Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Key Resources on Health Coverage and the Uninsured
A set of links to resources compiled by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured - " The U.S. Census Bureau's released its annual update on health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured Americans on August 26, 2004. The Foundation produces several information resources that analyze America’s health insurance coverage, as well as policy issues and public opinion regarding the uninsured."  
  

NAMI testimony to the FDA
At the NAMI web site, the " Statement of Kenneth Duckworth, M.D. On Behalf of NAMI (The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Before the Food and Drug Administration Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee."  
  

Budget Cuts Continue to Threaten State Medicaid Programs
Article in Psychiatric Times - "Since 2001, states have faced their worst fiscal crisis in more than 50 years. And even now, as the U.S. economy shows signs of improving, state revenues continue to lag, leaving officials and lawmakers grappling with ongoing budget deficits and an unsettled financial outlook. After three years, states have exhausted their options for one-time budget fixes, leaving deeper budget cuts as an only option. Controlling Medicaid growth is at the top of the list, and mental health care funding is especially vulnerable..."  
  

Prescribing Antidepressants for Depression in Bipolar Disorder--Point/Counterpoint
A CME unit in Psychiatric Times - "Upon completion of this educational activity, the reader will be familiar with: Viewpoints for and against prescribing antidepressants for depression in bipolar disorder (BD); research regarding BD switching into mania or rapid cycling with antidepressant use; discontinuing antidepressant medication in patients with BD; combination therapy with mood stabilizers and antidepressants for the treatment of BD."  
  

Panel urges suicide warnings on 9 drugs
Boston Globe story - "Nine antidepressants should carry the government's strongest warning that they can cause suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior in children under 18, a panel of medical advisers told the US Food and Drug Administration yesterday. Research presented during a two-day hearing indicated that the drugs, including Prozac and other newer generation antidepressants, can cause suicidal thoughts or attempts in 2 to 3 percent of children who take them. Between 1 million and 2 million children take antidepressants, and the number is increasing, according to Julie Magno Zito, associate professor of pharmacy and psychiatry at the University of Maryland in Baltimore who studies drug use in children. While concerned about discouraging patients from taking drugs that can help relieve depression, panel members said it was important that families be aware of the serious but small risk. The panel voted 15 to 8 to add a ''black box' warning to the information sheets that drug companies package with the pills."  
  

Genetic Research Aims to Isolate Bipolar Gene
Ascribe Newswire press release - "The Indiana University School of Medicine has embarked on a massive search to isolate the specific gene responsible for bipolar I disorder. The School's Institute for Psychiatric Research is continuing a collaboration with the National Institute for Mental Health and 11 other U.S. academic centers. Their goal is to narrow the field from suspect areas of chromosomes to isolate genes that affect the mental health of thousands of Americans. The Institute began the collaborative research 15 years ago and has successfully identified areas of genetic linkage on specific chromosomes. With new funding from the NIMH, the IU researches hope to hone in on the specific gene by collecting genetic information from 5,000 people with bipolar I disorder. This multi-center trial has received a five-year, $16 million NIMH grant."  
  

Mental health care facing beds crisis (UK)
Evening Standard story - "London is facing a crisis in mental health care, new figures show today. The Evening Standard has discovered a big decline in the number of NHS beds available for the mentally ill. The revelations come amid concern about the Government's mental health policy draft law, which would give psychiatrists the power to detain patients deemed a danger to themselves or others. Some care-in-the-community patients would be forced to attend clinics for treatment. Those who dropped out would be taken back into secure hospitals. But there is still a need for beds in hospital, mostly for short-term admissions..."