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34% city teenagers experience psychotic symptoms, finds study

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34% city teenagers experience psychotic symptoms, finds study

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| Be it for better amenities or good job opportunities, everyone wants to live in a city. While the facilities are many, city life can result in mental health disorders in people. According to a new study, growing up in a city may remarkably increase the risk of psychotic experiences such as hearing voices and paranoia.

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34% city teenagers experience psychotic symptoms, finds study

Be it for better amenities or good job opportunities, everyone wants to live in a city. While the facilities are many, city life can result in mental health disorders in people. According to a new study, growing up in a city may remarkably increase the risk of psychotic experiences such as hearing voices and paranoia.

The study, published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin on May 22, 2017, investigated the role played by neighborhood social conditions, personal crime victimization and urbanity in psychotic experiences among adolescents. The researchers at King's College London and Duke University in North Carolina interviewed more than 2,000 British twins 18 years old regarding psychotic experiences they have had since they turned 12.

According to the research, among those living in the most densely populated cities, 34 percent of the participants reported psychotic experiences. The researchers also noted that 18-year-olds raised in big cities were 67 percent more likely to have such experiences. The findings revealed that up to 1 in 3 adolescents in the general population experienced psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. The researchers also found that even after eliminating a range of potential risk factors, including family psychiatric history and adolescent substance problems, the link between adolescent psychotic experiences and growing up in an urban environment remained consistent.

In addition, personal victimization resulting from violent crimes was found to be twice as common among adolescents and those who had experienced such victimization were over three times more likely to experience psychotic episodes. The researchers also found that the combined effect of personal victimization and adverse social conditions was greater on teenagers than the independent effects of each.

The authors observed that the study results are quite important since early psychotic experiences are associated with a greater risk of psychiatric disorders and other related problems in adulthood. As early interventions offered the best hope for improving adult psychopathology, it was deemed necessary to understand various factors influencing psychotic experiences among young people to design effective preventive interventions, the researchers said.
Prior studies
The recent study is not the first one to link city living to psychosis. In a 2005 research, it was discovered that the higher prevalence of psychosis in cities was one of the most consistent findings in schizophrenia research. Similarly, a 2016 study suggested that the genetic variants that increased the risk of schizophrenia were found more common in cities rather than rural areas.

One of the factors that increased the rate of schizophrenia in cities was related to the immigrant population. According to Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman of Columbia University, people who migrate to cities face problems in speaking the local language or understanding the customs that often put them under stress, which may result in schizophrenia in an individual vulnerable to it.
Psychotic disorders: Severe but treatable
Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, affect the mind making it hard for someone to think clearly, communicate effectively and behave appropriately. Those with severe symptoms have trouble staying in touch with reality and are often unable to perform daily activities. Although the exact cause of psychotic disorders is not known, some of the factors that may play a role in their development include inheritance, drug abuse, stress and other major life changes. However, most psychotic disorders can be treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy or counseling.

A leading behavioral health care provider in the U.S., Sovereign Health offers world-class treatment for a variety of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. At Sovereign Health of Florida, we view all mental health disorders as brain-based problems and incorporate various aspects of brain wellness to improve a patient's cognitive faculties and brain functioning.

By providing our patients a comprehensive treatment through evidence-based techniques, we help them manage their stress, deal with underlying problems and prevent relapse of symptoms. For those looking for a psychotic disorder treatment, please reach out to a representative at Sovereign Health of Florida by calling our 24/7 helpline number. You can also chat online with our counselors to know about psychosis treatment offered at our state-of-the-art facility.

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34% city teenagers experience psychotic symptoms, finds study - Sovereign Health of Florida

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Be it for better amenities or good job opportunities, everyone wants to live in a city. While the facilities are many, city life can result in mental health disorders in people. According to a new study, growing up in a city may remarkably increase the risk of psychotic experiences such as hearing voices and paranoia.

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Florida Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Plan

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Florida Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Plan

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| In November 2016, Florida voters approved the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Amendment 2 that legalized medical marijuana in the state. What emerged as the biggest supporter of the medical marijuana legislation was the bill presented by Senator Rob Bradley.

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Florida Senate passes medical marijuana plan

In November 2016, Florida voters approved the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Amendment 2 that legalized medical marijuana in the state. What emerged as the biggest supporter of the medical marijuana legislation was the bill presented by Senator Rob Bradley. On April 3, 2017, Florida Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 406 sponsored by Bradley, refining regulations related to the legal use of cannabis.

Originally filed in January 2017, SB 406 takes into account the concerns of the more conservative legislators, ensures that those benefitting from medical marijuana are able to get it and also factors in the economic side of the equation. The SB is still on the agenda of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

In addition to calling for the compassionate use of low-THC cannabis, SB 406 aims to do the following:

Ensure the passage of the Medical Marijuana Research and Education Act.

Allow the Department of Health (DOH) to create a quality control program requiring medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs) to submit samples from each cannabis lot to an independent testing laboratory.

Authorize physicians to issue certifications to specified patients meeting certain conditions.

Require the DOH to register caregivers who meet particular requirements of the compassionate use registry.

The bill allows non-Florida residents, who qualify under the state law and are approved to get medical marijuana in their own state, to obtain medical marijuana. However, SB 406 prohibits minors from purchasing marijuana and requires pot to be purchased by a parent, guardian or caregiver.
A win-win for all
A promising aspect of SB 406 is that it encourages the state to undertake research and independent testing to make medical marijuana safer and medically viable for use. As marijuana has been legalized in several states across the U.S., there is a requirement for new research to make the substance safer and medically viable for consumption. To deal with the issue, Senator Bradley's bill creates a new medical marijuana research group.

The new bill also takes care of the humane argument of its supporters by ensuring that the sick and dying have access to medical marijuana. As the bill calls for the compassionate use of low-THC cannabis, it also expands supply received by medical marijuana patients. Although the limit has been increased from 45 to 90 days, doctors could go above the 90-day limit, if necessary.

To take care of the economic side of the equation, SB 406 allows for more dispensaries with five marijuana dispensaries to be approved by Oct. 3, 2017, and another four for every 75,000 medical marijuana patients. At present, Florida has just seven legal dispensaries authorized to sell medical pot. The new bill expands the license cap by five businesses once the state gets 250,000 patients, then 350,000, 400,000, and for every 100,000 patients thereafter.
Road to recovery
Despite benefits of medical marijuana, the drug remains an addictive substance that is prone to abuse and addiction. Useful in treating chronic pain and many other illnesses, its side effects often override its health benefits. Long-term use and abuse of cannabis can have disastrous consequences for an individual and ruin one's health leading to physical and behavioral changes.

For addiction to drugs such as marijuana, Sovereign Health offers comprehensive addiction treatment combining detox with therapy. At Sovereign Health of Florida, addiction treatment combines residential detox treatment along with behavioral therapy methods. With the goal to provide a lasting recovery and avoid relapse, we provide all our patients with resources to remain drug and alcohol-free.

Call us at our 24/7 helpline 866-269-2493 or chat online with our trained counselors to know more about marijuana addiction treatment offered at our facilities. Our representatives can help you get access to our finest marijuana rehab centers spread across the U.S.

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Florida Senate passes medical marijuana plan - Sovereign Health of Florida

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In November 2016, Florida voters approved the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative or Amendment 2 that legalized medical marijuana in the state. What emerged as the biggest supporter of the medical marijuana legislation was the bill presented by Senator Rob Bradley. On April 3, 2017, Florida Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 406 sponsored by Bradley, refining ...