Thursday, November 18, 2004

The DASIS Report: Characteristics of Primary Prescription and Over-the-Counter Treatment Admissions, 2002
Page indexing materials related to a new report from SAMHSA - "Prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs were the primary substances of abuse for 4% of the 1.9 million treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2002. Of the more than 78,000 treatment admissions for primary prescription or OTC drug abuse in 2002, 55% were for prescription narcotics compared with 43% of the nearly 29,000 treatment admissions for primary prescription and OTC drug abuse in 1992. Prescription stimulants as the primary substance increased slightly from 26% to 28% during that period. In contrast, the proportions of total admissions for primary prescription or OTC drug abuse for most other prescription type drugs declined between 1992 and 2002. Tranquilizers declined from 16% to 10%. Sedatives declined from 13% to 6% and OTC medications declined from 2% to 1%..."  
  

Psychological Symptoms of Eating Disorders Persist
Reuters Health story reprinted at Yahoo - "While extreme thinness may the most obvious and life-threatening aspect of anorexia, new research suggests that it is often the psychological symptoms of eating disorders that take the longest to overcome. The study of 65 patients who underwent psychotherapy for anorexia or bulimia found that psychological symptoms, such as fear of gaining weight and distorted body image, were among the last to go into remission. "  
  

Rise in Antidepressants Prescribed for Children
Reuters Health story at Yahoo - "Doctors are prescribing more antidepressants for children and adolescents although there is little evidence about their safety or efficacy in youngsters, researchers said on Thursday. Prescription rates for young patients under 18 years old rose in nine countries in Europe, North America and South America between 2000-2002. Britain had the highest rate of increase with 68 percent while Germany, with 13 percent, had the lowest." See also Child antidepressant use 'rising' at the BBC web site.  
  

Capsules May Be Effective In Treating Bipolar Disorder, Study Finds
PR Newswire story reprinted at Yahoo - "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have announced study results finding that a formulation of three-beaded extended-release carbamazepine capsules (ERC-CBZ) was effective, safe and tolerable in the treatment of bipolar I disorder and showed no clinically significant weight gain or changes in blood glucose between treatment groups. The pooled data presented by UNC researchers ... at the 17th annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress in San Diego are results from two of the first trials to use an extended-release form of carbamazepine capsules manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals."