Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Current Limitations and Future Prospects in Genetics  Psychiatric Times article - "Schizophrenia is a common, complex disorder affecting roughly 1% of the population worldwide. The elevated sibling occurrence rate of approximately 10% indicates a strong familial component, and heritability estimates based upon twin studies that compare monozygotic to dizygotic twin pairs indicate that 60% to 80% of the risk for schizophrenia may be explained by genetic factors (McGuffin et al., 1995). Two genetic approaches--whole genome scanning and the association design--have primarily been utilized in the search for genes that contribute to susceptibility to schizophrenia."  
  

A Challenging Mix: Co-Occurring Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorders  Psychiatric Times article - "Over the course of their lifetime, approximately one-half of all patients with schizophrenia will experience a co-occurring substance use disorder. Detection and optimal treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders are essential if patient outcomes are to be optimized. Although medications and psychosocial interventions are effective for the treatment of symptoms of schizophrenia and its associated cognitive deficits, identifying and treating co-occurring substance use disorders in patients with schizophrenia remain major clinical challenges..."  
  

New Strategies Lead to New Hope  Psychiatric Times article - "Although new medications have provided increased optimism to people with schizophrenia, remission remains uncommon. The articles in this Special Report outline emerging paradigms and strategies that will enhance the potential for recovery from this devastating illness."  
  

Gene Linked to Autism: A Newsmaker Interview With Margaret Pericak-Vance Medscape Medical News interview - "Researchers have identified at least one gene that may be responsible for autism, according to a report in the March issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. Using a new statistical method combined with careful observational classification, investigators have determined that a gene on chromosome 15 coding for the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor beta3-subunit (GABRB3) is involved in a distinctive autistic symptom of 'insistence on sameness' (IS)... " "med"  
  

Brain Activity Before Therapy Flags Vulnerability to Antidepressant Side Effects Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Changes in prefrontal cortex activity just prior to the start of antidepressant drug therapy may identify patients who are vulnerable to side effects, the results of a small study suggest. 'Surprisingly, the brain changes that signaled antidepressant side effects emerged before the start of drug,' Dr. Aimee M. Hunter from the University of California Neuropsychiatric Institute in Los Angeles told Reuters Health. The ability to identify individuals at risk for developing side effects would improve the success rate of antidepressant treatment, she said. Physicians might choose an antidepressant with a lower side-effect profile, start at a lower dose, or opt for psychotherapy alone." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

U.S. Faults Medicaid Accounting in 15 States New York Times story - "The Bush administration on Monday named 15 states that it said had used improper accounting techniques to obtain excessive amounts of federal Medicaid money. Federal officials contend that the 15 states have been "recycling" federal money, rather than using state and local tax revenue to pay their full share of the costs of Medicaid, which provides health insurance to more than 50 million low-income people. State officials defended their practices, saying that in some cases federal officials had explicitly approved the arrangements. State officials also said that they had repeatedly asked the federal government to clarify the rules." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Priorities set for possible use of mental health tax (Missouri) Columbia Daily Tribune story - "Children and adolescents with mental health and substance abuse problems should get top priority if Boone County voters ever pass a tax for mental health services, members of the county’s mental health board said. The Boone County Mental Health Board of Trustees yesterday identified four areas that would benefit most from a mental health tax. Services for children and adolescents topped the list. Other priorities include programs for special populations such as the homeless and rural residents, substance abuse treatment as well as advocacy and education. The priorities are based on the results of a county mental health assessment, released in February 2004."  
  

Both sides claim victory in mental health suit (Wyoming) Rocky Mountain News story - "Both sides in a lawsuit alleging mistreatment of state mental health patients claimed victory Tuesday after a federal judge dismissed parts of the lawsuit. An advocacy group filed suit Jan. 10, alleging that state health officials hadn't followed through on a 2002 settlement in a case known as the 'Chris S.' lawsuit, to improve conditions at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston.  Protection & Advocacy System Inc. alleged that the state failed to provide and maintain appropriate facilities, staffing, training, supervision and services so as not to endanger patients."