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April 30, 2009

Researchers say reading, social activities, needlework in midlife may lower risk for memory loss in later years

WebMD (4/29, Laino) reported that, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, "reading magazines, knitting and quilting, and social activities in midlife cut the risk that people would develop memory loss in their 70s or 80s by more than one-third."

Notably, "computer activities were even more protective for people in their 70s and 80s, cutting the risk of memory loss in half," researchers from the Mayo Clinic found. But, "watching more than seven hours of TV a day, on the other hand, was linked to a higher chance of memory loss."

To reach these conclusions, the team examined "197 people between the ages of 70 and 89 with mild cognitive impairment, or diagnosed memory loss, and 1,124 people in the same age group with no memory problems," asking them "a series of questions about their daily activities within the past year and in middle age, when they were between 50 to 65 years old."

Posted by admin at 03:41 PM

April 29, 2009

Heart failure patients want more attention paid to their psychological needs, research suggests

HealthDay (4/24, Edelson) reported that patients "with heart failure, and those who care for them, want more attention paid to their psychological needs," according to a study presented at an American Heart Association conference.

Dr. David Bekelman, one of the researchers, said that "interviews with 33 people diagnosed with heart failure...and 20 of their caregivers uncovered a desire for the kind of palliative care devoted to reducing suffering that is commonly given to people with cancer." According to Dr. Bekelman, "four major needs emerged from the interviews." He said, "They need help adjusting to the limitations imposed by heart failure."

Dr. Bekelman added that "they wanted to know what they might expect in terms of progression. They wanted help in alleviating physical and emotional symptoms." Furthermore, "they wanted better communication with medical personnel."

Posted by admin at 05:46 PM

Study suggests stressful jobs may increase risk of second heart attack

HealthDay (4/24, Gordon) reported that, "for people in stressful jobs, it's especially important to take steps to manage the stress in order to protect the heart," as "stress not only has been shown to increase the risk of a first heart attack, but also a second," according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Investigators followed "nearly 1,000 people, 35 to 59 years old, who returned to work after a heart attack."

The researchers found that, "two years later, those who were in jobs with the highest stress levels -- stemming from high demands but low ability for the worker to control the situation or effect change -- had more than double the risk of a recurrent heart attack than people who had the lowest levels of workplace stress."

Posted by admin at 05:45 PM

Government panel releases recommendation to screen adolescents for depression

USA Today (4/27, Painter) reports that "screening for major depression" in adolescents "ages 12 to18" may soon "become more common, thanks to a recent recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force."

The panel's report found that "major depression affects more than five percent of teens and is linked with suicide, substance abuse, and other serious problems." Still, adolescent depression "often goes undiagnosed and untreated."

The guidelines recommend that screening for adolescent depression "should be for everyone, not just clearly troubled kids," and "should be repeated occasionally," perhaps even "once a year." If screening indicates a problem, physicians "should speak with the teen to find out more, assess any immediate danger, and plan next steps -- including a conversation with parents."

At-risk teens "should then get a full diagnostic work-up and follow-up care -- which might include tests for physical problems and referrals to mental-health professionals, who might then provide psychotherapy, with or without medication."

Posted by admin at 05:44 PM

Missouri Senate passes bill to require insurance coverage for autism diagnosis, treatment

The AP (4/24, Logan) reports that the Missouri Senate voted "29-2 to pass legislation requiring "group health insurance plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism for children younger than 18, beginning in 2010."

The bill would require coverage for a controversial and "costly type of treatment known as 'applied behavioral analysis,' up to "$55,000 annually."

Notably, in the "past two years, six states -- Texas, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana -- passed laws requiring coverage of behavior therapy for autism." Supporters say the bill would save them from "loads of debt to treat their autistic children." They cite "an actuarial study conducted by an autism advocacy group that said the bill would increase insurance premiums by less than 1 percent. But the insurance industry has said the legislation could cause a greater than 3-percent premium increase."

The bill requires coverage under "most small-and-large group insurance plans, except those regulated by the federal government. Individual healthcare plans would have to offer the autism coverage as an option." The bill now "goes to the House."

Posted by admin at 05:43 PM

Study indicates restrictions on teen use of antidepressants may have no measurable impact on suicide rates

BBC News (4/23, Wilkinson) reported that, according to a study published online Apr. 14 in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, "restrictions on teenagers' use of antidepressants have had no measurable impact on suicide rates."

For the study, researchers from the UK's University of Bristol analyzed "suicide rates among 15 to 19-year-olds in 22 countries from 1990 to 2006 and found no change in the wake of the restrictions."

The BBC explained that "in 2003, regulators warned against use of the drugs in the under-18s after concerns from clinical trials that some patients may become suicidal." At that time, "the expert committee put together to assess the safety of the drugs said...of the restrictions that the harmful effects of most SSRI antidepressants outweighed the benefits in young people."

The committee recommended that "only fluoxetine (Prozac) should be used, and only then in severe cases." Since then, "some mental-health experts have raised concerns that limits on prescribing antidepressants may have led to increased levels of untreated depression."

Posted by admin at 05:42 PM

Researchers explore health benefits of friendship

In the New York Times (4/21, D1) Well column, on the front of the Science Times section, Tara Parker-Pope writes, "In the quest for better health, many people" tend to "overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends."

Now, researchers are "starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health," finding that "older people with a large circle of friends" may be "less likely to die," and that "strong social ties could promote brain health as we age." And, although "many friendship studies focus on the intense relationships of women, some research shows that men can benefit, too."

Researchers remain unclear, however, "exactly why friendship has such a big effect," as "the benefits go well beyond physical assistance." Parker-Pope speculates that "it may be that people with strong social ties also have better access to health services and care," or that "people with strong friendships are less likely than others to get colds...because they have lower stress levels."

Posted by admin at 05:38 PM

Pilot study aims to develop current picture of mental-health trends affecting higher education

The AP (4/21, Armos) reports that "a pilot study released Monday by the Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health, at Penn State University" is "a first-of-its kind effort by college counseling centers designed to get an up-to-date picture of mental-health trends affecting higher education," its organizers say.

Currently, "more than 130 schools nationwide are registered with the center. Of them, 66 participated in the initial study, with responses from more than 28,000 students who received mental health services in fall 2008." For the study, "each counseling center asked clients to answer standardized questions, with the data pooled nationally. All data were anonymous."

Ben Locke, executive director of the center, explained, "Mental health affects every aspect of a college student's functioning." He added, "The earlier you intervene in mental health issues, the more likely you are to be successful in treating" them. The data gathered by the study "will further help colleges and universities equip themselves to support students," Locke said.

Posted by admin at 05:35 PM

Keeping personal electronic health records seen as fraught with limitations

As part of its Patient Money series, the New York Times (4/18, B6, Konrad) reported that there is "obvious appeal in the idea of an electronic file controlled by the patient" as that kind of "detailed record and seamless communication could improve the quality of healthcare and help reduce dangerous medical errors."

However, "in reality, very few doctors have set up their own electronic record-keeping systems." Moreover, building a "personal electronic medical file can be time-consuming and cumbersome."

For example, a "quick test drive" of the "most visible online health record keepers," such as Google Health Records, "made it clear" that consumers will "spend hours tracking down information" from providers and then "painstakingly entering the data" electronically. Hence, "with all these caveats in mind," The Times then provided consumers with "brief descriptions of four of the online health record systems now being offered, at no initial fee, to consumers who" still might want "to set up their own electronic medical files."

Posted by admin at 05:34 PM

Strong family support may help prevent suicidal behavior in teenagers with depression

HealthDay (4/16, Thomas) reported that, according to a study presented Apr. 16 at the annual meeting of the American Association of Suicidology, parental support may help "prevent suicidal behavior in teens who've experienced depression or have attempted suicide in the past."

For the study, researchers from the University of Washington analyzed data "from a larger National Institute of Drug Abuse 15-year study of youth in a Seattle-area school district" that examined "risk factors for marijuana and cigarette use, binge drinking, depression, and past suicidal behavior."

The investigators found that "depression during high school and a previous suicide attempt were significant predictors of thinking about suicide one or two years later." But, "young people who were depressed or had attempted suicide in high school were less likely to have suicidal thoughts if they had strong family support and bonds. Having a girlfriend or boyfriend also helped."

Posted by admin at 05:33 PM

Minnesota suicide rate rises as economy flags

The Minneapolis City Pages (4/15, Carlyle) reports that suicide rates tend to rise during times of economic recession, adding, "there is no doubt that Minnesota's suicide rate is on the rise.

Preliminary numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health indicate that last year's suicide rate was 11 people per 100,000 -- the highest since 1986. While the national suicide rate climbed just 4.2 percent from 2000 to 2005 (the most recent national data available), Minnesota's rate skyrocketed 15.7 percent during that period. And it's only getting worse."

The piece continues to quote a local mental healthcare professional discussing potential links between the faltering economy and rising suicide rates, and discussing state policies aimed at preventing suicide.

Posted by admin at 05:31 PM

Study indicates more Americans reporting frequent mental distress

HealthDay (4/14, Thomas) reported that, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, nearly "10 percent of some 1.2 million people surveyed annually by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2003 to 2006 reported having frequent mental distress, defined as 14 or more days a month of feeling depressed, stressed, or having emotional problems."

This figure is "up one percentage point from the CDC surveys conducted from 1993 to 2001." Among the findings, "some states seem to be faring decidedly worse than others." For example, "West Virginia had the highest percentage of residents, 14.9 percent, who reported frequent mental distress in the 2003-2006 survey," whereas "Kentucky had 14.4 percent." Additional "states with higher than average rates included Alabama, Arkansas, and Indiana."

In Hawaii, however, "it's rarer to have string of stressed-out days...than in any other state," WebMD (4/14, Hitti) added. For the study, "participants were asked by phone how many of the previous 30 days their mental health -- including stress, depression, and emotional problems -- was 'not good.'" Participants "who said their mental health was 'not good' at least 14 out of the previous 30 days had 'frequent mental distress,'" the researchers said. Notably, "the study doesn't pinpoint the causes of mental distress and resources available to help people cope."

Two-thirds of primary-care physicians say they had trouble finding high-quality mental-health treatment for patients, survey says. Following a CQ HealthBeat story, Shirley S. Wang wrote in the Wall Street Journal (4/14) Health Blog that "two-thirds of primary-care physicians in a nationwide survey said they had trouble finding high-quality mental-health treatment for their patients, while only a third had difficulty getting patients a referral to specialists for other types of medical services, according to a study published in Health Affairs" on Apr. 14. The physicians attributed "absent or inadequate insurance coverage and a lack of mental-health providers" as some of the "top reasons" for "the difficulty in getting high-quality mental-health referrals for patients."

Study author Paul Cunningham, of the Center for Studying Health System Change, said that "from the perspective of primary-care physicians, 'the findings from this study strong suggest that lack of access to mental health services is a serious problem -- much more serious than for other commonly used medical services.'"

Focusing on the study's methodology, Modern Healthcare (4/15, Zigmond) explains, "Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the study included a nationally representative sample of about 6,600 nonfederal physicians who spend at least 20 hours per week in patient care." The "interviews were conducted by telephone, and the final response rate was 52 percent for a total of about 2,900 primary-care physicians in family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics."

Posted by admin at 05:29 PM

Consumer Reports investigation finds many individual health plans offer meager coverage

CQ Healthbeat (4/14, Attias) reports, "Many people are unaware that their health insurance plans will not adequately cover their expenses and could leave them in substantial medical debt if they fall seriously ill, according to the May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports."

The investigation found that "the most problematic insurance plans are individual plans that people can secure on their own if they are self-employed or lose their job-based coverage." Consumer Reports found through interviews with insurance experts, and people with individual plans "that in many states, people with modest incomes may not have any good options for individual coverage."

AARP spokesman Adam Sohn "says the sales and marketing of these fixed benefit indemnity plans have been suspended since November of last year, after Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter questioning the marketing practices."

Posted by admin at 05:28 PM

Research suggests many primary-care physicians cannot get mental healthcare for their patients

CQ Healthbeat (4/14, Adams) reports that, according to a study conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change and published in the journal Health Affairs, "two-thirds of primary-care physicians told researchers they could not get mental healthcare for their patients."

Specifically, "patients had far more problems getting mental-health services than they did getting other kinds of medical care, including specialty care." Reasons for that finding include "inadequate health coverage, insurance barriers, or an ability to find a provider that would care for the patients, according to the survey of 6,600 physicians in 60 communities, conducted in 2004 and 2005." In the case of children, "pediatricians were more likely to report problems," with the "main obstacles in getting mental healthcare for children" being "a shortage of providers and health plan barriers."

The study authors also said that "physicians might be experiencing more problems now than when the survey was conducted in 2004 and 2005," possibly due to the recession, which is pressuring "localities and states...to reduce expenditures on mental-health programs."

Posted by admin at 05:27 PM

CDC survey tracks risky teen behaviors

The Los Angeles Times (4/13) reports that a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of teenagers about their behavior on health risks shows that "bad habits clearly start at a young age."

85 percent of bicycle riders and 24 percent of motorcycle riders said they never or rarely wore helmets, and 11 percent of car passengers said they never or rarely used seat belts. Over 29 percent said they had ridden in the past month with a driver who had consumed alcohol, 10.5 percent had driven after drinking.

Among respondents, 18 percent also said they had carried a weapon at least one day in the past month, and 5 percent said they had carried a gun. In addition, 20 percent said they smoked cigarettes, with over 8 percent claiming to be frequent smokers, while 20 percent said they had used marijuana, and over 3 percent cocaine during the past 30 days; over 44 percent said they drank alcohol, and 26 percent engaged in binge drinking.

The survey also reported numbers for use of other illegal substances, sexual activity, obesity, physical activity, sunscreen use and other health risk factors.

Posted by admin at 05:26 PM

Researchers explore association between stressful work environment, worker depression

HealthDay (4/9, Reinberg) reported that, according to a study published online Apr. 8 in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, "a stressful work environment brought on by lack of team spirit increases worker depression and the odds that employees will turn to antidepressants for relief."

For the study, researchers from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Turku, Finland, "collected data on 3,347 Finnish workers, ages 30 to 64," asking "about people's workplace environment -- specifically about team spirit and the quality of communication and about how they felt about the demands of their jobs."

Next, "participants were asked to rate their workplace according to four descriptive phrases: 'encouraging and supportive of new ideas,' 'prejudiced and conservative,' 'nice and easy,' and 'quarrelsome and disagreeing.'" The team found that people who "thought team spirit was poor were about 60 percent more likely to report being depressed and 50 percent more likely to take antidepressants than those who rated it high."

Workers who said team spirit was poor "were 53 percent more likely to have used antidepressants during the first few years after they were interviewed," WebMD (4/9, Hendrick) added. In fact, "during the three years of follow-up, nine percent of the participants had bought antidepressant medications." Yet, the investigators "found no correlation between the climate at work and alcohol use disorders," and the study's "findings took into account factors such as age, gender, marital status, history of mental-health disorders, job demands, and tenure."

The authors concluded that "more attention should be paid to psychological factors at work."

Posted by admin at 05:25 PM

Mental-health experts explain how economy-related stress may affect people in different ways

The New York Times (4/9, Belluck) reports, "Mental health experts say that stress associated with economic worries can affect people in different ways. Some people may find themselves being more irritable, anxious, lethargic or sad. Some may be unable to sleep, may eat too much or too little, or may experience physical symptoms of stress."

But there are many "coping techniques and ways to get help, depending on the individual situation. In general, experts advise people to engage in activities that can release stress, like exercise, hobbies or socializing with friends and family. Sharing worries with people experiencing similar stress can help."

Therapists also encourage "people to try to take action or make decisions in areas where they have some control, like deciding whether it is affordable to send the children to camp this summer or deciding to cut back on dinners out or other expenses."

Posted by admin at 05:23 PM

Article explores impact of recession-related fear, stress on mental health

On its front page, the New York Times (4/9, A1, Belluck) reports that with the "economic damage" of the current recession "expected to last months or years," panic attacks, anxiety, "depression, and stress are troubling people everywhere," even those who are "not suffering significant economic losses, but" who are worried that they will, or who are "simply reacting to pervasive uncertainty."

While some people "are seeking counseling or medication for the first time," others "are resuming or increasing treatment, or redirecting therapy for other issues onto economic anxiety," if they can pay for it. "Even for insured people, the economy both causes anxiety and makes help less affordable."

Pittsburgh, PA psychiatrist Alan A. Axelson, MD, "said he was seeing first-time patients and infrequent ones experiencing 'relapse and needing more therapy and medication,'" while Manhattan psychiatrist Daniel A. Cohen, MD, "said he saw 'more families in crisis,' with children experiencing 'increased signs of anxiety and depression.'"

Posted by admin at 05:22 PM

April 16, 2009

Professor describes how she tried to get help for Virginia Tech gunman

The CBS Evening News (4/7, story 5, 4:55, Couric) reported, "In a new book," No Right to Remain Silent, "a former Virginia Tech professor," Lucinda Roy, "writes that she tried to get" 23-year-old gunman Seung-Hui Cho "help before it was too late, but no one would listen."

During "the fall of 2005...a colleague had alerted her to Cho's disturbing writings and disruptive behavior. In her book," Roy explains that she decided "to tutor him privately," and "found a student...who was almost always unresponsive."

To get Cho some help, Roy "contacted four different departments on campus, including the counseling center and university police." She was told that "requiring a student to seek counseling" was "against Virginia Tech policy...unless it's an emergency," which "administrators...did not indicate it was." And, "because Cho was over 21 at the time, his parents were never notified about his problems." Later, "a special state panel convened after the" April 2007 "shootings concluded the school had misinterpreted privacy laws."

Since the shootings, "Virginia Tech has" added "additional counselors" and established "a risk assessment team to handle troubled students."

Posted by admin at 03:31 PM

Woman shares her struggles with OCD

In the UK's Daily Mail (4/8), Sarah Poulton, who has suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since childhood, shares diary entries of her struggles with the condition over the past few years.

She writes that OCD "is a psychological illness that has, on more than one occasion, brought me literally to my knees. With its threatening, fearful thoughts and laborious rituals, it has been the bane of my life."

Since the age of seven, Poulton says she has "been dominated by the voices in my head that told me if I don't obey them, my loved ones will come to terrible harm. It is time-consuming, anxiety inducing, and miserable to live with."

In 2007, she reached "a crisis point," when the obsessions "became almost intolerable." At that point, she vowed to help herself "through sheer willpower." Poulton's diary entries reveal the process by which she began to ignore "internal commands" to perform OCD rituals by writing things down and replacing "the warped logic in" her "mind with a lucid, logical written fact."

Posted by admin at 03:29 PM

Keeping up appearances seen as effective social strategy in uncertain times

Writing in the Mind column on the front of the New York Times (4/7, D1) Science Times section, Benedict Carey observes that, while "the fine art of keeping up appearances may seem shallow and deceitful, the very embodiment of denial...many psychologists beg to differ."

Instead, they say, "to the extent that it sustains good habits and reflects personal pride...this kind of play-acting can be an extremely effective social strategy, especially in uncertain times." For "the short term, projecting pride may do more than help manage others' impressions."

According to psychologists, "wearing a sad or happy face can have a top-down effect on how a person feels: Smile and you may feel fleetingly happier," and the same may hold "true for an expression of pride," which may bolster "perseverance. All of which may explain why, when the repo man is at the door, people so often remind themselves that they still have theirs, and that it's worth something. Because they do, and because it is."

Carey concludes that "however much pride may go before a fall, it may be far more useful after one."

Posted by admin at 03:28 PM

Boys who suffer mental-health problems may be at increased risk for suicide as teens or young adults, researchers say

HealthDay (4/6, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, "boys who suffer mental health problems may be at increased risk for suicide when they're teens or young adults."

For the study, researchers from Finland's Turku University Hospital "included 5,302 people who were born in 1981 and followed until 2005. Between ages eight and 24, 40 participants died." Of those who died, "13 males and two females died from suicide. Overall, 54 males and females either completed suicide or made a suicide attempt serious enough to result in hospitalization."

The team found that "of the 27 males who committed suicide or made a serious suicide attempt, 78 percent had screened positive for psychiatric conditions at age eight, compared with 11 percent of the 27 females who committed suicide or made a serious attempt."

Posted by admin at 03:27 PM

Survey indicates occupancy rates remain high in psychiatric treatment facilities

Medscape (4/2, Anderson) reported that, according to a 2008 survey conducted by the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS), "admissions for hospital psychiatric and substance-abuse health services rose 3.5 percent from 2006 to 2007," and "occupancy rates remain high in psychiatric treatment facilities."

NAPHS CEO and President Mark Covall cited "a growing demand for in-patient psychiatric hospital services." He stated, "We tend not to have enough in-patient capacity in many communities, demand in many cases being stronger than the actual supply." Covall added, "We're seeing that there are more patients needing in-patient care from year to year."

Of the "344 members issued a mail-in survey, 205 responded," Covall said, "representing close to a 60 percent response rate." Survey "respondents included psychiatric hospitals, general hospital behavioral-health service units, and freestanding residential treatment centers," with the majority of respondents operating "programs with an average [of] about 86 beds."

Posted by admin at 03:26 PM

More Americans hospitalized for eating disorders, data indicate

On its website, KSPR-TV Springfield, MO (4/2), an ABC affiliate, reported, "More Americans are being hospitalized for eating disorders, according to a new report from government health officials" employed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

In fact, there was an 18 percent increase between 1999 and 2006. Although the "biggest spike occurred among young children...nearly every age group showed an increase."

Intriguingly, the "best-known eating disorders -- anorexia and bulimia" -- were somewhat overshadowed by "big increases in unusual eating disorders" like "pica -- a condition in which people eat non-edible materials, such as clay or plaster -- and rumination disorders, in which patients deliberately bring up food to chew again or spit out."

Posted by admin at 03:25 PM

Some physicians opting out of Medicare due to low reimbursements, excessive paperwork

The New York Times (4/2, F9, Connelly) reports, "Some doctors -- often internists but also gastroenterologists, gynecologists, psychiatrists and other specialists -- are no longer accepting Medicare, either because they have opted out of the insurance system or they are not accepting new patients with Medicare coverage."

These physicians argue that the "reimbursement rates are too low and paperwork too much of a hassle." As a result, patients who are "approaching Medicare eligibility" are advised to "talk to their doctors," because some "may be willing to allow their existing" patients "to remain in their care."

Dr. J. James Rohack, a cardiologist and president-elect of the American Medical Association, also noted that patients can also "'hook up with a primary care provider in an urgent care center who is willing' to provide continuing care."

Meanwhile, "another, more expensive option is concierge or 'boutique' care," where "doctors accept Medicare and other insurance, but charge patients an annual retainer...to get in the door and receive services not covered by Medicare."

Posted by admin at 03:24 PM

Mothers delivering multiple babies more likely to develop postpartum depression, research suggests

HealthDay (4/1, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published in the Apr. 1 issue of the journal Pediatrics and conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, "mothers who deliver two or more babies are more likely to have developed moderate to severe depression within nine months of giving birth than mothers who have a single baby."

For the study, the Hopkins team "analyzed data from" the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study -- Birth Cohort, "a nationally representative survey of children born in 2001."

The researchers discovered that "19 percent of mothers of multiples had moderate to severe depressive symptoms nine months after delivery, compared to 16 percent among mothers of singletons." In particular, "mothers with a history of hospitalization due to mental health problems or a history of alcohol or drug abuse...had significantly increased odds."

Other data revealed that "only 27 percent of all mothers with symptoms of depression said they had talked with a mental health specialist or a general medical provider about their symptoms."

Posted by admin at 03:23 PM

Specialist intervention service following first-episode psychosis may improve likelihood of vocational recovery, researchers say

MedWire (4/1, Grasmo) reports that, according to a study published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, "having access to a specialist vocational intervention service following first-episode psychosis improves the likelihood of vocational recovery during the subsequent 12 months."

For the study, researchers from EQUIP, London "followed up 114 first-episode psychosis service users aged on average 24 years during 12 months of engagement with an early intervention service." Altogether, "44 of these patients were resident in an area where vocation intervention was available, and 70 in an area where it was not."

Performing multivariate analysis, the team found that "vocational recovery was significantly associated with having access" to Vocational Support Within Early Intervention (VIBE). In addition, "education beyond basic secondary level" and "being occupied at baseline...were strongly associated with vocational recovery within 12 months."

Posted by admin at 03:21 PM

Study indicates adults who suffer chronic sleep problems may be more likely to attempt suicide

BBC News (4/1) reports that, according to a study to be presented at a psychiatric association meeting, "adults who suffer chronic sleep problems may be more likely to try to commit suicide."

For the study, "a University of Michigan team examined the relationship over one year between sleep problems and suicidal behavior in 5,692 Americans." Next, the researchers examined "three types of sleep problems -- difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and waking at least two hours earlier than desired," taking into account "factors, such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorder, and physical illness, as well as social factors, such as marriage and financial status."

The investigators found that "people with two or more symptoms of insomnia were 2.6 times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those whose sleep was not disturbed," with "early morning waking" being "the single trait most strongly linked to suicidal behavior."

Posted by admin at 03:20 PM

April 10, 2009

2009 Psychoanalysts Look At Films in April

The Baltimore Washington Center for Psychoanalysis will begin its newClose-Ups: Psychoanalysts Look at Film at the Baltimore Museum of Art on April 10, 2009. Click to continue reading for complete information.

The film and discussion series starts off with John Sayles' Limbo, and continues each following Friday with Lars and the Real Girl, Joshua, and finally Saraband.

Tickets for individual sessions are $15, or you can attend the entire series for $55. Advance purchase, student and senior discounts are available, and CEUS/CMEs are provided for mental health care professionals. Further information can be gotten by calling 410-792-8060 or 301-470-3635 or by visiting the Baltimore Washington Center for Psychoanalysis website. The brochure is also available to download here as an Adobe Acrobat PDF form.

The Center chooses films for this series because they are psychologically perceptive and stir the emotions and curiosity of the viewers. Looking through the lens of psychoanalysis enriches appreciation of the film by examining emotions and thoughts evoked by the film's story and imagery.

Films to be discussed this year are:

Limbo
(1999) Rated R, USA, Director: John Sayles
Discussant: Robert Lessey, M.D.
Friday, April 10, 7:30pm
Website: New York Times Overview with trailer
From this beautifully filmed Alaskan adventure comes the line, "This must be Limbo -- it's too cold for hell." Director John Sayles plunges us into an uncertain borderland between civilization and wilderness, between adulthood and childhood, between good and evil, between oblivion and salvation. Choosing a breathtakingly spectacular and dangerous external natural world as both backdrop and metaphor for his characters' internal fight for survival, he portrays a treacherous crevasse separating hope and trust from suspicion and despair, revealing secrets of their frozen or submerged past. Earlier relationships and experiences have left them wounded and scarred, but they must find a way to trust again, or die.

Joshua
(2007) Rated R, USA, Director: George Ratliff
Discussant: Leon Levin, M.D.
Friday, April 24, 7:30pm
Website: www.foxsearchlight.com/joshua
A mother's second postpartum depression unravels a seemingly successful Manhattan family. Joshua, age 9, is a precocious child whose perpetually dark countenance and stiff posture portend something ominous. Aptly named after the biblical figure who brings the walls down, he is both victim and perpetrator of the family meltdown. This is a horror film that does not use blood and gore to create the mood, but instead reveals to us the psychological demons that are unleashed by mental disorder.

Lars and the Real Girl
(2007) Rated R, USA, Director: Craig Gilespie
Discussant: Noreen Honeycutt, Ph.D.
Friday, May 1, 7:30pm
Website: www.larsandtherealgirl-themovie.com
Having lost his mother at birth and raised by a mourning and distant father, Lars develops a style of living his life as an observer at a distance. Stimulated and frightened by the pregnancy of his sister-in-law, Lars reacts with his own "delivery" of a life-size doll. He is helped by a doctor to use the doll to work through deep and painful conflicts. Mother figures in the form of a blanket, his family, and the caring doctor, along with the unconditional support of a community, allow Lars to move toward love and "realness."

Saraband
(2003) Rated R, Sweden (English subtitles), Director: Ingmar Bergman
Discussant: Bruce Sklarew, M.D.
Friday, May 15, 7:30pm
Website: www.sonyclassics.com/saraband
Saraband is 30-year sequel to the 1972 film Scenes from a Marriage, with Liv Ullmann as Marianne. In his nineties, Ingmar Bergman creates his last film, and it is clearly autobiographical. The theme of loss and unresolved mourning is central, revolving around the continued emotional presence of a dead wife and mother. The characters (and Bergman) struggle with sado-masochism, competitiveness, fatherhood, and impending death. Bergman presents an unusual and stately structure of ten duets between the four characters in the film.

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