Thursday, March 20, 2003
Medscape Journal Scan - Psychiatry, February 2003 "Journal Scan is the clinician's guide to the latest clinical research findings in the
American Journal of Psychiatry, The Lancet, Archives of General Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, and
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Short summaries of feature articles include links to the article abstracts and full text, when available." See also the February
Journal Scan for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Bipolar Disorders Old and New Special editor's column from
Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health on the resurgence of interest in the various facets and subtypes of this illness. [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Suicidal Behavior in Schizophrenia Article from
Current Opinion in Psychiatry at
Medscape - "There has been a recent resurgence of interest in better understanding the nature of suicidal behavior in schizophrenia, and numerous publications in the years 2000-2002 have addressed this topic. All studies are critically reviewed, the current status of the field is summarized, key issues for clinical practice are emphasized, and likely future directions and developments are outlined." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Interagency Committee on Disability Research A new web site to gather comments and recommendations on research needs for Americans with disabilities - "The ICDR is collecting input from the public on their view of research needs related to disability and rehabilitation."
Diversion Programs Prevent the Criminalization of Mental Illness A March 14 NMHA press release - "The National Mental Health Association and the National Association of Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils today independently released position papers in support of diverting people who have a mental illness and are accused of nonviolent crimes from the criminal justice system to voluntary mental health treatment programs as a reasonable alternative to criminal punishment."
Group home may serve as model for state (Vermont) Bennington Banner story - "An innovative new group home for the mentally ill may serve as a model for the state, a state official said at its opening Wednesday. United Counseling Service redesigned the home at 329 South St. to offer three new apartments where people can learn to live on their own while receiving suppport from UCS staff."
Judge issues temporary order against psych center closings (New York) Ithaca Journal story - "A judge ordered the Pataki administration Wednesday to halt preparations for the July 1 closure of three psychiatric centers -- a move the state Legislature has not authorized Gov. George Pataki to make. State Supreme Court Justice Louis Benza granted unions' request for a temporary restraining order and told the parties to be back in court on April 2 to hear arguments over whether he should extend it to an injunction against the state."
Auckland mental health service under severe strain (New Zealand) Story at
Stuff - "Mental health crisis workers say they are so overworked they have to defy management directives on how to handle potentially violent patients. As a result, staff at west Auckland's Community Assessment and Treatment Team (Catt west) say they fear the next incident of a patient seriously harming someone or themselves. The workers blame inadequate care caused by shortages of staff and beds." See also
Pyschiatric unit almost forced to close (
New Zealand Herald).
Senate acts to protect neglected mentally ill (Oregon) Story in
The Oregonian - "The Oregon Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would make it illegal to neglect the mentally ill receiving public care and would require "thorough and unbiased" investigations of suspected abuse cases. But the proposed reforms will do little to protect thousands of Oregon's most vulnerable citizens who have lost mental health benefits because of budget cuts." See also the story
Mental health funds defended on advocacy efforts in the legislature.
MSPs consider mental health bill (Scotland) BBC story - "The Scottish Parliament is set to make its final alterations to the first major modernisation of mental health laws for 40 years. The Mental Health Care and Treatment Bill is aimed at giving patients with a mental illness more rights and better care."
