Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Cultural Influences in Psychiatric Treatment
Article in the January Psychiatric Times - "Different psychiatric themes and problems in treatment present themselves for U.S.-born versus immigrant minority patients. Language barriers, culture-bound syndromes, and differences in customs and culture are often pronounced for immigrants and the basis for adaptation problems and stress. Problems are often more subtle for U.S. born minorities of color such as African-Americans who have lived in the United States for many generations (American Psychiatric Association Task Force on Ethnic Minority Elderly, 1994). The psychological sequelae of longstanding experiences of prejudice and marginalization may be profound for minority individuals..."  
  

PTSD Common in ARDS Survivors
Medscape Medical News story - "A follow-up study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry showed a high rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The investigators elaborate on other medical situations that may lead to PTSD and speculate as to likely traumatizations. " "med"  
  

Group Finds No Suicide-Antidepressant Link
WebMD story - "The SSRI class of antidepressants don't increase suicide in children and teens, a medical group says. ... the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology -- an expert group of psychiatrists and pharmacologists -- convened its own task force on the issue. That task force today released its own findings. It's co-chair, J. John Mann, MD, is professor of psychiatry and radiology at Columbia University and chief of the neuroscience department at New York State Psychiatric Institute...."