Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Half of Americans May Meet DSM-IV Criteria for a Mental Disorder During Their Lifetime A new CME unit from Medscape - "About half of all Americans will have a mental illness during their lifetime, with symptoms beginning in the teen years for many, according to the results of a survey published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. A second study suggests that treatment is not usually initiated when patients first present..." "med"  
  

Highlights of the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health summary - "The International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICSR) took place in Savannah, Georgia, from April 2 to 6, 2005. Researchers from around the world presented the latest findings on etiology, epidemiology, and treatment of chronic psychotic illness." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Treatment contact delay common among US psychiatric patients  Psychiatry Matters story - " Many people with mental health disorders in the USA wait for years before first seeking medical treatment, study findings show. 'Failure to make prompt initial treatment contact is a pervasive aspect of unmet need for mental health care in the USA,' say Philip Wang, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and colleagues. 'Interventions to speed initial treatment contact are likely to reduce the burden and hazards of untreated mental disorder,' they add. For their study, the team assessed data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, in which household surveys were carried out with more than 9000 adults between 2001 and 2003..."  
  

Depression common in ex-service personnel but many fail to seek help Story at Psychiatry Matters, based on research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry - "Depression appears to be more common than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK ex-military personnel, say researchers who also note that less than half of those with depression seek help. The findings highlight the need for the military to encourage a culture in which it is acceptable for personnel to consult professionals about psychiatric symptoms..."