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May 31, 2010
More Americans Using Federally Funded Suicide-Prevention Hotline.
The Wall Street Journal (5/28, Randall) reports that, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, more Americans are using the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a federally-backed hotline for suicide prevention that provides 24-hour, free access to counselors.
The hotline is seeing substantial increases in the number of callers, even though the economic downturn is easing. SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, JD, noted that "the Lifeline has made a remarkable difference in saving the lives of countless Americans."
Related Links:
- Suicide-Prevention Hotline Gains Awareness," Maya Jackson Randall, The Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2010.
Posted by admin at 01:06 AM
Weight Gain In Anorexia Nervosa Patients Linked To Improvements In Gray Matter Volume.
The Los Angeles Times (5/27, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Anorexia nervosa takes a tremendous toll on the body," and that "includes brain volume, which may be reduced because of the disorder."
Now, however, researchers at Yale are saying "those deleterious effects could be reversed when anorexics gain weight." In fact, after looking at the MRIs of "32 adult women with anorexia nervosa" and 21 healthy controls, investigators noted that "when the anorexic women did gain weight, gray matter volume improved after several weeks, although it didn't fully return to normal." The "volume of white matter...also improved as the anorexic women gained weight," according to the paper in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Posted by admin at 12:59 AM
Researchers Analyze Autism Websites To Determine Reliability Of Information.
HealthDay (5/25, Goodwin) reported that "entering the term 'autism' into the three major search engines today yields more than 17.4 million results, according to new research" presented May 19 at the International Meeting for Autism Research.
Investigators analyzed about "160 of the most visited autism sites to determine how often they met measures of quality and accountability, including whether or not the site was selling something; if citations about research supposedly showing the efficacy of a treatment included author identification and references; if the information was current; and if the site asked visitors for personal information (a red flag)." The majority of the "sites did not meet all of the criteria for quality, said lead study author Brian Reichow, a post-doctoral associate at Yale University Child Study Center."
Related Links:
- As Autism Web Sites Boom, Experts Urge Caution," Jenifer Goodwin, HealthDay, May 25, 2010.
Posted by admin at 12:53 AM
Court Program Aims To Address Defendants' Underlying Mental Health Issues.
The Chicago Tribune (5/26, Fabbre) reports that Will County's "new mental health court program" is "designed to help keep people out of jail by addressing their underlying mental health issues."
The mental health court "requires defendants to sign a contract -- pleading guilty to their charges -- upon acceptance into the program. The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and mental health professionals from the Will County Health Department then work out a treatment program that could involve anything from medication and counseling to weekly drug tests and classes for stress management." Advocates "say the programs help mentally ill defendants from landing in court again and consequently ease the case loads in overburdened courts."
Related Links:
- Treatment, not jail, focus for mentally ill," Alicia Fabbre, The Chicago Tribune, May 26, 2010.
Posted by admin at 12:46 AM
Long-Term Antidepressant Use May Not Always Be Needed To Prevent Future Bouts Of Depression.
WebMD (5/24, Laino) reported that, according to research presented at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting, "long-term use of antidepressants may not always be needed to prevent future bouts of depression."
After reviewing "16 studies conducted to test the hypothesis that antidepressants prevent depression," researchers found that "at least two-thirds of depressed patients who will relapse do so in the first six months after stopping antidepressant medication." Study author and psychiatrist Brian Briscoe, MD, of the University of Louisville, stated, "If you don't get depressed within the first six months after coming off the medication, you may not be at any higher risk of being depressed than any other patient."
Related Links:
- Long-Term Antidepressants to Prevent Depression?," Charlene Laino, WebMD, May 24, 2010.
Posted by admin at 12:37 AM
May 29, 2010
Medication Nonadherence Costs Over $170 Billion In The US Annually.
Pauline W. Chen, MD writes in the New York Times (5/21) Doctor and Patient column, "Like politics, religion and sex, medication nonadherence, or noncompliance, remains a topic of conversation that most of us try to avoid."
"While anyone who has ever tried to complete a full course of antibiotics can understand how easy it is to skip, cut down or forget one's medications altogether, bringing the topic up in the exam room feels more like a confession or inquisition than a rational discussion." In fact, "few of us want to talk about medication nonadherence, much less admit to it." Data show that medication nonadherence costs "more than $170 billion annually in the United States alone."
Related Links:
- When Patients Don’t Fill Their Prescriptions," Pauline W Chen, New York Times, May 20, 2010.
Posted by admin at 02:50 PM
Rate of Prescription Medication Use Among Children Outpaced Adults Last Year.
The AP (5/20, Murphy) reports, "Prescription drug use among children grew several times faster than for adults last year, due in part to swine flu drugs and type 2 diabetes medications, according to Medco Health Solutions Inc."
In fact, "a five percent increase in prescription drug use for children contributed to a 10.8 percent spending increase last year." On the other hand, "overall prescription drug use rose 1.3 percent, and drug spending climbed 3.7 percent." Notably, "more children are being treated with cholesterol fighters or powerful antipsychotics normally used by adults."
According to Reuters (5/20, Berkrot), medications that are usually prescribed to treat schizophrenia are being used to help children suffering anxiety or depression, a practice that's increased twofold since 2001. What's more, some antipsychotics have been linked to weight gain. As for medications to treat AD/HD, data indicate that the increase was more distinct among young adults. Citing the obesity epidemic, Medco chief medical officer Dr Robert Epstein also pointed out that since 2001, there's been a 50 percent increase in the number of children between 10 and 19 who use cholesterol-lowering medications, a 147 percent swell in teens taking acid reflux and heartburn remedies, and a 24 percent increase in prescriptions for blood pressure medicines. The NPR (5/19, Hensley) "Shots" blog also covered the story.
Related Links:
- Medco report finds big jump in child prescriptions," Tom Murphy, Pawtucket Times, May 19, 2010.
- Prescription drug use by U.S. children on the rise," Bill Berkrot, Reuters, May 19, 2010.
Posted by admin at 02:36 PM
May 20, 2010
CDC Report Reveals Suicide Was Leading Cause Of Violent Death In 2007.
The CNN (5/13, Park) "Paging Dr. Gupta" blog reported, "In 2007, the number of suicides was twice that of homicides, based on statistics from 16 states, according to a report released" on May 13 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
And, "among the deceased who had mental health problems, 74.9 percent had received a diagnosis of depression/dysthymia, 14.5 percent had...bipolar disorder, and 8.1 percent had an anxiety disorder," the report found. Approximately "20 percent had a history of previous suicide attempts, 28 percent expressed their intent prior, and about a third left a suicide note."
HealthDay (5/13, Reinberg) reported that the 16-state survey, which provides "some insights into ways to improve efforts to prevent violent deaths," found that "most suicides were among people 45 to 54 years of age, which represents a demographic shift; people over 80 typically have the highest suicide rates. The age shift might be related to problems with mental health, jobs, finances, or relationships, the study said."
Related Links:
- CDC: Twice as many U.S. suicides as homicides," Madison Park, CNN, May 13, 2010.
- Suicide Leading Cause of Violent Death: CDC
," Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 13, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:53 PM
Thousands Of Female Veterans Screen Positive For Military Sexual Trauma.
The NPR (5/13, Kaplan) "All Things Considered" program ran the fourth of a five-part series on veterans, reporting, "In the past five to six years," Lauren Devor, a "clinical social worker and the coordinator of the women's veterans homeless program" at the Veterans Affair Boston Health Care System, "says she's seen more and more" young, female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, many of whom have children.
One such veteran, Rachel Caesar, says she was sexually harassed in the military, but received help from Devor and Eve Davison, a "clinical psychologist at the VA hospital in Boston." NPR added, "According to the VA, more than 48,000 female veterans screened positive for military sexual trauma in 2008."
Related Links:
- Military Sexual Trauma: A Little-Known Veteran Issue," Susan Kaplan, National Public Radio, May 13, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:47 PM
Mental Health Leading Reason For Hospitalization In 2009 For US Troops.
USA Today (5/14, Zoroya) reports, "Mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among US troops in 2009 than any other reason, according to medical data released recently by the Pentagon" in its Medical Surveillance Monthly report.
USA Today points out that this "historic high reflects the growing toll of nearly nine years of war," a point emphasized by Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, "director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury," who said, "Our troops are facing multiple deployments and experiencing psychological stress due to prolonged exposure to combat."
Related Links:
- Mental care stays are up in military," Gregg Zoroya, USA Today, May 16, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:41 PM
UK Troops Suffer Far Lower Rates Of PTSD Than US Troops.
The New York Times (5/17, A10, Carey) reports that, according to a study published online May 13 in The Lancet, "British troops who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer far lower rates of post-traumatic stress than Americans do."
In fact, "while estimated rates of the condition in troops returning to the United States range from 10 to 15 percent, the new study found a rate of just four percent among Britons -- even though they and the Americans have seen equal amounts of combat in recent years." The researchers theorized that the discrepancy may be partly due to the fact that "reservists make up about 30 percent of American forces, but only 10 percent of British forces," and could also reflect the differences in US and UK deployment schedules in which UK forces have shorter tours with longer intervals in between than American troops.
Related Links:
- U.S. Troops Suffer More Stress Than Britons, Study Says," Benedict Carey, New York Times, May 16, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:34 PM
Early Intervention For Patients With First Episode Of Psychosis May Be Cost-Effective.
MedWire (5/18, Czyzewski) reports that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, "a program of early intervention for patients with a first episode of psychosis is likely to be cost-effective in terms of improved vocational and quality-of-life outcomes."
After randomizing 144 patients diagnosed with non-affective psychosis "to receive care from...psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses, and healthcare assistants" or to standard care, the researchers found that "intervention reduced total expenditure by one third compared with standard care." They suggested that fewer hospitalizations offset the cost of the intervention and its related services.
Related Links:
- Early psychosis intervention ‘cost-effective’," Andrew Czyzewski, MedWire News, May 18, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:27 PM
More Than Half Of TBI Sufferers May Experience Depression In Year Following Injury.
The Los Angeles Times (5/18, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "In the year following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), roughly half of survivors likely experience a bout of clinical depression -- a rate almost eight times higher than that found in the general population," according a study published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In addition, "those whose head trauma was followed by depression reported significantly more pain, greater mobility problems, and more difficulty carrying out their usual responsibilities than those who were not plagued by post-injury depression."
HealthDay (5/18, Gardner) reported, "In this study of 559 patients with traumatic brain injury, more than half (53.1 percent)...endured major depressive disorder at some point during the study follow-up." Notably, "in terms of risk factors, patients with major depression at the time of their injury or before their injury, as well as those who were younger and those who reported alcohol dependence, were most likely to suffer depression after head trauma." In addition, "those who were diagnosed with major depression were...more likely to have anxiety disorders, the researchers found."
Reuters (5/19, Lowe) reports that the study suggested that depression following TBI "is an invisible disorder within an often invisible injury," and its authors called for "aggressive efforts" to detect and treat patients suffering from the disorder.
Related Links:
- Traumatic brain injuries linked to depression," Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2010.
- Major Depression Often Follows Brain Injury," Amanda Gardner, HealthDay, May 18, 2010.
- Major depression common after brain injury: study," Rachael Myers Lowe, Reuters, May 18, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:10 PM
New Fathers May Also Suffer From Depression.
ABC World News (5/18, story 12, 1:15, Sawyer) reported, "We've all become a lot more sensitive to the problems of postpartum depression (PPD) in new moms." Now, however, "it turns out now that...new fathers may be suffering, too."
USA Today (5/19, Szabo) reports that, according to a study published May 19 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "14% of American men develop depression, either during their partner's pregnancies or in the first year after delivery." In other countries, "approximately 8% of fathers...develop the problem, according to the analysis, which included 43 studies of 28,000 people."
The study "found that 10.4% of men experienced serious depression at some point between his partner's first trimester and one year after childbirth, more than double the depression rate for men in general," the Los Angeles Times (5/19, Roan) reports. Unfortunately, "paternal depression symptoms are much less likely to be recognized than maternal depression," because men do not become weepy or sad, and instead may display anger, irritability, or detachment from their families.
On the front of its Personal Journal section, the Wall Street Journal (5/19, D1, Wang) reports that reasons for depression in men bear similarities to those for women, and may result from being deprived of sleep and stress between partners.
Bloomberg News (5/19, Ostrow) reports that depression "may also occur because of changes in perceived role in life, financial stress, isolation from friends and social activities." Paternal "depression was highest in the three to six months following the baby's arrival," possibly "because family leave ends about that time, particularly in the US," the study authors from the Eastern Virginia Medical School theorized.
According to CNN (5/19, Landau), "depression in fathers has potential negative implications for the family, and for the child's development and behavioral and emotional health," lead author James Paulson, PhD, "said. Paulson's study also found that fathers' depression tended to have an association with mothers' depression -- so when moms were more depressed, so were dads." Still, further research "is needed to determine how the two are related, as one parent's moods have not been proven to cause the other's."
On its "All Things Considered" program, NPR (5/18, Silberner) reported, "The study's conclusion is well supported, says Gregory Simon," MD, MPH, "a psychiatrist with Group Health Research Institute, a nonprofit in Seattle, and likely to be a surprise to men and to many health care professionals."
Related Links:
- Postpartum depression hits as many dads as moms," Liz Szabo, USA Today, May 19, 2010.
- Study: Postpartum depression affects fathers too," Shari
Roan, Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2010.
- Dads Get Postpartum Depression Just Like Moms, Study Finds," Nicole Ostrow, Bloomberg News, May 18, 2010.
- Dads get postpartum depression, too," Elizabeth Landau, CNN Health, May 18, 2010.
- Study Finds Dads Suffer Postpartum Depression," Joanne Silberner, National Public Radio, May 18, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:38 PM
Lawsuit Seeks To Bar Detention Of New York City Foster Youths In Psychiatric Hospitals.
The New York Times (5/13, A24, Sulzberger) reports, "A federal lawsuit is seeking to bar New York City from allowing troubled foster-care children to be kept in psychiatric hospitals after doctors have recommended their release, a practice that routinely adds months to a hospitalization despite laws that require such children to be placed in the least restrictive environment possible.
The suit, filed on Wednesday in United States District Court in Brooklyn, claims that the practice means that children who no longer require hospitalization are being kept in locked quarters where they have limited access to schooling, family visits, and even walks outside." The suit, which has requested class-action status, "is seeking a preliminary injunction ordering the release of the three children, as well as a court order prohibiting the city from continuing to place foster-care children in hospitals unless doing so is medically necessary," as well as financial damages.
Related Links:
- Foster Children Mistreated, Suit Against City Claims," A. G. Sulzberger, New York Times, May 12, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:26 PM
Minnesota Attempts To Help Mentally Ill Veterans Accused Of Crimes.
NPR (5/12, Mador), in its "All Things Considered" program, ran the third of a five-part series on veterans, noting that as some Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from mental-health problems "get in trouble with the law and become entwined in the criminal justice system, states are looking for new ways to help," including Minnesota, where a "special court aimed at helping vets avoid jail time will launch this summer, and police officers are being trained to identify veterans with combat-related issues before they end up in court."
According to NPR, most of at "least two dozen Veterans Treatment Courts...operating around" the country "have a good track record of dramatically cutting re-arrest rates."
Related Links:
- New Minn. Court Handles Vets Accused Of Crimes," Jessica Mador, National Public Radio, May 12, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:16 PM
Serious Mentally Ill Persons Three Times More Likely To Be Incarcerated Than Hospitalized, Report Says.
According to USA Today (5/13, Rubin), "on average, a seriously mentally ill person in the USA is three times more likely to be incarcerated than hospitalized, areport (pdf)" issued by "the National Sheriffs' Association and the Treatment Advocacy Center found." In fact, "in no state was a seriously mentally ill person -- someone with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, for example -- less likely to be incarcerated than hospitalized."
Researchers based the report on "previously unpublished 2004-2005 data from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Bureau of Justice." USA Today notes psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey, MD, founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center, co-authored this report.
Related Links:
- Mentally ill people are sent to jail more often than hospital," Rita Rubin, USA Today, May 11, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:08 PM
Survey Says Stigma Of Mental Illness Has Declined.
HealthDay (5/6, Dotinga) reported that, according to an online survey commissioned by the American Psychiatric Association and conducted by Harris Interactive, "more than a third of Americans polled believe that the stigma of mental illness has declined and they attribute the change largely to openness by friends, family members, and public figures about their own conditions."
Nearly "80 percent of those polled said that such openness on the part of family and friends had had at least a moderate impact on the stigma of mental illness," the survey of "2,285 adults aged 18 and older" found.
Related Links:
- Many Americans Say Stigma of Mental Illness Is Fading," Randy Dotinga, HealthDay, May 6, 2010.
Posted by admin at 05:56 PM
Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer Four Times More Likely To Suffer PTSD.
The Los Angeles Times (5/6, Maugh) "Booster Shots" blog reported that, according to a study published online April 30 in the journal Pediatrics, "adult survivors of childhood cancer are four times as likely as their siblings to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."
In a study of "6,542 adults over 18 who were diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1986, as well as 368 of their siblings," researchers found that "about 9% of the adults suffer PTSD," compared to "only 2% of their siblings."
Posted by admin at 05:43 PM
CDC Report Says Motor Vehicle Accidents Are Top Cause Of Death Among US Teens.
HealthDay (5/5, Reinberg) reported that "of the more than 16,000 teenagers who die in the United States each year, most are killed in automobile accidents, but murder, suicide, cancer, and heart disease also take their toll, a new government report finds."
WebMD (5/5, Hendrick) reported that "the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) says that 48% of deaths in youngsters 12 to 19 are caused by unintentional injuries. Of these injuries, 73% are caused by motor vehicle accidents." The report found that "other leading causes of teenage deaths are homicide (13%), suicide (11%), cancer (6%), and heart disease (3%)."
Related Links:
- Car Crashes Leading Cause of Teen Deaths in U.S.," Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 5, 2010.
- Traffic Accidents Are Top Cause of Teen Deaths," Bill Hendrick, WebMD News, May 5, 2010.
Posted by admin at 05:32 PM
Stress At Work May Raise Risk Of Heart Disease For Women Under 50.
The UK's Daily Mail (5/6, Hope) reports that "career women with stressful jobs face a higher risk of heart disease," according to a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Investigators "looked at the impact of work pressure on heart disease risk among 12,116 nurses, who were aged between 45 and 64 at the start of the research in 1993 and were followed for 15 years."
The UK's Press Association (5/6) reports that "by 2008, 580 women had been admitted to hospital with heart disease, of which 138 had suffered a heart attack, 369 had angina, and 73 had another type of heart disease."
BBC News (5/6, Brimelow) reports that "the researchers found that those who described pressure at work as "much too high" were 35% more likely to have developed heart disease than those who were comfortable with the pressure." However, "when they broke the results down by age, they found it was only the women aged 50 and under who were affected significantly."
According to the researchers, "This study adds to the previous body of evidence suggesting harmful effects of excessive psychological demands at work on cardiac health, but is one among very few that demonstrates the effect among women," Reuters (5/6) reports
Related Links:
- Stressful jobs giving women heart disease: High flyers at 50% greater risk," Jenny Hope, UK Daily Mail, May 10, 2010.
- Women under 50 'face work stress risk'," Adam Brimelow, BBC News, May 6, 2010.
- Work stress can raise women's heart disease risk," Kate Kelland, Reuters, May 5, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:59 PM
Older People May Have Lower Rates Of Mood, Anxiety Disorders Than Younger People.
HealthDay (5/5, Dotinga) reported that, according to a study published online May 3 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, "older people have lower rates of mental illnesses related to mood and anxiety than younger people."
After analyzing survey data on 2,575 people aged 55 and older, researchers found that "five percent said they'd had a mood disorder -- such as depression or bipolar disorder -- within the past year. Twelve percent reported anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and three percent said they had both mood and anxiety disorders." However, people "aged 85 and older, were the least likely to report having the conditions," while women generally had about twice the rate of such disorders as men did.
Related Links:
- Older Adults Have Lower Rates of Mood, Anxiety Disorders," Randy Dotinga, HealthDay, May 5, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:51 PM
May 17, 2010
Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy May Increase Psychiatric Risks In Children.
HealthDay (5/4, Behen) reported that, according to research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, "a woman who smokes while pregnant increases her baby's risk of developing psychiatric problems in childhood and young adulthood."
After analyzing "the birth records of more than 175,000 Finnish children born in the late 1980s, as well as their use of psychotropic medications as children and young adults," researchers found that "exposure to prenatal smoking increased the risk for using all psychotropic" medicines, but particularly for medications to treat addiction and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as well as antidepressants.
Related Links:
- Smoking While Pregnant May Raise Psychiatric Risks in Kids
," Madonna Behen, HealthDay, May 4, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:41 PM
Technology Helps Caregivers Look After Sufferers of Alzheimer's, Dementia.
The New York Times (5/5, A3, Johnson) reports, "Companies that make GPS devices are also starting to enter the growing Alzheimer's market with products that look like wristwatches, and even shoes with GPS monitors embedded in the heels. ... Lower on the technology scale, but widespread in its use around the nation, is radio frequency tracking."
A nonprofit organization, Project Lifesaver, "equips Alzheimer's sufferers with wristbands," and "contracts with local government agencies to set up the service."
Related Links:
- Resources and Technology to Help Caregivers Cope," Kirk Johnson, New York Times, May 4, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:26 PM
May 16, 2010
Wandering Alzheimer's Victims Increasingly Becoming Focus Of Search-And-Rescue Operations.
On its front page, the New York Times (5/5, A1, Johnson) reports, "About six in 10 dementia victims will wander at least once, healthcare statistics show, and the numbers are growing worldwide, fueled primarily by Alzheimer's disease."
The "rising numbers of searches are driving a need to retrain emergency workers, police officers, and volunteers around the country who say they throw out just about every generally accepted idea when hunting" for Alzheimer's sufferers. Retired FBI agent Robert B. Schaefer, who now conducts training sessions for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, recently told a class that "a dementia wanderer will sometimes take evasive action to avoid detection, especially if the disease has made them paranoid about authority figures."
Related Links:
- More With Dementia Wander From Home," Kirk Johnson, New York Times, May 4, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:55 PM
Studies Mixed On Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children.
The Los Angeles Times (5/3, Adams) reports, "A number of studies have shown that watching a lot of violence on television or playing violent video games...produces aggressive tendencies in kids."
However, "other researchers pooh-pooh such assertions and say that scientific findings have been decidedly mixed -- with several studies finding no effects of violent video games on children and teens who play them." Still, "the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids' exposure to screen time (meaning TV, video, computer and video games) be limited to one to two hours a day," and parents should set limits on precisely what their children watch or play.
Related Links:
- Effects of violent video games," Jill U Adams, Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:45 PM
May 13, 2010
Wisconsin Legislature Passes Bill To Create Prescription Medication-Tracking Database.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/1, Kertscher) reported that the Wisconsin "Legislature has overwhelming approved a bill that aims to curb 'doctor shopping' by abusers of prescription" medicines, "which are causing a growing number of overdose deaths locally and nationally."
The bill "would create a statewide database to track prescriptions that are filled for" medications "deemed to have the most potential for abuse," including OxyContin [oxycodone], Vicodin [acetaminophen/hydrocodone], and morphine.
Related Links:
- Legislature approves bill to curb 'doctor shopping'
," Tom Kertscher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 1, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:46 PM
May 11, 2010
Push Begins For National Prescription Database To Fight Abuse.
The AP (5/3, Risling) reports that while a California "online drug database went into effect last year to thwart addicts who bounce from doctor to doctor to feed a habit or make a small fortune peddling meds, there's now a push to extend it beyond state lines to snare so-called doctor shoppers and curb drug abuse."
The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, which was signed by President Bush in 2005, allocated "more than $50 million" to states for programs in which doctors and other authorized users can access patient records. Although the "law aims to have a coordinated national system," there "are no estimates what that would cost and a majority of the federal money hasn't been allocated."
Related Links:
- States Want to Share Patients’ Prescription Information to Curb Abuse
," Greg Risling, CNSNews.com, May 03, 2010.
Posted by admin at 03:06 AM
VA Using PTSD Therapy Developed By University Of Pennsylvania Psychologist.
Time (4/30, Kluger) magazine profiles 72-year-old "psychologist Edna Foa...of the University of Pennsylvania."
According to Time, no one is "doing more to end" the suffering caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than Foa, who developed a "therapy...known as prolonged exposure, or PE," which "involves identifying thoughts and situations that trigger the most fear, and then gently exposing sufferers to them." Time point outs that the US military "is embracing PE," while the Department of Veterans Affairs "is putting the protocol into wide use, and implementing programs to teach it across the various services."
Related Links:
- Edna Foa," Jeffrey Kluger, Time, April 10, 2010.
Posted by admin at 02:58 AM
US Army looks into suicide prevention.
ABC World News (4/29, story 9, 3:40, Sawyer) reported, "In the battle against suicide in its ranks," the US Army is "fighting an elusive, often silent, enemy. Last year, 160 active-duty soldiers committed suicide despite an unprecedented effort to address the problem."
This enemy took the life of Chris Galloway, a "36-year-old father of three from Michigan" who "did tours of Iraq and Afghanistan." After noting that 40-year-old Jim Haus, another troubled soldier, decided to get help before following through on a plan to commit suicide, ABC News said Galloway's widow and Haus' wife both "agree...the suicide prevention effort must involve" educating families for it to be successful.
Posted by admin at 02:53 AM
May 10, 2010
Psychiatrist Makes Case For Integrated Treatment.
In a lengthy piece in the New York Times (4/25, MM40), psychiatrist Dan Carlat, MD wrote, "When our patients need more from us" psychiatrists "than just medication...we should be prepared to provide it."
"Oddly, managed-care companies discourage us from doing psychotherapy, arguing that it is cheaper to have psychiatrists do 20-minute medication visits every three months and to hire a lower paid non-MD for more frequent therapy visits. But, the few studies that have analyzed the economics of these arrangements have found that integrated treatment actually saves money," requiring less of an expenditure from insurance companies "than when the treatment is split between psychiatrists and psychotherapists. When patients see only one provider, they require fewer visits overall."
Related Links:
- Mind Over Meds," Daniel Carlat, The New York Times, April 19, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:01 PM
Children Or Adolescents Who Lost A Parent To Suicide May Be More Likely To Die The Same Way.
CNN (4/22, Landau) reports that "people who as children or adolescents lost a parent to suicide are more likely to die the same way," according to a large study scheduled to be published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Investigators "looked at data from Sweden's population registry, examining [the] records of" millions of "children, teens and young adults." The researchers "found that Swedes who were children or adolescents when a parent took his or her own life had a three-fold increased risk of dying by suicide themselves."
Related Links:
- Study: Children of suicide more likely to take own lives," Elizabeth Landau, CNN Health, April 21, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:55 PM