Jamie Ager that are airing on TV now are false. They say that Ager voted against this or that and supported this or that. He is not an elected official and could not support or oppose any legislation. These are the ads paid for by No Going Back PAC. What am I missing? My answer: Well, I’d like to say, “The good old days of American politics where opponents politely disagreed with one another in their advertising.” But honestly, these campaigns have always been uglier than a closeup of my belly button.
College of Ag Sciences clubs get philanthropy boost from visiting ag company
Three clubs in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences got a recent boost from a new donation from Pivot Bio, a company specializing in products that optimize crop production through specific nitrogen delivery.
We issued a Water Advisory for Thea Foss Waterway - Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Last revised Oct. 5, 2026 While the advisory is in effect, avoid contact with the water for 48 hours after it rains.
Kasson-based non-profit hosting mental health fair, documentary screenings today
The fair will take place at Austin High School.
Edison's Entertainment Complex Female Athlete Of Month: Jess Sever Has Made Important Contributions To Edwardsville Girls Flag Football Team
Edwardsville sophomore Jess Sever has five touchdowns as the undefeated Tigers girls flag football team advances in the IHSA postseason.
Why Taylor Sheridan signed with NBCUniversal after years at Paramount
Taylor Sheridan has had a long and successful stint with Paramount that included popular TV shows like "Landman," "Lioness" and "Tulsa King."
Why Taylor Sheridan signed with NBCUniversal after years at Paramount
Taylor Sheridan has had a long and successful stint with Paramount that included popular TV shows like "Landman," "Lioness" and "Tulsa King."
Tom Hanks coming to Westport for one-night performance
One of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces is heading to Westport for a one-night-only performance.
Angela Paxton’s ‘whole team’ ad gets politics totally wrong
Ken Paxton was the elephant in the room she failed to mention. Republicans know he's a dead weight on the party.
Orlando Science Schools begins enrollment process for six regional campuses
Orlando Science Schools is accepting applications for 2027-28, including new 11th grade spots at Seminole Science.
Texas AG investigating second health insurer over delayed, denied care
The Texas attorney general's office has launched an investigation into UnitedHealth Group, citing reports of nursing home bribes and revoked coverage.
Susan Lucci to discuss grief, memoir in Newtown
Susan Lucci holds the record for the most Daytime Emmy nominations for an individual performer, with a total of 21 nominations, according to People.
After school programming, birthday parties and day camps at Brooklyn Science Spot in Carroll Gardens (sponsored) | Brooklyn Bridge Parents - News, Events and Family Services
Brooklyn families, get ready for a fall experience that goes beyond worksheets, screen time, and ordinary after-school programs and camps. At Brooklyn Science Spot, we are opening the door to a whole new way for children to learn, explore, and fall in love with science through hands-on discovery, creative thinking, and real-world STEM fun. Opening
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 11-17 include Cardi B and Dominic West
Celebrities having birthdays during the week of Oct. 11-17 include rapper Cardi B, “The X-Files” creator Chris Carter and “The Wire” actor Dominic West. Rapper Eminem turns 54, singer Sammy...
Jaylen Waddle scores first TD
Denver Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle had five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown in Week 4.
Boomers, Science Has Good News About Your Farting Habits
Based on self-reported results, millennials and Gen Xers fart more often than baby boomers. But there are reasons why seniors may have increased flatulence.
Flathead City-County Health Department to hold annual flu clinic
The Flathead City-County Health Department will hold its annual flu clinic Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building.The clinic will r
Do More Steps Mean Better Mental Health For Teens?
By HealthDay Staff HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, Oct. 5, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A teenager's daily step count may improve more than their physical health — it may also help protect their mental health. Researchers tracked more than 5,500 adolescents (average age: 12), using Fitbits, brain scans and ...
DeSean Bishop Is the X-Factor Arkansas Must Contain
Arkansas knows exactly where Tennessee’s offensive plan begins. It begins with DeSean Bishop. The Volunteers running back enters Fayetteville after one of the best performances in the country this season. Bishop rushed 34 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Tennessee’s 24-14 win over Auburn, turning a game with quarterback uncertainty into a statement …
Memorial Health team highlights support, expanded services during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Memorial Health team highlights support, expanded services during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
German and US scientists win Nobel medicine prize for work on light and brain
They will share a prize sum of 12 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).
Grades Reflect Poor Offensive Effort In This Report Card
The Denver Broncos lost by two touchdowns yesterday, and this report card reflects the specifics.
Meet the Houston university professor who's also a club DJ
Alex La Rotta teaches history at the University of Houston and Houston City College while also spinning at area events and flying the flag for Latino and Chicano popular music.
Look at OpenAI and Anthropic executives' political donations
One AI tech executive’s $25 million gift to a Trump PAC stands out among donations of other top execs.
Sexual misconduct allegations threaten to topple veteran LA Democrat
LA Democrat Jimmy Gomez is facing a strong socialist challenger.
Yale School of Medicine On the Science of Childhood Anxiety, Say, Anxiety Disorders Are the Most Common Mental Health Challenges In Youth
Credit: Matt Bradbury October 5, 2026 - By Isabella Backman - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenges in youth. Left untreated, they can disrupt the lives of both children and their families. The good news is that with intervention, most children will overcome these conditions. Across Yale School of Medicine, scientists are working to understand anxiety at every level, from common anxious behaviors to molecular biomarkers in the brain. They are using their findings to develop and disseminate new evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety. Today, the go-to treatment for childhood anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a form of psychotherapy that teaches children skills for confronting anxious thoughts and helps them practice managing situations that cause anxiety. While it is the gold-standard treatment backed by considerable scientific evidence, up to 50% of children will not see sufficient benefit from CBT alone. Wendy Silverman, PhD, Alfred A. Messer Professor in the Child Study Center, co-directs the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program alongside Eli Lebowitz, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center. One of their main interests is learning how to improve outcomes beyond CBT. “We’re developing cutting-edge, research-based knowledge that can reduce the suffering that anxiety causes children and their families,” says Silverman. Changing parent behavior YSM experts are investigating how to improve CBT outcomes for children by involving the parents. Silverman’s research has uncovered two main components of parent intervention that improve childhood anxiety: not enabling children to completely avoid the things that make them anxious and taking steps to enhance their autonomy. Parents may unintentionally reinforce their child’s anxiety by allowing them to avoid what makes them anxious. They also may unintentionally limit the children’s sense of autonomy by being overly intrusive. “One of the things that we take pride in is that we’ve focused on trying to understand what parents need to do, and to test our ideas and see if changing the parents’ behaviors is enhancing the effects of CBT,” Silverman says. “Our findings thus far suggest that they do." As much as CBT can be helpful, it can also be challenging to get one’s child to do the necessary steps for CBT to work. This is one important reason why Lebowitz created a novel intervention program for parents named Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Existing intervention programs often teach parents to act as therapists for their child, such as training them on how to practice breathing exercises. “It makes sense, but this doesn’t work very well in practice,” says Lebowitz. “And part of the reason, I think, is that it’s not easy to get your kid to do things, especially if they’re not excited about doing it.” SPACE is unique because it focuses entirely on parent involvement and changing parental behavior—children are not involved in the sessions. For example, parents learn how to use supportive messages that convey confidence that their child can tolerate and manage distress. “It might sound like a parent saying to a child, ‘I get that this is really hard for you, but I know that you can handle it,’” Lebowitz says. The program also works with parents to identify the ways in which they are accommodating anxious behaviors. “We’ll pick one thing that parents are doing that is an accommodation and help them make a detailed plan for how they’re going to change that,” Lebowitz explains. Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Much of the existing research on SPACE has focused on parents of children under age 14. Ongoing studies are now exploring its use with parents of older teens. “Both anxiety and accommodation can interfere with normative developmental shifts during the teen years, including increased autonomy and individuation from parents,” says Rebecca Etkin, PhD, associate research scientist in the Child Study Center. “In this sense, SPACE may be particularly well-suited for anxious teens and their parents. We want to see whether it is effective during this distinct developmental window.” Unfortunately, many families in need of CBT face barriers, including limited availability of services and geographic constraints. One way to improve access is digital interventions. Silverman and her team are developing an evidence-based digitized intervention program for parents that they can access directly from their computer or smart phone. “The work we’re doing will be one of the very few parent interventions that is digitized and importantly tested for effectiveness,” she says. Creating interventions for anxiety-related challenges Silverman and Lebowitz recently received a generous gift to develop and test other interventions that help parents reduce other child anxiety-related behavioral and emotional difficulties, such as restrictive eating and unexplained somatic symptoms. One of these projects in particular focuses on understanding the risks of social media and its potential benefits, including offering a sense of connection. “A lot of research has focused on the idea that social media is harmful and the less of it the better,” says Lebowitz. “But we actually see is that this is not quite right—there are negatives, but there are also positives. So, we’re trying to get a little bit more nuanced of a picture.” The team is working with teens with social anxiety and their parents over an extended period to better understand their social media habits and how their anxiety levels affect engagement with different platforms. The teens will answer questions sent to an app on their phones about mood and social media usage in an effort to capture emotional responses as they unfold. “We hope to develop interventions that can help make the best of social media while protecting against the more problematic effects,” Lebowitz says. The brain’s role in anxiety Researchers are also testing therapies to address anxiety at the neurological and molecular levels. In collaboration with Dylan Gee, PhD, professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Hilary Blumberg, MD, John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, Lebowitz and Silverman are using brain imaging to identify changes in a child’s brain before and after parents enroll in SPACE. In one study, children viewed anxiety-inducing images while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the researchers conducted scans with and without the children’s parents nearby. Before SPACE, children’s brains were better able to activate the regulatory circuitry needed to turn off an anxious response when their parents were nearby. But after SPACE, children could activate this circuitry even without the parent around. “As parents work on gradually reducing some of their accommodations, you can see a child get better at regulating their own fear system in the brain,” Lebowitz says. “It’s remarkable.” Research into the molecular underpinnings of anxiety can also inform new childhood anxiety treatments. In a recent study, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Flora Vaccarino, MD, Harris Professor in the Child Study Center, discovered that a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) could be protective from the toxic effects of stress. FGF2 levels in children and their parents were linked to the children’s risk of developing anxiety and depression, the study showed. The findings could help explain why some children who are exposed to early life trauma such as poverty or abuse are more prone to developing mental health disorders. And FGF2 could be a target for treatment. “This is very novel because it starts to give a clue to what is the molecular chain that connects those lived experiences to the actual psychological outcomes,” Lebowitz says. New ways to study and treat childhood anxiety Michael Crowley, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center, collaborates with Silverman and Lebowitz to study the role that attention plays in development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. There is a large body of research that shows that anxious children, like anxious adults, are prone to focus on threatening stimuli such as angry faces compared with neutral faces. This has led to innovative interventions that involve attention retraining. The idea is that if experts train children to look away from threatening stimuli, it may reduce their anxiety—especially children with social anxiety who are most prone to attend to threats. The researchers have just completed a clinical trial for attention retraining with 10- to 14-year-olds with social anxiety disorders and are currently analyzing the findings. Besides this innovative attention retraining research, as Crowly notes, “I like to design tasks that are engaging to kids,” Crowley says. “My goal is to assess something without the kids knowing what we are assessing.” With this goal in mind, Crowley has created a virtual game, named Boom, to study threat processing in children with anxiety disorders. The game is similar to that of hot potato—the child and three digital players take turns virtually passing a ball to each other’s gloves. At some point, the ball turns into a bomb, and as the bomb lands in each player’s glove, the outline of the glove turns yellow. The goal is to avoid having the bomb go off in your glove. What isn’t obvious is that the game is designed to measure different types of threatening stimuli, both ambiguous and direct. In the game, the direct threat occurs as the bomb is traveling towards your glove. The ambiguous threat is the yellow outlined glove as it is unknown where the bomb will travel next. While children play the game, Crowley’s team measures their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). The researchers have discovered that in kids with anxiety, the brain reacts more strongly to ambiguous threats than it does in their peers, but less strongly to direct threats. They believe that the initial abnormally large brain response to not knowing where the bomb is going impairs the brain's ability to properly respond when the threat is actually traveling the child’s way. “The brains of children with anxiety are unable to differentiate between threats you need to do something about and those that are not your problem.” Michael Crowley, PhD, develops innovative games for studying anxiety in children and adolescents.Credit: Matt Bradbury Based on these insights, Crowley hopes to study whether interventions like attention training could restore appropriate threat processing. Crowley’s team is also working on a test called the Balloon Risk Avoidance Task, which evaluates risk-taking and avoidance behaviors. It features a digital balloon that is full of air and about to burst. Kids have six seconds to let air out of the balloon. The more air they let out, the less risk they face that the balloon will pop. But at the same time, the balloon becomes less valuable as it deflates. “The more air you keep in the balloon, the more points you get,” Crowley explains. So far, the researchers have found that when the balloons pop unexpectedly, teens with social anxiety show distinct brain responses. Studying these responses can help psychologists understand the underlying pathways driving the various manifestations of anxiety. The genetics of anxiety When Thomas Fernandez, MD, associate professor in the Child Study Center and of psychiatry, was still in training, there was a lot of excitement about understanding the genetics associated with autism spectrum disorder. Since then, scientists have identified around 250 genes associated with autism. The genetic contribution to anxiety disorders, on the other hand, has historically received less attention. Anxiety is less heritable than autism, but the genetic contribution for anxiety disorders that emerge in childhood may be higher than for anxiety disorders overall. While scientists estimate the heritability of anxiety disorders in general to be around 30% to 50%, some studies suggest higher heritability for certain childhood-onset anxiety presentations. “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism,” Fernandez says. “So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism. So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” Thomas Fernandez, MD Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry Now, Fernandez and Emily Olfson, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Child Study Center, are studying children and their parents to identify genetic changes that are present in the child but not the parents, known as “de novo mutations.” “All of us have some de novo mutations—maybe about 50 to 100 sprinkled throughout the genome,” Olfson says. “But when they occur within the coding regions of genes, they can be really disruptive.” Previous research shows that people with autism have higher rates of damaging de novo mutations than the general population. In 2022, Olfson, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Fernandez published a study on 68 children and their families that found that children with anxiety had similarly high levels of these mutations. Studying de novo mutations can help point the researchers to where they should be looking for genes associated with anxiety. “The end game is using the genes to steer us toward the right part of biology that we can then target to come up with better treatments,” Fernandez says. Building on those findings, the team is now studying more families to better understand how these de novo mutations, along with other genetic and environmental factors, shape pediatric anxiety disorders. They recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to enroll 750 new families over the next five years. Olfson is the principal investigator, with co-investigators Lebowitz, Fernandez, Silverman, and Shuangge Steven Ma, PhD, department chair and professor of biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health. Neurodevelopment, Risk Genes, and Mental Health Conditions - The Olfson Lab Joel Gelernter, MD, Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, is interested in how different anxiety disorders differ genomically. “We are studying social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, working to understand why people differ in their risk to these specific anxiety disorders and evaluating various risk factors,” he says. Gelernter was recently involved in one of the largest studies to date of the genomics underlying anxiety disorder. The study included around 122,000 people with anxiety disorders and around 730,000 without. It found that some genetic differences associated with anxiety were linked to signaling that helps reduce overactivity in the nervous system. Many anxiety medications available today work by targeting this process. “It’s nice when the biology that you get out of a large genome-wide study ratifies things that we already know because that can help increase confidence in further findings from the study,” Gelernter says. Uncovering the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders John Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, is interested in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which anxiety is a major symptom. In the late 1980s, Krystal’s team discovered that the drug yohimbine activated symptoms in patients with PTSD. “This was the first time we could link a specific biological mechanism to the symptoms of PTSD,” Krystal says. At the time, he adds, this finding was highly controversial. “A lot of people felt that PTSD was a purely psychological syndrome that didn’t have an underlying biology.” Since then, Krystal has dived deep into understanding the neurobiology of PTSD to learn how to better treat it. His team is evaluating the use of ketamine and psychedelics. These would be among the first treatments to be developed specifically for PTSD. They may also be applicable for other disorders including anxiety disorders, Krystal adds. An important gap in PTSD treatment is the absence of biological tests that inform how to best help patients manage their PTSD symptoms. A doctor doesn’t diagnose cancer based on how they feel. Rather, they use tests of the biology of the cancer to determine the best course of treatment. “And we can’t do that in any psychiatric disorder other than Alzheimer’s disease,” Krystal says. “But now we are building a foundation for this approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders for the first time.” Source: Yale School of Medicine
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.
Novant Health hiring event kicks off in Greenville
FOX Carolina's Scottie Hunter has the details.