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People with severe and recurrent depression could benefit from a new form of therapy that combines ancient forms of meditation with modern cognitive behaviour therapy, early-stage research by Oxford University psychologists suggests. The results of a small-scale randomized trial of the approach, called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), in currently depressed patients are published in the journal Behaviour Research and Therapy. Twenty eight people currently suffering from depression, having also had previous episodes of depression and thoughts of suicide, were randomly assigned into two groups. One received MBCT in addition to treatment as usual, while the other just received treatment as usual. Treatment with MBCT reduced the number of patients with major depression, while depression remained the same in the control group. MBCT brings together modern cognitive behavior therapy with the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation. Participants attend classes that include medi

Provided by: Associated PressWritten by: Lauran Neergaard, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Apr. 21, 2009 WASHINGTON - Food hijacked Dr. David Kessler's brain. Not apples or carrots. The scientist who once led the U.S. government's attack on addictive cigarettes can't wander through part of San Francisco without craving a local shop's chocolate-covered pretzels. Stop at one cookie? Rarely. It's not an addiction but it's similar, and he's far from alone. Kessler's research suggests millions share what he calls "conditioned hypereating" - a willpower-sapping drive to eat high-fat, high-sugar foods even when they're not hungry. More.....

Provided by: Associated PressWritten by: Lauran Neergaard, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Apr. 7, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists are creating tests to show when it's time for people with early Alzheimer's disease to stop driving. \ It's one of a family's most wrenching decisions, and as Alzheimer's increasingly is diagnosed in its earliest stages, it can be hard to tell when a loved one is poised to become a danger. Factor in that many placeslack public transportation, and quitting too soon restricts independence for someone who otherwise may function well for several years. "That's a real cost to the individual and family and society," says Jeffrey Dawson of the University of Iowa. "You have to have some sort of trade-off between the individual's independence along with the safety of the driver and with other people on the road." Typically, specialists say, patients gradually scale back their driving, avoiding busy freeways or night trips or left-tu