Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Study Shows No Correlation in Suicide Attempts and Antidepressant Use in Teens
AScribe Newswire press release reprinted at PsycPORT - "Researchers at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center recently concluded an observational study to test the theory that antidepressant use by teens put them at increased risk for attempting suicide. The UCDHSC study that is published this month in the international journal CNS Drugs, found no correlation between antidepressant use and suicide attempt in teens after adjusting for many related factors. The study was completed by observing a sample of managed care enrollees across the United States, ages 12 to 18, who were newly diagnosed with major depressive disorder between January 1997 and March 2003..." See also the CNS Drugs abstract of the study, which is available at no charge (full text is available for a fee).  
  

State feels squeeze on Medicaid (Wisconsin)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story - "With little more than a month left to prepare Wisconsin's next two-year budget, Gov. Jim Doyle and top state officials are facing tough choices on how to fix the $800 million funding shortfall in the state's Medicaid program. They're doing what they can to avoid the more common choices of states weathering funding crises: reduce the number of people who qualify, eliminate some of the services covered or lower the amount paid to those who provide care to Medicaid recipients. ... Medicaid, the health care safety net for more than one in seven Wisconsin residents - most of them low-income people who are elderly, disabled or children - is one of the biggest chunks of the state budget, with the program spending $4.2 billion this year."  
  

Adherence and Communication in the Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health "expert interview" with Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University; Director, Clinical Research Center; Washington, DC. [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Improving Quality of Care for Bipolar Disorder
Current Opinion in Psychiatry article at Medscape - "The paper outlines the beginning dialogue of neuroscience and psychotherapy by reviewing neurobiological research relevant for therapeutic concepts, presenting recent neuroimaging studies on psychotherapy effects, and discussing some conceptual problems." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Mental Distress Linked With Unhealthy Behaviors in Adult Asthmatics
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Frequent mental distress (FMD) is relatively common among adults with asthma and is associated with unhealthy behaviors that raise the risk of disease flare-ups, according to a report in the December issue of Chest. This suggests that clinicians treating asthmatics should not overlook their mental health status. Previous reports have shown a strong association between depressive disorders and asthma. However, the link between depressive symptoms and asthma-related risk behaviors in adult asthmatics has not been studied." "med"  
  

Modest 2005 Funding Increases for Most Addiction Programs
Brief article at Join Together - "The FY2005 labor, education, and health and human services budget passed by Congress last month has mostly good news for alcohol and other drug-related programs: significant dollar increases for most programs tempered only somewhat by a .83-percent across-the-board reduction ordered by lawmakers... "  
  

Ministry of Canada renews committment to fund drug courts
Canadian government press release - "The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, and the Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, today launched a call for proposals to establish new drug treatment courts across Canada . ... Drug treatment courts aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug dependency through court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions. By helping non-violent offenders deal with their addictions and improve their social stability, the program also reduces the criminal behaviour associated with substance abuse. Two drug treatment courts are already in operation in Toronto and Vancouver..."  
  

Senator pleased with area mental health care (Nebraska)
Columbus Telegram story - "After spending the day meeting with health professionals and touring Columbus Community Hospital and the Family Resource Center, State Sen. Jim Jensen said he is impressed with how the area is moving forward in providing community-based mental health care. Jensen, chairman of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, was joined by State Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center as they toured the area Monday to discuss the Behavioral Health Reform Act, which was passed during the 2004 session..."  
  

Forging Alliances: Ontario Chamber of Commerce teams with mental health group (Canada)
CNW press release - "Mental health issues are a growing concern in workplaces across the province - causing lost productivity to businesses and increased healthcare costs to the taxpayer. To address those concerns, and to plan for healthier workplaces in the future, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has formed a partnership with the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health."  
  

Report highlights gaps in mental health legal advice (UK)
Story at 4NI - "A report released today by the Law Centre (NI) has highlighted severe gaps in mental health legal advice and information services in Northern Ireland. ‘Unmet Need’, which is the result of a research by the School of Social Work at Queen’s University, commended the support work of many organisations and individuals but pointed out the lack of specialist independent advice and information services for mental health users and carers. The research also showed a desperate need for the voices of mental health patients and their carers to be heard by health care professionals and tribunals..."