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September 24, 2004
A Letter to People Magazine About Mental Health Care
People magazine recently covered Jane Pauley, former NBC new anchor, and her new book Skywriting. In the book, Pauley talks about her struggle with bipolar disorder, and People emphasizes the care and treatment she has received.
Dr. Mark Komrad wrote a letter to People applauding them for helping, along with the book, to decrease the stigma attached to mental illness, but explaining there is still much mor work to do. We reproduce the letter here in its entirety.
To: The Editor of PEOPLE Magazine
re: Article on Jane Pauley's new autobiographyJane Pauley's new book SKYWRITING is a wonderful addition to the always-appreciated collection of celebrity books about mental illness. These books go a long way to help decrease the stigma against these ravaging illnesses. However, the excerpts from this book in the last PEOPLE magazine issue present the good news and bad news about the contemporary treatment of mental illness. The good news is that these illness ARE treatable, once they are properly diagnosed. In fact, data shows that illnesses like bipolar disorder,which afflicted Ms. Pauley, are even MORE responsive to treatment than common conditions like hypertension or heart disease. Her case demonstrates that responsiveness.
The bad news is that there is still a major division between treatment accessible to those who are wealthy and those who are not. This difference is not between the insured and uninsured. The average person, WITH insurance would not be permitted an inpatient level of treatment without an extremely severe level of illness. Nor would the average person be admitted to a medical ward instead of a psychiatric ward, let alone have such a luxurious, spacious, private hospital room as Ms. Pauley enjoyed. If ill enough to be hospitalized, not only would the typical person be required to be in a psychiatric unit, with other psychiatric patients, but they would also be required to participate in a range of therapeutic activities, with other patients, during the day, unlike Ms. Pauley who was exempt from such requirements.
I do not know Ms. Pauley's case well enough to say whether she benefitted or lost by her exemption from such standard psychiatric inpatient treatment, or whether the severity of her illness was severe enough for an insurance company to authorize hospital care. But, her experience was certainly quite different than is typical. Though different medical treatment for different socioeconomic classes is not unique to psychiatry, such a gap is probably more profound in psychiatry than in any other area of health care today.
Mark S. Komrad M.D.
Senior Psychiatrist
Sheppard Pratt Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland
Related links:
People Magazine
Skywriting: A Life out of the Blue, by Jane Pauley
Posted by admin at 10:56 AM
September 11, 2004
Consumer Reports Surveys Therapy for Depression
A Consumer Reports (October 2004) survey of 3079 readers who received treatment for depression found that a combination of drugs and talk therapy was the most effective treatment if the talk therapy continued for more than 13 visits. “Mostly talk” therapy was almost as effective as the combination. Drugs had a much higher rate of side effects than reported in package inserts, especially sexual impairment and weight gain. Treatment by primary care physicians appeared to be effective only with mild depressions; more severe depressions are better treated by mental health professionals. Overall, 80 percent of patients who sought care were helped.
The survey found that all antidepression medications were in general effective, but individual patients very often had to try a number of drugs before finding the one that works for them.
Insurance coverage for mental illness continues to decline, sometimes resulting in premature patient drop out.
Related Links:
Drugs vs Talk Therapy: CR Investigates, October 2004, Consumer Reports (Subscription required)
Posted by admin at 11:06 AM
September 10, 2004
The Building of a Sanctuary Receives Media Award
The American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) has given a Certificate of Commendation to the documentary film The Building of a Sanctuary. Executive Producer and Foundation member Carol Allen will travel to St.Louis, MO to accept the award.
The AASLH Awards Program not only honors significant achievement in the field of local history, but also brings public recognition to small and large organizations, institutions, and programs that contribute to this arena. By publicly recognizing excellent achievements, the Association strives to inspire others.
Made by Historic Towson, Inc., the film is about the last built and best designed of the early private psychiatric hospitals in the United States, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital. Its founders drew on lessons learned from other institutions and from Europe to provide moral treatment in a homelike setting and to turn 400-acres into an intimate campus of Victorian buildings with beautifully landscaped grounds.
Related Links:
American Association of State and Local History
Certificate of Commendation Listing at AASLH website
Historic Towson, Inc.'s Building of a Sanctuary page
Posted by admin at 11:32 AM
Submissions for Outstanding Merit Award Being Accepted
Each year, The Board of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry reviews submissions from across the state of Maryland for its Award of Outstanding Merit. The award is given to those who advance the Foundation objectives of increasing the public awareness and understanding of mental illness, enhancing the quality of care and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
Deadline for submissions for the 2005 award is March 1, 2005.
You may submit nominees using the form here (PDF) (or this form in Word format). Information on the form will tell you where to mail it.
Related Links:
2004 Award of Outstanding Merit winner
Posted by admin at 11:29 AM