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July 31, 2009
Article discusses "health mistake" made when people quit antidepressants "cold turkey."
In a feature about the "six health mistakes smart people make," the San Francisco Chronicle /Marie Claire (7/29, Harrar) discussed "quitting antidepressants cold turkey," observing, "Maybe you're feeling good again, but abruptly abandoning" antidepressants "could saddle you with flulike symptoms, insomnia, nausea, and a blue mood for at least a week -- a problem called 'discontinuation syndrome.'"
The Chronicle advised readers not to "give up," and quoted former American Psychiatric Association president Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH, as saying, "If you're feeling better, it means your antidepressant is working."
The Chronicle advised those who "must stop" to "alert your doc and taper off slowly (e.g., reduce your dose by one-fourth every two weeks). And if depression creeps back at any point, resume your full medication."
Related Links:
- "6 Health Mistakes Smart People Make," Sari Harrar, San Francisco Chronicle, July 29, 2009.
Posted by admin at 09:18 PM
Older diabetes patients taking antipsychotics face increased risk for hyperglycemia hospitalization, research suggests
HealthDay (7/28, Thompson) reported that, according to a study published in the July 27 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, "older diabetics who take antipsychotic medications have an increased risk of ending up in the hospital with elevated blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia."
For the study, researchers from Canada's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences at the University of Toronto and Women's College Research Institute at Women's College Hospital analyzed data on "13,817 diabetic patients who were 66 and older" who "started taking antipsychotics between April 2002 and March 2006." Next, the team "compared these patients' hospitalization rates for hyperglycemia with the rates of patients who had stopped taking antipsychotic medications for more than 180 days."
"Of the 13,817 people studied, 11 percent were hospitalized for hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, or hyperosmolar coma," WebMD (7/28, Warner) explained. Notably, the investigators "found that those who were taking an antipsychotic were about one-and-a-half times more likely to be hospitalized for hyperglycemia than those who stopped taking the medications at least 180 days prior," with the risk being "highest among those who had just started taking an antipsychotic." In fact, "the results showed the risk of hyperglycemia was increased in elderly people with diabetes regardless of the type of antipsychotic...they used."
MedWire (7/28, Albert) noted that the study authors concluded that "the risk of diabetes may be partly related to chronic effects of the weight gain associated with antipsychotic agents," but "case reports of acute hyperglycemia after the initiation of therapy with" antipsychotics "suggest that they may also be associated with acute glycemic changes." Therefore, they urged "patients and their families" to "observe for signs of glycemic decompensation when treatment with an antipsychotic agent is initiated," and recommended "enhanced glucose monitoring...for all patients for whom an antipsychotic" medication "is prescribed, particularly after treatment initiation."
Related Links:
- Older Diabetics Should Avoid Dementia Meds," Dennis Thompson, Healthday, July 29, 2009.
- Antipsychotics Risky for Elderly With Diabetes," Jennifer Warner, WebMD, July 28, 2009.
Posted by admin at 09:10 PM
Psychiatrist says latest Harry Potter movie offers opportunity for parents to discuss alcohol use with children
On the front of its Science Times section, the New York Times (7/28, D1, Parker-Pope) reports that "parents may be surprised by the starring role given to alcohol" in the latest Harry Potter movie.
"In scene after scene, the young wizards and their adult professors are seen sipping, gulping, and pouring various forms of alcohol to calm their nerves, fortify their courage or comfort their sorrows."
Several recent "studies suggest that movies influence teenagers' behavior when it comes to drinking," and "an Institute of Medicine committee on under-age drinking has said there is 'a strong possibility' that youth exposure to alcohol through movies contributes to early initiation of alcohol use."
While "alcohol experts say this does not mean that children shouldn't see the new Harry Potter movie," the movie itself may present "an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about alcohol," according to psychiatrist Christopher Welsh.
Related Links:
- "Harry Potter and the Pint of Liquid Courage," Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times, July 27, 2009.
Posted by admin at 09:06 PM
General practitioners may have difficulty spotting depression in patients, review suggests
BBC News (7/27) reported that, according to a review published in The Lancet, general practitioners may "have difficulty spotting depression among their patients."
Researchers from the UK's University of Leicester, who reviewed 41 "studies involving more than 50,000 patients," discovered that "substantial numbers were missed or wrongly identified as having depression.
In fact, depression was more commonly misdiagnosed than correctly spotted following an initial consultation." Specifically, the review found that "GPs were able to recognize only about half of people who had clinical depression," with the GPs being "better at picking up more severe depression."
The study authors "said the fact that most consultations lasted only for a short time might be to blame, as patients may be reluctant to discuss their problems fully."
They also suggested that "if GPs evaluated people who might have depression over two appointments instead of one their diagnostic accuracy rate would rise to 90 percent."
Related Links:
- "GPs 'poor at spotting depression'," BBC News, July 27, 2009.
Posted by admin at 09:04 PM
July 28, 2009
Poor sleep hygiene may lead to insomnia, expert says
HealthDay (7/24, McKeever) reported that "the head of a Texas sleep study facility" is saying that "stress, worry, caffeine, alcohol, and watching TV in bed -- factors known as 'poor sleep hygiene' -- are the major reasons why people can't shut down their bodies when it's time for sleep."
Such habits, explained Dr. Sunil Mathews, of Baylor Medical Center, "can also lead to taking sleep-aid medications that could interfere with alertness the next day." This "can turn into a vicious cycle."
Dr. Mathews offered several recommendations that can help people "develop good sleep hygiene." He said that people should not exercise "within four hours of bedtime," and should "avoid caffeine, alcohol or sugary items within eight hours." It is also important to "maintain a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends," among other things.
Related Links:
- "Stress, Bad Bedtime Habits Cause Insomnia," Kevin McKeever, Healthday, July 24, 2009.
Posted by admin at 05:51 PM
July 27, 2009
Research suggests parental death may quadruple risk for depression in youth
Medscape (7/23, Kelly) reported that, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, "a parent's death more than quadruples the risk for depression for children, adolescents, and young adults."
For the study, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic examined "the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric problems at nine and 21 months after the loss of a parent in 154 bereaved subjects aged seven to 25 years vs. a group of 100 matched controls with two living parents.
The bereaved subjects had lost a parent due to suicide, accident, or sudden natural death." The team also found that "depression affects 10 percent of bereaved youth compared with two percent of non-bereaved youth."
An accompanying editorial noted that "appropriate treatment for bereaved youth may be impeded by the bereavement exclusion for major depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed (DSM-IV), which also does not include complicated grief."
Posted by admin at 04:42 PM
Federal officials say prescription medication abuse is growing
NBC Nightly News (7/5, story 7, 2:30, Holt) reported on "the growing problem of prescription" medication "abuse among teens. Authorities say prescription" medicines "can be too easy to get and a hard habit to break."
NBC's Mark Potter added, "Federal officials say prescription" medication "abuse is a growing problem nationwide. An estimated seven million Americans abuse prescription" medications, "mostly painkillers, which actually kill more people than cocaine and heroin combined.
Authorities say the problem is particularly acute in Kentucky, where 485 people died from prescription" medicine "overdoses last year alone." According to residents of one rehabilitation clinic, prescription medicines "are easy to buy on the streets and are horribly addictive. Addicts now clog the courts and jails."
Posted by admin at 04:41 PM
Article discusses mental-health issues in Major League Baseball
The Wall Street Journal (7/1, A9, Wang) reports that "acceptance of mental-health issues in Major League Baseball (MLB) has only emerged in the last few years."
While "some fans might not feel much sympathy for the psychological burdens of professional baseball players...who typically earn huge salaries to do what many people would consider a dream job," the history of the sport "is full of stories of players suddenly struck by conditions, often thought to be psychological, that became nightmares for their careers."
For the past two decades, "MLB policy has dictated that each club maintain a confidential employee assistance program, which is monitored regularly by the commissioner's office, according to Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the baseball commissioner's office."
Manfred pointed out that "mental illness is treated 'no differently' than physical injury." According to psychologists, "the same drive that successfully propels athletes to the professional level can then exacerbate failures by making ballplayers become excessively hard on themselves."
Posted by admin at 04:40 PM
Mother's lifestyle choices influence children from womb to grave, research suggests
USA Today (7/1, Szabo) reports that "the choices" a mother-to-be makes -- "getting good prenatal care, eating nutrient-packed vegetables, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine -- may help her baby long after birth."
In fact, "research into the 'developmental origins of adult disease' suggests that...healthy living may help" children "avoid problems such as cancer, heart disease, depression, and diabetes, not just in childhood, but 50 years from now."
One UK expert explained that "during the crucial 'window of opportunity' before birth and during infancy, environmental cues help 'program' a person's DNA," which "happens through a delicate interplay of genes and the environment called epigenetics, which can determine how a baby reacts for the rest of its life."
Harvard researchers recently noted that children "can develop abnormal reactions to stress." According to their paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "persistent, 'toxic' stress -- such as neglect or extreme poverty -- may program a child's nervous system to be on perpetual high alert. Over time, this can damage the immune response and lead to chronic ailments, such as heart disease and depression."
Posted by admin at 04:39 PM
Consumer advocates urge lawmakers to guarantee comprehensive coverage in healthcare overhaul
On its front page, the New York Times (7/1, A1, Abelson) reports, "Health insurance is supposed to offer protection -- both medically and financially.
But, as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured."
Therefore, "as Washington tries to cover the tens of millions of Americans without medical insurance, many health policy experts say simply giving everyone an insurance card will not be enough to fix what is wrong with the system," because "too many other people already have coverage so meager that a medical crisis means financial calamity."
While lawmakers are grappling with the cost of comprehensive coverage, "patient advocates argue it is crucial for the final legislation to guarantee a base level of coverage," if consumers "are to be protected from financial ruin. They also call for a new layer of federal rules to correct the current state-by-state regulatory patchwork that allows some insurance companies to sell relatively worthless policies."
Posted by admin at 04:38 PM
Fatalism among teenagers may lead to uptick in risky behaviors, survey reveals
The AP (6/29) reports that, according to a study published in the July issue of Pediatrics, "Nearly 15 percent of teenagers think they are going to die young, leading many to drug use, suicide attempts, and other unsafe behavior," a finding that "challenges conventional wisdom that says teens engage in risky behavior because they think they are invulnerable to harm."
Yet, after surveying some 20,000 adolescents, University of Minnesota investigators noted that "teens who thought they would die early were seven times more likely than optimistic teens to be subsequently diagnosed with AIDS," and they were also "more likely to attempt suicide and get in fights resulting in serious injuries," behaviors that "threaten to turn their fatalism into a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Posted by admin at 04:37 PM
Study indicates 93 percent of young adults may not receive necessary treatment for alcohol, drug use
Dow Jones Newswires (6/29, Hughes) reports, "About seven million young adults in the past year were classified as needing treatment to overcome alcoholism or illegal drug usage," according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
But, the study of "22,187 individuals, aged 18 to 25" showed that "93 percent of the young adults between ages 18 to 25 didn't receive the necessary treatment," and "these levels have remained stable since 2002." In fact, over "one in five young adults needs treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use," and "96 percent of the young adults who needed treatment but didn't receive it, didn't believe there was a problem."
The report also "includes information on the difference in the number of young adults who have health insurance and received treatment compared to those without health insurance, among other comparisons."
Posted by admin at 04:37 PM
Anxious people may have more difficulty tuning out distractions, research suggests
HealthDay (6/29, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published in Society Today, "anxious people have more difficulty tuning out distractions and require more time to shift their attention from one task to another."
For the study, researchers from the University of London "included volunteers who took part in several experiments designed to assess the effects of anxiety on their ability to perform such tasks as avoiding distractions when reading a story or solving a series of simple math problems."
In one experiment, the team found that "anxious people took longer to read" a "story because they tended to dwell on the irrelevant words, especially when they believed they would be evaluated on their reading comprehension." In another "experiment, volunteers alternated between multiplication and division problems. Anxious participants took longer to complete the task."
The authors also discovered that "anxious people often perform at a level comparable to those who aren't anxious, but at a greater cost in terms of effort and perhaps long-term stress."
Posted by admin at 04:36 PM
Research indicates children who experience physical abuse may be more likely to develop cancer as adults
HealthDay (6/25, Preidt) reported, "Adults who experienced physical abuse as children are more likely to develop cancer than those who weren't abused," according to findings appearing in the journal Cancer.
Researchers found that "childhood physical abuse is associated with a 49 percent increased risk of cancer in adulthood." Even after accounting for "potentially major health factors -- childhood stressors, adult socioeconomic status and adult behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity -- the association between childhood abuse and cancer remained significant."
The researchers noted that "a number of psychophysiological factors could help explain the link between childhood physical abuse and cancer," including "dysfunctions in cortisol production -- the hormone that prepares us for 'fight or flight' -- as a possible mediator in the abuse-cancer relationship."
Posted by admin at 04:34 PM
Research suggests spring peak in suicide rates may be particularly high among patients with history of mood disorders
MedWire (6/24, Cowen) reported that, according to a study published online June 16 in the Journal of Affective Disorders, "the seasonal spring peak in suicide rates is particularly high among patients with a history of mood disorders."
For the study, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine "used the Danish Cause of Death Registry to identify all 37,987 individuals who died by suicide in the country between 1970 and 2001." In addition, they "used the Danish Psychiatric Central Register to assess any history of mood disorders among the suicide victims."
They found that "men and women with a history of hospitalization for mood disorders were 1.18 and 1.20 times, respectively, more likely to commit suicide in spring than at other times of the year, while the respective risks in men and women without such a history were 1.07 and 1.11."
Posted by admin at 03:45 PM