Tuesday, January 07, 2003

Impaired Intellectual And Behavioral Functioning Poor Predictors Of Schizophrenia
Doctor's Guide story based on research published in Neuropsychiatric Genetics - "Common clinical characteristics found in adolescents who are later hospitalized for schizophrenia have only a low power in predicting the disease. The common characteristics include impaired intellectual and behavioural functioning, the presence of non-psychiatric disorders, and drug abuse."  
  

CMHS State Training and Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices
SAMHSA announcement of grants to provide state-of-the-art training and continuing education to state mental health service providers and other stakeholders that are implementing evidence-based practices.  
  

New HHS Panel Makeup Draws Ire of Patient Advocates
Washington Post story - "A new federal committee to advise Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on matters relating to the protection of human research subjects came under attack by patient advocates just hours after its members were named late Friday, with one prominent appointee resigning immediately."  
  

Attention Disorder Meds Don't Up Drug Abuse Risk
Reuters Health story at Yahoo, based on research published in the January issue of Pediatrics - "Two studies offer more evidence that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who use stimulants like Ritalin are not at risk for drug addiction later in life, as some experts have feared."  
  

Mentally ill patients kept up to three days in cells (New Zealand)
New Zealand Herald story based on information obtained under the Official Information Act which indicated that mentally ill patients "are regularly locked in police cells for three days or more while waiting for a bed in a psychiatric unit."  
  

Community rallies behind River Valley Services (Connecticut)
Story in the Middletown Press on a meeting of clients, mental health providers, business owners, residents and community officials "to determine what action to take to prevent the dismantling of the outpatient programs at River Valley Services."  
  

Pilot court plan for mental health worth watching (South Carolina)
Story at The State on Charleston County's mental health court, which began hearing cases last week - "The effort is patterned on drug courts, which have been successful in rehabilitating drug-related offenders. These types of courts are credited with stopping a cycle that otherwise leads small-time criminals into becoming more serious offenders."