Monday, May 10, 2004

The Use of Dual-Action Antidepressants in the Treatment of Depression
Article at Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health - " Since the late 1980s, with the introduction of fluoxetine, the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, the treatment of depression has become much more of a commonplace phenomenon. The SSRIs' efficacy, side-effect profile, and safety allowed the pharmacologic treatment of depression to take a huge leap. Because of the ease of prescribing these agents and their wide therapeutic index, nonpsychiatric practitioners increasingly began to utilize them in the treatment of depression in primary care settings. However, it quickly became apparent that the SSRIs were not a panacea for the treatment of depression. As much as 30% to 40% of patients did not respond to these agents, and many responders never did achieve full remission of their depressive symptoms. Onset of action continued to be slow, with at least 3-4 weeks needed to assess if the medication would be effective. SSRIs were not free of side effects, with sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal effects, and increased anxiety commonplace complaints from patients..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

One Drug Treats Both Sides of Bipolar Disorder
Health Day News story at Yahoo - "For the first time, doctors have found a single drug that can treat both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder. The antipsychotic medication Seroquel currently is approved for short-term treatment of acute manic episodes. But findings presented May 5 at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in New York City show it also is effective in treating depressive episodes. The study involved a randomized trial of 542 patients with bipolar depression at 39 sites in the United States..."  
  

The Disability Movement Turns to Brains
May 9 New York Times story - "As the number of Americans with brain disorders grows, so has skepticism toward the grab bag of syndromes they are being tagged with, from A.D.D. to Asperger's to bipolar I, II or III. But in a new kind of disabilities movement, many of those who deviate from the shrinking subset of neurologically "normal" want tolerance, not just of their diagnoses, but of their behavioral quirks. They say brain differences, like body differences, should be embraced, and argue for an acceptance of 'neurodiversity.' And as psychiatrists and neurologists uncover an ever-wider variety of brain wiring, the norm, many agree, may increasingly be deviance..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

VA to Close Some Hospitals, Build Others
Washington Post story - "The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a major revamping of its sprawling health care system yesterday that will bring the closure of three hospitals in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mississippi, the building of ones in Florida and Nevada, and changes in medical services at many other facilities. The restructuring, unveiled by VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi at a Las Vegas news conference, is intended to streamline an operation that treated nearly 5 million patients last year. But the plan has been criticized by the General Accounting Office as wasting more than $1 million a day on unused or unneeded facilities..."  
  

A new option to methadone clinics for addicts has been slow to catch on since approved by the FDA
Newsday story on buprenorphine - "...drug-abuse experts say the requirements attached to buprenorphine are keeping it from catching on. Buprenorphine is the first prescription opiate to come along since federal legislation of 2000 established restrictions to make sure such new drugs aren't abused. Federal health officials say they are asking Congress to alter some of the restrictions so that buprenorphine can be used more readily."  
  

Therapy in America 2004 Poll Shows: Mental Health Treatment Goes Mainstream
PR Newswire press release - "More than one in four American adults has received treatment for a mental health problem in the past two years, via talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two, according to Therapy in America 2004, a new Harris Interactive poll. This groundbreaking survey is the first of its kind to examine consumer trends and attitudes in mental health treatment. The study was conducted this March using a nationwide phone survey of 501 adults and a follow-up online survey of 1,731 people known to have needed or received treatment..."  
  

GPs called on to treat mental health patients (New Zealand)
Christchurch Star story - "Christchurch GPs are being used in a pilot scheme to treat the mentally ill in a bid cut down on the amount of time specialists spend with patients. The scheme has been met with support by some in the medical profession, but others are urging caution and are worried it could simply be a cheaper way of treating mental patients. The scheme involves five general practices in the city involved in assessing, treating and discharging the mentally ill into the community. Four pilots started last August, with a combined budget of $150,000. They will report back next year. Mental health director Vince Barry said the Canterbury District Health Board needed to find ways to re-distribute mental health funds more efficiently. Early feed-back had shown at least one pilot was working extremely well, he said..."  
  

Business heeds call for mental-health parity (Texas)
Houston Chronicle story - " A mental health advocacy group in Houston is pushing companies to provide mental-health coverage equal to medical insurance benefits. The latest local business to provide its employees full mental-health insurance is Anadarko Petroleum, whose chief executive officer announced mental-health parity for its employees Thursday at the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston's 50th anniversary gala..."  
  

Mental health care tax plan to go to a vote
Ukiah Daily Journal story - " A November ballot measure will ask voters whether they want to tax the rich to fund county mental health services. The Mental Health Services Act proposes a 1 percent tax on every dollar of taxable income over $1 million to generate funds for counties to expand services and programs for mentally ill adults and children..."  
  

Mental health access dips despite more funds (New Zealand)
New Zealand Herald story - " Access to treatment for serious mental illnesses has grown slightly worse, despite more Government spending and plans for expansion. The Mental Health Commission found that in the six months to last June, 1.6 per cent of the population was seen by specialist mental health services. This was down from the 1.7 per cent seen in the first half of 2002 and the same as the 2001 figure. Based on British research, it is estimated that 3 per cent of New Zealanders have a severe mental illness. The Government's mental health blueprint assumes this part of the population will need treatment by specialist services in any six-month period..."  
  

Picture of mental health (Georgia)
Citizen Online story on Louise Cook, "....honored her for her nearly three decades of service Friday morning with a breakfast at the Newton County Library. Cook’s portrait will now be permanently displayed in the Newton County Mental Health Clinic on Adams Street."  
  

Ed budget adopted; Medicaid, mental health unresolved (Mississippi)
Clarion-Ledger story - "Lawmakers wrangled Sunday over how to fund public schools, Medicaid and mental health crises centers on a slim budget, with major issues still unresolved by late evening. Most of the debate was consumed by public school funding, as lawmakers adopted — and sent to Gov. Haley Barbour — a compromise plan that would leave schools about $44 million short of this year's level...."  
  

Poll: Mental health care goes mainstream
Chillicothe Gazette story - "An estimated 59 million people, or more than one in four adults in the United States, have received some form of mental health treatment in the past two years, a new poll finds. It's a surprisingly large number, a sign, perhaps, that seeking help for a personal, emotional or mental health problem no longer carries quite the stigma it once did, according to the survey's sponsors. The vast majority of these people -- an estimated 48 million -- are being treated with prescription medication. Drugs are clearly the dominant form of mental health treatment in America, the survey found. ..."