Friday, March 26, 2004

Aripiprazole, a Novel Atypical Antipsychotic Drug
Pharmacotherapy article at Medscape - "Before the 1990s, treatment of psychoses centered on conventional agents whose tolerability was limited by extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). The past decade has seen the emergence of a newer generation of antipsychotic agents, first with clozapine and followed shortly by risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone. These agents have been touted as providing better negative symptom efficacy, less impaired cognition, and lower risk of extrapyramidal syndromes. However, evolving evidence suggests that several drugs in this class may be associated with significant weight gain and lipid abnormalities. Aripiprazole, a new atypical antipsychotic drug, displayed efficacy similar to that of haloperidol and risperidone and superior to that of placebo in numerous clinical trials. Aripiprazole does not cause significant prolactin elevation and is associated with a low rate of clinically significant weight gain compared with other atypical antipsychotics. Patients receiving aripiprazole experienced EPS at a rate similar to that seen with placebo. Aripiprazole provides a new treatment option with limited adverse effects for patients in need of antipsychotic therapy..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

2001 Kaiser Women's Health Survey and Issue Briefs
This page from the Kaiser Family Foundation serves as an index to reports and issue briefs related to the survey - "The Kaiser Women's Health Survey was designed to better understand how the health system is working for women, in terms of health coverage, access to services, and in meeting their health needs. The survey also highlights the special challenges facing different groups of women, including women of color, those who are low-income, and those who are uninsured. This nationally representative telephone survey was administered to 3,966 women ages 18 to 64 in the Spring and Summer of 2001..."  
  

$1.9 Million Available for State Incentive Grants to Build Capacity for Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion
SAMHSA press release - " The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced availability of FY 2004 funds for State Incentive Grants to Build Capacity for Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion. These grants will support states in their efforts to adopt best practices to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion in institutional and community-based settings that provide mental health services, including services for people with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. It is expected that approximately $1.9 million will be available to fund up to 8 awards..."  
  

$12 Million Available for Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants
SAMHSA press release - " The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of FY 2004 funds for Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Targeted Area of Need. One of SAMHSA’s Services Grants, Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE) grants provide funds to expand and/or enhance the community’s ability to provide comprehensive, integrated, and community-based response to a targeted, well-documented substance abuse treatment capacity problem and/or improve the quality and intensity of services in a local area. It is expected that approximately $12 million will be available to fund programs in four categories of need..."  
  

$13.9 Million Available for Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Homeless
SAMHSA press release - " The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the availability of FY 2004 funds for the development of comprehensive drug/alcohol and mental health treatment systems for persons who are homeless. These grants will enable communities to expand and strengthen treatment services for homeless individuals with substance abuse disorders, mental illness, or with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental illness. It is expected that approximately $13.9 million will be available to fund up to 35 awards. The maximum allowable award is $400,000 per year for up to five years..."  
  

$2.5 Million Available for Peer-to-Peer Recovery Support Services
SAMHSA press release - "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced availability of FY 2004 funds for grants to deliver and evaluate peer-to-peer recovery support services. The Recovery Community Services Program will help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders for people with a history of alcohol and/or drug problems who are in or seeking recovery, along with family members and significant others who will be both the providers and recipients of recovery support services. It is expected that approximately $2.5 million will be available to fund up to 7 awards."  
  

City must allow opening of mental health clinic, judge rules (Wisconsin)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story - " The City of Milwaukee must allow a mental health clinic to open at 3716 W. Wisconsin Ave. despite opposition from the Board of Zoning Appeals and objections by neighborhood residents, a federal judge has ruled. The zoning board's refusal to allow the clinic was tantamount to discrimination against its mentally ill clients, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman has ruled. The ruling, which came after a nearly three-year legal battle, was a victory for Wisconsin Community Services Inc., formerly known as Wisconsin Correctional Service. The private, non-profit group currently runs a clinic about one mile east of the disputed location. There, it provides services such as outpatient psychiatric treatment, medication monitoring and employment assistance, according to court documents..."  
  

Cuts hurt mental health services (Maryland)
Baltimore Sun story - "The county commissioners heard stories yesterday of public mental health providers having to turn away clients, cut youth programs and reduce services because of continuing cuts made to the state's mental health budget. Spencer Gear, executive director of Granite House, a mental health care provider that serves 1,400 adults, said his agency is turning away up to 10 new clients a week because tougher eligibility criteria have limited state-subsidized services. Many of those individuals are homeless or have chronic mental illnesses, Gear said..."  
  

Army acknowledges shortcomings in mental health support for soldiers in Iraq
Boston Globe story - "The Army's first-ever survey of mental health in a combat zone showed that soldiers in Iraq last year suffered from low morale, high stress and holes in the Army's support system. In releasing survey's results Thursday, the Army also said its mental health specialists in Iraq were constrained in helping distressed soldiers because of shortages of anti-depressant and sleeping drugs, inadequate training in combat stress control and ill-defined standards of care."  
  

Director: Mental health facilities troubled, but improved (Ohio)
Telegraph Forum story on the impact of a Cincinnati Enquirer series noted earlier this week  - "Michael Hogan, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, acknowledges that some centers are troubled but says that most improved in the past few years, after state inspectors cited them for failing to protect kids. 'We've never found gross and willful neglect. We have found disturbing patterns of problems," he says. "We've worked to correct those.' Hogan says the state tries to help facilities change rather than shut them down because Ohio desperately needs homes willing to take in the most difficult kids."