Are you a go-getter or slacker? New research from the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that an individual’s willingness to work hard is determined by the levels of dopamine found in 3 specific areas of the brain. Using brain-mapping technology, positron emission tomography (PET scan), researchers found that people who work harder for rewards had a [...]

The team at Pasadena Villa is proud to announce two recent promotions! Leighann Straughen, LMHC, has been promoted to Clinical Services Manager at Pasadena Villa Orlando. Having worked in the mental health field since 2006, Leighann has clinical experience in a variety of settings including partial hospitalization, outpatient, schools, in-home and adult residential services. At [...]

Teenage depression is an ongoing concern that’s difficult to diagnose, due to normal mood swings during this age period. But according to an article from Northwestern University, a scientist has developed the first blood test to detect a specific set of genetic markers found in teens with depression. Currently, diagnosing depression is based on the [...]

Today marks National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day! The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) “Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health” was created in 2005 to increase awareness around children’s mental health. With the help of teams across the nation, Awareness Day has grown in scope, visibility, and support. This year-round initiative now [...]

Scientists from Florida State University, Nicole Carrier and Mohamed Kabbaj have identified antidepressant properties in testosterone (the primary male sex hormone), but they are still unsure of the exact mechanisms underlying its effects. According an article in Science Daily, a specific pathway in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation and regulation of [...]