Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Teen Suicide Attempters Benefit From Outpatient Treatment Reuters story at Medscape - "For adolescents who attempt suicide, suicidal ideation is reduced and mood improves when outpatient psychotherapy is maintained over 6 months, according to the results of a pilot trial conducted by researchers at Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Deidre Donaldson and colleagues compared two individual-based treatments for adolescent suicide attempters -- a skills-based, cognitive-behavioral treatment designed to teach problem solving and affect-management skills (SBT), and a nondirective, supportive relationship treatment (SRT). Their findings are published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry." "med"  
  

Mental Illness Increases Risk of Obstetric Complications Reuters story at Medscape - "Women with schizophrenia or a major affective disorder have increased risks of pregnancy, birth and neonatal complications, according to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry for January. ... There is also some evidence that maternal obstetric complications are associated with offspring's risk of schizophrenia in adulthood, they add." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Studies linking Ritalin and depression highlight risk of overdiagnosing ADHDAP story reprinted at PsycPORT - "New research is raising questions about the long-term effects of Ritalin and other drugs widely used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. While most people agree that Ritalin and similar drugs can dramatically improve the lives of kids suffering from ADHD, doctors and parents have long been concerned about how the drugs might affect a child's developing brain. Now, new studies in rats suggest that methylphenidate, the generic name for Ritalin, may permanently alter the brain and may lead to depression in adulthood. While the studies have limits - a rat's brain is obviously very different than a child's - the research nonetheless highlights the need to be sure of an ADHD diagnosis before putting a child on medication..."