Wednesday, August 06, 2003

Evaluating Treatment Decisions in Bipolar Depression
A new CME unit at Medscape - "In recent years, there has been a much-needed resurgence of interest in the treatment of bipolar depression. This renewed interest has been driven, in part, by research indicating that depressive symptoms and episodes account for greater morbidity and disability than previously appreciated, and by pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment advances. Moreover, other studies indicate that bipolar depression continues to be underrecognized and frequently misdiagnosed, leading to inadequate or improper treatment. In this review, new data regarding the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of bipolar depression that bear on treatment decisions for bipolar depression are discussed." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

School-based group therapy aids students (California)
Oakland Tribune story - "School-based group therapy can alleviate depression and other behavioral problems in children exposed to violence, according to a study of Los Angeles sixth-graders published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association." See also the JAMA article, A Mental Health Intervention for Schoolchildren Exposed to Violence, part of a special "theme" issue on violence and human rights. Other articles of interest include Exposure to Terrorism, Stress-Related Mental Health Symptoms, and Coping Behaviors Among a Nationally Representative Sample in Israel; Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adult Latino Primary Care Patients Living in the United States With Previous Exposure to Political Violence; Programs Target Youth Violence Prevention; and In the Wake of Tragedy: Studies Track Psychological Response to Mass Violence.