was published in late June and has already received a great deal of praise ("Brilliant" - Fran Silvestri, Director: International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership; "A triumphant inaugural issue" - Paul Lefkovitz, CEO: Behavioral Pathway Systems; "Very useful..." - Elaine Alfano, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law). The PQB comes bundled with two other services, the "PULSE Bulletin" (40 issues/year) and "Recent Resources" (10 issues /year) and organizational subscriptions include access to a set of Internet-based tools for distributing news and announcements. For details on subscriptions, please see the new
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Thursday, July 07, 2005
Effect of globalisation on children's mental health British Medical Journal article that was the basis for
a story noted earlier this week - "Children's behaviour is influenced by child rearing philosophies and cultural socialisation processes. Globalisation is imposing Western culture and views of mental health around the world with the assumption that they are superior to those in non-Western cultures. Although there are numerous examples of problematic child rearing beliefs in many non-Western cultures (such as female circumcision), many practices are effective and should be preserved. Indeed, child psychiatrists in the West could gain new knowledge from examining childcare practices across the world. "
The Lifetime Risk of Suicide in Schizophrenia: A Reexamination A March 2005
Archives of General Psychiatry article recently reprinted at
Medscape - " The prevalence of suicide in patients with schizophrenia has traditionally been quoted at approximately 10%. However, studies on which this figure is based have evaluated proportionate mortality rates -- namely, the suicide percentages among all who died in a particular cohort over a given duration of time; this method probably leads to an overestimation of suicide rates. It is believed that suicide risk in persons with schizophrenia is highest during the early stages of the disease. Thus, as a particular cohort ages, the number of patients with schizophrenia committing suicide may decrease, while death by other means would increase. The use of a case fatality methodology, therefore, might be more accurate for assessing schizophrenia-related suicide. Case fatality looks at the percentage of the original cohort who died specifically by suicide..." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Schizophrenia and the Metabolic Syndrome Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health "Expert Interview" with Jonathan Meyer - "Patients with schizophrenia are at greater risk for obesity than other individuals due to factors including inactive lifestyle, poor dietary choices, and side effects of psychotropic medications. The metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotics have received particular attention in the literature as accrued experience demonstrates marked differences between various agents in their risk for weight gain and changes in serum triglycerides and glycemic control." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Pharmacotherapy boosts psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder Psychiatry Matters story - "Patients with borderline personality disorder who are treated both psychotherapeutically and pharmacologically appear to have lower dropout rates and improved outcomes in comparison with those given just psychotherapeutic management, Spanish scientists have discovered. While atypical antipsychotic agents have shown improved outcomes in the treatment of borderline personality disorder compared with typical antipsychotics, they are still associated with high dropout rates that can be as high as 68%. As dialectical behavior therapy has proven efficacy, Victor Pérez and colleagues from Sta Creu and St Pau Hospital in Barcelona sought to examine the effects of adding pharmacological therapy."
Drug Lobby Second to None: How the pharmaceutical industry gets its way in Washington Report at the Center for Public Integrity web site - "The pharmaceutical and health products industry has spent more than $800 million in federal lobbying and campaign donations at the federal and state levels in the past seven years, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found. Its lobbying operation, on which it reports spending more than $675 million, is the biggest in the nation. No other industry has spent more money to sway public policy in that period. Its combined political outlays on lobbying and campaign contributions is topped only by the insurance industry. The drug industry's huge investments in Washington—though meager compared to the profits they make—have paid off handsomely, resulting in a series of favorable laws on Capitol Hill and tens of billions of dollars in additional profits..."
Recent Developments in State Medicaid Programs Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report coverage of recent developments in Alaska, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Washington. In Georgia, "The state Department of Community Health on Tuesday said that a June agreement with CMS to stop using a financing tactic deemed inappropriate will result in a $300 million budget gap for Medicaid next year, the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The shortfall this year will be about $146 million. State officials said they plan to assess a fee on HMOs that serve Medicaid beneficiaries to recover some of the funding."
Mental health bills set to become law (New Jersey) Gloucester County Times story - "Two of Acting Gov. Richard Codey's mental health initiatives have cleared the Legislature, giving confidence to mental health workers that he will stand behind the promises made in his State of the State Address last winter. One bill will establish a $200 million special needs housing trust fund which, over the next 10 years, is expected to help create 10,000 new affordable housing options for both the mentally ill and for those with other types of special needs. A second initiative will authorize a "competent adult" to put forth an advance directive for mental health care. "
When will mental health chiefs learn? (UK) South Manchester Reporter story - "Patient representatives have criticised a Government publication reviewing mental health services for the elderly in the wake of the abuse of patients at Rowan Ward. The report was launched on Wednesday, July 6, following an inspection into services across the country. But Val Bayliss-Brideaux, who organised the Rowan Ward Relatives and Carers Group, said the views and feelings of relatives and carers of those abused at the hospital in 2002 were still being ignored..."
State phases in mental health drug list (Florida) Daytona Beach News-Journal story - "Some people who rely on Medicaid to pay for psychiatric drugs will get two months to either switch to a drug on a new state list or have their doctor justify why they should continue on their current drug, officials said Wednesday. A new list of medications that will be paid for by the state's Medicaid program without prior approval was finalized Wednesday, following an order by lawmakers that the state cut the $2.4 billion Medicaid drug budget by nearly $300 million. The state is trying to do that by only paying for drugs on the list in most cases -- and only letting companies get their drugs on the list if they agree to give the state a discount."
