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October 30, 2009
Survey suggests girls may feel damaged by effects of mothers' dieting, views on food.
The UK's Telegraph (10/29) reports that, according to the results of a survey of "512 teenage girls" conducted by the magazine Sugar, a girl's "mother has the biggest influence" on "her own self-image" and that girls "feel damaged by the effects of their mum's dieting and views on food."
The survey revealed that "six percent" of the respondents (average age 14) "had an eating disorder, rising to one in 10 among those whose mothers diet." In addition, "38 percent said their mother had the biggest influence on how they perceived themselves," with "one in five girls" saying "they are criticized by family members for being 'too big,'" and 51 percent saying they had been "hurt by their parents talking about their size." The UK's Daily Mail (10/29, Salkfeld) also covers the story.
Related Links:
- Many girls 'damaged' by their mum's dieting," Jane Kirby, The Independent, October 29, 2009.
- Dieting mothers have anorexic daughters, study suggests," UK Telegraph, October 29, 2009.
Posted by admin at 12:15 AM
NICE guidelines recommend screening for depression in patients with chronic health problems.
The UK's Telegraph (10/28, Devlin) reports that, according to new guidance from the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellent (NICE), primary-care physicians "should not merely accept that feeling low is a side effect of having a long-term condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer," but should be vigilant "in looking for" depression in patients "with chronic health problems."
NICE pointed out that "patients with chronic conditions are two to three times as likely as healthy people to be depressed," and depression "can affect their physical health and even reduce their life expectancy."
Related Links:
- Millions with chronic illnesses 'should be checked for signs of depression' ," Kate Devlin, UK Telegraph, October 28, 2009.
Posted by admin at 12:02 AM
October 29, 2009
Research suggests more than 65 percent of US mothers with depression may not receive adequate treatment.
HealthDay (10/27, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published online in the Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, "more than 65 percent of US mothers with depression don't receive adequate treatment."
In an "analysis of national data on 2,130 mothers with depression," researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health found "found that working mothers were less likely to receive adequate treatment," indicating that "workplaces could prove a useful location for depression intervention."
The investigators also discovered that while "black, Hispanic and other minority mothers are least likely to receive adequate treatment," moms "with health insurance are three times more likely to receive adequate treatment than those without insurance."
Related Links:
- Depression Often Goes Untreated in Working Moms
," HealthDay, October 27, 2009.
Posted by admin at 11:49 PM
NFL's long-term study on dementia seen as flawed.
The New York Times (10/27, B10, Schwarz) reports that the National Football League (NFL) "and its doctors have consistently dismissed independent studies showing unusual cognitive decline in former players," insisting that "a long-term study by the league's committee on concussions, expected to be published in several years, will be the authoritative analysis."
However, "according to many experts in epidemiology, dementia and health policy who assessed the study's design," the study "is fraught with statistical, systemic, and conflict-of-interest problems that make it inappropriate to examine the issue." Experts "contacted by The New York Times" said "their primary concern was that an improperly conducted study, should it claim no discernible cognitive decline among players, could mislead the public about the seriousness of football brain injuries."
Related Links:
- N.F.L.’s Dementia Study Has Flaws, Experts Say ," Alan Schwarz, New York Times, October 26, 2009.
Posted by admin at 11:33 PM
October 25, 2009
Researchers say primary-care physicians crucial to preventing depression in elderly.
Medscape (10/22, Kelly) reported that, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, "primary-care physicians are emerging as the front line in efforts to reduce the growing numbers of depressed elderly."
After following "617 patients aged 65 years or older from practices in general internal medicine, geriatrics, and family medicine," researchers from the University of Rochester found that "elderly patients at greatest risk for depression onset have early factors that are among those routinely assessed in primary-care visits," such as "minor or subsyndromal depression, history of major or minor depression, and impaired functional status." The authors suggested that "psychiatrists -- and mental healthcare providers more generally -- need to be establishing partnerships with the primary-care community."
Related Links:
- Primary Care Physicians Key in Preventing Major Depression in the Elderly," Janis C. Kelly, Medscape Today, October 22, 2009.
Posted by admin at 05:15 PM
New device alerts caregivers when Alzheimer's patients stray too far.
ABC World News (10/21, story 9, 2:30, Gibson) reported that on Oct. 22, "the Alzheimer's Association will begin marketing a device promising Alzheimer's patients more independence, and their caregivers greater peace of mind."
Correspondent John McKenzie explained that "the Alzheimer's Association developed a computer program called Comfort Zone. With this pocket-sized receiver, families can track patients and for the first time, be alerted whenever a patient strays too far." This "service, available for $42 a month, can be used by family members thousands of miles away to set zones and track a patient's movements," either by computer or through "alerts...sent as a text messages to cell phones."
Posted by admin at 04:55 PM
October 20, 2009
Researchers explore link between obesity and childhood neglect, abuse.
The Los Angeles Times (10/15, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Childhood neglect and abuse can leave mental and physical scars, but that's not all" -- a paper published in Obesity indicates "there may also be a correlation between abuse and" excess weight. Investigators reached that conclusion after reviewing "court records of 410 children up to age 11 from 1967 to 1971 in a Midwest county who had court-substantiated cases of physical and sexual abuse and neglect."
The team speculates that the "physical abuse could have had affected the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, in turn increasing peripheral cortisol, which has been associated with abdominal obesity." But they also pointed out that "overeating could be a way of coping with the trauma of abuse."
Related Links:
- Childhood abuse, obesity linked," Jeannine Stein, Los Angelas Times Health, October 19, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:52 AM
Research suggests depression, obesity, alcohol abuse may be interrelated in young women.
Medscape (10/15, Cassels) reported, "Depression, obesity, and alcohol abuse appear to be interrelated conditions among young women but not their male counterparts," according to a study published in the September/October edition of General Hospital Psychiatry.
The study included "776 young adults -- 393 men and 383 women -- who were followed-up into adulthood." Researchers interviewed participants "at ages 24, 27, and 30 years," assessing "for major depressive episodes, alcohol abuse or dependence disorder, and obesity during the past year." The study showed that "nearly half of" participants "met criteria for at least one of the health conditions, and eight percent to 12 percent of the sample reported comorbidity during the same period." Data indicated that "women with an alcohol disorder at age 24...had more than a three-fold increased risk for obesity at age 27."
Related Links:
- Young Women Vulnerable to 'Toxic Triangle' of Depression, Obesity, Alcohol Abuse," Caroline Cassels, Medscape Today, October 15, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:45 AM
Researchers associate tobacco use during pregnancy with increased risk for psychotic symptoms in offspring
MedWire (10/13, Davenport) reports that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, "children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy have an increased risk for non-clinical psychotic experiences."
Researchers from the UK's Cardiff University studied data on "6,356 adolescents aged 12 years," and found that "maternal tobacco use during pregnancy was strongly associated with any suspected or definite psychotic-like symptoms in the offspring, at an adjusted odds ratio of 1.20." Notably, "maternal smoking in the third, as opposed to the first, trimester was associated with an increased risk for symptoms, at an odds ratio of 2.1."
Related Links:
- Tobacco use in pregnancy increases offspring psychotic symptom risk," Liam Davenport, MedWire News, October 13, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:32 AM
October 13, 2009
Growing conversation about suicide seen as taking place among US youth.
The AP (10/9, Irvine) reported that "there's a growing conversation about suicide that's happening on college campuses, in high school auditoriums, and online -- even among youth some might think are too young to consider suicide.
The hope is that a public discussion between young people and the teachers and counselors who work with them could inspire peers in distress to get help." For example, "some states, among them California, New Jersey, and Tennessee, require a strategy for suicide prevention in schools." On college campuses, some students are making suicide prevention "a year-round endeavor," sponsoring suicide-awareness campaigns and using social networking sites as part of their outreach.
Related Links:
- Youth push for louder conversation about suicide ," Martha Irvine, The Daily Star, October 9, 2009.
Posted by admin at 12:30 AM
Survey suggests unemployed Americans more likely to report symptoms of severe mental illness.
HealthDay (10/8, Preidt) reported that, according to results of a survey "conducted last month for Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Depression Is Real Coalition," Americans who are unemployed "are four times more likely than those with jobs to report symptoms of severe mental illness, such as major depression."
In addition, "the poll of 1,002 adults aged 18 and older" revealed that people "with jobs who were forced to accept work changes, such as reduced hours or pay cuts, were twice as likely to have symptoms." Moreover, "13 percent of unemployed people said they've had thoughts of harming themselves -- a rate four times higher than for those with full-time jobs."
Related Links:
- Recession Adds to Ranks of Americans With Depression," Robert Preidt, HealthDay, October 8, 2009.
Posted by admin at 12:25 AM
Network details cancer survivor's experience with clinical depression.
ABC World News (10/8, story 9, 2:20, Gibson) reported that Oct. 8 was "National Depression Screening Day.
It's an annual attempt to reach out to people who are suffering in silence," many of whom "are cancer patients and cancer survivors. One in four cancer patients suffers from clinical depression, often months after getting a clean bill of health."
Correspondent John McKenzie interviewed Jerry Remy, a cancer survivor who has "been the voice of the Boston Red Sox the past 22 years." Remy underwent lung cancer surgery last November and made a full recovery. Despite that, his "mood plunged" during spring training. Remy got help, however, and started taking antidepressants. Now he is starting to feel better emotionally as well as physically.
Posted by admin at 12:04 AM
October 08, 2009
Foundation's Dr. Komrad Appears on Baltimore TV Show
Dr. Mark Komrad recently appeared on the Baltimore television show Mental Health Matters. He discussed a number of questions: Who are psychiatrists? How do they differ from other mental health professionals? How do they approach problems in mental life? How are they depicted in movies and how accurate are those depictions? He also told about the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry and the work it does.
The show has been divided into three 10 minute segments and posted at YouTube. If the embedded videos below cause any problems, you can find all three at the Foundation's YouTube page here.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Posted by admin at 03:36 PM
October 06, 2009
Television portrayals of mental illness seen as changing.
The Los Angeles Times (10/5, Brink) reports, "Mental illness, long taboo or distorted by the media, is making its way into the fictional lives of television characters."
In the past, some "mentally ill people were commonly portrayed as homicidal maniacs." Now, however, "they are also lawyers, doctors, mobsters, and detectives -- not always lovable folks, but increasingly understandable human beings."
The Times explains, "The shift in television characterizations might be a result of pressure from" mental-health advocacy groups, or possibly reflects the "fact that more than one-fourth of Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder every year." But, while "truthful portrayals of mental illness and its treatment may be getting better...television still has a long way to go" in realistically depicting the "pain and suffering" of mental illness.
Posted by admin at 01:48 AM
Extent of mental healthcare reform seen as uncertain.
The Baltimore Sun (10/4, Cohn) reported that, according to the Coalition for Whole Health, Mental Health America, "30 million Americans...have no medical or mental health coverage," and "more lack mental healthcare or are underinsured."
Even though congressional "lawmakers have included some provisions for the mentally ill" in healthcare reform bills, "high costs and competing needs mean the amount of care and the number of people who would get it remain uncertain."
The "Council for Affordable Health Insurance, which represents small insurance companies," says that "premiums could rise one...to three percent for everyone if basic mental health benefits were mandated, and more for fuller coverage." But, "mental health disorders and addiction cost US businesses $171 billion a year in lost productivity," the Campaign for Mental Health Reform estimates, not counting "costs to the criminal justice system" and other societal costs.
Related Links:
- A cry for mental health change," Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, October 4, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:42 AM
Expert advises patients to consider pros, cons of Alzheimer's tests.
HealthDay (10/2, Doheny) reported that before people decide "whether to take an Alzheimer's test, experts say it's important to consider the pros and cons" of such testing.
The Alzheimer's Association points out that "none of the tests are diagnostic," serving "only as a screening, sometimes with results suggesting that the person taking the test needs further evaluation." In fact, "no test should be a substitute for a thorough exam by a skilled" physician, the association said.
But, people who have "an abnormal screening test result should discuss the results with their physician," said Raj Shah, MD, of the Rush University Medical Center. Should "the screening test results show substantial memory problems -- and the finding is backed up through a physician's evaluation -- the advantage is earlier treatment," and patients can also "begin planning for the future."
Related Links:
- Uncertainty Surrounds Testing for Alzheimer's
," Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay, October 2, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:33 AM
England releases first study of adults with autism.
Time (10/3, Wallis) reported, "England's National Health Service (NHS) released the first study of autism in the general adult population," and its "findings confirm the intuitive assumption: that ASD is just as common in adults as it is in children."
This seems "to contradict the commonplace idea that autism rates have exploded in the two decades" and has been "hailed as part of a growing body of evidence that the" childhood vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella, "which was introduced in the 1988, is not to blame."
Related Links:
- For the First Time, a Census of Autistic Adults
," Claudia Wallis, Time, October 3, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:28 AM
Studies suggest one percent of US children may have autism disorders.
The AP (10/5, Johnson) reports, "Two new government studies indicate about 1 in 100 American children have autism disorders -- higher than a previous US estimate of one in 150."
One study "stems from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health," in which "parents reported about 1 in 91 children, ages three to 17, had autism." Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced "that their preliminary findings also show about one in 100 children have the disorders."
While "greater awareness, broader definitions and spotting autism in younger children may explain some of the increase," Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said, "The concern here is that buried in these numbers is a true increase."
Related Links:
- Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100 ," Carla K. Johnson, Placeropolis.com, October 5, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:21 AM
Prostate cancer survivor says he was "ambushed" by depression.
In the New York Times (9/29) "Well" blog, Dana Jennings discussed how he has been "ambushed" by depression, despite the fact that he is "recovering well from an aggressive case of prostate cancer."
Jennings noted that "as many as 25 percent of cancer patients develop depression, according to the American Cancer Society," compared to "about seven percent of the general population." Currently, Jennings is "seeing a psychiatrist who specializes in cancer patients," and has begun "a course of medication." Even though his physician has assured him that "depression isn't unusual among those who are on the far side of [cancer] treatment," Jennings said he is still "grieving for the person" he was before cancer.
Related Links:
- After Cancer, Ambushed by Depression," Dana Jennings, New York Times Well Blog, September 29, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:14 AM
Study indicates former NFL players may have increased risk for dementia.
On its front page, the New York Times (9/30, A1, Schwartz) reports that "Alzheimer's disease or similar memory-related diseases appear to have been diagnosed in the league's former players vastly more often than in the national population -- including a rate of 19 times the normal rate for men ages 30 through 49," according to an NFL-commissioned study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research.
For the study, the investigators "conducted a phone survey in late 2008 in which 1,063 retired players" or their caretakers "were asked questions on a variety of health topics," including "if they had ever been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other memory-related disease." Notably, "6.1 percent of players age 50 and above reported that they had received a dementia-related diagnosis, five times higher than the cited national average" of "1.2 percent."
Related Links:
- Dementia Risk Seen in Players in N.F.L. Study ," Alan Schwarz, The New York Times, September 29, 2009.
Posted by admin at 01:08 AM
Statement documents relationship between diabetes, CVD, and severe mental illness
HeartWire (9/30, Nainggolan) reported that in a joint statement published in the Sept. issue of European Psychiatry, the European Society of Cardiology, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and the European Psychiatric Association are "calling attention to the excess cardiovascular mortality associated with severe mental illness."
Specifically, the "statement documents the relationship between diabetes, CVD, and mental illness and provides clear guidance about the screening that people should receive." Statement co-author Dr. Richard Holt of the UK's University of Southampton pointed out, "People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder die prematurely, on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population." Among these patients, "physical illness accounts for 75 percent of mortality." Side effects from antipsychotic medications and hampered ability to "access physical-health services" just add to the problem, the statement said.
Related Links:
- Time to act: Cardiologists, diabetes docs, and psychiatrists urged to work together to tackle CVD in the mentally ill.," Lisa Nainggolan, HeartWire, September 30, 2009.
Posted by admin at 12:52 AM