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July 30, 2010
Suicide Calls In Houston Soar Amid Difficult Economy.
The Houston Chronicle (7/21) reports "suicide-related calls to Crisis Intervention of Houston have surged since the economic downturn began a few years ago, with the number of calls tripling in the first half of 2010 compared with the first six months of last year."
Counselors "attribute the spike" to the "prolonged pressures of extended joblessness, depleted savings and expired unemployment benefits." Shari Koziol, Crisis Intervention's executive director, said, its crisis hotline "received 451 suicide-related calls in the first half of 2009 and 1,446 over the same period this year." Scott Hickey, a clinical psychologist at Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County, said, "We have reports at our neuropsychiatric center that we have had about a 30 percent increase
in crisis visits in the last year."
Related Links:
- Houston crisis center awash with suicide calls," Cindy George, The Houston Chronicle, July 20, 2010.
Posted by admin at 11:13 PM
People who feel anxious about relationships may be predisposed to certain
The Los Angeles Times (7/21, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reports that "people who feel anxious about relationships or avoid them could be predisposed to certain health problems," according to a study published in the July issue of the journal Health Psychology. Investigators "looked at data on 5,645 people who took part in the nationally represented survey of adults ages 18 to 60." Study participants were also "surveyed about their relationships."
The Time (7/20, O'Callaghan) "Wellness" blog reported that individuals "who were insecure in their relationships were more likely to suffer from a range of health problems including heart
disease, and faced a 50% higher risk for heart attack or stroke compared with those not plagued by relationship anxiety."
Related Links:
- Relationship anxiety may cause more than heartache," Tiffany O'Callaghan, Time "Wellness Blog", July 20, 2010.
Posted by admin at 10:44 PM
Some insurance plans still do not cover mental illnesses.
Kaiser Health News (7/21, Steadman) reports, "For decades, mental health advocates have fought get health insurance 'equal rights' for patients with mental illnesses or brain disorders," and despite the passage of two mental health parity laws, many plans have still not implemented the new regulations, and may "wait until the start of the next plan year to comply."
In addition, there is "continued exemption of small businesses and
individual health insurance plans from parity requirements." Nevertheless, as a result of these laws, "an estimated 140 million Americans no longer face higher deductibles, steeper co-payments or other restrictions when they seek mental health and substance abuse treatment services."
Related Links:
- Despite Parity Law, Mental Health Coverage May Still Fall Short," Kate Steadman, Kaiser Health News, July 21, 2010.
Posted by admin at 02:45 AM
Thirty-Two US Soldiers Committed Suicide In June.
NBC Nightly News (7/16, story 6, 2:40, Williams) reported, "We have
learned a terrible statistic in this country this week. ... In the month of June," there were "32 suicides among US soldiers. It's part of a significant uptick since the start of the year. It's happening in the midst of two wars that the US Army is fighting, and despite a huge campaign to stop it."
The Washington Post (7/17, Jaffe) reported, "The boost in the
number of suicides in June was likely driven by the 'continued stresses on the force' caused by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, said Col. Chris Philbrick, the director of the Army's suicide prevention task force."
Related Links:
- Army's high suicide rate tied to rise in risky behaviors," Anne Gearan, MSNBC, July 29, 2010.
- Army reports 32 suicides in June, highest number since early 2009," Greg Jaffe, The Washington Post, July 17, 2010.
Posted by admin at 02:19 AM
Abused Children May Face Increased Risk Of Developing Psychiatric
Medscape (7/16, Brauser) reported, "Childhood abuse and neglect are
significantly associated with increased rates of anxiety, mood, and
substance use disorders in young adulthood, according to" a study published in the July issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Investigators examined "data from 2144 respondents (between the ages of 16 and 27 years) to the Te Rau Hinengaro: New Zealand Mental Health Survey between the years 2003 and 2004."
The researchers found that, "after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic correlates, child protection agency history was associated with several individual mental disorders, mental disorder
comorbidity, and all mental disorder groups [at] both12-months and
lifetime."
Posted by admin at 02:09 AM
July 12, 2010
Sadness, Happiness May Spread Like Infectious Diseases.
The Los Angeles Times (7/8, Bernstein) "Booster Shots" blog reported that, according to a paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, emotions "appear to spread like" an infectious disease. Harvard and MIT scientists had "wanted to see if a mathematical model developed to track and predict the spread of infectious diseases such as SARS and foot-and-mouth disease could also apply to the spread of happiness -- and found that it worked."
Using data "collected from 1,880 subjects in the Framingham Heart Study," investigators eventually observed a "correlation between an individual's emotional state and those of the person's contacts."
Related Links:
- How are sadness and happiness like diseases? They're infectious, study finds," Rachel Bernstein, Los Angeles Times: Booster Shots Blog, July 8, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:31 PM
HHS Proposes New Health IT Changes To HIPAA.
Modern Healthcare (7/9, Conn) reports, "HHS has proposed a new federal healthcare information privacy rule to amend the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 [HIPAA]." HHS says that "the proposed rule would give patients the right to restrict certain disclosures and ban the sale of patient data without patient consent."
In addition, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will issue "a final regulation on standards and criteria by which electronic health-records systems will be tested and certified for eligibility in a stimulus law program subsidizing EHR purchases by providers."
Reuters (7/9, Lentz) notes that HHS proposed a new rule that would extend HIPAA by fining American companies for any disclosure of private patient information while working in partnership with hospitals.
Related Links:
- Late News: HHS tweaking HIPAA," Modern Healthcare, July 9, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:24 PM
Children With Poor Problem-Solving Skills More At Risk Of Becoming Bullies, Victims.
USA Today (7/9, Jayson) reports "children and teens who have poor problem-solving skills are more at risk of becoming bullies, victims or both than peers who don't have such difficulties," according to a review of studies conducted over the past 30 years.
Researchers from Louisiana State University and the University of California at Riverside "looked at 153 studies, with sample sizes ranging from 44 to 26,430." Researchers said most programs to prevent bullying use strategies "that favor removing the bully from the environment," but "interventions that target both the behaviors and the environments are more promising."
Related Links:
- New research predicts likelihood of being bully, victim," Sharon Jayson, USA Today, July 9, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:17 PM
Adolescent "Cyberbullies" More Likely To Suffer From Both Physical, Psychiatric Troubles.
HealthDay (7/6, Reinberg) reported, "Teens who 'cyberbully' others via the Internet or cell phones are more likely to suffer from both physical and psychiatric troubles, and their victims are at heightened risk, too," Finnish researchers found after surveying nearly 2,500 kids.
"Compared to teens who didn't engage in such behaviors," cyberbullies "had trouble getting along with others and often suffered from hyperactivity and conduct problems," according to the paper in the Archives of General Psychiatry. "Cyberbullies also frequently smoked or got drunk, reported headaches, and were more prone to not feeling safe at school."
As for the victims, they "reported emotional, concentration, and behavioral issues, as well as trouble getting along with their peers," according to WebMD (7/6, Mann). "These teens were also more likely to report frequent headaches, recurrent stomach pain, and difficulty sleeping; one in four said they felt unsafe at school." In light of these findings, lead researcher Andre Sourander, MD, PhD, "a child psychiatrist at Turku University," said, "Future research is needed on whether anti-bullying policies materials, interventions and mobile telephone and Internet user guidelines are effective for reducing cyberbullying."
Editor’s Note:
The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry has made bullying a particular focus of our attention, helping sponsor educational programs in Maryland on this topic geared for medical professionals.
Related Links:
- Mental Health Woes Plague 'Cyberbullies' and Their Victims," Steven Reinberg, HealthDay News, July 6, 2010.
- Study Shows Mental and Physical Impact of Cyberbullying on Victims and Bullies," Denise Mann, WebMD, July 6, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:03 PM
Depression May Double Dementia Risk Later In Life.
BBC News (7/6) reports that two papers appearing in "Neurology suggest depression does mean dementia is more likely, although they do not show why." The first study "followed 1,239 US people and looked at the number of times a person experienced depression related to their risk of dementia." Investigators found that "having two or more episodes of depression nearly doubled the risk of dementia."
Meanwhile, the other study looked at data on nearly "1,000 people with an average age of 79 who had been enrolled into a large US heart study," the UK's Press Association (7/6) reports. "At the beginning, all were free of dementia." Psychological tests "identified 125, or 13%, of the study participants, [who] were classified as being depressed." By study end, some 17 years later, "164 of the recruits had dementia, of whom 136 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's."
Among those with "dementia, 22 percent had been depressed at the study's start, compared to 17 percent who were not depressed," the Boston Globe (7/5, Cooney) "White Coat Notes" blog reported. "Looking at how people scored on the 60-point depression screening test, the researchers found that for each 10-point increase, there was a 50 percent increased risk of dementia." And "after accounting for age, sex, and other characteristics among the participants, depressed people were more than one and a half times more likely to develop dementia than people who were not depressed."
Putting forth theories about why the link may exist, investigators say that "depression could be an early sign of changes in the brain that lead to dementia," CNN (7/5, Landau) reported. "Exercise and social engagement have been shown to protect against dementia in other research." And, says the lead author of the Massachusetts study, "given that depressed people tend to be less active and more withdrawn, these habits could influence the development of dementia."
Related Links:
- Depression may double dementia risk, say researchers," BBC News, July 6, 2010.
- Depression may increase risk of dementia, study says," Boston Globe, July 12, 2010.
Posted by admin at 03:41 PM
July 06, 2010
Demand For Psychiatrists Climbing Faster Than For Any Other Medical Specialty.
USA Today (7/1, Steinberg) reports that Merritt Hawkins, "a national physician recruiting firm, says the demand for psychiatrists is climbing faster than for any other medical specialty."
In fact, "from April 2009 to March 2010, the company...received 179 requests for psychiatrists -- a 47% increase from the previous year and 121% increase from the 2006-2007 survey." Steven Schlozman, chair of the American Psychiatric Association Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning, explained that even though "the number of students who have gone into psychiatry in the past five years has actually increased slightly...more students are entering medical fields, such as dermatology and radiology." Kurt Mosley, of Merritt Hawkins, "says it's 'the perfect storm right now' as more than half of all psychiatrists age 55 and older are nearing retirement, and there aren't enough physicians to take their spots."
Related Links:
- Of medical specialties, demand for psychiatrists growing fastest," Stephanie Steinberg, USA Today, July 1, 2010.
Posted by admin at 11:55 AM
July 02, 2010
Demand For Psychiatrists Climbing Faster Than For Any Other Medical Specialty.
USA Today (7/1, Steinberg) reports that Merritt Hawkins, "a national physician recruiting firm, says the demand for psychiatrists is climbing faster than for any other medical specialty."
In fact, "from April 2009 to March 2010, the company...received 179 requests for psychiatrists -- a 47% increase from the previous year and 121% increase from the 2006-2007 survey." Steven Schlozman, chair of the American Psychiatric Association Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning, explained that even though "the number of students who have gone into psychiatry in the past five years has actually increased slightly...more students are entering medical fields, such as dermatology and radiology." Kurt Mosley, of Merritt Hawkins, "says it's 'the perfect storm right now' as more than half of all psychiatrists age 55 and older are nearing retirement, and there aren't enough physicians to take their spots."
Related Links:
- Of medical specialties, demand for psychiatrists growing fastest," Stephanie Steinberg, USA Today, June 30, 2010.
Posted by admin at 07:13 PM
Certain Signs May Indicate Adolescents May Be Suffering From Depression.
On the front of its Personal Journal section, the Wall Street Journal (6/29, D1, Bernstein) discusses signs parents should look for in teenagers who may be suffering from depression.
While experts caution that parents should not diagnose depression in their children themselves, they should consult with a mental health professional should their child demonstrate four of more signs of certain behaviors over the course of two weeks or longer. Parents should look for signs of sleep impairment or disturbance, diminished interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of worthlessness, diminished energy and concentration, marked changes in appetite, obvious psychomotor disturbances, and suicidality.
Posted by admin at 07:08 PM
Medical Experts Attempt To Determine Health Risks Of Oil Spill.
The Miami Herald (6/26, Tasker, Figueroa) reported, "So far, most health problems among oil spill workers have been relatively mild, involving heat stress, respiratory problems, headaches, and throat irritations," HHS "spokeswoman Lisa Kaplowitz told a US Senate subcommittee last week."
Meanwhile, "11 oil spill workers have been hospitalized briefly with nausea, dizziness and chest pains amid debate over whether they were caused by a dock cleaning chemical, the oil dispersant Corexit, heat and fatigue or a combination." This "lack of certainty led the US Institute of Medicine, health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, to hastily convene a symposium of experts in New Orleans on Tuesday and Wednesday seeking better understanding."
Related Links:
- Medical experts study human health effects of BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico," Fred Tasiker and Laura Figuera, Miami Herald, June 26, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:59 PM
Psychiatrists Warn Of Emotional Toll Of Oil Spill.
The AP (6/28, McConnaughey, Stacy) reports, "The relentless spill is bringing back feelings that are far too familiar" to those "still dealing with the physical and emotional toll wrought by Katrina five years ago," and "psychiatrists who treated people after Katrina and have held group sessions in oil spill-stricken areas say the symptoms showing up are much the same: Anger. Anxiety. Drinking. Depression. Suicidal thoughts."
Families who depend on the fishing industry, "the backbone of the coastal economy, are especially hard-pressed as the waters that make up their livelihood are sporadically closed because of fears the oil will taint fish, oysters and shrimp," while "oil field workers, whose salaries are among the best the region can offer, worry about their industry's long-term future."
Posted by admin at 06:53 PM
Feelings Of Comfort Or Discomfort May Influence People's Actions.
The AP (6/25, Schmid) reports, "Scientists using seat-of-the-pants research -- literally -- say how something feels to you can affect how you act."
For instance, "in one experiment...86 people took part in negotiations over a new car with a sticker price of $16,500." The researchers found that "people on stiff wooden chairs took a hard line in the deal, raising their offered price by $896.50," while people "in soft chairs were willing to spend an extra $1,243.60." The study authors said that the hardness "produced strictness and rigidity in the negotiation." The NIMH and MIT funded the study.
Related Links:
- Study: How things feel affects what people do," Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press, June 24, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:45 PM
New Treatment Plan For Patients With Depression Reports Increased Success Rate.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune (6/25, Lerner) reports that "only six percent of Minnesotans treated for depression at primary care clinics report that they're free of symptoms within six months," but an "an innovative" treatment program was able "to boost the success rate" to 26 percent.
According to a report by healthcare quality group MN Community Measurement, the Diamond program "relies on 'care managers' to maintain frequent contact with patients," including checking on them by phone to see if they're taking their medications. The program started as a pilot project at 10 Minnesota clinics and has since spread to 83 clinics statewide.
Related Links:
- Closely managed depression care wins high marks," Maura Lerner, Minnneapolis Star Tribune, June 24, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:31 PM
Kennedy Says Addiction Treatment In The US Is Lacking.
CQ HealthBeat (6/24, Reichard) reports, "With federal officials nodding in agreement, a visibly angry and distressed Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island on Wednesday slammed the way addictions are treated in the United States."
During "a House subcommittee hearing, Kennedy called even the programs with the finest reputations 'losers' because they treat people away from their communities and lack a consistent way of tracking behavior and keeping patients 'on the wagon' when they get back home." Kennedy "also dismissed as misplaced an entreaty by witness Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, that incentives be created for pharmaceutical companies to develop treatments to counter addiction."
Posted by admin at 06:24 PM
Army Task Force Recommends Different Approach To Pain Relief.
USA Today (6/24, Zoroya) reports that an Army task force released a 169-page report Wednesday that suggests the military provides inadequate pain relief for its patients, and "contributes to suicides, prescription drug abuse and aggravates cases of mental illness and brain injury."
The task force also said the military relies too much "on narcotic pain relievers, while a 'no pain, no gain' military culture encourages troops to ignore injuries until discomfort becomes chronic." The report said "the Pentagon must reorganize how it deals with troops in pain, including training and hiring more pain-management specialists, and finding different methods of pain relief."
Related Links:
- Report: Military's pain relief programs fall short," Gregg Zoroya, USA Today, June 23, 2010.
Posted by admin at 06:15 PM
Men Stressed By Attempt To Balance Work, Parenting Responsibilities.
The New York Times (6/20, WK1, Parker-Pope) reported on the front page of its Week in Review section that "several studies show that fathers are now struggling just as much -- and sometimes even more -- than mothers in trying to fulfill their responsibilities at home and in the office."
In addition, fathers "seem more unhappy than mothers with the juggling act: In dual-earner couples, 59 percent of fathers report some level of 'work-life conflict,' compared with about 45 percent of women, according to a 2008 report from the Families and Work Institute in New York." One expert noted, "Men are facing the same clash of social ideals that women have faced since the 1970s -- how do you be a good parent and a good worker?"
Related Links:
- For Fathers, a Tough Balancing Act," Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times, June 19, 2010.
Posted by admin at 05:37 PM
Researchers Examine Websites Promoting Eating Disorders.
ABC World News (6/17, story 6, 1:55, Sawyer) reported, "There are troubling new findings tonight about that insidious Internet threat -- websites promoting eating disorders, targeting young men and women. Researchers now say they have found 180 of these sites, and they've discovered hidden ways fragile teens are recruited."
HealthDay (6/17, Goodwin) reported that the study published in the June 17 issue of the American Journal of Public Health found that in addition to pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites, "eating disorder experts say they now have to contend with 'pro-ana' and 'pro-mia' bloggers and 'thinspiration' Twitter updates sent right to an interested party's mobile phone." Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that "'thinspiration,' such as photos or videos of very thin models and actresses, were on 85 percent of the sites. And about 43 percent provided specific instructions on concealing eating disorders." Notably, "only 13 percent of sites contained an overt statement that eating disorders are a problem."
Posted by admin at 05:31 PM
Study Finds High Rates Of Functional Impairment In Returning Soldiers Due To PTSD.
Medscape (6/15, Cassels) reported that, according to astudy published in the June issue of the Archives of Psychiatry, "approximately 10% of US Army soldiers returning from Iraq have severe functional impairment attributed to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression."
After analyzing 13,226 questionnaires from veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom who belonged to four Active Component (nonreserve) and two National Guard (reserve) infantry brigade combat units, researchers "using the least stringent definition of PTSD" found that "the prevalence rates across the Active Component and National Guard study groups ranged from 20.7% to 30.5%. Depression rates ranged from 11.5% to 16%."
Posted by admin at 05:24 PM
Study Examines PTSD-Related Hyperarousal Symptoms Of Returning Iraq, Afghanistan Soldiers.
HealthDay (6/15, Preidt) reported that, according to a study published online June 15 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, "sleep problems, irritability, concentration problems, jumpiness and feeling constantly 'on guard' are among the hyperarousal symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with anger and hostility in US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan."
After interviewing 676 veterans, researchers also "found that those who had difficulty controlling violent behavior were more likely than others to have witnessed family violence before they joined the military, fired a weapon during deployment, been deployed for more than one year, or continued to experience hyperarousal symptoms."
Posted by admin at 05:17 PM
Insufficient Evidence Exists To Recommend Any Single Factor Protective Of Cognitive Decline Late In Life.
Bloomberg News (6/15, Ostrow) reports, "Exercising or following the Mediterranean diet may not slow memory loss or lower a person's chance of developing Alzheimer's disease."
In fact, "combined data from 275 studies found weak evidence of a benefit, not enough to warrant government recommendations that people change their habits to lessen the risk for the illness, a panel advising the National Institutes of Health said in a statement. The findings accompanied ananalysis of research on cognitive decline" published online June 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Time (6/14, Park) reported, "To clarify the state of the current evidence and offer physicians clearer treatment guidelines, the National Institutes of Health...in early 2009 commissioned a detailed analysis of existing studies: 165 papers published between 1984 and 2009." For years, "data have associated behaviors, such as keeping the mind actively engaged throughout life, staying physically active, eating certain foods and supplementing the diet with specific vitamins and nutrients with lower rates of dementia in old age." However, researchers "found that there was not sufficient evidence to recommend any single activity or factor that was protective of cognitive decline later in life."
Related Links:
- Alzheimer's Risk May Not Improve With Exercise, Healthy Food, Panel Says," Nicole Ostrow, Bloomberg News, June 14, 2010.
- Study: Lifestyle May Not Prevent Alzheimer's
," Alice Park, Time, June 14, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:53 PM
Attorneys Readying Lawsuits Against Michigan's Medicaid Program, Insurers To Cover Autism Therapy.
The Detroit News (6/14, Kozlowski) reports that "most Michigan insurers still don't cover autism therapies, a situation many are trying to change through lawsuits and legislation to take the financial burden off families. Services, which can cost up to $50,000 annually, are not covered because many insurers deem the therapies experimental."
Even "though the Michigan House has passed legislation to require insurance companies to cover the costs of therapy for autistic children, and a bipartisan task force is conducting hearings around the state, some autism activists believe it won't become law." For that reason, "attorneys are ready to file lawsuits against Michigan's Medicaid program and other insurers to get children therapeutic coverage."
Related Links:
- Advocates seek autism coverage from Michigan insurers," Kim Kozlowski, The Detroit News, June 13, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:36 PM
Studies Find High Levels Of Happiness, Suicide Among People In Midlife.
The New York Times (6/13, WK4, Cohen) reported, "A new study of a Gallup telephone poll that essentially took a snapshot of how more than 340,000 respondents felt on a particular day in 2008 found that starting at age 50, there was a sharp rise in the level of happiness that people reported."
Paradoxically, another study (pdf) detailing "the results of the latest federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of violent deaths in 16 states, released last month, found that in 2007, for the second year in a row, the group between ages 45 and 54 had the highest rate of suicide." Some experts theorize that baby boomers are more likely to be depressed than previous generations, while others say that increased use of prescription painkillers may be associated with rising suicide rates.
Related Links:
- In Midlife, Boomers Are Happy — and Suicidal," Patricia Cohen, The New York Times, June 11, 2010.
Posted by admin at 04:19 PM
CDC Report Details Deaths, ED Visits Among Partygoers Taking "Ecstasy."
The Los Angeles Times (6/12, Lin) reports, "A 24-year-old man died and 18 others were transported to emergency" departments "after taking Ecstasy at an all night New Year's Eve rave at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, according to a report released Thursday."
These incidences occurred shortly after the deaths "of two men who had attended a Cow Palace rave over the Memorial Day weekend south of San Francisco." The authors of the article, which appears in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, said such cases raise "questions about whether publicly owned venues like the Sports Arena should host such events."
This is an issue that will only grow larger, considering that "use of the drug is increasing, and many overdoses go underreported," Bloomberg News (6/11, Randall) reports. In fact, the "number of patients at treatment programs in Los Angeles County citing ecstasy as their drug of choice increased almost sevenfold from 2005 to 2009."
One expert, who was not involved in the report, says that the increase may be the result of "a sense among some partygoers that the drug is safe," according to HealthDay (6/10, Reinberg). "However, this report -- like others before it -- shows that the danger is real and 'educating young folks in a realistic way about risks may help to reduce use,'" he added. The AP (6/11) also covers the story.
Related Links:
- One died and 18 were hospitalized after taking Ecstasy at an L.A. rave New Year's Eve," Rong-Gong Lin II, The Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2010.
- Ecstasy Surge in Los Angeles Triggers Death, 18 Hospitalized after Rave," Tom Randall, Bloomberg News, June 10, 2010.
Posted by admin at 03:46 PM