Tuesday, June 03, 2003
What You Said About Mental Illness Genetics: Results from NAMI's Internet Survey Document in
Adobe Acrobat format at the NAMI web site - "For two weeks in April 2003, 358 visitors to the NAMI website voiced their opinion about mental illness genetics. Most respondents have strong views about the role that genetics play in mental illness, follow research developments in this area and look for improved treatment as a result of the research. In addition, there is concern among respondents about risk to offspring from genetic factors around mental illness, and a sizable minority reported not having children and fears of discrimination as a result of the genetic factors in mental illness."
Medscape Money & Medicine Journal Scan: May 2003 Selections from
The New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal, Journal of Healthcare Information Management, JAMA and
Managed Healthcare Executive. [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Physical Complications of Substance Abuse Article in
Current Opinion in Psychiatry at
Medscape - "There is an essential, ongoing and background updating of our knowledge of the social determinants and public health issues related to substance abuse. It is also vital that psychiatrists remain aware of the medical and surgical problems that patients with substance use disorders may develop. The present review examines the recent literature on physical complications of substance abuse." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
U. of California San Diego will lead effort to fathom schizophrenia San Diego Union Tribune story - "UCSD will lead a consortium in a $20 million national study to solve the mystery of schizophrenia by identifying the genes that cause behavioral traits associated with the mental illness. ... The study will take five years and involve more than 420 patients with schizophrenia and 1,300 of their siblings or parents..."
County mental health patients face stigma (California) Story in the
Mountain Democrat Online on the challenges faced by clients of mental health services in El Dorado County - "Afraid or ignorant of diseases like depression and schizophrenia, people shy away from those who take psychotropic medications or who have a history of commitment to mental health facilities, mental health advocates say."
Whose Voice? Schizophrenia Digest Lets Drug Makers Speak Washington Post story - "A new quarterly magazine replete with direct-to-consumer ads for psychiatric drugs is set to debut this week, aimed at the estimated 2.5 million Americans who suffer from schizophrenia, one of the most serious and disabling mental illnesses. The publisher of the 44-page magazine called Schizophrenia Digest is William J. MacPhee... 'My personal philosophy is that medication is the foundation for recovery,' MacPhee said. It is a philosophy shared by the magazine's primary financial backers: pharmaceutical companies including Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis and AstraZeneca, which are providing about 60 percent of the funding for the magazine..."
Health Waikato refuses mental health patients (New Zealand) New Zealand Herald story - "Health Waikato is refusing a Health Ministry directive to take five patients into secure care, saying it doesn't have facilities for more than two mentally ill criminals. The ministry wants the five patients, who have received long-term secure care at Auckland's Mason Clinic, returned to Waikato."
Mental health patients “paying for treatment” (UK) Health News article - "Many people with mental health problems are having to spend large amounts of their own money on care and treatment, according to new research. The report, “The Hidden Costs of Mental Health”, suggests that 45 per cent of people with mental health problems pay an average of £37 a month for prescribed medication, complementary medicine and counselling."
Panel boosts mental health in jails (New Jersey) Democrat & Chronicle story - "A bipartisan proposal introduced in the Monroe County Legislature seeks to improve mental health services in county jails by having these services provided as part of the general health care."
