Thursday, August 26, 2004

Researchers Have Identified a Gene Associated With Susceptibility to Schizophrenia
PR Newswire press release at PsycPORT - "A report titled 'Polymorphisms in the Trace Amine Receptor 4 (TRAR4) Gene on Chromosome 6q23.2 are Associated with Susceptibility to Schizophrenia,' was published online this week in the American Journal of Human Genetics. The study tested 827 individuals from 192 families and presents findings that indicate a trace amine receptor gene in the chromosome 6 may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Researchers believe their work could result in opportunities for better pharmacology and ultimately prevention."  
  

A surprise on caregiver depression
Philadelphi Enquirer story reprinted at PsycPORT - " Contrary to what researchers expected, placing a loved one with dementia in a nursing home does not make caregivers feel better. In fact, most were just as depressed and anxious after their family member was in the nursing home, and some felt worse, said Richard Schulz, a University of Pittsburgh psychiatry professor who led a government-funded study published today. Anxiety abated after a year, but depression remained just as high as when the dementia patients were at home."  
  

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Psychiatrist Who Revolutionized Care of Terminally Ill, Dies at 78
New York Times obituary - " Dr. Kübler-Ross was credited with helping end centuries-old taboos in Western culture against openly discussing and studying death. She also helped change the care of many terminally ill patients to make death less psychologically painful, not only for the dying, but also for their doctors and nurses - and not least for the survivors. Although the care she sought is by no means universal, she profoundly changed the way the medical profession is asked to look at death. Her greatest influence came through her writings, especially her 1969 best-seller, 'On Death and Dying,' which remains in print around the world..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

GlaxoSmithKline to Release Paxil Data
AP story at Yahoo - "GlaxoSmithKline PLC agreed Thursday to release negative data on the safety and effectiveness of its antidepressant drugs to settle a lawsuit by New York's attorney general that accused the pharmaceutical maker of misrepresenting data on prescribing its drug Paxil to children. GlaxoSmithKline will put summaries of all its studies since December 2000 on its Web site. The London-based company is the first major drug maker to agree to disclose all its studies. The company also will pay $2.5 million to the state as part of the settlement."  
  

A system in poor health (New Zealand)
Opinion piece at Stuff - "There is a depressing familiarity to the latest round of reports on the state of the health system, writes The Dominion Post in an editorial. It is a litany of overworked and under-appreciated staff, unmet health needs and patients whose priority seems to depend as much on whether there is going to be embarrassment in the media if they are left untreated as on their medical state. Last month, there was the revelation that Wellington Hospital had underspent its cardiac surgery budget last year. Unfortunately, this was not because of increases in efficiency. Rather, it was because the hospital failed to deliver what it was supposed to. There were meant to be 520 cardiac operations. Instead, 471 were performed and people languished on waiting lists for longer than six months, despite guarantees given to clear backlogs and cut waiting times after previous episodes. "  
  

Advocates say county’s mental-health services are strapped (California)
Santa Cruz Sentinel story - "A financially strapped mental-health system is at risk of greater decay without an infusion of cash, advocates said Tuesday. A county budget that garnered preliminary approval in late June is still subject to more cuts, mental health among them. Supporters of the mentally ill say Proposition 63, on the ballot in November, offers the best hope for shoring up services. Proposition 63 would add a 1 percent tax on taxable personal income of more than $1 million."  
  

Aliquippa mental health units reopen (Pennsylvania)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story - "As other hospitals in the region scale back or shut psychiatric services, Aliquippa Community Hospital is banking on mental health to improve its finances as it emerges from bankruptcy. The tiny institution, which on Monday won U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval for its Chapter 11 reorganization plan, reopened its 26-bed inpatient psychiatric unit and an outpatient mental health clinic in February. The hospital also hopes to soon provide a service known as 'partial hospitalization' for adolescents with mental health problems and another service targeting patients who are 'dually diagnosed' with mental health and substance abuse problems."  
  

Mental health care meeting draws 300 (Wisconsin)
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story - "The desire to improve mental health care in Milwaukee County is so great that organizers had to turn away more than 100 people who wanted to attend an all-day conference Tuesday. More than 200 people - doubled the projected number - spent the day at the Italian Community Center discussing ways to more efficiently and effectively help people in Milwaukee County with chronic and acute mental illness..."  
  

Calculating the Costs of Mental Health Care
NPR story (in print and audio) - "Treatment for mental illness is a major driver of health care inflation and second only to heart disease, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs. And among mental health treatments, antidepressant drugs known as SSRIs are a big contributor to that cost inflation, the study concludes. Over the last year, pharmacies filled more than $146 million in prescriptions for SSRIs." See also the Health Affairs articles, Effect of Declining Mental Health Service Use on Employees of a Large Corporation and Depression in the Workplace. The NPR page also includes links to other, related resources online.