Wednesday, February 23, 2005
NIH Clears Most Researchers In Conflict-of-Interest Probe Washington Post story - "Most of the 100 or so National Institutes of Health researchers who the agency has said are under investigation for allegedly engaging in secret deals with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have been cleared by NIH investigators, according to agency officials. The unexpected finding that as much as 80 percent of the seeming improprieties were actually the result of errors by government investigators has undermined the rationale behind NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni's recent decision to impose severe restrictions on the personal activities and finances of all of the agency's more than 5,000 employees, said scientists and NIH officials upset about the new rules. " [Viewing
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The Treatment of Panic Disorder Current Opinion in Psychiatry article at
Medscape - "Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy remains the treatment of choice for panic disorder. Recent studies confirm selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as the first-choice drugs in treating panic disorder. Recommendations for (adjunctive) high-potency benzodiazepines have been published. Psychoeducation and combined pharmacotherapy/psychotherapy improve treatment response. Optimal long-term treatment of panic disorder involves adequate medication and duration of treatment, since relapse is frequent. ... Recent studies confirm that cognitive-behavioral therapy, alone or in combination with drug therapy, remains the treatment of choice for panic disorder. Long-term treatment is often necessary due to the chronicity of the illness." [Viewing
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Ongoing Depression Management Cost Effective Reuters Health story at
Medscape - "Taking a disease management approach to depression leads to improved outcomes and is cost effective, according to a report in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. In fact, Dr. Kathryn Rost from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora told Reuters Health that 'health plans interested in improving the treatment they provide for depression... need to adopt models that provide care management on an ongoing basis, rather than an acute basis.' " [Viewing
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Doctors fail to diagnose bipolar disorder in studyUS News &World Report story - "bout 5 percent of people are thought to experience the cycles of mania and depression that characterize bipolar disorder. But it's not clear that primary-care doctors know how to catch the disorder during routine checkups. Researchers at a clinic for low-income patients in New York City looked at how likely primary-care doctors were to diagnose the disorder..."
Guidance in Improving Better Mental Health Services for Deaf People (UK) Story at
a2mediagroup - "The NHS must provide specialised services for deaf people with mental health problems, such as a sign language translation in every GP practice, according to new guidance published today by the Department of Health. The guidance, Towards Equity and Access: Mental Health and Deafness sets out how mental health services for Deaf people can be improved using the template of the National Service Framework for Mental Health as a starting point, and is supported by £2.5 million..."
State hospitals’ screening of patients finds many with drug treatment needs (Washington) Story in
The Chronicle - "Since the start of a new project in April 2004, chemical dependency counselors stationed in six of Washington’s busiest trauma centers have screened 8,100 patients and identified a surprisingly high number who would benefit from treatment for alcohol and other drug-use disorders, according to a news release from the state Department of Social and Health Services. The five-year, $16 million project, paid for by a federal grant, is called Washington State Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment, or WASBIRT, and is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse."
$20 million advance in Canadian mental health research News-Medical.net story - "University of British Columbia President Martha Piper and Premier Gordon Campbell have announced a $20 million advance in mental health research, training and policy, generated by a $10 million gift, the largest ever to mental health in Canada, from a close friend of the university who wishes to remain anonymous. The Provincial Government’s $10 million matching contribution, subject to legislative approval, will put B.C. at the forefront of the field with the establishment of the UBC Institute of Mental Health (UBCIMH) and three endowed UBC research chairs."
County receives grant for mental health training (Montana) Independent Record story - "Thanks to a $6,000 grant from pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company, a group of five volunteers from Helena will travel to Memphis this spring to receive training in crisis intervention for mentally ill men and women. According to Mignon Waterman, one of the coordinators of the effort, the training is another step on the path to addressing the community's mental health dilemma. ... In addition to being a former legislator, Waterman serves as vice-chairwoman for the Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council. The mental health crisis in Helena — and across the state — was several years in the making, but came to a head in Helena in 2002."
Nevada legislators urged to fund mental-health housingBrief
KRNV-TV story - "Nevada's mental health chief is asking legislators to approve 6.5 million dollars in state money to pay community homes that house mentally ill patients. Carlos Brandenburg administers the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services. He says it's cost-effective for the state to, 'keep individuals in the community and out of the hospital.'..."
