MFPBlog

Research suggests association between bipolar disorder and genes controlling function of ion channels

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:07:37 -0500

PsychCentral (8/18, Nauert) reported that there may be "an association between" bipolar disorder "and variation in two genes that make components of channels that manage the flow of the elements into and out of cells, including neurons," according to a study published online in the journal Nature Genetics.

Patient advocates may endanger mentally ill, public by fighting for patients' right to refuse treatment, some mental-health experts say

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:04:11 -0500

On the front page of the Wall Street Journal (8/16, A1), Elizabeth Bernstein and Nathan Koppel write in the Page One column that "[w]ith the help of government-funded advocates, William Bruce," a patient diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, "was discharged from a" Maine "psychiatric hospital against his doctor's wishes," only to kill his mother two months later.

More American women received contraceptive services from healthcare providers between 1995 and 2002, survey find

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:51 -0500

HealthDay (8/13, Doheny) reported that, according to a survey published in the Oct. issue of the American Journal of Public Health, "[m]ore U.S. women are availing themselves of contraceptives services, such as birth-control pill prescriptions."

Panel finds no evidence single abortion causes significant mental-health problems

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:57:12 -0500

The Wall Street Journal (8/14, D6, Simon) reports that on Wednesday, the American Psychological Association said that "there is 'no credible evidence' that a single, elective abortion causes mental-health problems for adult women."

Grady Memorial Hospital faces acute shortage of psychiatric beds

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:51:17 -0500

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/6, White, Miller) reported that Atlanta's "safety-net hospital," Grady Memorial, "is issuing alerts to the Atlanta medical community that it can't take any more mentally ill patients."

Medications to combat Alzheimer's disease remain elusive

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:09:41 -0500

The Los Angeles Times (7/28, Roan) reports that "Alzheimer's disease research is at a crossroads, according to several scientists attending" the Alzheimer's Assn. 2008 International Conference.

Panic disorder may affect six million adults, NIMH estimates

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:06:47 -0500

The Albany Democrat-Herald /Chicago Tribune (7/26, Pallant) reported, "Panic disorder affects about six million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and is twice as common in women as it is in men."

Government says more than 22,000 veterans have sought help from suicide hot line

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:04:13 -0500

In continuing coverage from previous editions of Headlines, the AP (7/28, Euphrat) reports, "More than 22,000 veterans have sought help from a special suicide hot line in its first year, and 1,221 suicides have been averted, the government says."

Foundation Opens 2009 Outstanding Merit Award Nominations

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:50:41 -0500

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry is now taking nominations for its annual Outstanding Merit Awards. Nominees will be vying for the 2008 awards; deadline for nomination is Thursday, March 2, 2009. The nomination form (in Word and PDF document formats) is available in the "Related Link" section below.

This award honors a meritorious endeavor by a person, project or organization within Maryland which accomplishes one or more of the following: increases public awareness and understanding of mental illness, enhances the quality of care for psychiatric illness, and reduces the stigma of mental illness.

Congressional committee to investigate health insurer rescission practices

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:27:53 -0500

Bloomberg (7/18, Goldstein) reports, "A U.S. congressional committee will investigate the health insurance industry's practice of revoking benefits when policyholders develop costly illnesses."

Research suggests teen smokers may only realize they are addicted once it is too late to quit

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:24:06 -0500

The Canadian Press (7/17) reports, "Teen smokers often try to quit and seriously believe they can, only realizing they're hooked when it's too late," according to a study published online Wednesday in the American Journal of Public Health.

Analysis indicates apparent connection between bullying and thoughts of suicide in children

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:14:34 -0500

In continuing coverage from previous editions of Headlines, the UPI (7/17) reports that "studies from 13 countries found signs of an apparent connection between bullying and thoughts of suicide in children," according to a review published in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. In order to reach that conclusion, researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine "analyzed 37 studies that examined bullying and suicide among children and adolescents" in the U.S., and around the world.

Analysis suggests 157 college-age people suffered alcohol-poisoning deaths from 1999 to 2005

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:07:17 -0500

The AP (7/8, Forliti) reports that "157 college-age people, 18 to 23, drank themselves to death from 1999 through 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available," according to "[a]n Associated Press analysis of federal records."

Chicago Tribune interviews Stotland about Green tragedy

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:57:43 -0500

In continuing coverage from previous editions of Headlines, Judith Graham wrote in the Chicago Tribune's (7/3) Triage column about the incident last week in which Esmin Green died in a Brooklyn, N.Y. hospital while "awaiting admission for psychiatric care."

Some experts say emergency departments have become "all-purpose dumping grounds" for mentally ill patients

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:53:10 -0500

The AP (7/4, Caruso) reported that "[e]mergency [departments]...have become all-purpose dumping grounds for the mentally ill, with patients routinely marooned a day or more while healthcare workers try to find someone to care for them," experts say.