Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Leading Drugs for Psychosis Come Under New Scrutiny Front page feature article in today's
New York Times - "They were billed as near wonder drugs, much safer and more effective in treating schizophrenia than anything that had come before. For many years, it seemed that the excitement was fully warranted. There were remarkable stories of recovery. And the new generation of antipsychotic drugs, called atypicals, seemed to have few of the side effects commonly seen with high doses of older medications for psychosis. ... But 14 years after the first of the drugs entered the market, researchers are questioning whether they are quite as miraculous — or benign — as originally advertised." [Viewing
New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].
Public Reporting on Quality in The United States and The UK Health Affairs article at
Medscape - "...Problems, challenges, obstacles, and innovations mark the trail, but there is incremental progress toward widespread use of quality report cards in the United States and the United Kingdom.... In the United States a strong emphasis on informing consumer choice and controlling costs has guided reporting. Different traditions and incentives are at work across the Atlantic. The two countries have much to learn from each other as they move toward greater accountability and quality in health care." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Landmark Mental Health ADA Case Settled A May 6
Business in Maine Today article that I'd missed, but found a link to at the
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse web site - "A settlement has been secured on behalf of Donna Malone, an employee of Land Air Express of New England, Ltd., who was terminated while in a hospital on leave for a mental disability. Land Air, an air freight and delivery company with terminals in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, will pay Malone $360,000. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in Bangor, alleged Land Air Express violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) when it abruptly discharged Malone because she had been hospitalized for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder."
Past Abuse Is Related To Poor Mental Health In HIV-Positive Women Center for the Advancement of Health article at
InteliHealth - "Women with HIV who are young, in poor physical health, in conflict with others, and who have been physically abused by a partner in the past are at greater risk for developing mental health and drug abuse problems, according to a new study."
Mental health staffing an issue (New Zealand) NZoom story - "The government says problems recruiting and retaining staff are to blame for a stalling in the provision of mental health services. The Mental Health Commission is concerned that despite extra funding access to services for people with mental illness has stalled at half the recommended level."
Mental health group cuts services (Canada) Calgary Herald story - "A looming $200,000 deficit is forcing a successful Calgary organization that deals with people with mental illness to restructure. The Calgary Association of Self Help will chop two of its popular programs as of June 1, reduce its hours of operation and cancel two support groups to save more than $128,000 this year on its $1.3-million budget."
Housing that helps: Advocates try to give homeless more than just shelter San Francisco Chronicle story - "As debate surges about where to house homeless people affected by welfare reform in San Francisco, the latest argument is over the definition of 'real housing.' ..... After a judge's ruling that weakened Prop. N, Supervisor Chris Daly proposed last week that the Board of Supervisors restore the controversial measure only if homeless folks get real housing with social services and not just emergency shelter."
Expectant Moms Battle Depression More Than Thought Atlanta Journal-Constitution story - "One in five pregnant women may suffer symptoms of depression, but few get treatment for it. That's the finding of a University of Michigan study in the May 22 issue of the
Journal of Women's Health. The study also found women with a history of depression at any time before their pregnancy -- about one in every four women -- are about twice as likely as other women to experience symptoms of depression while they're pregnant."
Health, mental health budgets face veto St. Louis Post Dispatch story - "Gov. Bob Holden said Monday that he would veto the Legislature's proposed $1.38 billion budget for health and mental health because the plan 'cuts services for those most in need.' "
