Friday, July 16, 2004

Transcultural Psychiatry for Clinical Practice
Psychiatric Times article - "What are some of the pitfalls of treating patients from varying cultural backgrounds, what cultural issues should psychiatrists be aware of and how can they fit varying culturally based psychiatric disorders into a proper diagnostic framework?" Using case studies, the author explores the clinical implications of culture in psychiatric practice.  
  

New Approaches to Preventing Incarceration of Severely Mentally Ill Adults
Psychiatric Times article - "Adults who are severely mentally ill are over-represented in U.S. jails and prisons, leading to an interface between the mental health and criminal justice systems. New intervention strategies involving both systems, such as mental health courts and forensic assertive community treatment, could divert patients away from the criminal justice system and promote engagement in community-based treatment and support services."  
  

Effect of joint crisis plans on use of compulsory treatment in psychiatry
Article in the British Medical Journal based on a study designed to "investigate whether a form of advance agreement for people with severe mental illness can reduce the use of inpatient services and compulsory admission or treatment." The authors conclude that "Use of joint crisis plans reduced compulsory admissions and treatment in patients with severe mental illness. The reduction in overall admission was less. This is the first structured clinical intervention that seems to reduce compulsory admission and treatment in mental health services."  
  

2004 Zarrow Housing Symposium
Page at the NAMI web site - "NAMI is a national Leadership Partner for the 2004 Zarrow Symposium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Titled "A Place to Call Home," the purpose of the conference is to contribute to the elimination of homelessness and substandard housing for people with mental illness by inviting community leaders to learn about and develop innovative programs that will assist people with mental illness in securing safe, decent homes in the community..." See also the Zarrow Mental Health Symposium web site.  
  

Governor asked to inspect hospital (Oregon)
Statesman Journal story - "Frustrated workers and patients at the Oregon State Hospital have invited Gov. Ted Kulongoski to personally inspect conditions in the hospital’s packed program for the criminally insane. 'Overcrowding and understaffing causes unbelievable hardship to those who live and work here, and to the families and friends who care about us,' reads a letter to Kulongoski from a group of hospital workers and patients. Signed by 16 staff members and 18 patients in Ward 50I in the Forensic Psychiatric Program, the letter invited the governor to visit 'so that you can meet with us and hear our stories...' "  
  

Mental health burden pinches hospitals (Nebraska)
Omaha.com story - "Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital can't keep up with an increase in mentally ill patients since the Hastings Regional Center closed its doors to new arrivals, officials said. Allen Bartels, Lanning's director of behavioral health services, said the hospital has turned away a few patients because it is full. The Hastings Regional Center stopped accepting some patients in February after the head psychiatrist and several other staff members resigned. Bartels said part of the problem is that the hospital is holding committed patients longer than usual because it cannot move them to another facility, such as regional centers in Norfolk and Lincoln..."